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From: dwh@twg.com (Dave W. Hamaker)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: A Phone Set Wiring Question
Message-ID: <14566@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 10 Nov 90 02:51:46 GMT
Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu
Reply-To: "Dave W. Hamaker" <dwh@twg.com>
Organization: The Wollongong Group, Palo Alto, CA
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 808, Message 5 of 9


I recently remodeled my home and, as a consequence, redid most of the
inside wiring.  Like many computer-oriented people, I have two phone
lines: one for people to use, and one for modem connections.  Since I
now had four-wire cable going everywhere, I decided to put the modem
line on the black-yellow pair connected to the outside modular jack
connector pair of each jack intended for normal phone use (I wired
separate jacks in the computer area).

I expected single-line phones would ignore the yellow-black pair,
unless rewired internally.  I figured it might be useful to have the
modem line available at all jacks, even though I didn't plan to take
advantage of this.

I was subsequently surprised to discover that one of my telephone
sets, a standard-looking single-line touch-tone desk model purchased
from the equipment-selling arm of my local telephone conglomerate
(PAC*TEL and Pacific Telesis, respectively), would take both lines off
hook when in use.  It didn't seem to actually use the modem line; the
person using that phone wouldn't hear what transpired on the modem
line while it stayed off hook for the duration of the call.

When I finally figured out what was going on, I opened up the phone
set and disconnected the yellow-black wire pair.  I wove the
disconnected wires into the wire nest in the phone to keep them from
flapping about and shorting something.  I think I may buy a two-wire
line cord and reconnect the wires so they are securely tied down
again.

While I've uncovered the reason for some occasional strangeness, and
I've restored things to normal, I remain puzzled as to the why of the
PAC*TEL phone.  I thought one of our more expert readers might know.
The phone seems to be made by COMDIAL and the black wire was connected
to a terminal labeled "L1," while the yellow wire was connected to a
terminal labeled "G."  I can give more detailed info on the device if
I know what to look for.  Any ideas?


Dave Hamaker
dwh@twg.com
 ...!sun!amdahl!twg-ap!dwh