Can You Plug a Phone Line into an Ethernet Port? Complete Guide

Some homeowners wonder – Can you plug a phone line into an Ethernet port? If you have wondered this, too, then you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you’re planning this to expand your phone line to other areas of the building, or you’re simply curious about its possibility, we’ll give all these to you completely and comprehensively!

We’ll not only answer the question, but we’ll also give some of the benefits and drawbacks of doing so.

Yes, you can plug a phone line into an Ethernet port, although you must be careful to plug in everything correctly or risk damaging your network devices.

Check out this article for a comprehensive take on the topic! But before we do that, what pros and cons are connected to it that people consider doing this to their phone lines?

Benefits of Plugging Phone Line to Ethernet Port

There are two major reasons why people want their phone lines plugged into an Ethernet port.

The first is the extension of the phone line into a different location in the same vicinity, and the second is to upgrade their phone line to an Ethernet line to allow Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services.

Extend Phone Line to More Locations (Multi-Line Phone Systems)

The main reason that someone might want to plug a phone line into an Ethernet cable is to use that cable to extend the phone line to another location in the same home/building.

It’s a cheap, easy, and feasible option for commercial building owners and business owners. You don’t need to purchase another service – all that needs to be done is extend it!

To do this, all you need is a phone dock that houses an Ethernet port to make the connection possible. Moreover, you want an Ethernet cable that’s long enough, so that the cables and wires don’t bramble and run over each other.

Note: If you need a bit of extra reach, you can plug your DSL phone line into one end of the Ethernet cable. 

This is possible so long as you are confident that only the modem is plugged in on the other end.

Upgrade Phone Line to Ethernet

Another significant reason people want to plug a phone line into an Ethernet port is that they have an older phone line that they would like to upgrade and use a VoIP-enabled device.

VoIP, short for Voice over Internet Protocol, is the known alternative to public telephone networks. In this mode, you’ll use the internet to make phone calls instead of lines and cables.

If you have a network that can be modified, this upgrade process takes minimal effort. We’ll discuss the complete list of steps below.

NOTE: You wouldn't be able to use a voice-grade phone line to connect two Ethernet network devices reliably, there are some situations where it can be made to work with little modification.

However, do note that some networks can neither be changed nor modified. So, be sure to check the process out before performing any of the steps. 

Now that we’re aware of the benefits, are there cons or drawbacks of doing it?

Drawbacks of Plugging Phone Line to Ethernet Port

Of course, redirecting wires comes with inherent hazards.

If you’re not well-versed on how to properly redirect wires in your home, entering this pursuit underprepared can damage your network devices; it can even cause bodily harm.

If you plan on plugging your phone line into an Ethernet port, make sure to do so carefully.

Do as much research as possible to ensure a safe redirection of wires not to damage your device or yourself.

They Can Damage Your Ethernet Device

Unfortunately, sometimes a phone line can damage your network equipment.

Before you begin, you need to ensure that your Ethernet device can handle the current from your phone line.

When a phone is ringing, the line gets spikes of high voltage electricity. These high voltages are anomalies in Ethernet networks, so some Ethernet equipment cannot handle these.

Because of this, you must take precautionary actions to make sure that your network port can handle your phone line.

You can only plugin actual analog phones, DSL modems, and security systems for most residential networks into your phone lines.

NOTE: Check online and perform thorough research to see if your device is compatible and can handle all incoming signals.

They Can Damage the People Around You

Luckily, plugging a phone line into an Ethernet port comes with a low risk for bodily harm.

Since you’re not plugging any wires into any electrical outlets, the chances that you will inadvertently shock yourself is very low.

Phone lines don’t carry any electrical current (unless it’s ringing, in which case it sends nominal volts), so redirecting your phone line itself has no dangers.

However, if you pull the phone lines out of the wall, you must be extremely careful not to cut any power lines.

Cutting power lines while they are on can cause severe, sometimes life-threatening electric shocks.

Note: If you have a pacemaker, you should not cut a phone line. Phone currents only carry 48 volts which will not affect people with healthy hearts.

But, any electrical current (no matter how small) can disrupt a pacemaker’s function, leading to potential health problems.

Can You Plug a Phone Line into an Ethernet Port? – Complete Method

While it’s a relatively straightforward process to plug a phone line into a network device, you must understand key methods before diving in.

So, should you be wondering, can you plug a phone line into an ethernet port on a router, check these methods below for instructions on how to do so.

Step #1: Check Compatibility

You first must figure out if your Ethernet modem and phone lines are compatible with one another.

For your cables to support Ethernet, the cables need to be built by Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) and Telecom Industry Association (TIA) standards.

You can tell if your cables are produced under the EIA/TIA standards by checking if it has four (4) pairs of twisted wires. Otherwise, it’s not produced complying with these standards.

Note: If your cables are not compatible with your modem, the process won't work correctly, and it can even damage some of your materials.

Find one that’s compliant with these standards.

Step #2: Choose the Right Lines

Though it goes without saying, you need to make sure you are using the correct lines before you redirect your landline into your modem.

When looking to identify the right jack, know that phone jacks are smaller than an Ethernet port. Ethernet cables are usually built with a clip to hold these cables in the Ethernet port.

NOTE: You’ll easily be able to plug RJ14 cables (square cables) into an RJ45 jack if the port is wired to the phone line – it should have no problems clicking in.

Once you find the right cables, you’re now set to plug it, which is the last step…

Step #3: Plug the Wires/Cables

Last, but most definitely not least is to plug the wires and cables to their respective ports (both phone line and router/gateway).

Here’s a quick summary of where and how you can plug the cables:

1. Plug the modem to power.
2. Connect a coaxial cable from the cable socket to the modem.
3. Then, power the phone up.
4. Wait for about ten (10) minutes before using it to ensure that it’ll function.

Once done, you can say that you’ve successfully plugged your phone line into an Ethernet port without any problem!

With our guide handy, you’ll find it simple and easy to understand the complete process!

Yes, you can plug a phone line into an Ethernet port as long as both devices are compatible with one another. The cables and wires need to be compliant with each other’s voltage requirement, as well as the fitting to the ports.

Read Next: How to Connect Phone to Smart TV Without WiFi?

Final Thoughts

As technology becomes more advanced, many people wonder and ask can you plug a phone line into an Ethernet port?

The simple answer is yes – the long answer is that you need compatible technology to be able to do it.

If you are trying to expand your phone lines to different areas in the building, then this is an excellent method to achieve that.

However, you must make sure that your devices can handle the incoming signals and can handle the spike in voltage.