If your phone works fine, chances are it isn't your inside wiring. DSL can
run on a single pair of 24 gauge wire. Older wiring is probably bigger - and
there's nothing smaller used for phones. It doesn't need to be a twisted
pair to work effectively, especially at the distances likely involved in
your house. Most of the point of twisted pairs is to reduce crosstalk among
other pairs in the same cable, but you probably only have one (if you have
one phone line).

I've had numerous DSL problems over the years and although the providers
will always tell you it's your fault, it probably isn't. I would either get
the phone company to install a network device (which they will probably do
for free in most places) so you have an easy access outside your house, or
just go to Radio Shack and get whatever you need to put a jack where the
line enters the house. This way you can verify for yourself that it's not a
problem with your wiring.

"Me" wrote in message
m...
I have been having trouble hooking up my DSL and am wondering if it is
due to old phone lines. The tech support folks can't test the outside
line until Tuesday and they seem to think everything is fine. I'm
thinking it may be the quality of the line inside the house itself.

The house is from 1942 and the phone lines are probably pretty old.
Does there have to be a certain type of phone line in the house for
DSL to work? The line sounds clean when you use the phone, but I'm
not sure whether or not DSL only works on 'modern' lines.

The tech guys asked me to plug the modem directly into the telephone
box outside, but I don't have one! The line comes from the road and
enters a plain junction box outside above the front door, and then
goes into the house.

Should I bother rewiring the inside of the house with newer phone
line? Or shouldn't it matter? In the meantime, I am paying for DSL
that I can not use!

Thanks,
Steve