# Wireless phone jack + dialup?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-phone-jack-dialup/136747
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 14, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-phone-jack-dialup/136747 "2002-11-14T17:17:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-phone-jack-dialup/136747/1 "2002-11-14T17:17:47Z")
For the moment, I’m stuck on dialup, and I don’t have the jack to swing on a wireless access point and two cards, so that’s out.
Anyway, we’ve got one phone jack smack dab in the middle of living room of our apartment. It’s great for the phone, but we have to run a 20’ cord to my girlfriend’s PC. I then rout my notebook through the “phone” out jack on her modem.
Anyway, the local mom n’ pop hardware store has something like [these thingies](http://www.dynadirect.com/hg-rc920.html) on sale for $19.99. They supposedly work like Powerline networking setups, but for phones.
My question: will these things work with with dialup modems? I’m not looking to network or ICS or anything, just to use them as extension jacks for the computers so I can get rid of the corduct that’s sitting on the living room floor.
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2002, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-phone-jack-dialup/136747/2 "2002-11-14T18:07:37Z")
Those are _voice_ quality devices, not _data_ quality. In other words, they will add noise and distortion to a conversation which you’ll be mildly unhappy with. As for data, so much will be added that you will be _very_ unhappy. “Money down the drain” unhappy.
If they don’t say “compatible with xKbps modems” you _can’t_ use them with modems.
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-phone-jack-dialup/136747/3 "2002-11-14T20:12:13Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Those are voice quality devices, not data quality. In other words
But you phone line is voice quality too and it works. Get it at a place where you can return it.
Direct TV uses a wireless phone line to hook their box to your tv line if there is no jack nearby so it can be done - just direct tv might do find at 9.6kb/s
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2002, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-phone-jack-dialup/136747/4 "2002-11-14T21:03:24Z")
Your phone line is _better_ than voice quality. _And_ you will get quite noticable degradation of just voice. Data over power lines has been long sought after by many companies, the stuff out there that is certified for data over power lines is considered “not ready for prime time”. Uncertified stuff is far, far worse.
Look at the linked ad. Notice how using it for modems is quite conspicuously absent. (Fax is similar tech but it is expected to be boringly slow.)
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### Author:  [@Lord\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Jim)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2002, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-phone-jack-dialup/136747/5 "2002-11-14T22:29:26Z")
On RCA’s website, it says:
\<\<\<\< Note: The maximum baud rate for the Wireless Phone Jack is 14,400. Best results, however, will be experienced at 9,600. \>\>\>\>
That would work fine for _faxing_ but I don’t think you want to use it for internet.
Jim
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### Author:  [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)
#### Post date: [November 14, 2002, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-phone-jack-dialup/136747/6 "2002-11-14T22:44:37Z")
Dang. I was afraid of something like that. I guess the interference would cock up the signal, too.
Oh well. Thanks anyway, folks.