Questions about phone line between the house and the poll

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DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#99034 11-Mar-2012 14:56

So, today's rain and wind dropped the internet again. I went outside to investigate why that may be and found what looks like speaker cable. I had a search around on the forum and its not the first time its been described that way.

The line sags, looks as if it has been taped up or pained over and is propped up by twisted wire. Its not terminated to anything on the outside of the house. Someone has just drilled a hole and shoved it through the roof. (Pictures below) It also gets blown around in the wind and knocked about by a near by tree.

How can I determine that this is the problem?

Pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56917591@N02/6971091825/lightbox/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56917591@N02/6824969568/lightbox/

Any help appreciated as always.

cyril7

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#593589 11-Mar-2012 15:53

Hi, that wire is called tru-rip and yes is similar to speaker wire although that is solid core. It is the oldest wiring you will find still around from the old post office days and its not nice for DSL as its impedance is not optimal.

Its possible that its just got a screw joint in the roof space to the house wiring and at the pole and they could have become brittle and fractured with age. In the old days there was no demarc or ETP just put through the sofit just like yours is done.

Best thing to happen is for it to break, then get Chorus to come and replace it with a new two pair from the pole to the house, get them to put a central filter in at the same time, although they will charge you for the last bit.

Cheers
Cyril

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#593599 11-Mar-2012 15:59

cyril7: Hi, that wire is called tru-rip and yes is similar to speaker wire although that is solid core. It is the oldest wiring you will find still around from the old post office days and its not nice for DSL as its impedance is not optimal.

Its possible that its just got a screw joint in the roof space to the house wiring and at the pole and they could have become brittle and fractured with age. In the old days there was no demarc or ETP just put through the sofit just like yours is done.

Best thing to happen is for it to break, then get Chorus to come and replace it with a new two pair from the pole to the house, get them to put a central filter in at the same time, although they will charge you for the last bit.

Cheers
Cyril

Thanks Cyril.

In other words, let the tree and rain beat it up a little more, then call Chorus to replace it?

Cheers :)

cyril7

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#593600 11-Mar-2012 16:00

Yep, or have an accident with a pair of garden clippers while trimming the tree, but dont fall out.

Infact if the tree is clearly hitting the line just call chorus and say you DSL disconnects whenever the winds up and you think its the tree, pretty good chance they will just replace it no questions asked.

Cyril

gzt

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Lifetime subscriber

#593602 11-Mar-2012 16:02

Yes, that does look awful. I wonder how old it is. Normally there is a strainer and a termination box. Does it terminate and connect to your house system directly inside the roof or somewhere else?

If you can get to it, you might as well renew those connections.

So your stats are ok but it just drops out momentarily? Have you ever had it monitored by the telco?

[edit: like Cyril7's answer better : )]

DravidDavid

1907 posts

Uber Geek

#593604 11-Mar-2012 16:03

Rain and wind already take out my DSL on a regular basis. If I'm right in guessing the cable is the problem, I could get them to replace it.

EDIT: DSL cut out as I was adding this post...Fun.

Line stats are good, but could be much better. I've never had it monitored, but I guess I could ask them to. Not sure exactly where it connects inside the house. Will have a look now.