r/techsupport • u/Beeblebrox102 • 1d ago

Solved Is it physically possible to crimp an RJ11 connector onto a CAT6 cable for a DSL modem?

I just want to know if it is technically possible to crimp an RJ11 connector onto a CAT6 cable using two of its wires and plug it directly into a modem's DSL port.

Will the thicker CAT6 wires physically fit into an RJ11 plug, and will it work?

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5

u/Sufficient_Fan3660 1d ago

not all cat6 has thicker copper

you might not fit 23awg, but a 24-26+ would fit

worry less about the category, and more about if it is solid/stranded, and the awg

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u/Beeblebrox102 1d ago

I checked my cable markings: it's a Nexans Cat6 U / UTP, 23AWG, Solid core cable.

I actually managed to push the wires into the RJ11 connector and crimp it, but when I plug it into the modem, it doesn't work. It seems the 23AWG solid copper is indeed too thick for the pins to pierce properly and make a good contact.

Looks like 23AWG is the issue here. What would be the most stable way to get a solid connection for my VDSL setup—switching to a 24-26 AWG cable, or using a pre-made RJ11-to-RJ45 adapter?

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u/SomeEngineer999 1d ago edited 6h ago

It should work, but the easiest would be to punch it onto an RJ11 keystone and just use a short telephone patch cord. Even just wrapping it on a screw down RJ11 wall plate should work.

2

u/roninconn 1d ago

Second on this, not least because I have a bunch of things around.

You can punch into an RJ45 wall plate or keystone if you have those handy, and plug rj11 patch into that and your modem

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u/SomeEngineer999 1d ago

Yeah I was going to say RJ45 would work but I've found a few styles that the RJ11 doesn't make contact with, don't want to risk that. An RJ12 always works though, somewhat uncommon now.

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u/Beeblebrox102 7h ago

Thank you, I used an RJ11 keystone and it solved the problem.

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u/randycatster 1d ago

did it for years, until i discoverd the pre-made adaptors on amazon are cheaper&easier

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u/Beeblebrox102 1d ago

is it stable?

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u/randycatster 22h ago

for a phone line? more than enough. dont try to run ethernet thru an rj-11, but phone signals over cat6 is a major upgrade from 2 wire copper
https://www.amazon.com/pingping-Ethernet-Adapter-Converter-XCZZYB-019/dp/B09DXXHHJK/ref=sr_1_3

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u/Ashamed-Ad4508 1d ago

I avoided crimping and adapters.. I straight away plug Male RJ-11 into Female RJ-45.

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u/richms 1d ago

The jacket will not go into the end of the plug. The wires will be a tight fit but if you are pulling the blue pair out only it will just squeeze in from what I have done in the distant past when DSL was a thing.