Noisy Line (Intermittent) question.

I have both my Phone and Broadband with Plusnet, but since the weekend my line has not just been crackling but making squeaking sounds too.
I've run through all the checklist with Plusnet twice now, with tech support hearing the sound too. They have also run tests twice on the line and it comes back as No fault found! which of course is inaccurate.

My concern as always is the call out charge statement you have to agree to. Apparently PlusNet charges half the standard amount I believe (£65) if they deem the problem your fault.

A few years ago an OpenReach engineer replaced my master telephone socket in the bedroom from a "Contract" type socket to an NTE5 free of charge. The lounge socket is still of a "Contract" type but is definitely wired as a 3 wire slave.

I've tried a BT corded phone plugged straight into the built in NTE5 connection socket and the fault is still there.
It seems more likely to make these sort of door creaking noises if I phone out, rather than happening as much if someone phones me. My broadband too doesn't seem to be effected. But whilst it can be quite intermittent it makes listening to someone extremely difficult.

I'm guessing it'll end up being an issue of corrosion in my cab box as I've had similiar issues in the past.

What i wanted to specifically ask, is what is usually the culprit in most circumstances to cause odd noises on the line? Is it moisture in the cab boxes, poor connections in the same?

The other question I wanted to ask (as the engineer is coming out tomorrow) is that when the NTE5 was fitted would that indicate the Demarcation point now? The engineer at the time said that they were fitting NTE5's in properties like mine where the builders/electricians etc had fitted standard trade/contract phone points from new.
The reason I ask is that I know in this block of 12 flats that previously two floors were of open plan office space with I assume multiple lines coming in. I've seen a large-ish multicore cable in one of the buidings downstairs riser access panels and I had wondered if the demarcation point was originally there?

Thers's no more I can do fault finding wise and can only hope that it is in fact an easy to find issue in the Cab. Also it would be good to know if in fact the NTE5 does indeed indicate the demarcation point and it had been changed to indicate as such?

3 Wire slave? Do you mean the bell wire (ringer) is still connected?

It doesn�t matter at an extension. Only at the master.

Engineer called today and it was interesting to note that whilst he instigated the tests via his mobile to the exchange (new technology apparently - well to me anyway), the result was line was fine, even though it crackled away.

He left an oscillator on the line whilst he went off to check the local Cabinet and the exchange too.
End result was he changed over my pair to a new set on the Exchange side.

I asked about the third wire connection on the NTE5 but he said it was of the filtered type (the ring wire). That goes off to my slave socket.

I also learnt that when the NTE5 was fitted as my Master point in the flat, it was now deemed the Demarcation point, rather than the 50 pair that comes in to a riser on the ground floor.

I have noticed my Modem sync FTTC has dropped from around/closely to 80/20 and is now around 65/20 - I guess that will improve?

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Edit Reason: Spelling

Edited by Vorlon (Fri 04-May-18 17:04:36)

Unfortunately the crackling + drunk violin playing sound is back. Apparently the engineer found that the noise was on the exchange side so swapped to a newer cable pair. (1000 pair cable).
He wasn't 100% happy when he came back to collect his kit and suggested that there may still be a problem.

I'm hoping that a call to Plusnet will be simplified this time without having to go through their scripts seeing an engineer has already called.
My only concerns are possible charges as the fault is more intermittent now and both the Plusnet line test aswell as the engineers home test reported the line to be ok.

Are you reporting a broadband fault, or an audible noisy line problem? What sort of fault report are Plusnet submitting? An engineer testing for broadband faults is not what you want.

I wonder if that�s being caused by duff PSTN equipment in the exchange ?

Morning Bob,

the OP mentions PN not seeing a fault, so expect they are raising CDTA tasks ...

Conscious Decision To Appoint

Voice fault.

"I asked about the third wire connection on the NTE5 but he said it was of the filtered type (the ring wire). That goes off to my slave socket."

Seems like the 3rd wire does go from the master to the slave unless I'm reading it wrong.

In reply to a post by broadband66:

"I asked about the third wire connection on the NTE5 but he said it was of the filtered type (the ring wire). That goes off to my slave socket."

Seems like the 3rd wire does go from the master to the slave unless I'm reading it wrong.

From the description it is from the back of a filtered faceplate. The filter also filters the ring wire. But I just had another thought.