sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring patch pannel / 66 block / voice distribution

Greetings from a newbie!

First let me congratulate all for this amazing forum. Great tips, great ideas, and good laughs as well.

Now although I've been around a little perhaps this has been answered before but I haven't found it yet, so if anybody can point me towards the right direction I'd appreciate.

Issue:
I'm currently building a multigeneraion house for myself and my parents. I'm prewiring all with cat5e for both voice and data (although I know I'm overdoing it): I chose simplicity and versatility in case my regular phone drops are eventually replaced by IP Phones.

I'm going to have 2 seperate "units" in the same house each with its own seperate line. I already ran all drops to every wall outlet and concentrating in a "mechanical room" where I thought of having 2 "junction points", one for each "unit", and connect from there to the dmarc of the phone company.

Question: I would simply like to know what's the best way to connect all these wires to the phone company's dmarc.

I already read that a patch panel was a bad idea and that I should rather use a 66 block, although I'm not familiar with the exact wiring of such a device. Should all my wires be terminated with 8 connectors plugs or do they connect directly into the 66 block?

Other question: how does the 66 block connects to the dmarc exactly?

Also, knowing that I might eventually use these lines as VoIP, should I terminate them right away with 568A/B standard in a 8 connetor plug and thus use a patch pannel (which can then be easily replaced by an IP switch) to distribute my voice line or not?

If anyone has diagrams or pictures, I'd also appreciate.

*****

If I said anything stupid here, or if I've used the wrong terms, please forgive me as I'm aware I don't know much and don't pretend to... I'm here to learn as much as I can and seeking your help.

Thanks in advance.

Duck:

On May 28, I wrote the following on this Forum to someone who asked basically the same question, albeit about a small commercial installation. Perhaps you can glean some guidance from my answer:

"The CO lines are generally terminated on a separate dedicated 66M50 block. The pairs can be "multipled" along the left side (Row 1) to provide several (multiple) appearances of the same telephone number(s).

"Start at the top, and using the loop-through method (punch-down tool turned with the non-cutting blade exposed) make several appearances, going down Row 1. The number of multiples for each of the 4 pairs is dependent upon whether the job calls for all CO lines to appear every where (non-KSU phones) or whether the lines will be cross-connected to a KSU. I generally assume that I will need several appearances of each line, even using a KSU. That's because some lines may need to be wired to external bells, answering machines, fax machines, credit card terminals, etc etc etc.

"With the 66 block, and 4 incoming lines, you can get 6 sets of pins on Row 1 for each line (4 x 6 = 24) and then use bridging clips to carry the lines over to row 4, where you will cut down the cross-connections. The bridging clips are used to open each appearance, one at a time, for trouble-shooting.

"Label the block "CO Feeds" and then put the circuit numbers on a piece of paper (called the "brain") and leave a copy in the back of the 89B bracket, and a copy in your file cabinet at the office, for future reference. The brain should consist of several pieces of paper, each with the assignments of each 66 block.

"Don't go to any job with the original copy of the brain...always make a photocopy to take with you before leaving the office. I have OCD and AHHD, so I speak from experience that someday you will lose your brain, and having the original safe in the file cabinet will save you."

While not 100% accurate this topic has a link and answers some of your questions.

Great info: thanks guys.

Bill, I did see this thread before but wasn't quick enough to pick up that it would suit MY needs... it's obvious now that it's what I was looking for to begin with, so thanks again for that.

Also, is there anywhere on this forum a place with a glossary? As I said, I'm new to all the phone wiring field but am very interested in learning.

For example, what is a KSU? a phone distribution system , perhaps... And CO? phone company line I presume.

Last question: what exactly is a "bix"? If I get it correctly, I was told it looks like a 66 block but with RJ11 type connectors.
As I could read by overlooking the forums, it seems it's something rather used in Canada. Since that's where I am, I'd like to know more about it.

Any link or explaination would be welcomed.

Thanks again.

I used the search feature at the top of the page and came up with two in the General category, there may be more.

This one

and this one


Bix is used in the frozen tundra to the north, the cold seems to have an adverse effect on the mind. Wait you're from there.

Usually, when I need to find out something, I use Google.

Google is your friend

I rather see this as cryogenic conservation, but I respect your opinion.

Perhaps Dave or Jay (both from Quebec as I can see) could help me fine a detailed instruction on BIX connections.

I saw many links and diagrams on how-to from the dmarc, but I'm still not sure how to connect the drops to every wall plate with such a tool.

Perhaps Bill is right though, and my brain is so frozen I can't even figure out the simplest thing to do :p

If you haven't already found it, this is a great place to start for BIX:

https://www.belden.com/pdfs/techpprs/BIX-IDC.pdf

This document doesn't show how to loop a single line to multiple station cables, which I'm assuming you will want to do. Page 3-1 shows how you use the select button, using the NO-CUT position to loop wires to multiple locations. Extend the lines from the demarc to a BIX rail, punching down the same as you would for station cables. Run your cross-connect wire from that rail to the first station cable. Punch down in the NO-CUT position, and then loop the wires back up the way they came, without pulling them out of the IDC. Run to the next station cable and repeat. When you get to the last station cable, punch down in the CUT position. Make sure you do not cross over the label strip with the cross-connect wire.

if you need a hand with the bix drop me a line and i will see what i can do, Im working on a major teardown of a campus phone system to move it to a single building, so i may have some bix by the end of summer. either way PM me i will send you in the right direction if you need to buy there are many places around montreal and prices vary drastically. Anywho good luck

Thanks, Clinton. All the references I saw on this forum linked to the old nordx website. I did find this link just before reading your post but wasn't sure I could use it.

Now let me see if I get it straight though. I run a single cable from the demarc towards my single IDC (since it can carry as much as 12 BIX rails which is more than required).

Now, I'm a bit confused. Here's what I think I should be doing, but if I got it all wrong please correct me.

Using a BIX 1A4, I could loop the incoming 4-pair from the demarc to provide a maximum 6 position.
Then I can run a cross-connect or jumper cable from these position onto a BIX 2A and loop in to provide me with 12 drops connections. Then I can use another cross-connect or jumper cable from the BIX 1A4 and repeat the concept on another BIX 2A and get another 12 drops connections. Since I need about 20 drops for my line, I assume this would be enough... And if I get it right, my drops will connect on the back of the BIX 2A using a modular plug, right?

Now, if this logically makes sense, I'm just not too sure about connecting the cross-connect wires on the same BIX 1A4 as the incoming wire from the demarc. If my incoming is looping on the BIX, I can't cut the cross-connect wire on the same position as I would end up also cutting my loops :confused:
Is it possible to connect the cross-connect with the modular plug on the back of the BIX 1A4 as well ??? Or how should it be done exactly?

Jay, thanks for the offer, I did PM you. Perhaps since English isn't my mother-tongue I could better understand the whole concept in French.

Bill: yeah, not only is my brain frozen up North in the Tundra, I'm also a Frenchie :p
2-0 for you I guess...