[mdlug] DSL Bell Telephone

[Rich Clark]

On Mon, February 2, 2009 11:09 am, Robert Jim Fulner wrote:
> Greetings:
>
> So this is not directly a Linux question, but I'll swing it by you all
> anyway. My wife and I recently bought a new house, we've had AT&T uverse
> and
> loved it, but its not available at our new location. As such we setting up
> a
> DSL only account, AT&T calls it a dry loop account, and its scheduled to
> be
> tunred on on Tuesday.
>
> Part of the agreement between my wife and I was that in the new house I
> could set up a "man cave" in the basement and have a whole corner
> dedicated
> to my "penguin computer." In the basement, the only phone jack, at least
> that I can find, is hooked into an old Bell Telephone that is permanently
> mounted on the wall.
>
> I couldn't easily remove this phone to find a jack. I'm not sure if its
> actually permanently wired in or what. I'm not even sure if this line
> that's
> connected to it will send the DSL signal or what, as Its obviously an old
> connection. Is there a hidden common phone jack that I can connect a DSL
> filter to? Is there a way to splice into the old phone line in another
> location? I am able to find the copper line going to it threw the pantry
> in
> the basement.
>
> At this time I do not have available, nor the funds to purchase, as
> wireless
> router and Wireless card for my PC so that we can wire the DSL modem
> upstairs.
>
> On a lighter note, when I called AT&T to make the switch over the
> representative asked my which Operating System I had:
>
> I told her" Xubuntu 8.10."
> She says "No sir, I mean do you have XP or Vista?"
> I said, "Neither."
> "Oh, a Macintosh then?"
> "No, Xubuntu, that's Linux in case you wanted to know."
> "Uhm, that's not a choice"
> "Well then just check Vista, that's what my wife uses on her laptop."

God, that's so completely idiotic -- "Linux, that's not a choice." Too bad
that statement right there didn't make them lose your business.

On the other hand regarding wiring to extend your phone circuit, all you
need do is splice into the circuit at any extension point. Open up the box
or wall socket, and you'll find that it has 2 conductors, one powered, the
other to ground, likely secured by a pair of screw/washers at the terminal
points. Paying attention to how they're wired in the existing extension
box, wire the other end of your new line running from that point to the
basement in similar fashion.

Screech if you need help. My work schedule has changed, so I could run out
and help if needed. I could do the work in my sleep.