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Old Northpoint line

If I'm correct (85% sure) the Northpoint line is a Data-Only line, since Northpoint was SDSL. You can't run a phone transmission (or ADSL) over that type of wire (CAT 5). I just have my extra line just sit there and look pretty. I'm not sure what use it has left, probably next to nothing.
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-M
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What do you mean you can't run a voice or shared line over CAT 5? I do it all the time (Inside wiring). It's great low crosstalk cable that's way better than the CAT 3 stuff phone people sometimes use. As for the wiring on the street a copper pair is a copper pair. The only variables here are length, load coils used on some voice lines, bridged taps and wire gauge. These factors can cause problems for large bandwidth data but not for voice. If you have a pair capable of carrying large bandwidth SDSL it'll sure handle a voice signal.

I have the same CLEC as him. They use line sharing. My jack is useless, won't let me connect to the CO, signal dies out. Northpoint was a separate line. Verizon sucks, they want you to go over the phone line itself. Of course, I am not the best guy to talk to about inside wiring...
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-M
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reply to chasmp
chasmp,
Good luck talking Verizon into swapping the lines. Years ago I had 4 individual old phone lines running to my house. I wanted a newer type of cable that had all four pairs in one cover. (for appearance sake at the time). Verizon wouldn't give it to me if the current lines were working so, I cut them with a hedge trimmer. Oops, stupid me, I told the Verizon repair people who said "no problem it happens all the time" and cheerfully ran a new 4 pair cable to the pole no charge. Can you get to that 30 YO line with a hedge trimmer? Hey, whatever it takes.
Actually, depending on the situation, the old wire may be better. It's probably larger gauge wire. Newer multiple pair cable crosstalks less than old multiple pair cable because of the way the pairs are twisted. Aside from that if the old wire is a single pair, the insulation is in good condition for the entire length of the wire (which may be hard to determine) and it's the same or larger gauge there likely wouldn't be any noticeable performance benefit from changing to new wire. Might look better though.
If it's a very long run (500' +) a smaller gauge cable might actually hurt performance.

reply to Mike
Hey Mike, on a different subject, how'd you rack up all those stars? I'm jealous!

Learned to read Line Quality tests, tracing any DNS converting it into IP and geographical equations, learned to tweak different systems, networking, learned about routers, figured out how the tools work, learned different backbone specs / limitations, and just being here awhile.
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-M
Got Moose? Go Pens.
irc://irc.dal.net/#dslreports

reply to chasmp
Thanks for the info guys. I guess having the two lines there doesn't really affect me much. I can always wait until DSL becomes more readily available and save the provider one step in the installation.
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--I can tolerate stupidity, it is ignorance that is unacceptable--