US Telco Support > AT&T > AT&T U-verse > Wiring at NID and Moving the RG

reply to bogey780

Re: Wiring at NID and Moving the RG

AT&T doesn't recommend a technician to move RG or STBs, they require it. You can move stuff all you want. If the tech did not "activate" the lines, you're not going to get the services once you move the RG or STB.

For example, if you have 8 rooms in your home and you have cables in all 8, but only have 4 STBs installed and don't advise the technician you'd possibly want to have a STB in that room, they do not activate the line. When you move the STB, you're going to get an error on the TV screen and will not have any TV service.

Basically, if you want it moved, you have to have a technician. It's $55 for the truck roll and $55 for any additional wiring that may be needed. You can talk to the technician and ask what true charges will be prior to allowing them to complete the work if you don't want to pay that much. Either way, it's going to cost you at least $55.

I wouldn't move the RG without moving the connections. (I know that much...)

Getting back to my wiring: The white telephone line that runs from my NID to the RG is, I believe, just a regular POTS line. It is the same line that ran to the room and was split into two POTS lines (back in the days of phone modems). The second line was later disconnected and used for DSL. When U-verse went in the installers just used the two wires that carried DSL to carry U-verse. But the physical line was never changed. Maybe they should have run a Cat 3/5e/6 cable, but they just used the existing line. And my TV and Internet speeds are fine. That's why I'm thinking that if I swap out the connections from the current phone line with another phone line (that looks identical) running to my office that I could easily move the RG to the office.

On the other hand, I don't mind spending some money if the tech will run a better line to the new room. I just don't want him to come out and do what I could easily have done myself.

Thanks again.

reply to ILpt4U
They can change the wiring at the NID all they want - they own it - they can change any wiring for that matter, but you won't get service if it's moved and a tech doesn't come out.

I think they typical user on here would be the exception. Cracking open the NID (customer side anyway) is just about a dslreports membership requirement.

reply to trparky

reply to ICU2
Sorry, I have to say, at least in my circumstance, your information is incorrect. I have moved my RG twice and all three STB's multiple times. Everything works just like it did when the tech left after the install.

I suppose it all boils down to being able to understand how it works and then do it.

reply to RocketJeff
He probably meant if moved and the wiring wasn't setup. Otherwise they'd need to put really sensitive GPS systems on the STBs. And that would be an odd policy even for AT&T.

reply to Dandolo

"the output to the STBs / DVR is a COAX that is fed to a diplexer connection"

I don't understand what you mean here. I don't have any coax anywhere in my setup. Everything from the NID to the STB is wired with Cat5e twisted pair. Could you enlighten me on what you are referring to?

reply to trparky

reply to dave006
Thought I'd give a report for anyone still interested.

On closer examination of the wiring between the NID and the RG I was convinced that it was just an old POTS line. Since I had another old unused POTS line running from the NID directly to my office, I swapped out the leads for the yellow and black posts (see picture) and moved the RG to my office. I then ran the coax to the new location, plugged the green wire into the old phone jack, and crossed my fingers.

It worked! I tested speeds on the various computers in the house before and after and saw either no difference or, in one case, an improvement! (I get the 10/1.5 package.) And the three set-top boxes are working fine, just as always. My VOIP is Ooma, and that too is working without a hitch.

Thanks for all the advice! As I said, I didn't mind calling a tech, but it was not difficult and even a little fun to do it myself. And cheaper!

I suppose that if I ever increase the speed on my data package that they may have to use something beside thin POTS copper to run to the RG, but for now, I'm good.