The Old Scary Black Wire

May 20, 2009 12:48 PM

Is it worth the effort to get Verizon to come out and update the external phone wiring, specifically, I don't have "the gray box" (NID)

I've been having problems with my DSL. Service has been very erratic and I've spent lots of time on the phone with Tech assistance. Finally I unplugged my phone (was using a splitter) and plugged the router directly into the jack. So far, everything is working fine.

But, while working through all this, I discovered how scary old the phone wiring is both in and out of my house. I can't even begin to describe the mass of old wires wound around little screws and such inside the house -- but I do know this, there is no gray box on the outside of my house. My phone service comes to my house on a wire, wraps around some kind of a ceramic holder and then down the wall and in through a hole in the masonry by the basement (and wraps around all some grimy fittings and screws on the wall inside).

. . . I am also wondering if I can get them to install the gray box and not charge me (and I kind of wonder if they're at all invested in this kind of stuff what with the advent of Fios and the slow, but coming death of the landline) -- I am really kind of doubting they'll update the interior for free, but I kind of figure the outside is there domain.

I have a very limited budget for this stuff -- So I am trying to figure out what to do.

posted by nnk to technology (5 comments total)

I realize this is a little convoluted and wishy-washy -- I am sorry about that. But if you have any experience with updating old phone wiring etc., dealing with Verizon, that could be helpful.
posted by nnk at 1:11 PM on May 20

The phone company is responsible for all wiring up to and including the insulator block. You can call them and ask them to install an NID but there is no guarantee that they will say yes. If you have any other service work done on your exterior phone line, for example they need to replace a damaged pair of wires in the patch box at the street, then they will likely install the NID if you ask. Basically, they may not want to roll a truck just to replace the NID, but if they are in the neighborhood anyway, they will probably do the work at no charge since they own and are responsible those wires. It doesn't hurt to ask.

However, this may have nothing to do with your DSL problems. Phone wiring is pretty simple. As long as the wires are solidly connected at the terminal block, there shouldn't be a problem. An NID does make it easier to determine if problems are inside the house or outside because the NID provides a phone jack that you can plug into outside the house.
posted by JackFlash at 1:16 PM on May 20

They won't update the interior but they can probably install a NID for you (makes their lives easier) and then you would have to take up responsibility for connecting the premises wiring, which is pretty simple.

They will of course do both at your direction for a fee.
posted by iamabot at 1:43 PM on May 20

Have them put in a new "drop" line & a updated box outside. Then you can test from there to see if it is your house wires. What no FIOS yet? It is the best thing going:-)
posted by patnok at 3:43 PM on May 20

The tech flat out told us that if we requested the NID, they'd have to charge us, but it was standard to install it as part of any other related line service. Careful verbiage dance conducted. NID installed for free when they fixed our line.
posted by desuetude at 8:13 PM on May 20