NoVA_CoxUser
Stand back from the cage -- The RF bites
Premium
join:2004-07-06
Alexandria, VA
 ·Cox HSI
4 edits |  [VA] Cox Digital Phone Install Pics
Before | 
After | 
NIU | 
NIU Close-up | 
Caution Tag |
I thought some folks might be interested in some pics of the install ...
All power comes down the coax from the power supply at the fiber node which also has the standby power batteries. It's the same power supply used to feed the coax line amps. AC power stops at the house-mounted Network Interface Unit (NIU). Nothing was installed inside.
Install has three major elements:
1. Installation of flexible conduit to provide additional protection to coax which will soon carry 90 VAC.
2. Installation of NIU. The NIU was simply installed above the existing house box. NIU wires in pic are (left to right)
a) House drop from pole (hot w/ 90 VAC) -- note the protective conduit
b) Ground wire
c) Coax to house (w/o any a/c voltage)
d) CAT-5 line carrying Cox phone signal to customer side of existing Verizon NID
[Edit] Original paragraph here deleted by Nova_CoxUser
3) Installation of Power Distribution Module (PDM) at tap up on the utility pole. The PDM is a "sandwich plate" installed in the tap. It has manual switches corresponding to each port on the tap. It's used to selectively send AC power down the house drops only to homes w/ NIUs installed.
Sound quality is excellent and the various features seem to work as advertised.
HSI and set-top box signal levels and SNRs remained unchanged.
I'm not porting over my existing Verizon number -- at least not yet -- so I can't comment on that process. |
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cableguy619
join:2003-06-24
Chula Vista, CA
2 edits | Interestingly, that black square just to the left of the ground wire is a photocell. It's normally covered by the "TELCO Only" access cover. If anyone opens the "Cox side" of the NIU (which requires a special torx-type tool), a tampering alarm is automatically sent to Cox.
This is not true  it is how we can tell if the VP has martialed into the system. If the line coming in is disconnected it will send a alarm to cox. This is a feature that tells cox if the VP is losing communication with the system. If LOC(los of COMS) is happening u wiill have a tech at your house working on the problem, wihtout even calling in. This is intact so they can keep phone up 99 percent of the time.
what is interesting to see is that their are no weather boots on the fittings..hmmmmmmmmmm big no no here in San Diego..lol |
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NoVA_CoxUser
Stand back from the cage -- The RF bites
Premium
join:2004-07-06
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
| Cableguy:
Thanks for the reply. I'm more than happy to edit for accuracy.
But first a question: What do you mean by "marshalled" and why does it seem to employ a photo sensor?
Re: the boots ... I did notice this evening too that the house-drop connection doesn't seem to be completely compressed. Guess I'll have 'em back out on Friday. |
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gatorkram
Spelling and Grammer impared
Premium
join:2002-07-22
Winterville, NC
clubs: | reply to NoVA_CoxUser
Thanks for the pics, and explanations, pretty cool stuff.
--
Give me bandwidth or give me death! |
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cableguy619
join:2003-06-24
Chula Vista, CA
1 edit | Basically by what I mean Marshalled is in Sinc with the system. The VP is basically A modem so it needs to stay working at all times. If you ever look at the lens you will see a blinkinging light. I believe 2 blinks means you are in sinc. I actually forget what each code is.
The boots are just for water protection. Not sure how much rain and mositure you have in your area. As soon as I find my digital camera I'll take pics of mine and show you the similarites and differences, but it is basically the exact set up as you. |
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NoVA_CoxUser
Stand back from the cage -- The RF bites
Premium
join:2004-07-06
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
| reply to NoVA_CoxUser
Here's a link to the manufacturer of the NIU.
Although a marketing brochure, it still does a pretty good job explaining in some technical detail how the system operates.
»www.arrisi.com/products_solution···_PID.pdf |
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NoVA_CoxUser
Stand back from the cage -- The RF bites
Premium
join:2004-07-06
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
4 edits | reply to cableguy619
Cableguy
Ok, thanks.
I didn't get a chance to look in the window once power was applied. (The Telco side of the NIU was all closed up before the tech installed the PDM at the tap)
I'll edit my post to avoid spreading dis-information.
Cox NoVA is usually VERY good about installing boots. Either this guy was in a rush (next to last job on a Saturday afternoon) or a conscious decision was made that boots weren't required on NIUs -- which would seem doubtful given phone availability requirements.
And trust me, we get MUCH more rain here than in picture-perfect San Diego! |
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cableguy619
join:2003-06-24
Chula Vista, CA | LOL, I sent you a IM, by the way what is Rain??? |
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The Beer
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Premium
join:2001-07-24
Omaha, NE
clubs:
 ·ViaTalk
| reply to NoVA_CoxUser
That's strange, almost identical to what they use in Omaha except they don't send the power down the Coax.
They send it down a separate lead that connects where that jumper is hooked up.
This is the same system Cox has been using here for 5+ Years, I would not worry about reliability.
Omaha was the victims of that trial!
Cox phone service use to really suck, now it's rock solid.
They have a 2 Nortel DMS100's sitting side by side to handle the load here. Cox telephone is ROCK solid.
Since the Telephone side is regulated the cable plant needs to stay up, you will notice your cable service is much more reliable now too since they have to keep it working, to keep your phone working. |
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cableguy619
join:2003-06-24
Chula Vista, CA | Good EYE Zobo!!.. I didnt even noticed that. There is usually a powerlead running along side the cable to the entry of the VP... |
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NoVA_CoxUser
Stand back from the cage -- The RF bites
Premium
join:2004-07-06
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
3 edits | Not here.
Cox NoVA powers their RF line amps by sending power down the coax. The taps were all non-power passing so the user never "saw" any voltage.
Now, for digital phone, they install the PDM to simply pass the line-amp power already present on the coax right down the house drop to power the NIU. |
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Fubar
join:2001-02-20
Phoenix, AZ
1 edit | reply to cableguy619
said by cableguy619  :Basically by what I mean Marshalled is in Sinc with the system. The VP is basically A modem so it needs to stay working at all times. If you ever look at the lens you will see a blinkinging light. I believe 2 blinks means you are in sinc. I actually forget what each code is. Solid LED Power present but no RF
4 Blinks Downstream OK No upstream
3 Blinks Downstream OK, Upstream OK, Cant register, Not set up in correct Node or something to that affect, A problem with how account is set up in computer
2 Blinks DS ok, US ok, Registered but line card is turned off or not provisioned.
1 Blink, DS ok, US ok and you will have DT on Line Card...
Also it appears they use center conductor Power in NOVA, The method Zobo described is called MultiReach power.
No difference really, Except center conductor power makes it so the installer doesn't have to replace the drop if it does not have the Multi-Reach power conductors on it.....
Also here in AZ NIU covers are installed to protect it from the direct heat of the Sun.... |
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VladimirS
@cox.net
| reply to NoVA_CoxUser
(1) does Cox NoVA let you select your own phone number?
(either via phone or their website)
(2) how is the quality of long distance & int'l calls
(not local 703/571/301/410/202 calls)
(3) Caller ID: when you call someone overseas, do they
see your phone number on their caller ID? Right now,
I have Verizon local and AT&T long distance. My
friends in parts of Europe and Japan & Korea can see
my number when I call them.
(4) my current Verizon's NIU is located inside my basement.
will Cox dig up my yard and install their NIU in the
same location? Reason I'm asking is that when Verizon
had to replace the line from the street to my basement,
it was a 350-yard drop, plus all the digging they had
to do to get into the basement.
(5) maybe I've got my math wrong, but I can't see any real
savings by switching to Cox DT. (but maybe that's just
because I have Cox CBS internet service and they don't
have a bundled price for business customers who needs
a residential telephone line)
Thanks! |
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NoVA_CoxUser
Stand back from the cage -- The RF bites
Premium
join:2004-07-06
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
4 edits | Good questions all.
Answers:
1) I simply took an available Cox # and am using it as my "Line 2." I might port over my Verizon number in the future after an extended evaluation period. Don't know how much flexibility there is in number selection but I suspect it's minimal for residential accounts.
2) It's only been "hot" for 48 hours, but the four LD calls placed (US only) were every bit as good as Verizon. Remember this isn't "VoIP" but rather CSV ... I guess "technically" it is VoIP, but only as far as Cox's head-end, and they have COMPLETE control over that section of their network. Once my call gets to the head-end, it's passed into the "normal" telephone infrastructure. (i.e. as Circuit Switched Voice -- CSV)
3) Don't know about your CID question. Right now locally it sends the phone # and no name. Don't know if this is a glitch in my account or the way Cox does business. That's something I still need to check out.
4) All you need to be able to do is to tie your Cox NIU into your house phone wiring. This CAN be done at the TELCO's NID but it certainly doesn't have to be done that way. I suspect like any other TELCO demarc, the "downstream" wire is the customer's responsibility ... although Cox understandably hooks this up as part of the initial install. You can probably run the wire from the NIU to your house phone wiring any way you prefer.
5) Re: pricing I concur, it's only marginally less expensive here in NoVA, although you do get a much more complete set of features (although I suspect lot of users don't use most of these features).
One point I DID consider is that the NIU provides 24/7/365 automatic monitoring of my cable line. While I realize lots of things can knock-out HSI and CATV w/o impacting phone service, the fact that any physical or electrical damage in the "last mile" of my cable run (from the fiber node to my NIU) will be automatically reported and acted-upon, can only enhance my CATV and HSI reliability. |
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VladimirS
@cox.net | NoVA_CoxUser,
Thank you for replying to my question! |
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peters4n6
Premium
join:2002-10-11
Tucson, AZ
·Future Nine Corpor..
·Cox HSI
| just had an uneventful install of Cox telephone in Tucson, AZ. One thing I notice is that the little light on the telephone that would blink when we had voicemail (with Qwest) doesn't light up with Cox. Is this to be expected? I have an email into Cox, but I thought I'd throw this one out there...
just got the email back from Cox. They said to unplug each phone and replug. They don't know if this will fix the problem, but I guess I can try this when I get home.
Any opinions?
Eric
Tucson, AZ |
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NoVA_CoxUser
Stand back from the cage -- The RF bites
Premium
join:2004-07-06
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
1 edit | Cox here appears to be using the "stutter dial tone" to signal your phone when messages are waiting. (That's what you hear when you pick up the phone too)
I'm not sure if they're also using more advanced Message Waiting Indicator (MWI) signalling methods (e.g. FSK) as Quest might have been.
A lot depends on the particular phone set that you are using. |
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peters4n6
Premium
join:2002-10-11
Tucson, AZ | with qwest i had the light indicator and the stutter dial tone |
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The Beer
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Premium
join:2001-07-24
Omaha, NE
clubs:
·ViaTalk
| reply to NoVA_CoxUser
Don't laugh but I think you are over analyzing the tech behind this service.
At the Cox head end they are using a Nortel switch that is more than likely 15 years newer than the one at Verizon/Qwest anyway.
With the dash into VOIP I think consumers are getting confused as to the service offerings, this must be driving Cox nuts! People see VOIP and think, choppy calls, or aka dialpad.com. This is not that!
The service described here is every bit as reliable as dial tone from MaBell, it has to be, it's regulated just the same.
I would not look so far into the technology used to produce it, calls are going to work the same as they did before, all your calling features will be the same also.
I never did have a problem with my message indicators. But thats just me. Mine definately do not work right with ATT VOIP, but thats for another day.
Speaking as a business customer who has to deal with the "Switch Room" at cox, I love them.
I have had many, MANY T1's and 1FB's (Standard lines) delivered via both the Coax and Fiber plants, their telephone service is no different other than the box hanging on your wall.
When I am setting up a new line (On a tech level) I can call the switch room directly and get a config changed, on the fly, immediately.
I am a known Cox HSI basher on this board, but their phone service is definitely better and cheaper than MaBell
You get my I Sh*t You Not™ Guarantee on that! |
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Fubar
join:2001-02-20
Phoenix, AZ
| reply to peters4n6
said by peters4n6 :with qwest i had the light indicator and the stutter dial tone Call in (not email) and they can set up a work order to turn that on... |
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