Station interface and protector with built in redundancy

A maintenance termination unit comprising:

• (a) at least one input line connector;
• (b) at least one output line connector;
• (c) at least two independent surge protectors;
• and
• (d) a switch connected to said at least one input line, said at least one output lines and said at least two independent surge protectors for selectably routing an electrical signal appearing at said at least one input line connector to said at least one output line connector through a selected one of said at least two independent surge protectors wherein said switch for selectably routing an electrical signal appearing at said at least one pair of input line connectors to said at least one pair of output connectors comprises a first mechanical switch connected between said at least one pair of input line connectors and said two independent surge protectors and a second mechanical switch connected between said two independent surge protectors and said at least one pair of output connectors.

A maintenance termination unit comprising:

• (a) at least one input line connector;
• (b) at least one output line connector;
• (c) at least two independent surge protectors;
• and
• (d) a switch connected to said at least one input line, said at least one output lines and said at least two independent surge protectors for selectably routing an electrical signal appearing at said at least one input line connector to said at least one output line connector through a selected one of said at least two independent surge protectors wherein said switch for selectably routing an electrical signal appearing at said at least one pair of input line connectors to said at least one pair of output connectors comprises an electrical switch.

A method for replacing a first protector circuit connected between an input and an output line pair in a maintenance termination unit, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a second protector circuit;
• (b) connecting a first switch between said input line pair and said first and second protector circuits;
• (c) connecting a second switch between said first and second protector circuits and said output line pair;
• and
• (d) switching both switches and connecting one of said first and second protector circuits between said input and said output line pairs wherein the step of switching said first and second switch is performed simultaneously.