How to Connect a T1 Line to a LAN

Connect a T1 line to a LAN with an RJ-45 patch cord.

In a local area network (LAN), several computers -- called "clients" -- communicate through routers to connect to the servers that hold programs that the clients share. The entire system connects to the Internet via a separate router. The connection from the router to the Internet can be T1, which connects at 1.544 megabits per second. The T1 line comes from your telephone company or service provider, with a connection point that accepts an RJ-45 plug. Place your Internet router as close to the telephone company connection point as possible.

Things You'll Need

• T1 interface card for your Internet router
• Programming instructions for your Internet router and interface card
• RJ-45 (RJ-48C) T1/E1 patch cord

Instructions

1. 

   A router connects a LAN to the Internet.

   Install the T1 interface card into the router that connects to the Internet. Program it according to your specific router instructions. In some cases, you may only need to plug it in, or your router may already have a T1 interface jack.

2. Plug one end of the patch cord into the router T1 interface jack.

3. Plug the other end into the telephone company jack. Your connection is complete and all your work stations should have Internet access.

Tips & Warnings

• The interface card in your router may be referred to as a WAN (wide area network) interface card and may have options other than T1, such as fractional T1 or T3.

• The formal name for an RJ-45 connector is USOC RJ-48C.

• If necessary, the WAN interface in your router should only be set up by a qualified LAN network management technician, trained for your particular router.

References

• The Computer Language Company, Inc.: Definition of LAN
• Zytrax: T1/E1 Pinout (RJ-48C)

Resources

• Cisco: Cisco T1 DSU/CSU WAN Interface Card (WIC-1DSU-T1-V2)