I've Learned More About Residential Phone Lines Than I've Ever Wanted To
So today is a big day for me.
Yup, you guessed it.
Today is the day that my phone line is all fixed (hopefully).
David (10:30:50 AM): does this the dumbasses came and fixed shit?
me (10:31:05 AM): no
me (10:31:11 AM): coming in like ten minutes
me (10:31:14 AM): what annoys me
me (10:31:25 AM): is the only that that I want my internet to be brokebn
me (10:31:27 AM): it's up and running
me (10:31:40 AM): so now I feel like somewhat of an asshole
me (10:31:44 AM): but I know
David (10:31:50 AM): it will break later
David (10:31:53 AM): or at some point
me (10:31:57 AM): I just fucking *know* that as soon as he leaves
me (10:32:01 AM): it'll break
David (10:32:09 AM): isn't there a uhh
David (10:32:18 AM): a jack in your house that is guaranteed to not work?
David (10:32:21 AM): or at all of them working now?
me (10:32:31 AM): um
me (10:32:43 AM): I'm too lazy to run up stairs with the modem to check that one
me (10:32:46 AM): but I'm pretty sure
me (10:32:52 AM): that everything works inside the house now
David (10:33:00 AM): tell them that then
David (10:33:13 AM): and make sure they dont leave without a suspected cause of error
David (10:33:27 AM): and that they've at least checked on that as much as they can
me (10:33:40 AM): the situation with my problem is
David (10:33:45 AM): rawr
me (10:33:45 AM): all the wire that I Think is bad
me (10:33:51 AM): is insulated
David (10:33:54 AM): so
me (10:33:57 AM): so short of cutting open the stuff
me (10:33:59 AM): you won't know
David (10:34:03 AM): they can do that
David (10:34:11 AM): if they can't check signal strength/stability
me (10:34:12 AM): well no
David (10:34:16 AM): then those are useless repair men
me (10:34:19 AM): it's a bit of a catch 22 situtation
me (10:34:25 AM): because if it turns out I'm wrong
me (10:34:31 AM): then I've just caused the situation
David (10:34:39 AM): you're not
David (10:35:02 AM): its 95% likely to be a a physical problem with the wiring
David (10:35:04 AM): going to your house
David (10:35:09 AM): if the symptom is all dead
David (10:35:11 AM): or all working
me (10:35:19 AM): no the problem is what part of the wiring is fucked up
David (10:35:22 AM): and it's not full time down
David (10:35:30 AM): the central line?
me (10:35:45 AM): I hope its the outside line leading inside the house
David (10:35:46 AM): there is only 1 wire that should go to your house
me (10:35:56 AM): however it could be a wire that is specifically like underground inside the house
David (10:36:00 AM): and form there, splits to each jack in the house
David (10:36:10 AM): thats the one wire?
David (10:36:22 AM): that is the one wire
me (10:36:23 AM): from what it seems
me (10:36:47 AM): weather, specifically rain, seems to change from "working" to "not working"
me (10:37:03 AM): so it makes me believe this is something to do underground
David (10:37:03 AM): and that affects underground too
David (10:37:07 AM): ok
David (10:37:13 AM): why is this still a question?
me (10:37:14 AM): do you see where my fears are?
David (10:37:42 AM): i'm confused with what evidence contradicts the conclusion that it is a physical problem with the central line to your house - which is naturally found underground
David (10:37:53 AM): no, i dont see your fear
me (10:37:56 AM): okay
me (10:38:12 AM): there's really two sections of wiring that I'm suspecting that could be bad
David (10:38:32 AM): short names?
me (10:38:40 AM): a. the wriring that is exposed outside fromt he box that leads under ground
b. the wirign that is underground
me (10:38:44 AM): I'm hoping for a
me (10:39:03 AM): but really, the only way to check to see if those wires are fubar is to cut it ope
me (10:39:14 AM): which creates it's own problems in it of it self
me (10:39:26 AM): odds are the problem lies in b.
me (10:39:31 AM): in which case it's going to be ass
David (10:39:50 AM): a and b are connected in a series
me (10:39:54 AM): because it takes more time to fix it due tot he technical difficulities
David (10:40:07 AM): if they find out there's a problem at location b, it could still originate from a
David (10:40:13 AM): excuse me
David (10:40:17 AM): reverse a and b in that
David (10:40:42 AM): but one question
David (10:40:57 AM): the box you speak of that has a wire that leads underground - does that box have a jack that you can connect directly to?
me (10:41:03 AM): yeah
me (10:41:05 AM): and I've tested it
me (10:41:08 AM): mulitiple times
David (10:41:15 AM): is that the one that works more times than the rest of your house?
me (10:41:17 AM): verizon service lines that run into the box is fine
me (10:41:22 AM): yes
David (10:41:56 AM): then most likely that box is both a jack, and the original of the central line to your house
me (10:42:11 AM): ....
me (10:42:13 AM): um
me (10:42:14 AM): it is
David (10:42:18 AM): ok
David (10:42:22 AM): then b and a, are in a series
David (10:42:26 AM): and finding a problem with that box
David (10:42:27 AM): is win
me (10:42:33 AM): okay
David (10:42:38 AM): the repair man should figure out what to do easily from there
me (10:42:41 AM): I think you're not really gettign what I'ms aying specifically
David (10:42:45 AM): i am...
me (10:42:52 AM): a and b are the same line
me (10:42:57 AM): just dfferent sections of the same line
me (10:43:09 AM): one is easier to work with than the other
David (10:43:15 AM): checking if a wire is bad at various location is like..a basic function of repairing services like that
David (10:43:34 AM): if it's the line underground, sure they may not be able to fix it today
me (10:43:35 AM): the thing is how do you check
me (10:43:40 AM): especially if the line is working
David (10:43:41 AM): but they should figure that out in less than a half hour
David (10:43:48 AM): voltmeter
David (10:43:55 AM): you can buy one at radio shack
me (10:43:59 AM): but the thing is
me (10:44:02 AM): the line is working now
David (10:44:03 AM): you do not have the cut the line
me (10:44:05 AM): so how do you check?
me (10:46:38 AM): brb
The guy (Tom), showed up.
Long story short, turns out each NID is equipped with a thing called a half-ringer which was placed back in the day when internet wasn't big. The half-ringer acts like a pinger for your telephone-if you're experiencing difficulties with your phone line, an automated computer over at offices will ping the half-ringer to determine something or other.
However, in the age of the interweb, turns out this half-ringer causes havoc for people with internet via phonelines. I'm assuming it has something to do with electrical interference. (For those of you who arn't in the "know", basically the dsl runs through on your phone lines, but on a different frequency-which is why you can use both the internet and the phone at the same time.)
Well, I thought this nightmare would be over--I was wrong. Luckily Tom was super nice and actually thoroughly checked everything before he left (well, everything but his equipment, but I'll get to that later).
After running some tests (turns out they do ping tests now through the computers...eh, random trivia) and making some calls to certify the tests were okay, he was experiencing some problems with the line still. Turns out the prior fix to the phone line was also causing some issues. So as a result, he replaced the replaced phone lines and triumphantly tells me that there should be no more problems and that it should be running about 9x% more efficiently now (finally finish watching some series).
Huzzah!
Quite possibly the best birthday present that Verizon can give me--well that and free FIOS, but I'll take what I can get.
On an afternote: So as I was setting everything back into place (the trash is located in front of the NID) I noticed something.
Tom ended up leaving one of the....detectors? monitors? thingamajig? next to the box. So...yeah. I called and left a voicemail, hopefully he'll check before...whenever. He also left the NID cover's opened, which isn't a big deal, but I think I need to screw the service cover with a special driver so.
And in conclusion: I've learned way too much about residential wiring systems throughout this whole 3 month ordeal. Sadly enough, I think as a result, I can pretty much fix a bit of common household problems, should they occur.
P.S. As I came back to my computer I found it strange that there was a bit of moisture on the ground. I figured I just spilled some water there or something. Turns out I was toeing a slug..... D: I scooped it up on a card and dropped it off outside. I think it crawled under something. I hope it's okay.
Is slug slime dangerous?
Yup, you guessed it.
Today is the day that my phone line is all fixed (hopefully).
David (10:30:50 AM): does this the dumbasses came and fixed shit?
me (10:31:05 AM): no
me (10:31:11 AM): coming in like ten minutes
me (10:31:14 AM): what annoys me
me (10:31:25 AM): is the only that that I want my internet to be brokebn
me (10:31:27 AM): it's up and running
me (10:31:40 AM): so now I feel like somewhat of an asshole
me (10:31:44 AM): but I know
David (10:31:50 AM): it will break later
David (10:31:53 AM): or at some point
me (10:31:57 AM): I just fucking *know* that as soon as he leaves
me (10:32:01 AM): it'll break
David (10:32:09 AM): isn't there a uhh
David (10:32:18 AM): a jack in your house that is guaranteed to not work?
David (10:32:21 AM): or at all of them working now?
me (10:32:31 AM): um
me (10:32:43 AM): I'm too lazy to run up stairs with the modem to check that one
me (10:32:46 AM): but I'm pretty sure
me (10:32:52 AM): that everything works inside the house now
David (10:33:00 AM): tell them that then
David (10:33:13 AM): and make sure they dont leave without a suspected cause of error
David (10:33:27 AM): and that they've at least checked on that as much as they can
me (10:33:40 AM): the situation with my problem is
David (10:33:45 AM): rawr
me (10:33:45 AM): all the wire that I Think is bad
me (10:33:51 AM): is insulated
David (10:33:54 AM): so
me (10:33:57 AM): so short of cutting open the stuff
me (10:33:59 AM): you won't know
David (10:34:03 AM): they can do that
David (10:34:11 AM): if they can't check signal strength/stability
me (10:34:12 AM): well no
David (10:34:16 AM): then those are useless repair men
me (10:34:19 AM): it's a bit of a catch 22 situtation
me (10:34:25 AM): because if it turns out I'm wrong
me (10:34:31 AM): then I've just caused the situation
David (10:34:39 AM): you're not
David (10:35:02 AM): its 95% likely to be a a physical problem with the wiring
David (10:35:04 AM): going to your house
David (10:35:09 AM): if the symptom is all dead
David (10:35:11 AM): or all working
me (10:35:19 AM): no the problem is what part of the wiring is fucked up
David (10:35:22 AM): and it's not full time down
David (10:35:30 AM): the central line?
me (10:35:45 AM): I hope its the outside line leading inside the house
David (10:35:46 AM): there is only 1 wire that should go to your house
me (10:35:56 AM): however it could be a wire that is specifically like underground inside the house
David (10:36:00 AM): and form there, splits to each jack in the house
David (10:36:10 AM): thats the one wire?
David (10:36:22 AM): that is the one wire
me (10:36:23 AM): from what it seems
me (10:36:47 AM): weather, specifically rain, seems to change from "working" to "not working"
me (10:37:03 AM): so it makes me believe this is something to do underground
David (10:37:03 AM): and that affects underground too
David (10:37:07 AM): ok
David (10:37:13 AM): why is this still a question?
me (10:37:14 AM): do you see where my fears are?
David (10:37:42 AM): i'm confused with what evidence contradicts the conclusion that it is a physical problem with the central line to your house - which is naturally found underground
David (10:37:53 AM): no, i dont see your fear
me (10:37:56 AM): okay
me (10:38:12 AM): there's really two sections of wiring that I'm suspecting that could be bad
David (10:38:32 AM): short names?
me (10:38:40 AM): a. the wriring that is exposed outside fromt he box that leads under ground
b. the wirign that is underground
me (10:38:44 AM): I'm hoping for a
me (10:39:03 AM): but really, the only way to check to see if those wires are fubar is to cut it ope
me (10:39:14 AM): which creates it's own problems in it of it self
me (10:39:26 AM): odds are the problem lies in b.
me (10:39:31 AM): in which case it's going to be ass
David (10:39:50 AM): a and b are connected in a series
me (10:39:54 AM): because it takes more time to fix it due tot he technical difficulities
David (10:40:07 AM): if they find out there's a problem at location b, it could still originate from a
David (10:40:13 AM): excuse me
David (10:40:17 AM): reverse a and b in that
David (10:40:42 AM): but one question
David (10:40:57 AM): the box you speak of that has a wire that leads underground - does that box have a jack that you can connect directly to?
me (10:41:03 AM): yeah
me (10:41:05 AM): and I've tested it
me (10:41:08 AM): mulitiple times
David (10:41:15 AM): is that the one that works more times than the rest of your house?
me (10:41:17 AM): verizon service lines that run into the box is fine
me (10:41:22 AM): yes
David (10:41:56 AM): then most likely that box is both a jack, and the original of the central line to your house
me (10:42:11 AM): ....
me (10:42:13 AM): um
me (10:42:14 AM): it is
David (10:42:18 AM): ok
David (10:42:22 AM): then b and a, are in a series
David (10:42:26 AM): and finding a problem with that box
David (10:42:27 AM): is win
me (10:42:33 AM): okay
David (10:42:38 AM): the repair man should figure out what to do easily from there
me (10:42:41 AM): I think you're not really gettign what I'ms aying specifically
David (10:42:45 AM): i am...
me (10:42:52 AM): a and b are the same line
me (10:42:57 AM): just dfferent sections of the same line
me (10:43:09 AM): one is easier to work with than the other
David (10:43:15 AM): checking if a wire is bad at various location is like..a basic function of repairing services like that
David (10:43:34 AM): if it's the line underground, sure they may not be able to fix it today
me (10:43:35 AM): the thing is how do you check
me (10:43:40 AM): especially if the line is working
David (10:43:41 AM): but they should figure that out in less than a half hour
David (10:43:48 AM): voltmeter
David (10:43:55 AM): you can buy one at radio shack
me (10:43:59 AM): but the thing is
me (10:44:02 AM): the line is working now
David (10:44:03 AM): you do not have the cut the line
me (10:44:05 AM): so how do you check?
me (10:46:38 AM): brb
The guy (Tom), showed up.
Long story short, turns out each NID is equipped with a thing called a half-ringer which was placed back in the day when internet wasn't big. The half-ringer acts like a pinger for your telephone-if you're experiencing difficulties with your phone line, an automated computer over at offices will ping the half-ringer to determine something or other.
However, in the age of the interweb, turns out this half-ringer causes havoc for people with internet via phonelines. I'm assuming it has something to do with electrical interference. (For those of you who arn't in the "know", basically the dsl runs through on your phone lines, but on a different frequency-which is why you can use both the internet and the phone at the same time.)
Well, I thought this nightmare would be over--I was wrong. Luckily Tom was super nice and actually thoroughly checked everything before he left (well, everything but his equipment, but I'll get to that later).
After running some tests (turns out they do ping tests now through the computers...eh, random trivia) and making some calls to certify the tests were okay, he was experiencing some problems with the line still. Turns out the prior fix to the phone line was also causing some issues. So as a result, he replaced the replaced phone lines and triumphantly tells me that there should be no more problems and that it should be running about 9x% more efficiently now (finally finish watching some series).
Huzzah!
Quite possibly the best birthday present that Verizon can give me--well that and free FIOS, but I'll take what I can get.
On an afternote: So as I was setting everything back into place (the trash is located in front of the NID) I noticed something.
Tom ended up leaving one of the....detectors? monitors? thingamajig? next to the box. So...yeah. I called and left a voicemail, hopefully he'll check before...whenever. He also left the NID cover's opened, which isn't a big deal, but I think I need to screw the service cover with a special driver so.
And in conclusion: I've learned way too much about residential wiring systems throughout this whole 3 month ordeal. Sadly enough, I think as a result, I can pretty much fix a bit of common household problems, should they occur.
P.S. As I came back to my computer I found it strange that there was a bit of moisture on the ground. I figured I just spilled some water there or something. Turns out I was toeing a slug..... D: I scooped it up on a card and dropped it off outside. I think it crawled under something. I hope it's okay.
Is slug slime dangerous?