Attention installers of cable TV, main electrical wires, telephone wires...?

Question

What do you use to seal up the hole in the OUTSIDE wall where the cable TV and telephone wires and electrical wires all go thru? I want to replace my telephone wire coming in to the house, because I have DSL and it is really slow. I figured it couldn't hurt to replace the 45 year old wire coming in! :D I'm gonna use the best wire I can find (ANY SUGGESTIONS on what kinda wire to get? :D) to go from the telephone box outside to the DSL jack, but I need to no what to use to seal up the outside hole, when I rip out whatever is plugging it up now! :D

Thanks! ~Cindy! :D

If you recommend a product, could you tell me the brand name of it (and in what department in Home Depot I will find it! :D) Thanks! :)

It's a small hole, smaller than a dime. :)

Answer 1

Use Cat 5 wire (sold anywhere that sells computer supplies, or phone wire) this is the same wire that is used for ethernet cables, etc.

I would suggest running a wire direct to your dsl jack, and do not put anything else on that circuit. Use only the amount of wire you need... don't leave like 50 feet coiled up under the floor, or behind the wall, hehehe.

I use silicone to seal the holes. You can buy it in a small tube at places like Radio Shack, or WalMart. Basically anyplace that sells antenna cables will have these small tubes nearby the wiring. (its the same stuff that you weather seal around outside windows with, but in a smaller tube. If you are going to caulk your windows, you can just use that)

Have Fun

Answer 2

to add to what everyone said... sillicone caulking is what you need to use, it would be in the painting section (and plumbing section will have some too) of home depot

if you plan on painting over this area you are going to have to substitute the silicone caulk with a paintable caulk, paint will not take to the silicone...

CAT5 wire can be used, but as it is still on the voice circuit between the NID outside and your DSL jack you wont see much of a diffrence if you use CAT3 cable...
CAT3 is voice grade cable, CAT5 is network grade cable...
CAT3 is alittle easier to work with, as it is more flexable, and cheaper... but not by much... when you strip the outter jacket of the cable, leave at least 4-6 inches wraped inside the NID and the jack, so that if needed repairs can be made in the future..

blue/white to green
solid blue to red
and for line 2 (optional)
orange/white to yellow
solid orange to black

if you are buying the wire per foot, then home depot will be fine, but if you are going to buy a box, check electrical and alarm supply stores, as there prices are much better then home depot...

Answer 3

Cat 5e cable for the DSL. Clear 100 percent silicon calk for the hole. Keep the factory twists in the cat 5 pairs for as close as you can get them to your terminations for speed. Clean the terminal connectors where you connect the wires. Keep the cat 5 away from electric wires as much as possible. Good luck.

Answer 4

Depending on the size of the hole, you should be able to fill it with silicone sealer. If it's brick you will need to get the mortar type. If it's a big hole you may need a lot more repair than what we can go over here.