Does an ISDN line use the same cable as a regular phone line? This is a single channel 56k line.
If not, are those cable easily purchased? I need about 20 feet.
Are you talking about the cable once it’s inside the house? If so, no. Domestic cable is generally what we call ‘twisted pair’. Quite simply, it’s two small wires twisted, the simplest way of creating an electrical loupe. ISDN cable comes in different types, depending on the equipment and the exchange. My advice is get it done by telecoms engineers.
What do you want the cable for? Are you connecting a modem to it onto your normal domestic line? ( I hope not. It won’t work.)
Actually what I’m doing is moving the server into another room. The existing cable that plugs into the jack won’t be long enough so I’m wondering if I can just use any phone cable or if these are special.
You will need the same sort of cable. Speak to your supplier, they should have the same type. Ordinary phone cable cannot carry the same bandwidth and will have too much detrioration on the digital signal.
You could take the original cable in to a computer shop and see if they have an identical (but longer) piece. You can look at the cable and see if the markings on it give you a clue, and then get the same cable with the same connectors.
Without a better description of the cable you already have, it’ll be tough for us to give better advice than that.
Normally i would just use a regular phone extension cord if only going a few feet. Since you are going 20 feet you need a twisted pair phone cord. (Basically a length of cable that is the same as the one that they used in installing the isdn. You can buy this stuff at any good cable store. The twisted pair allows the cables the shield themselves from EMI. Your computer probably puts a lot of interference so I would try to to get a twisted pair cable. Of course you could try a standard extension cord and see if it works…
I do question why you are using a 1 channel 56k isdn modem. Isn’t it cheaper to use a regular phone line or DSL? (Unless you are sharing the other channel with some one else.)