I need to set up a network between two offices that are about 500Ft apart. There is a 5-Pair Phone Line running between the the two offices. Three of the Five lines are used for phone lines, so that leaves two pair (Four Wires) not used for anything. I was wondering if there was a way to use the unused lines for some sort of networking.

We have a DSL Line at each office, and are having to pay about $100 per line per month. And we were wanting to cut back on one of the lines.

Note: The line is not Cat-5, but it is what the phone company installed.

If you need more info I will provide it upon request.

PS, I have used phone line as network cable before for short distances of about 275Ft, with a Linksys Five-Port hub on both ends, with the line plugged into the up-link port. And it work pretty well, But i don't know about the distance with this setup here.

Thank You in advance for any tips with this problem.

8 wires in an Ethernet cable - but 500 feet is probably too long anyway. There are Ethernet extenders but I don't know how reliable they are, or the performance hit the distant end takes.

Is this all inside one building?

No, The cable runs underground.

I know you only need 4 wires for10/100 networking TX+,TX-,RX+ & RX-, and i don't need a gigabyte net work.

I know it's an ugly setup...

I also wonder if i can re purpose a couple of old Westell DSL modems?

I know it's an ugly setup...

I also wonder if i can re purpose a couple of old Westell DSL modems?

If you had an old router or hub, you could use them as a relay - but you would have to put these devices somewhere near the middle.

Does the gauge, of the wire matter, it's pretty large 18 or 20 Gauge. I think.

I have heard about setting up a WAN, with a leased line or something like that.

What hardware would we need for something like that?

The gauge does matter - but so does how it is insulated. A WAN is basically 2 or more LANs connected - typically by a router or some other network device.

Any tips on the hardware for that.

I am looking at the range extenders now.

This is basically the setup we have by the way.
Office 1------------------Office2------------------------Telephone Company

Line 1---------|----------Line 1---------|-------------------------*
Line 2---------|------------X-------------|----------------------- -*
Line 3---------|------------X-------------|----------------------- -*
Line 4---------|----------Line 4 |
Line 5---------|----------Line 5 |

Line 4 & 5 Are not used for anything
They are the lines i would like to use. a total of 4 wires, 2 pairs.