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demarc box? Basement setup?

bhackford | Posted in Construction Techniques on August 26, 2005 05:34am

Who provides this? The phone company? Do they make ones that connects to 3/4 conduit? What are the best set up for phone lines inside? I thought there was a company that made a central panel for phone, cable and computer network wires? It was in a FHB but I can’t remeber.

Thoughts on the best setup? Thanks

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  1. jrnbj | Aug 26, 2005 06:02am | #1

    I believe Big Orange & Big Blue carry the combo phone/cable/network boxes....if you need low tech, I like a small punch down block, but they are hard to find....60 pair are easy, but fewer are rare...

    1. bhackford | Aug 26, 2005 06:13am | #2

      But the phone company still needs to put a network box outside? And so does cable right?

      1. WillieWonka | Aug 26, 2005 09:15am | #3

        since it's so late and jrn hasn't responded to you yet......the answer is yes, the phone company MUST put a box on the outside of your home to be the point of demarcation. From there you may run an ordinary station wire or CAT 5 wire to one of the nice-n-neat panel boxes sold at the Orange and Blue stores from which you can use as a central location for all your homes connections.

        These boxes at the Orange/Blue stores are rather nice, they keep things tidy but they are YOUR responsibility.

        If this is for a newly build home without existing phone service, merely establishing phone service will result in a demarc box being put onto your home for you automatically when you set up your account with the phone company. You do the rest once the demarc is installed. another name for this box is Network Interface Box (NIB).

        If this home has old service, that is the wire just comes into the home from the drop and there is no fancy demarc box and you just would like to have one, simply call your phone company and tell them  you do not have a Network Interface box and would like one installed. They will do it for you when they can at no charge to you because the phone company likes for you to have the NIB boxes. They have better components and small surge arrestors in them. In my area, as the phone company enters an area, if they see an old service they'll put a NIB on the home. They just do it when they see it needs done. They should appreciate you calling them to let them know you don't have one and that you want one.

        If at first you don't succeed, try using a hammer next time...everything needs some extra persuasion from time to time.  -ME

        Edited 8/26/2005 2:23 am ET by WillieWonka

      2. WillieWonka | Aug 26, 2005 09:17am | #4

        Cable does not have a demarc box. Most often it  just runs from the drop into your home to some splitter closeby where it enters. Most often the cable comes from the drop into a small grounding block on the side of your home which looks like a heavy duty splitter or coax union, hard to describe. From there it runs inside to where you need it. Most people split it as soon as it gets inside. The phone/cable organizer box you find at the Orange/Blue stores are perfect for this. You can run it from the drop right into your cable box inside the home.If at first you don't succeed, try using a hammer next time...everything needs some extra persuasion from time to time.  -ME

        1. rasconc | Aug 26, 2005 05:40pm | #5

          To add a little to your great advice.  That little ground block on the cable should be tied to the phone and incoming electric service ground points, all common.

          1. WillieWonka | Aug 27, 2005 06:27am | #6

            Ahhhh yes, indeed so.If at first you don't succeed, try using a hammer next time...everything needs some extra persuasion from time to time.  -ME

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