[Tfug] Cabling between buildings

[Bexley Hall]

--- On Thu, 5/28/09, Choprboy <choprboy at dakotacom.net> wrote:

> > Aside from the bandwidth differences, I'm wondering why he
> > can't use something *like* DSL.  I mean TPC runs cable
> > miles from the CO to the subscriber and you don't see
> > DSL modems getting fried by the dozens each time there's
> > a lightning storm.  What's the difference between the
> > CO side and subscriber end wrt DSL modems?  I.e., can you
> > get two DSL modems to talk to each other like you could
> > with an analog modem (assuming you provided BORSCHT)?
> 
> You can get two DSL modems back-to-back, but only a handful
> of modems ever supported it, one of the modems has to become 
> the "CO" side providing sync. 

Ah, OK.

> There was a really good article a number of years ago written 
> by someone who got a dry line between to offices a couple miles
> apart and setup back-to-back modems to connect them, his
> experiences/problems, and suggestions for equipment.  I think
> it was back in Ohio... but searching all over I can;t 
> find it. I seem to vaguely remember him using Netopia DSL
> modems, probably the reason I picked one up along the line somewhere.

I think this would be the best *practical* alternative for my
friend.  He has bundles of telco kit and has already tied all
of the buildings together with his PBX -- so, all of the
"infrastructure" is in place.

> Normally, for DSL, a DSLAM is used on the head end with multiple
> DSL modems out in the field. There was another great article years
> ago about a goup of residences, out in the woods, that could not 
> get broadband.  The local lines were terrible and barely supported 
> modem speeds. They formed a coop and used the various CLEC/ILEC
> laws to force the local provider to provide a cross-connect cabinet
> in their subdivision. The coop then installed their own 
> DSLAM next to the cabinet and a backhaul out to the
> internet on wireless... 

Cool!  A guy did this with regular phone service at school many
years ago.  I.e., "buying" several lines and then leasing shared
use of the lines to others in the dorm.  TPC wasn't very happy
about it (I think he was shut down due to some technicality;
and, no doubt, pressure from above)

> They essentially started their own ISP. I am pretty sure
> this is the coop: http://www.rric.net/

Great!  I'll check it out.
 
> Either way, you still need grounding on either end. Your
> in-place phone lines should already be grounded at the building
> entrance (the phone demarc). The 

That's why I thought this might be such a good approach -- since
everything is already in place for him.  I'm not sure how he has
made it obvious to the local phone company what equipment is *his*
vs. *theirs* (he has lots of surplus telco kit so you couldn't
tell just by looking at it that it does NOT belong to TPC)

> DSLAM end must also be grounded, typically either a
> complete rackmount shelf 
> as part of the voice/DSL splitter assembly or a series of
> 66 block mounted line surge arresters.

Thx!  I'll start him looking in this direction!