Hi, Im new to this forum and have a question. In our business we have 10 phone lines that we need to distribute to 8 locations in the building. I want to know what would be the correct way to go about doing this. Is there some kind of distribution block that I can use. Any help and guidance will be appreciated. Thanks

to the board

That all depends on your usage. Are you talking about outbound or inbound? Which is your priority?

Depending on the system, all or some of the lines can be placed inside one or more "pools" so that when a user needs to call out it will automatically give them a free line.

Inbound is different. It also depends on whether there will be a receptionist to answer all calls and distribute them. That's the best as in theory, you don't assign any lines to different departments.

Some of the lines are fax/voice lines and are also shared with credit card terminal. The problem is that Ive looked around and the only thing I could find was a 4 line distribution panel. Is there a distribution block that could fit all 10 phone lines and distribute to the different locations as needed? No theres not a receptionist, the business is a grocery store and restaurant.

The fax/voice/credit card line should be all by itself if the activity of all those can sustain them AND if at all possible be at the end of the cascade.

Any "66" block or equivalent could handle that but you have to know what you're doing. No offense, but it would be wise to call in a local installer to sort this out for you.

As for the line distribution, I would assume that the client would want certain lines going JUST to the restaurant and others going JUST to the store, but it all depends on YOUR particular situation. Again, call in someone to help you. It'll pay for itself in the long run and the bonus is you get a vendor that's familiar with your situation, who can best advise you in the future.

The only way this will work satisfactorily is with a telephone system that has both analog and digital ports. Knee-jerk reaction would be Panasonic KXTA824, but it will only handle 8 telephone lines. If you were going to dedicate 1 line to faxing, and 1 line for whatever alarm system(s) you have then the answer becomes KXTA824 or comparables in another brand. Note that I'm familiar with the Panasonic and not much else for this app. Others should chime in soon with their suggestion(s). And all will say that phone systems are like real estate. Real estate is Location, Location, Location. Phone system is Support, Support, Support.

8 locations fit nicely on a 50-pair distribution block, either a 66M1-50 or 110 50-pair or 100-pair frame. By the math, 8 cables require 32 pairs. However, what you need at those 8 locations and how the 10 lines need to be distributed may be a different problem.

Are all 10 lines voice lines, or is some for fax, credit card machines, ATM's and the like?
Does each location need access to all 10 lines, or are some for, perhaps, a 6-line hunt group, and some private lines, etc.

Phone systems come in different sizes, and your favorite brand might come in sizes like (lines and extensions) 4x8, 5x9, 6x16,8x17, 10x24 or 12x32. Clearly the field narrows as size increases. A Panasonic TA-824 maxes out a 8 lines, but a TDA-50 maxes out at 12 lines. An Avaya Partner ACS can cover all of your configurations, but it isn't very feature rich.

So, it comes down to who is using the phone, how much traffic there is, and how many lines do you need per phone. Perhaps if you give us a bit more detail, we can make better suggestions.

Carl

Like I said before, get a local installer in there to sort out your needs, what you have for existing equipment, what you really need and where to go from there. All we can do from this end is suggest some options, but they open at best as we can't "see" the needs for you.

Has anyone ever used something like this. What would be better to use this or an 66-100 block?

No offense, but that looks like crap!

Use either: a "66" block, "110" block or "BIX" block. Regardless of the type of block, terminate those wires PROPERLY! :read:

:bang: Thanks Dave. I will go with the 66 block. How many CO lines can I wire to a 66 block?

25-50 "LINES" (From your supplier)

OR 6-12 4-pair "CABLES" feeding the jacks.

Normally, 1 block for the "Lines" and a second for the "Cables"....more of each as needed, then X-Connect.

If you don't know how, call in someone before you put your businesses out of business.

You have yet to tell us what you have for existing equipment. Do you have a system? If so, again, call in someone NOW before the BIG repair invoice gets made out.

Your choice, after all, but "PAY US NOW or PAY US MORE LATER".

I'll bet that distribution panel (?) costs more than a 66 block (if it's more than $10, it's more).

If all you need is a phone guy to punch down the lines to a block (I'm assuming each phone has a cable going to it that contains 8 individual wires, like pictured on that distribution panel you showed), and then patch outside lines to certain phones, it isn't a big deal. If you know what line you want where and your wires are labeled, it would take a phone contractor an hour or two. You're not talking about a lot of money for something you'll have to live with for 10 or 15 years (it's part of building maintenance, just like you would patch the roof if it leaked rather than just hanging a bucket under the leak).

If you get a good contractor, he's going to want your business in 5 years, not just today - an an hour or two today is still an hour or two today. So he's not going to come in and rip everything out if you explain that you want to do things cheaply right now.

Plus, if you have it done right now, if you want to add a phone system down the road, you've knocked a bit of time off that install - so you'll save money then. But to me, you would want a real phone system in a grocery store - being able to have people pick up outside calls from any phone, overhead paging, being able to transfer a call to the deli from customer service, etc. It's not much money for something you'll use for 10-15 years.

Thanks Dave well Im the owner of the store and usually do the wiring myself. All we have is 3 fax machines that we use for voice and fax, 1 fax machines that is for my personal use, 4 auto dialing phones that are used for money transfers, 3 credit card machines, 1 lines that goes to the restaurant for voice and credit card machine. All I need to do is learn on wiring a 66 block PROPERLY AND NICELY.

Go find a vendor and save yourself lots of money and headaches. A phone system with analog ports would be able to use less then 10 lines and give you much more efficient communications. If you was able to drop 2 lines your monthly savings would pay for a small phone system within a couple years then add profits to the bottom line. You could have intercom, auto attendant, toll restriction, hold with music or store message, and many other features.

The one thing you should know about the 66 block is that you will need a special tool to "punch" the wires into it. You can find information online to learn how to do this, but beware there's a lot of both good and bad information there.

I'd personally want a real phone system in that environment (and I think it would pay for itself quickly based on number of lines you have - and what you could reduce there).

Here's some of the things you can do with a real system:

1) Hold/Transfer (to any phone, not just to other phones "on the same line")
2) Intercom
3) Privacy (someone can't pick up a line you're talking on, if you set it up that way)
4) Toll restrictions
5) Billing reports (WHO called Tibet?)
6) Ring all of your phones on incoming calls
7) Ring only some of your phones on incoming calls - then ring others if the first phones don't answer
8) Internal calling
9) Lights on your phone to tell you which phones are "in use" (is your Deli guy talking on the phone all day, when you aren't around? Do you want your bookkeeper to not disturb you when you're on the phone?)
10) Forward calls to your cell phone

There's lots of others, but these seem like the basic ones that might be useful in a grocery store.

Not only has none of us used this before, we'd all commit suicide before we ever did :rofl:

Whatever they're charging for that block, you'd be able to hire a professional to do the job and probably have some change left over.

Wow. Just call a pro and get a quote. The savings in line consolidation alone will save you money.

Carl

I've seen sparkies use those phone distribution "breadboards" before. I wasn't terribly impressed with them. Looked like a PITA to punch down wiring and route the wiring. If I were the OP, I'd hire it out, or at the least use a couple of 66 blocks and crossconnect them as mentioned. Much cleaner install and very easy to troubleshoot.

https://www.tselectronic.com/shop/product/Etcon-DD1-Residential---SOHO-Phone-Distribution-Block/1040

Looks like a nightmare.

You could buy the 66 block, cross connect wire and cheapo punch tool for the price of that disaster.

Have you tried Google?
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+punch+down+a+66+block

Typical grocery store install for me.
DSX 40 or 80'
3 or 4 24 button phones.
Each register and Dept (meat, Produce, Bakery, Seafood, Taqueria, Shipping etc. has a slt wall phone. These are restricted as needed.
Any phone can be picked up and dial 911. (covers your but in an emergency)
Custom Hold music via built in message.
Paging system with amp for store music(Mexican stores really Jam.
Register phones an d dept phones are simple, cheap wall phones, all have a button by the handset. Pushing the button activates the manager call, Paging the manager to that location,
This can also be used as a customer service courtesy button in other locations.
Calls to store can be fielded live or using AA
Caller can pick dept or office, call is paged for proper pickup, like many pharmacy's.
Usually at the meat counter we set up separate speakers and a cordless phone with headset for an employee to call out order pickup by number (friday,Sat,sun, or holidays) and announce specials.
Speakers in Produce, Seafood and milk for sound effects and ad's.
Door phones, cameras and Maglocks at cashier booth and office door. Door phones and cams at shipping dock.
Credit card are usually network.
Most things that need a line hang on system.