Instrument Cable with Communication Conductor

[Stan Stephan]

Wire and Cable manufacturers have historically put a single insulated communication conductor (22 or 24 ga) in multipair instrument cables to allow installers at each end to talk to each other by telephone handset during installation. They used the communication conductor and a drain to complete the circuit. Is this still used or has wireless radio communication taken over? I would like feedback from installers on what is actually used and whether the communication wire still has value.

 

[petersonra]

can't say I have ever seen this. but walkie talkies have been common since the 70s so maybe I am just not old enough to remember it.

 

[Smart $]

can't say I have ever seen this. but walkie talkies have been common since the 70s so maybe I am just not old enough to remember it.

Ditto.

 

[egnlsn]

Although, like you say, that feature has been around for a long time, I have never used it or seen anyone use it. Usually radios -- sometimes cell phones.