This is a question I am asking for my in-laws, so excuse me. They have a whole house alarm system with a phone dialer. The installer said they should have the junction box for the phone line (underground) placed in their basement so it couldn't be cut or disconnected. They called the telephone company, and they said the box had to be mounted outside above ground. Can you think of a good way to protect this unit from having a thief disarm it by cutting the wire or opening the cover on the connector? My father in law is kind of set in his ways, and doesn't want me to tamper with it (I would just move it and tell the phone company to pound sand). My idea was to cover the wire with a slotted pipe or such (still doesn't take care of the connector cover. Another idea was to install a fake but visible wire and cover, and camoflage the other so it wouldn't be visible. I can't be the first with this problem, so please give me some ideas! I like to keep peace in the family and also come up with answers to their concerns.
Thanks!

toolmiser wrote:
This is a question I am asking for my in-laws, so excuse me. They have
a whole house alarm system with a phone dialer. The installer said
they should have the junction box for the phone line (underground)
placed in their basement so it couldn't be cut or disconnected. They
called the telephone company, and they said the box had to be mounted
outside above ground. Can you think of a good way to protect this unit
from having a thief disarm it by cutting the wire or opening the cover
on the connector? My father in law is kind of set in his ways, and
doesn't want me to tamper with it (I would just move it and tell the
phone company to pound sand). My idea was to cover the wire with a
slotted pipe or such (still doesn't take care of the connector cover.
Another idea was to install a fake but visible wire and cover, and
camoflage the other so it wouldn't be visible. I can't be the first
with this problem, so please give me some ideas! I like to keep peace
in the family and also come up with answers to their concerns.
Thanks!


Hi,
In my area, phone cable comes to house underground, but the box is
mounted on the wall outside above ground. It is enclosed in a conduit,
and box is semi-sealed with special screws which needs special tool.
I guess only way a thief can cut wire is smashing the box or breaking
the conduit.
Tony

toolmiser wrote:
This is a question I am asking for my in-laws, so excuse me. They
have
a whole house alarm system with a phone dialer. The installer said
they should have the junction box for the phone line (underground)
placed in their basement so it couldn't be cut or disconnected. They
called the telephone company, and they said the box had to be mounted
outside above ground. Can you think of a good way to protect this
unit
from having a thief disarm it by cutting the wire or opening the
cover
on the connector? My father in law is kind of set in his ways, and
doesn't want me to tamper with it (I would just move it and tell the
phone company to pound sand). My idea was to cover the wire with a
slotted pipe or such (still doesn't take care of the connector cover.

Another idea was to install a fake but visible wire and cover, and
camoflage the other so it wouldn't be visible. I can't be the first
with this problem, so please give me some ideas! I like to keep
peace
in the family and also come up with answers to their concerns.
Thanks!


--
toolmiser

Run an additional alarm wire as a seperate zone outside to the phone
box. If the thief tries to cut the phone line, he will not know which
wire is which so he will cut all the lines. Once he cuts the alarm
wire, the alarm will go off. Of course the dial tone will be dead at
that point, but at least it would scare off the thief when he heres the
alarm.

It's likely that any thief that is professional enough and determined
enough to plan to cut phone lines will figure a way around any simple
solution you put in place. I also think that for the typical home,
it's not too likely you'll find this level of determination. Even
after cutting the phone lines, a well placed siren is still effective.
As another solution, most alarm companies now offer a radio unit that
can be installed in the home as a back up which will contact the
monitoring station.

JJ wrote:
In article ,
says...
This is a question I am asking for my in-laws, so excuse me.
They
have a whole house alarm system with a phone dialer. The
installer
said
they should have the junction box for the phone line
(underground)
placed in their basement so it couldn't be cut or
disconnected.

Chances are, rather than go to the trouble of cutting the phone
wire,
the burglar will just smash a window, walk in (alarm
notwithstanding), take what they like, and leave well before
the
police show up. The average smash-and-grab takes no longer
than a
couple of minutes, far less than the average police response
time.

I'd suggest saving the time, effort, and money that you would
otherwise use moving the junction box and put it into the
installation of other things that will deter a thief, like
stronger
locks, window bars on easily-accessible windows, reinforced
door-lock
strike plates, and improved lighting. The idea is to make your
house
seem less appealing than that of your neighbours - most thieves
will
target the "easiest" house on a street rather than trouble
themselves
with one that is harder to access.

Unless they know what they're after & who has it/one.

Pop

toolmiser wrote:
This is a question I am asking for my in-laws, so excuse me.
They
have a whole house alarm system with a phone dialer. The
installer
said they should have the junction box for the phone line
(underground) placed in their basement so it couldn't be cut or
disconnected. They called the telephone company, and they said
the
box had to be mounted outside above ground. Can you think of a
good
way to protect this unit from having a thief disarm it by
cutting the
wire or opening the cover on the connector? My father in law
is kind
of set in his ways, and doesn't want me to tamper with it (I
would
just move it and tell the phone company to pound sand). My
idea was
to cover the wire with a slotted pipe or such (still doesn't
take
care of the connector cover. Another idea was to install a fake
but
visible wire and cover, and camoflage the other so it wouldn't
be
visible. I can't be the first with this problem, so please
give me
some ideas! I like to keep peace in the family and also come
up with
answers to their concerns.
Thanks!

Talk to one of the major alarm companies or even one of the
monitoring services for recommendations. There are some good
ways to do that without a lot of expense, but I'm not going to go
into them here.

Radio links are the best bets: No wires to cut, they're pretty
well hidden, and battery-backed. Also of course, the TYPES of
sensors etc. needs to be considered carefully - is that a
professional install or a diy install?
If it's a diy, stop now - it's likely not a very secure sysem.
Pop

Subject: Alarm system-telephone wire
Newsgroup: alt.home.repair
= toolmiser = wrote:


This is a question I am asking for my in-laws, so excuse me. They have
a whole house alarm system with a phone dialer. The installer said
they should have the junction box for the phone line (underground)
placed in their basement so it couldn't be cut or disconnected. They
called the telephone company, and they said the box had to be mounted
outside above ground. Can you think of a good way to protect this unit
from having a thief disarm it by cutting the wire or opening the cover
on the connector?

I've moved them myself (in the capacity of a professional alarm installer), of
course we didn't tell ma-bell in advance. They want the ability to service the
line unimpeded. That works out great for them - for maybe the one time in ten
years they actually come on the property.


I would move the NID inside the basement or garage - whatever, that's just me.
If the alarmco won't do it you'll have to do it yourself. Alternatively, you
could place the NID in a lockable NEMA box outside the premises and wire tamper
switches on *both* sides of the box (in case they beat it off the wall, or open
it). The tamper circuit can come in on a spare pair from the dialer cable. Of
course, you'll want to protect the exposed wiring in conduit.



My father in law is kind of set in his ways, and
doesn't want me to tamper with it (I would just move it and tell the
phone company to pound sand). My idea was to cover the wire with a
slotted pipe or such (still doesn't take care of the connector cover.
Another idea was to install a fake but visible wire and cover, and
camoflage the other so it wouldn't be visible. I can't be the first
with this problem, so please give me some ideas! I like to keep peace
in the family and also come up with answers to their concerns.
Thanks!

Your kinda in a bad place if the father in law doesn't want you to screw with
it, the alarmco refuses to move the NID, and we know the ma-bell wont do it.


There are backup reporting options like cellular, long range radio, and
Internet.

http://www.alarmnet.com/
http://www.telular.com/telguard/
http://www.dsc.com/products/alarmCom...ns/default.asp

What brand of system do they have?


--
-Graham

Remove the 'snails' from my email

This is a question I am asking for my in-laws, so excuse me. They have
a whole house alarm system with a phone dialer. The installer said
they should have the junction box for the phone line (underground)
placed in their basement so it couldn't be cut or disconnected. They
called the telephone company, and they said the box had to be mounted
outside above ground. Can you think of a good way to protect this unit
from having a thief disarm it by cutting the wire or opening the cover
on the connector? My father in law is kind of set in his ways, and
doesn't want me to tamper with it (I would just move it and tell the
phone company to pound sand). My idea was to cover the wire with a
slotted pipe or such (still doesn't take care of the connector cover.
Another idea was to install a fake but visible wire and cover, and
camoflage the other so it wouldn't be visible. I can't be the first
with this problem, so please give me some ideas! I like to keep peace
in the family and also come up with answers to their concerns.

Our phone line runs from the service wire to the eaves, then down behind the
siding in a conduit, terminating in a box, with lock, on the side of the
house. The telephone wires then run out of the box, along a horizontal seam
in the siding.. The alarm signal wire goes from the box to the garage alarm
switchboard by a devious and disguised route, but mostly along the exterior.
The line tends to follow natural grooves in the siding. I used tiny staples
to tie it down, then ran acrylic caulk over the line where it was visible,
then painted. Just about invisible now.

Get a big dog.

Joe

wrote:
It's likely that any thief that is professional enough and determined
enough to plan to cut phone lines will figure a way around any simple
solution you put in place. I also think that for the typical home,
it's not too likely you'll find this level of determination. Even
after cutting the phone lines, a well placed siren is still effective.
As another solution, most alarm companies now offer a radio unit that
can be installed in the home as a back up which will contact the
monitoring station.


Yes, I believe most of these radio units use the cell phone network.
Around my place, they add ~ $10 to the monthly monitoring fee as well.

Victor

G. Morgan wrote:
Subject: Alarm system-telephone wire
Newsgroup: alt.home.repair
= toolmiser = wrote:


This is a question I am asking for my in-laws, so excuse me. They have
a whole house alarm system with a phone dialer. The installer said
they should have the junction box for the phone line (underground)
placed in their basement so it couldn't be cut or disconnected. They
called the telephone company, and they said the box had to be mounted
outside above ground. Can you think of a good way to protect this unit

from having a thief disarm it by cutting the wire or opening the cover

on the connector?


I've moved them myself (in the capacity of a professional alarm installer), of
course we didn't tell ma-bell in advance. They want the ability to service the
line unimpeded. That works out great for them - for maybe the one time in ten
years they actually come on the property.


I would move the NID inside the basement or garage - whatever, that's just me.
If the alarmco won't do it you'll have to do it yourself. Alternatively, you
could place the NID in a lockable NEMA box outside the premises and wire tamper
switches on *both* sides of the box (in case they beat it off the wall, or open
it). The tamper circuit can come in on a spare pair from the dialer cable. Of
course, you'll want to protect the exposed wiring in conduit.




My father in law is kind of set in his ways, and
doesn't want me to tamper with it (I would just move it and tell the
phone company to pound sand). My idea was to cover the wire with a
slotted pipe or such (still doesn't take care of the connector cover.
Another idea was to install a fake but visible wire and cover, and
camoflage the other so it wouldn't be visible. I can't be the first
with this problem, so please give me some ideas! I like to keep peace
in the family and also come up with answers to their concerns.
Thanks!


Your kinda in a bad place if the father in law doesn't want you to screw with
it, the alarmco refuses to move the NID, and we know the ma-bell wont do it.


There are backup reporting options like cellular, long range radio, and
Internet.

http://www.alarmnet.com/
http://www.telular.com/telguard/
http://www.dsc.com/products/alarmCom...ns/default.asp

What brand of system do they have?

If you feel compelled to render the NID less accessible then you install
rigid metallic conduit to a height that makes it inaccessible from the
ground and install the NID at that height but still outdoors. In most
places the utility can not insist that the NID be accessible without a
ladder.

Relocating the Network Interface Device (NID) to the inside of the
building is not an option in most states. The NID is the demarcation
point between the wire that the building owner is responsible for and
the wire that the utility is responsible for. The NID is utility
responsibility equipment. If you damage it or affect the outside plant
in any way you can be billed for the entire cost of normalizing the
installation. Use a wireless back up and leave the NID alone.
--
Tom H

Subject: Alarm system-telephone wire
Newsgroup: alt.home.repair
= HorneTD = wrote:

If you feel compelled to render the NID less accessible then you install
rigid metallic conduit to a height that makes it inaccessible from the
ground and install the NID at that height but still outdoors. In most
places the utility can not insist that the NID be accessible without a
ladder.

That, and tamper switches on the NEMA enclosure the NID will be inside.


Relocating the Network Interface Device (NID) to the inside of the
building is not an option in most states. The NID is the demarcation
point between the wire that the building owner is responsible for and
the wire that the utility is responsible for. The NID is utility
responsibility equipment. If you damage it or affect the outside plant
in any way you can be billed for the entire cost of normalizing the
installation.


It's done all the time for commercial customers.

Use a wireless back up and leave the NID alone.

You must work for the telco. Sorry, but my job is not to make yours easier.


--
-Graham

Remove the 'snails' from my email
PGP Public Key:
http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?...rch=0x00689059

"G. Morgan" wrote in message
...

It's done all the time for commercial customers.


Not in the couple of states where I work. I have nothing to do with alarms
but sometimes have to get involved with data circuits. Standard practice on
a multiple line commercial installation is to put a metal cabinet on the
*outside* of the building. The telcos will not install anything new inside a
building.


Use a wireless back up and leave the NID alone.

You must work for the telco. Sorry, but my job is not to make yours
easier.


--
-Graham

Remove the 'snails' from my email
PGP Public Key:
http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?...rch=0x00689059

G. Morgan wrote:
Subject: Alarm system-telephone wire
Newsgroup: alt.home.repair
= HorneTD = wrote:


If you feel compelled to render the NID less accessible then you install
rigid metallic conduit to a height that makes it inaccessible from the
ground and install the NID at that height but still outdoors. In most
places the utility can not insist that the NID be accessible without a
ladder.


That, and tamper switches on the NEMA enclosure the NID will be inside.



Relocating the Network Interface Device (NID) to the inside of the
building is not an option in most states. The NID is the demarcation
point between the wire that the building owner is responsible for and
the wire that the utility is responsible for. The NID is utility
responsibility equipment. If you damage it or affect the outside plant
in any way you can be billed for the entire cost of normalizing the
installation.



It's done all the time for commercial customers.


Use a wireless back up and leave the NID alone.


You must work for the telco. Sorry, but my job is not to make yours easier.

I am a self employed electrician. I have worked as a construction
industry communications wireman but I have never been employed by a
utility. What I have said has nothing at all to do with making my job,
or the utilities job, easier. I was only trying to avoid the major
expense to the OP of having a violation of their states utility tariffs
corrected at their expense. In most states the utility is not allowed
to have their NID inside of any portion of a domicile. We are talking
about a house so what is done for commercial customers has very little
bearing on the question. A change in the NID location must be done by
utility personnel at the customers expense. If you DIY and the utility
decides to make an issue of it that will get rather expensive very
quickly.
--
Tom Horne

What Tom Said.

Also, a tamper switch in the NID is quite silly anyway:

1) Loss of phone signal on an armed system will raise an alarm, on a
disarmed system will raise a trouble code.
2) Kinda hard for me to believe that a burglar is going to open the NID
to disable the phone line.

Don't move the NID. Bad, Bad idea.

Subject: Alarm system-telephone wire
Newsgroup: alt.home.repair
= Matt = wrote:

What Tom Said.

Also, a tamper switch in the NID is quite silly anyway:

1) Loss of phone signal on an armed system will raise an alarm, on a
disarmed system will raise a trouble code.
2) Kinda hard for me to believe that a burglar is going to open the NID
to disable the phone line.

Don't move the NID. Bad, Bad idea.


I was talking about tampering an outdoor NEMA type enclosure, that the NID would
be mounted inside. The service drop would be in pipe leading up to it. It's
disguised and hardened that way.

As far as moving the NID inside the premises, that is a risk I'm willing to
take. But your advice and Horn's is a valid point.


--

-Graham

Remove the snails to email