On Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:27:51 +0000 (UTC),
(Larry W) wrote:

Maybe that should read "a telco _should_..." I have seen telco
technicians do all kinds of things in residential wiring, including
using black/yellow pairs, even green/black or red/yellow, or most
any other permutation,
if it helps them avoid stringing a new wire at telephone co. expense.
I've seen them use wire nuts or twisted wires covered with electrical
tape to make their connections. Of course, when it is at the
consumer's expense, then they insist on doing everything up to
standards. Please don't generalize what is probably best practice to
what is actually being
done the field.



Since the late 70s, all interior wiring belongs to the consumer.

Which was a real blessing! They will still do the wiring though, if you
want them to. And you're right, these days they have a cadre of
"approved" contractors do the wiring. But it's not cheap.
It used to be done by their own technicians "back when" but no more.
You can even do your own digital wiring these days of course and it's
much easier and a lot clearer what to do now; you almost can't go wrong
with digital except that there are so many different kinds. For those,
excepting some DSL lo speed stuff, you really have to have CAT5 or the
new CAT6 depending, or the lines just won't work well. I ran new CAT 5
for all my wiring as soon as I discovered we were goint to get DSL so I
don't know how bad it gets with the old wiring. Pretty bad I imagine,
esp if it's old enough to not be twisted pair cable.
I haven't seen it, but I understand you can even get CAT5 or 6 cable
with a sheath for grounding; I guess Faraday lives on!

Cheers,

Twayne


You
don't get anything at telco expense anymore. I also haven't seen an
interior phone wired by a real telco installer repairman in years
either. They are usually contractors who are basically clueless.
Back before the US v ATT decision if you had 2 lines, they ran 2
cables or a 25 pair if you were in an office that might get a call
director phone. BSP said you did not run 2 lines in one cable without
using twisted pair.