Telephone Wiring
 

I completed re-wiring the telephone service for a building in a star (home-run) configuration.
There are 5 circuits plus the network line from the outside.

I wired everything using CAT-6 cable from the outside box and all inside wiring. Inside cables are
now behind sheetrock.

I was planning on using a hub/junction (66-block or 110 block) in the future, temporarily using a
wire nut, but now I'm not sure.

When the phone service was being hooked up today, the technician noted that I used stranded cable
everywhere and he had never seen that on the outside line and a junction box would not work unless
solid wire was used. My inside plugs were fitted with a punchdown connector which worked fine with
the stranded wire.

Did I make a mistake here in using stranded wire? I can still get to my network run, should I
replace it with solid core wire for better reliability? Plan on using phone and DSL on the line.

Any input appreciated,
Gary.

replies to (firefly 24 @ comcast . net) remove spaces.

Telephone Wiring
 

Technically for inside wiring runs and the like that one would consider
"permanent" one should use solid core wire. However, I have used stranded
wire instead of the solid core and have not had a problem.

Mark

"NewsReader" wrote in message
...
I completed re-wiring the telephone service for a building in a star
(home-run) configuration.
There are 5 circuits plus the network line from the outside.

I wired everything using CAT-6 cable from the outside box and all inside
wiring. Inside cables are
now behind sheetrock.

I was planning on using a hub/junction (66-block or 110 block) in the
future, temporarily using a
wire nut, but now I'm not sure.

When the phone service was being hooked up today, the technician noted
that I used stranded cable
everywhere and he had never seen that on the outside line and a junction
box would not work unless
solid wire was used. My inside plugs were fitted with a punchdown
connector which worked fine with
the stranded wire.

Did I make a mistake here in using stranded wire? I can still get to my
network run, should I
replace it with solid core wire for better reliability? Plan on using
phone and DSL on the line.

Any input appreciated,
Gary.

replies to (firefly 24 @ comcast . net) remove spaces.

Telephone Wiring
 

Stranded cables are typically used in either fire alarm or audio
applications. Although you will find that alot of data patch cords too
are stranded.

Stranded cable is somewhat difficult to punch down both on jacks or
blocks but as long as all of your parts are rated at Cat 6 your service
should not be affected. Either a 110 or 66 block will work, I would
just take a moment to twist the pairs in one direction so they all are
punched in the same post.

Cross talk and next failures will result if you have stray wires
touching other posts either on the jack side or block side.

Another option on the block side, although a little bit more expensive
would be to install Cat 6, RJ45 mod ends on each cable. Your 66 block
and/or 110 block would need to be ordered with RJ45 jack type positions
built into either the side of the 66 block or under the first row on
the 110 block.

Whether you opt to twist your strands or install mod ends, you will
want to pair test your connection. If you get a good reading, the odds
are that you will probably never have to touch the termination again.
Changes to service would/could or should be made with your cross
connects.

Whether your cables are used for phone, DSL or extending your network,
I don't think I would go the extra expense to change now that walls are
closed up. I wouldn't use wirenuts either because the more terminations
a cable has the more chances for error.

Telephone Wiring
 

NewsReader wrote:
Did I make a mistake here in using stranded wire? I can still get to my network run, should I
replace it with solid core wire for better reliability? Plan on using phone and DSL on the line.

Any input appreciated,
Gary.

replies to (firefly 24 @ comcast . net) remove spaces.


Stranded cables have a higher attenuation than solid.
That's why TIA/EIA 568A limits the length of patch cables to 10 meters
in total length.

Telephone Wiring
 

Did I make a mistake here in using stranded wire?

Yes. Who told you using stranded was the right wire? Get them to give you
a discount on the replacement spool of solid core wire you should've used.
But if you guessed this on your own, well take your lumps on the learning
experience.

I can still get to my network run, should I
replace it with solid core wire for better reliability?

Yes, you should replace it. Wire's cheap, the hassles of untangling all
this later when it turns out your network is unreliable will make it seem
foolish not to have replaced it. It's possible to use stranded wire for
reasonably short distances. But by the time you measure the actual
distances (up the wall, across the ceiling, down to the patch panel...) it's
probably much longer than the recommended limits on patch cables.

Telephone Wiring
 

According to NewsReader :
Did I make a mistake here in using stranded wire?

Yes you did. However, since the total amount of wire involved is relatively
small and if you take adequate care, you probably won't have problems with it.

I discovered this myself when wiring a few phone circuits I wanted to do punch
down connections. They're tricky, and over time the fine strands may
oxidize and disintegrate because of the mechanical abuse they got.

[A friend, a professional networking specialist has a gallery of
pictures of "horrible wiring", including punch down blocks wired
with all sorts of nonsense, including people trying to make stranded
work in punch blocks by _soldering_ it!]

In my case, feeling suitably embarrassed, I soldered solid pigtails
to the ends of the three stranded phone lines... I won't make that
mistake again.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

Telephone Wiring
 

Where can you buy junction blocks for phone wires? I have to tie in all my
phone wires from my basement renovation.

Mike


"Chris Lewis" wrote in message
...
According to NewsReader :
Did I make a mistake here in using stranded wire?

Yes you did. However, since the total amount of wire involved is
relatively
small and if you take adequate care, you probably won't have problems with
it.

I discovered this myself when wiring a few phone circuits I wanted to do
punch
down connections. They're tricky, and over time the fine strands may
oxidize and disintegrate because of the mechanical abuse they got.

[A friend, a professional networking specialist has a gallery of
pictures of "horrible wiring", including punch down blocks wired
with all sorts of nonsense, including people trying to make stranded
work in punch blocks by _soldering_ it!]

In my case, feeling suitably embarrassed, I soldered solid pigtails
to the ends of the three stranded phone lines... I won't make that
mistake again.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

Telephone Wiring
 

Radio Shack.

"Michael" wrote in message
...
: Where can you buy junction blocks for phone wires? I have to
tie in all my
: phone wires from my basement renovation.
:
: Mike
:
:
: "Chris Lewis" wrote in message
: ...
: According to NewsReader :
: Did I make a mistake here in using stranded wire?
:
: Yes you did. However, since the total amount of wire
involved is
: relatively
: small and if you take adequate care, you probably won't have
problems with
: it.
:
: I discovered this myself when wiring a few phone circuits I
wanted to do
: punch
: down connections. They're tricky, and over time the fine
strands may
: oxidize and disintegrate because of the mechanical abuse they
got.
:
: [A friend, a professional networking specialist has a gallery
of
: pictures of "horrible wiring", including punch down blocks
wired
: with all sorts of nonsense, including people trying to make
stranded
: work in punch blocks by _soldering_ it!]
:
: In my case, feeling suitably embarrassed, I soldered solid
pigtails
: to the ends of the three stranded phone lines... I won't
make that
: mistake again.
: --
: Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
: It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named
after them.
:
:

Telephone Wiring
 

In article ,
Michael wrote:
Where can you buy junction blocks for phone wires? I have to tie in all my
phone wires from my basement renovation.

Forget radio shack unless you want a piece of junk. Do it RIGHT(tm).

Go to Graybar if you have one locally or on the web and get a "66 block"
and a punchdown tool for it.

http://www.graybar.com/ and search for "66 block"

It will have (usually) 50 rows of 6 terminals each. Each of the 6 are
jumped together. Take 2 rows and punch down the input pair on one side,
then 5 more pairs across. If you need more than 5 pairs, jump to the
next pair and use them. There are other sizes, the 50x6 is one of the
most common sizes.

Google for "66 block" will show lots of good pictures.
You can also get plastic covers for the blocks.

You gan also get "110 blocks" which are smaller but harder to work with.

--
Rich Greenberg Marietta, GA, USA richgr atsign panix.com + 1 770 321 6507
Eastern time. N6LRT I speak for myself & my dogs only. VM'er since CP-67
Canines:Val, Red & Shasta (RIP),Red, husky Owner:Chinook-L
Atlanta Siberian Husky Rescue. www.panix.com/~richgr/ Asst Owner:Sibernet-L

Telephone Wiring
 

Home Depot has both 66-block and 110-block. Both were under $20.

"Michael" wrote in message ...
Where can you buy junction blocks for phone wires? I have to tie in all my
phone wires from my basement renovation.

Mike

Telephone Wiring
 

Rich Greenberg wrote:
In article ,
Michael wrote:

Where can you buy junction blocks for phone wires? I have to tie in all my
phone wires from my basement renovation.


Forget radio shack unless you want a piece of junk. Do it RIGHT(tm).

Go to Graybar if you have one locally or on the web and get a "66 block"
and a punchdown tool for it.

http://www.graybar.com/ and search for "66 block"

It will have (usually) 50 rows of 6 terminals each. Each of the 6 are
jumped together. Take 2 rows and punch down the input pair on one side,
then 5 more pairs across. If you need more than 5 pairs, jump to the
next pair and use them. There are other sizes, the 50x6 is one of the
most common sizes.

Google for "66 block" will show lots of good pictures.
You can also get plastic covers for the blocks.

You gan also get "110 blocks" which are smaller but harder to work with.


I have always preferred the 66M blocks which are 2 & 2 by 50. The left
and right sides of each row can be joined to each other by bridging
clips. The incoming lines are connected and jumpered down the left side
and the wiring to the stations in the home is connected to the right
side. Removal of the bridging clips will isolate any stations jack
wiring for testing or repair.
--
Tom Horne

Well we aren't no thin blue heroes and yet we aren't no blackguards to.
We're just working men and woman most remarkable like you.