Re: How to Distribute one Phone Line to Multiple Phones Lines?

[Brad Houser]

Look here for info on wiring 66 blocks:
http://www.homephonewiring.com/add-line3.html

Brad H

<jaykchan@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1104558035.805166.168300@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
> I want to add one phone outlet for voice and another phone outlet for
> DSL in the basement. But I don't know how to work with the existing
> block that distribute the phone line into multiple lines. I would like
> someone to explain how I can add one more phone line into the block.
>
> The block is like a "Type 66 Connecting Block" like the "66 Block -
> Split M Block" that I have found in Home Depot. But it has 6 rows
> instead of 50 rows; it has 6 columns instead of 4 columns. Seem like
> the phone line (from the phone company) first goes into a DSL splitter
> box, the DSL line comes out from the splitter box and goes its own way,
> the voice line comes out and feeds into the left side of the
> 66-block-look-alike, and 5 phone lines coming out from the right side.
> Each phone line has 1 pair of wires; this means I see 10 wires coming
> out from the right side. I don't know how to make sense of all these
> wires. How does this block works? How can I get one more phone line
> coming out from this block?
>
> Is there other alternative to get 6 voice phone lines out of one line?
> Thanks in advance for any info.
>
> Jay Chan
>

[jaykchan@hotmail.com]

The link that you sent me shows the use of 66 Split M block that has 4
teeth in each row. The existing block in my house has 6 teeth in each
row. Seem like the instruction may not apply to the existing block in
my house. This is OK though because I have decided to get rid of the
existing block and replace it with a 110 block anyway (I have the
instruction of using the 110 block). Thanks anyway.

Jay Chan

[wkearney99]

> The link that you sent me shows the use of 66 Split M block that has 4
> teeth in each row. The existing block in my house has 6 teeth in each
> row. Seem like the instruction may not apply to the existing block in
> my house. This is OK though because I have decided to get rid of the
> existing block and replace it with a 110 block anyway (I have the
> instruction of using the 110 block). Thanks anyway.

The binding posts (teeth) in most 66 blocks are either the two posts
adjacent or all four. The 6 post style of your block shared the same metal
between all six horizontal positions. For a regular 66 block when you need
to have all four posts share the same signal you simply bridge across the
center two with a metal clip. This effectively makes all four posts on the
row share the same metal. Your six post block (whose telco model number
escapes me) simply does this already.

Frankly this is just basic Wiring-101. Regardless of the block style used
it's nothing more than just VERY simple wiring.

I think where most people get confused is when they don't know about wiring
tricks like looping a line THROUGH a binding post and onward to other posts.
Doing this makes it MUCH easier to extend the signal being used to any
number of different rows on the block and even to other blocks. Thus it's
common to pull the "house wire" to a 66 block using the back side of the
block. Then pull a pair from each position to another block that has the
actual phone (or data) signals on it. This way you punch a single pair from
the inside post of a 66 block two-position clip to the house wire posts.
Then you can loop through the outside post of that same clip to any other
stations that also need the signal. Really, once you 'get it' it's very
simple. Think about it, if telco contractors can do then so can you (not to
disparage actual telco linemen but this stuff is really brain-dead simple)

Just take a look inside the wiring panel of a medium-sized office. Most of
the time you'll find the wires from the pole (or the underground cable)
being brought to a set of 66 blocks. Then you'll also find the in-build
(house wire as it's called) being brought to a different set of blocks right
next to it. Then there's a jumper brought from the telco for the trunks to
a block for the PBX from the PBX back to a THIRD set of blocks (and
sometimes a fourth; one each in/out of the PBX). Finally a connection is
made from the PBX binding posts to the actual house wire.

For a residential application you probably don't have or need the third set
for the PBX. You just pull the in-wall wire to the backside of a 66 block.
Then pull the telco wires to the back of their own 66 block. Given that the
house wire is probably CAT5 you're faced with using 8 binding posts per
wire. You quickly need more than just one block so don't be stingy about
the planning of space and budget here.

You can, and many folks do, pull only one 4 pair CAT5 to the rooms and split
it between voice and data. Regular ethernet only needs two of the pairs but
gig-E requires all four so be careful. When pulling wire the cost of the
wire is the LEAST of your worries. Don't be penny-wise and pound-foolish
here; pull two and avoid regretting the mistake later. You can either pull
each pair to a vertical set of 16 posts or use 8 on each side, one for data,
the other for voice. It's a matter of personal preference and makes little
difference from a technical standpoint.

Then you just jumper through and around from the house posts to the telco
posts and data patch panel as needed.

-Bill Kearney

[jaykchan@hotmail.com]

> The 6 post style of your block shared the same metal
> between all six horizontal positions.

Good to know that. This means it provides an effective way of sharing
a phone line to multuple outlets. With the understanding of how this
6-posts block works, I think I will understand the existing wiring
better. The use of this 6-posts-block may be very obvious to you; but
the fact that I didn't know how it works was actually what had stopped
me from touching the phone wiring for months. Thanks.

> I think where most people get confused is when they don't know
> about wiring tricks like looping a line THROUGH a binding post
> and onward to other posts. ...

I am still not quite sure if I understand your trick. I think I will
pass. I am better off sticking with the standard instruction from
Leviton web site.

> When pulling wire the cost of the wire is the LEAST of
> your worries. Don't be penny-wise and pound-foolish here;
> pull two and avoid regretting the mistake later.

I totally agree with you.

By the way, I will post a new thread about the use of a RJ45 style
telephone distribution module instead of using 66-block or 110-block.
Would you please take a look of that. Thanks again.

Jay Chan