Re: Home alarm & phone lines question

["Robert L Bass" <RobertLBass@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Protecting a buried telephone cable.

One alternative is to bring the telephone "drop" feed in below grade.  To do this, first dig a hole about a foot deep and 2 feet
wide by 2 feet long where the wire comes up out of the soil.  Move the cable away from the wall so you don't damage it.  Now drill a
1-1/2" diameter hole through the foundation from the inside.  Start 3-4" above grade level and angle the hole 60º down so it comes
out of the wall several inches below the surface.  I like to do this with the big rotary hammer from Bosch but it can be done with a
hammer drill and a little patience.

Once the hole is drilled, unwire and remove the telephone company "protector" (often called a NID or DEMARC) from the exterior wall.
Install the protector inside the house about 18-20" above the floor.  Pass a length of galvanized metal conduit through the hole.
Slip a nylon bushing into each end of the conduit.  Thread the drop cable through the conduit and reconnect it to the protector.  If
the ground wire is too short to reach, replace it.  Do NOT splice a new wire to the existing one.  Reroute the inside wiring from
the jacks and the alarm system to the new location.  Test everything.

Make a simple "C" frame out of pressure treated 2x4 lumber to fit the hole.  Fill the hole to the bottom of the wood with gravel or
sand.  Mix up some Quick-Crete or other fast setting concrete and fill the frame to the brim.  No thief will ever cut your phone
line.  The telco's don't like this but they won't do anything about it.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
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