Master Splitter into ugly old phone wiring systems

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Jaxson

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#144232 12-May-2014 13:23

Hi,

Thought I'd run this past the gurus for confirmation. (I've read the older threads, just looking to confirm this situation)

I'm going to install a master splitter at my inlaws place to address their issues with broadband disconnects when the phone rings etc. All the classic signs.
They may (ie most probably do) have the older 3 wire setup (I didn't have enough time to inspect thoroughly over the weekend).

What I'd like to confirm is that from a splitter install situation the downstream phone config doesn't matter. Is that correct?

ie I don't want to get into converting the birds nest of phone outlet cabling in the house to 2 wire if it's not absolutely necessary.
My intention is to fit a VDSL splitter at the demarc incomer, feed a new dedicated line off to the modem and reconnect the existing lot in AS BEFORE, untouched, just now after the splitter is all.
I figure that's very standard and basic.

Pictures for show and tell amusement, the demarc box front and rear:
Sorry no photos of a phone just to confirm if it's 2 or 3 wire M/S etc.
The demarc front

Thanks as always.

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Vocus

#1042261 12-May-2014 13:29

If the phones work well enough then, no need to rewire all the phones too. Your plan is fine and will still improve your DSL stats. The splitter isolates all that mess from your DSL signal.

Ragnor

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#1042411 12-May-2014 15:53

Yep master filter/splitter where line comes into the house and new cat5e/cat6 to the modem off the dsl pair on the splitter and rest of the existing wiring off the phone pair on the splitter.

It's usually pretty clear on the splitter, he's one that was posted awhile back by someone else. Note this isn't at the ETP/demarc because this house didn't have a proper one and it was convenient to put it there iirc...

Full size: https://cdn.geekzone.co.nz/imagessubs/18744bda2a439321fe02710fc0ea3e68.jpg

Jaxson

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#1042508 12-May-2014 17:31

Sweet, sounds like it's a valid approach for both new '2 wire' and older '3 wire' Master / Slave configurations.

Thanks all, yes I've installed splitters before and with the newer 3 pair VDSL ones and the gel cap joiners it's a walk in the park.

Hardest part as always now is a trip under the house to route the new cable to the best modem location.
The phone config side can wait to another day once I determine what their exact setup is on the outlet faceplates.

Cheers.

coffeebaron

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#1042514 12-May-2014 17:37

I'd house it in a new ETP though.

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InstallerUFB

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#1042575 12-May-2014 19:03

Hi Jaxson

That 'grey thing' in your pictures is a device call a Weather Master and is a very early type of demarc and 3 wire master - theses are not suitable for use as a houseing for a master spliter ( they have compartments and circuity inside them )

See if you can get it replaced with a moden ETP by Chorus first, before adding your master filter

Yabanize

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#1042589 12-May-2014 19:16

Jaxson:

Thanks as always.

In this picture it appears that there are 4 different cables going to 4 different jacks in each house? If so good on them for not daisy chaining!

Jaxson

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#1042611 12-May-2014 19:57

InstallerUFB: Hi Jaxson

That 'grey thing' in your pictures is a device call a Weather Master and is a very early type of demarc and 3 wire master - theses are not suitable for use as a houseing for a master spliter ( they have compartments and circuity inside them )

See if you can get it replaced with a moden ETP by Chorus first, before adding your master filter

Good to know.

I wasn't thinking of housing the VDSL splitter in there, but good to know that it will contain more than a simple junction block inside.

I may end up cutting the incomer 20cm or so upstream and leaving a shot leg from the splitter into this mess. There is room up under the house in this area, so (relatively) plenty of space to work and install a basic safe housing under there.

Agree with getting it replaced though, but that may trigger a need to replace the presumably 3 wire outlet system inside.
Ironically I believe they've had 'Telecom' come to take a look at it previously to diagnose their line dropout issues etc...

Not sure if this is an attempt at not daisychaining either, as with many others I'm sure it's a mish mash downstream

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lapimate

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#1042619 12-May-2014 20:21

Ragnor:... new cat5e/cat6 to the modem ...

Is there "Telepermitted" Cat5e or 6 available? PTC 103 says inter alia "4.2.1 Materials (1) Non-Telepermitted cat 5 is also readily available, but this may contain cellular insulation which is prohibited by PTC 222 because of risk of total failure should water penetrate the sheath ..." [my emphasis].

Bung

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#1042620 12-May-2014 20:21

Jaxson: Agree with getting it replaced though, but that may trigger a need to replace the presumably 3 wire outlet system inside.
Ironically I believe they've had 'Telecom' come to take a look at it previously to diagnose their line dropout issues etc...

Not sure if this is an attempt at not daisychaining either, as with many others I'm sure it's a mish mash downstream

If it is still 3 wired those old jackpoints were notorious for developing corrosion tracking across the pcb. It starts as something that trips the ringing during 1st ring. They are long overdue for replacement. I only bothered doing 1 and stuck a DECT base station on it.

lapimate

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#1042667 12-May-2014 21:16

Bung: ... 3 wired those old jackpoints were notorious for developing corrosion tracking across the pcb. ...

Eg this. Probably more than 25 years since it was installed. No apparent moisture in outer wall space where it was, so presumably condensation. 3-wire extension socket

quickymart

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#1042696 12-May-2014 22:08

Speaking of old wiring (sorry for the slight derail) what are the little grey things that come up out of the ground on the footpath full of wiring and have "call Telecom before excavating". Are they plinths? Or something else? Have they been superceded?

InstallerUFB

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#1042713 12-May-2014 23:12

quickymart: Speaking of old wiring (sorry for the slight derail) what are the little grey things that come up out of the ground on the footpath full of wiring and have "call Telecom before excavating". Are they plinths? Or something else? Have they been superceded?

They are called DPs (Distribution Pillars) or just pillars - they havent been superceded as such and are still installed but there are many differnt types of copper distribution network architecture designs and associated hardware, in many cases the hardware is fitted into pits so isnt generaly visable.

The Hardware for the fibre networks are differnt again and these have also changed over the past 4yrs on the Chorus installed networks.

quickymart

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#1042731 13-May-2014 06:11

Thanks for that. Do they do data or are they purely for voice?

Bung

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#1042735 13-May-2014 07:20

They do cable, after the splitter your data & voice are on the same cable.

Ragnor

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#1043026 13-May-2014 13:42

lapimate:
Ragnor:... new cat5e/cat6 to the modem ...

Is there "Telepermitted" Cat5e or 6 available? PTC 103 says inter alia "4.2.1 Materials (1) Non-Telepermitted cat 5 is also readily available, but this may contain cellular insulation which is prohibited by PTC 222 because of risk of total failure should water penetrate the sheath ..." [my emphasis].

You can use gel filled "exterior" cat5e/6 for anything that will get wet, generally internal wiring doesn't get wet or you have bigger problems...

PTC 222 is from 1999 most of the PTC spec's 103, 106 etc are replaced by the TCF premises wiring
http://www.tcf.org.nz/content/dc07abcd-21f8-4288-b55b-6f861bdd4d02.html

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