Xref: utzoo comp.dcom.modems:2965 misc.consumers:7352
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!ulysses!mhuxo!mhuxt!mhuxi!mhuxh!mhuxu!smh
From: smh@mhuxu.UUCP (S. M. Henning)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems,misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Inside Telco wiring
Message-ID: <8646@mhuxu.UUCP>
Date: 15 Nov 88 13:44:04 GMT
References: <1032@naucse.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 32

In article <1032@naucse.UUCP>, (Robert Wier) writes:
>  When you first make arrangements to get a line, go for the inside
>  wiring service option.  Once the line is working satisfactorily,
>  then drop the service.  It seems to me that usually most problems
>  occur on startup - and once things get going, they usually stay on.

The author wanted to save $1 per month and risk no phone service.  My
experience has been that about once per year my phone service gets
knocked out by a lightning storm. About half the time the problem is
in my house.  When it is in my house it is where the telephone wire
runs close to a large metal object like a pipe, tank, heating duct or
some other piece of metal.  The lightning actually jumps to the metal
object and the wire in my house is left hollowed out where the copper
should be.  I have solved this problem by having the Telco bring the
wire to a point near an outside stone wall.  There is no metal near
it.  There is an interface block which I can plug a telephone into
to test the incoming line, the part the Telco is responsible for.

Then at this point I have an electronic surge protector with a fuse
which protects the surge protector. The fuse blows out about once
every other year.  Now, every other year I have to replace a fuse
rather than replace wire inside a wall.

If you are in an area that has a lot of lightning and the telephone
wiring has not been in and reliable for several years, pay the $1
per month.  It is good insurance.  If you are in an area where there
is no lightning and you telephone wiring has been in for many years
and is very reliable, then the $1 per month may be only for peace of
mind and nothing more.

****                    Lang May Your Lum Reek                      ****
Steve Henning, AT&T Bell Labs, Reading, PA           UUCP: att!mhuxu!smh