NTE5C Quality

Just a question for those that use/install the NTE5C faceplate.

They look a bit cheap and flimsy, are the internals as cheap? Reason I ask is my newly installed line is playing up and to quote JohnLewisBB:

'I have tested your line today and the results indicate a potential issue with the equipment connected to the phone line.

Our tests show a loop on the line, which is basically a short circuit on the line. This could be a faulty piece of equipment or something breaking the loop such as something going through the line.

To rule out your equipment as the cause, we would like to see if the fault is still present with your equipment disconnected from the line.

Please contact us when all the phone sockets in the property are unplugged and if possible please remove the faceplate of the master socket which will disconnect the internal wiring. We can then retest your line and proceed with our investigation.'

I've not been home yet to remove the faceplate - but just wondering if these things can fail in a just over a month of been installed and not touched since.

They could fail, but the chance is very, very unlikely. I would not say they are cheap, but are made at minimal cost to meet the technical requirements and a demonstrable lifetime - mainly because the public keep demanding lower prices so over engineering which was the case a few years back is no longer. For example - self tapping screws into plastic rather than a threaded engineering screw into a brass insert may save 4p in material and 6p in assembly cost, but put that in 1,000,000 devices and there is an £100,000 saving.

By removing that and everything connected, they can prove the line status and if that is fine, then a retest with just the face plate connected - no devices and no extension wiring will tell if the faceplate is at fault. After that, any issues would normally be on your equipment or wiring.

Thanks for that - I'm fairly confident that the fault is either the router or the line as nothing else is connected. Pity as it was great for the first few weeks!

So, let them test the line, then test with just the faceplate and if those are OK, then attach just the "router" which I assume contains a modem. Then test yourself and if there is a failure it could be either the device, cable or the remote possibility of the actual NTE5C connector socket (extremely rare, but they can get damaged).

I must admit, I think these 5c’s are as cheap as chips, not a fan at all.

As for it causing a loop fault, I doubt it. If the test is showing CA loop with everything unplugged ... get them to call out Openreach.

Are you fed overhead ?

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

I must admit, I think these 5c’s are as cheap as chips, not a fan at all.

But they meet spec! It really is down to cost cutting that is being forced on OR ... even a change in plastic type can save a penny or two and just think how many are used in a year ...

Agreed, the new back boxes are rubbish too, the NTE's do not screw in flush to them, they are barely rigid.

This shaving away at costs is a false economy in the long run IMO.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Agreed, the new back boxes are rubbish too, the NTE's do not screw in flush to them, they are barely rigid.

This shaving away at costs is a false economy in the long run IMO.

It probably is a false economy but the drivers are not OR on BT Group but outside bodies who are forcing up front prices down.

They are too short sighted to see that installing a £1.50 unit that lasts 2 years is cheaper than installing two 75p units that each last just a year.

They are too short sighted to see that installing a £1.50 unit that lasts 2 years is cheaper than installing two 75p units that each last just a year.

Tell it like it is.

Yes, the cable comes overhead from the pole. It's the same cable as my working Zen connection - a fairly new(ish) cable compare to the ancient old 3 core wire which originally was connected.

I'll do the testing as required later when I'm back home.