atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems Telrad Telephones & Systems Broken Phone extension

Okay, I put in a jack at the panel, and the phone works there, so I cut the wires and put a modular jack in at the junction box before it leaves the middle school to go to the bus garage and it works there as well. That means the problem must be on the line somewhere underground.

That means that I can't keep using the same wires, but before I go and have new cable run at great expense, I want to try something. The existing cable is cat5, with the extra two pair taped off at the end. I want to try switching to those pair for this short job, and if that doesn't work maybe try mixing and matching some wires. I'm hoping to find four that are good. What are my chances of success, and what would be a good way to isolate whether a wire is good or not?

I still find it odd that there could be a break, short, or loss due to attenuation and there still be enough current for a light to blink on the phone. I guess I'll have to move on, but I would like to know how it's possible.

Why do you find it odd, it happens all the time with cable going underground, the main enemy is water and we all know what water does to copper.

I don't find it odd that the cable is bad-that happens; it's odd that the cable is bad but the phone still lights up.

My main question, though, is what are my chances of finding 4 good wires on that cable given that at least one has already died, and could I count on them to keep working long even if I did?

[This message has been edited by ccsd (edited August 12, 2004).]

About all I can tell you is I don't know what your chances will be, start swapping and hope for the best you may just find some good pairs and be fine.

I have the phone working at the junction box in the bus garage where the line comes in, but not in the office there yet. Further investigation shows the line going to a little hub in the garage ceiling before finally dropping down to the phone jack. It's only about 20 feet, so I'm just gonna run new cable there and skip it; I'm considering this one closed. Thank's for everyone's help.

On another note, look for me asking for help in a week or two with adding new phone extensions for new teachers. The panel there is a mess.

[This message has been edited by ccsd (edited August 17, 2004).]