Self-Install, but I only have a bunch of wires

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21alpha

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Wondering if someone can help me...

My port is reserved, everything is ready, now I'm just waiting for the techie to come and do the install. Actually, I don't even have an install date yet. I've heard of the self install option and it sounds easy. Only problem is, on my end I just have a bunch of loose wires sticking out of the wall. How many wires do I need (isn't it just two?) and which ones? I have a multimeter so if there is some test I can do....?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.
 
Yea .. I know it's completely unfair what they're doing.
To installa telephone line costs 316.10 [incl] ... to install ADSL = R404

Your total install charge may just be 720 bucks ... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek !
Phone them and ask them ... it's just gotten worse.
 
damn... just got my router so now I REALLY want to know how to do this :)

Gonna whip out my multimeter tonight and test each twisted pair for a - 50V signal. (Did you know that Telkom uses -50V standard on its lines? Yip, got a buddy who works there... no he can't help me, he's in marketing, go figure)
 
You'l only shock (non lethal) when the phone line is putting out a ring signal...

I found out the painfull way :D
 
Thanks for the concern crash... I'm gonna plug each wire into a breadboard (not the type you cut bread on, the type you prototype electric circuits on) and measure it using that... much safer. Means I don't have to touch both wires at the same time :)

I don't think this is actually necessary, to my knowledge the Telkom equipment will not be able to provide nearly enough amps to "fry my ass" but it never hurts to be paranoid.
 
yeah oober, like those shocking machines made from the old style telephone where you have to turn the handle to generate current? At least, thats as bad as I envisage it being. Still, using a breadboard tweaks the electronics hobbyist in me :D
 
oober said:
I found out the painfull way :D
Click to expand...

Same here... I was stripping a (really long) phone cable with my teeth at work when somebody thought it'll be funny to plug the other end in when I wasn't looking and call the number. Since then, I tie the other end to my arm before I strip cables, so I always know where both ends are.
 
well... I tried everything this weekend to no avail. It seems my line is disconnected at the "box" ... so I'll have to wait for Telkom after all....


*sigh*
 
"You'l only shock (non lethal) when the phone line is putting out a ring signal..."

And the bill from Telkom of course.
 
Yes those Telkom bills are sure lethal. Did you notice how your life insurance goes up when you rent a Telkom line...:D
 
man, at the moment, I would be happy to recieve a bill from Telkom if they would just come and install ADSL.

I just want them to install a service that is going to be a source of revenue for them... Am I asking too much? :p
 
for a self install of a line that already exists:
1. Buy pots filters
2. Plug in the modem
3. Setup your connection

You save R404.

Simple hey?
 
unfortunately, I don't have an existing line. At least, I have a cable that comes to my house, but it seems that its been disconnected because I haven't used it for years.

Idea... I'm going to phone Telkom and ask them how soon they can do a simple line installation... wonder if it will be quicker than the whole ADSL installation... Worth a go... phoning now
 
on the phone now... he says because I requested the new line AND adsl at the same time, that it goes to the ADSL department.

So now I can't get them to install the line before the ADSL.

Time to go find a Telkom van and bribe them with a case of beer. Any willing Telkom techies out there?

Edit:
Phoned 0800 456 456 and got told that their database crashed (if thats not a generic excuse then I don't know) so they are battling to schedule the installs. Brilliant.
 
Last edited:
21alpha said:
Edit:
Phoned 0800 456 456 and got told that their database crashed (if thats not a generic excuse then I don't know) so they are battling to schedule the installs. Brilliant.
Click to expand...

Sadly, it is not just an excuse. It happens a lot. They tend to roll out updates on Sundays, so are down many Mondays and have to patch the patches on Monday evenings to get things working again. I do not bother phoning Telkom on Mondays.
 
hmmm.... thanks for the tip

I also manage a database (of sorts) and I can just imagine how much k*k I would be in if it was down on ANY Monday.
 
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