In home wiring, test box is next to but not in NID....

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 26, 2009 Posts: 3

My NID does not have a test jack in it, but about 6 inches away from my NID box, is a seperate panel "Network Interface Test Jack". Both of these are located in the basement, not outside.

If I unplug the existing line from the test jack I do lose dial-tones throughout the home and get no noise or power on corded (old school) phones. Does that mean all I have to do is leave that unplugged and then I am ok to plug in the Vonage connection? Or do I have to go into the NID and remove the wiring?

If I leave that test jack unplugged, will Vonage still work on all the phone lines in my house?

Thanks.

Posts: 141 · Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject:

Yes. As you describe it, your test jack is in series with your house phone wiring. If you leave it unplugged, your house wiring is disconnected from the outside telephone network. You may then safely connect your Vonage device to your house wiring. Plug a modular phone cord into the Phone 1 (or phone 2, if that's what is configured) on the Vonage device, and plug the other end of that cord into any phone jack in your house.

However, you might want to place a label on your test jack, warning anyone who might be fiddling with it that plugging it in could cause harm to the Vonage device. It is because of this possibility that Vonage usually recommends disconnecting your house wiring at a pair of screw terminals, rather then depending upon the test jack.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 26, 2009 Posts: 3

Thanks!

Seeing that my NID and the test jack are in the house I don't feel I should remove the wires as any telco worker would have to come in the house, go to an isolated corner in the basement and find the NID and the test interface to plug in the test jack.

I appreciate the help!