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A Ethernet cable has 4 pairs of data lines. In normal conditions only two pairs are used, one as a Tx pair and another as Rx pair. So two pairs are left unused. Is it possible to make use of these 2 pairs to carry another independent connection?

Of course I am expecting some obstacles. Maybe it will lead to a lot of noise and subsequent signal degradation. Can this be avoided by using a different color code?

It should be noted that I am not using Gigabit hardware. I just have 10 Mbps. So if I give this a try, will my connection speed be further reduced?

Another reason why this solution will be great is because I have only one power outlet in my room.

daltonfury42
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Sure it can. If you're willing to restrict yourself to fast ethernet speeds (or worse), there's devices that would split up an ethernet connection into 2 pairs for you. However, modern gigabit ethernet needs all 4 pairs.

I've even seen stock cables that only have 4 connectors, and there was a little wierdness with it.

However you'd need to split the cable on both ends for your scheme to work, based off the comments, and its a pretty horrid way to get another 'drop' between two ends of a ethernet cable.

What you want to do won't work, unless you're trying to turn one connection -------- into something like this >--------<. On a university connection, the best you can do is >------- and that essentially just throws half the wiring away for no gain.

Assuming you do this correctly, and don't have wierd slowdowns and other issues like the 4 stranded cable I mentioned. You'd also need to buy unusual hardware (no one really users splitters much) or additional gear you'd use once (ethernet crimping gear!), and a switch makes much more sense here. Its unlikely to be reliable, may fail in strange ways, and might not even work.

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