Network interface device having improved thermal properties

1. A network interface device comprising:

an enclosure having a first portion coupled to a second portion wherein the first portion and second portion have cavities;

a removable case having a plate and a base wherein the plate is adapted to be coupled to the base;

wherein the case is adapted to be removably disposed in the cavity of the second portion of the enclosure; and

a network interface circuit disposed in the case, the network interface circuit adapted to provide communication to and from a network and to and from at least one customer premise equipment.

2. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein the network interface circuit contains a wireless interface and a wired interface for customer premise equipment.

3. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein the network interface circuit has a network interface port that is adapted to provide craft port access and network access.

4. The network interface device of claim 3 , wherein the plate includes openings to provide access to the network interface port.

5. The network interface device of claim 1 , further comprising a surge protector coupled to the network interface circuit and disposed in the second portion of the enclosure.

6. The network interface device of claim 5 , further comprising a ground bracket coupled to the surge protector and the network interface circuit.

7. The network interface device of claim 6 , wherein the surge protector is removable from the network interface device without disconnecting the network interface circuit from the ground bracket.

8. A network interface device with improved thermal properties, the network interface device comprising:

an enclosure having a first portion coupled to a second portion wherein the first portion and section portion have cavities;

a plate that separates the cavities of the first portion and the second portion;

network interface circuitry disposed in the cavity of the second portion of the enclosure; and

wherein the cavity of the first portion and the plate provide thermal insulation to the network interface circuitry.

9. The network interface device of claim 8 , wherein the plate contains angled protuberances adapted to receive electrical leads from the network interface circuitry.

10. The network interface device of claim 8 , wherein the network interface circuitry contains a wireless interface and a wired interface for customer premise equipment.

11. The network interface device of claim 8 , further comprising a base disposed in the second portion of the enclosure, wherein the base is adapted to couple to the plate to form a case adapted to receive the network interface circuitry.

12. The network interface device of claim 9 , wherein the first portion has a depth that is sufficient to allow the first portion to engage the second portion without interference from the angled protuberances.

13. A network interface device comprising:

an enclosure having a first portion coupled to a second portion wherein the first portion and section portion have cavities;

a removable case having a plate and a base wherein the plate is adapted to be coupled to the base;

wherein the case is adapted to be removably disposed in the cavity of the second portion of the enclosure;

a network interface circuit adapted to be received by the case;

wherein the case containing the network interface circuit is able to be taken out without removing wiring or adding wiring; and

wherein the case is adapted to be placed in another network interface device without removing wiring or adding wiring.

14. The network interface device of claim 13 , further comprising a surge protector coupled to the network interface circuitry and disposed in the second portion of the enclosure and adjacent to the case.

15. The network interface device of claim 14 , further comprising a ground bracket coupled to the surge protector and the network interface circuitry.

16. The network interface device of claim 15 , wherein the surge protector is removable from the network interface device without disconnecting the network interface circuitry from the ground bracket.

17. A method of providing thermal insulation to network interface circuitry in a network device, the method comprising:

placing the network interface circuitry within an internal housing that provides a layer of thermal insulation;

placing the internal housing in a recess in an external housing; and

creating an air gap between the external housing and the internal housing for another layer of thermal insulation.