Communications: Voice, Radio and Data - Trying to Install New Phone Jack

I've never done anything like this before. The phone company says they want over 100$ to install a new jack and I think that's a bit steep, so I had to see it was possible to do on my own.

I went to Lowe's, asked around, and I was told that the wiring for most phone jacks are based in the attic. So, I came home and with extreme effort, crawled around my attic looking for something that could be related to a phone line.

To be honest, I had to back off searching because of exhaustion, but I was unable to find anything.

If it's not the attic, where else could it be? Also, am I in over my head trying to do this?

*Edit*
I just talked to a family member and they informed me the phone company did all the wiring for the phone line OUTSIDE and around the house rather than in its attic. I checked it out and everything is in fact wired through the outside rather than the attic.

Asking an employee of a big box mega mart homecenter for advice (on just about anything) is like asking a homeless person how to cook a gourmet meal; you might get a good response but 90% of the time you will get an incorrect answer.

Sometimes telephone wiring is run in an attic space, it was in my house along with all the other original wiring but I have since added additional wiring through the crawlspace. Sometimes the telephone wiring is done in the basement or crawlspace. And as you have found out, sometimes telephone wiring is done on the outside of the house and comes through the wall to a jack on the outside wall.

Honestly, the best way for you to add a new jack may be any of these or a combination of these. The best wiring plans for telephones (and data/computer networks) is what is known as a "home run" system where each telephone (or data) jack has its own cable that runs to a central location where it is then connected (along with all the other such cables) to the telephone system.

If all you want is one new telephone line then I strongly suggest that you run it all the way to the point where the telephone company cable enters your house. There will be a termination box at this point (called the NID for Network Interface Device) and it is at this point where you will make the connections. Most commonly today an eight conductor cable is used with the eight conductors grouped as four pairs. This can be either Category 3 cable or Category 5 cable. The Cat. 3 is only used for telephones while the Cat. 5 may be used for either telephones or computer data. If you are going to run any cable outside it needs to further be rated for outside use.

Please post back if you have any more questions.

Furd is completely right, if you can take the time to run it all the way back to the dmark (termination point).

You reduce the risk of messing up other lines in the house, reduce chances of static and make sure you label it well at both ends.

I normally run CAT5, it gives you more wires and is heavier if you are pulling through "unknown" walls. Also if you ever wanted to you can change it to Data easily.

Easy DIY and save loads of money from not paying the big fat telco's

boosterBeer 4U2

Thank you VERY much the prompt responses to my inquiry guys.

Also, a few more observations I've made about the way my already installed phone jacks seem to be setup, as well as some additional questions:

1. I located my NID box outside and it does in fact appear to be a "home run" system as you noted furd.

2.There also seems to be an additional smaller grey box connected through the "telephone company access only" side. It's about 50% bigger than the size of a closed GBA SP (sorry, it's all that comes to mind) and I believe it was installed a few months after I first got DSL in my house. Should I just ignore that?

3. When I look, I notice the two existing phone jacks I have are installed on one of the four OUTSIDE walls of my house. Thing is, I intend to put this new jack on an INSIDE wall. Would that be a problem?

4. There is also an electrical outlet in close vicinity of where I'd like to put this jack. Would that be a problem also?

5. I can wire a new phone jack with a cat5e cable? I thought they could only be used for highspeed internet connections. Please excuse my ignorance, but if I choose to use cat5e, would the type of cable I'm looking for be the type that's sold at Office Depot and the like, or somewhere else? I will definitely need some outdoor rated cables....

6. Last question. Is it easier to wire a new jack the same way all the others are or would it be simpler to start anew from attic and thread my cord to an NID outside?

you should be using solid , not stranded cable . the cable you want to use is not whats used for the patch cords office depot is selling you

cat 3 or 5 either will work there is absolutely no advantage to using cat5

I use 3

I would do another home run to the nid

you can mount it near the current electrical outlet just don't come down the same hole in the top plate and mount it on the stud opposite the electric outlet

home depot ,lowes ace hardware all sell cable by the foot just be sure its rated for UV resistance/ outdoor use

the second box may be a whole house DSL splitter what does it say on it ?