" I also know that he moved his master socket... or at least, he re-wired his internals to a configuration which he understood meant moving it."

That sounds rather concerning, if only because it's more than slightly ambiguous. You can't move a master socket just redoing your internal wiring. Moving the master socket would mean altering the BT wiring where it comes into the property by either rerouting it, or possibly extending it using a junction box. I hope that hasn't been done, especially as if there is a line fault and an engineer visits, there may be a big bill.

However, if what this actually means is that some extension wiring has been connected to the master socket faceplate and what your friend regards as the master socket (and where the router is connected) is actually an extension, then that's OK of course. If it's done that way, and uses cheap non-twisted pair extension cable (and most is like that) then it will be sub-optimal. It will be particularly vulnerable to noise if what's called the "ringwire" is connected on the extensions (that's connection 3 on the faceplate). It's essentially redundant on modern phones, and definitely unnecessary where microfilters are used. A quick fix for DSL issues is often just to disconnect the ringwire on the extensions at the master socket end.

However, this is still not great. It is much better to filter all the extension wiring at the master socket with a maximum of one unfiltered extension where you might want to locate a router/modem. That unfiltered extension should ideally use high quality twisted pair cabling (like cat6 cabling). Then all the microfilters can be thrown away save possibly one at the extension socket where the router/modem is to be located. (A neater way to do this is to install an extension faceplate with both RJ11 DSL and a standard phone sockets and feed both filtered and unfiltered outputs down a single cat6 cable using different pairs).

There are several ways of doing this, but if he has the right sort of master socket, then a VDSL IS is a good way to go. It has two connections for an unfiltered pair and the standard extension wires are all fully filtered (which means, of course, that VDSL will not work on any of those).

A useful check to see if it makes any difference is to attach the router direct to the incoming line with all the extensions disconnected. That's easily achieved with modern masters by removing the faceplate and plugging the router/modem into the test socket underneath. Then compare stats (especially noise margin, sync speed and attainable rates) with the standard setup. If they are substantially better (that is higher), then redoing the internal wiring is certainly worth considering.

Note that there's an earlier ADSL iplate, but it only filters the ring wire and doesn't fully filter extensions. There's video guidance on this site for that earlier iplate, but it's not applicable to this, which is the VDSL iplate. (But it will also work on ADSL of course).

http://www.run-it-direct.co.uk/btvdslfaceplate.html

ADSL Filters should work so long as extension wiring is decent and filters are decent, but even then it can drop speeds on VDSL2 or introduce drop outs.

First step is always to test at the test socket and if stable, then fitting a VDSL face e.g. £10.99 on Amazon so not expensive and if the VDSL modem cannot be placed at the master to install dedicated extension on the IDC terminals see http://www.coolwebhome.co.uk/faceplate/ for pictures of which ones to use.

Some people on ADSL2+ do benefit from the faceplates too.

The I-plate just resolves the ring wire issue and not the problems caused by RF reflections and imbalances on the extension wiring. So no point buying one, go for the full plates.

Well, it obviously "works", but he could make it better.

The modem should ideally be connected at the master socket - this is the socket where the wiring comes in from the outside. The basic reason for this is that the modem should be the first connection on the line so other devices don't add interference to the line.

However there is nothing stopping you putting the master socket where you like, as long as the wiring from the outside to the master socket is solid copper twisted pair - CAT5/CAT6 is ideal for this but note only 1 pair is used.

At the master socket, the modem plugs in and all other extension wiring originates from the connection after the filter - usually terminal 2 and 5 on the back of the filtered face plate.

Usual problems are: ring wires picking up noise, so remove; junction boxes, connections before the master socket, so remove these also.

I struggled with wifi if i put the hub on the master. My ADSL is currently connected on the landing.

I removed the unused extension from the master socket and removed all wires apart from 2&5 i think it was. I left connected a wire which goes straight up into the bedroom above. At that point i terminated the line so all other sockets in the house are disconnected. This also only had wires 2&5 connected.

Result is my ADSL SNR is very solid it fluctuates between 2.9 and 3.1dB and rarely drops below this at any point in the day.

I don't have any special faceplates and i don't use a landline phone, we don't even have one plugged in.

Would i still benefit from a VDSL plate and if i fitted one would i have to locate the home hub when it comes at the master socket?

If the only extension is the one for the router then no, it will make no difference. However, if you had any other extensions connected then the VDSL plate is worth considering (and it would allow you to connect any currently unused extensions too if you wanted to do so).

Unlikely, as the main purpose of the VDSL plate is to filter the phones (and the ring wire). As you don't have these, it won't make any difference.

On the newer SSFP, there is also a REIN filter which may/may not work.

In reply to a post by gazzyk1ns:

If he has no IS but ADSL filters at every possible point, will that "work", but in a slightly sporadic way?

Am I having a mental block, pre-coffee? To me "IS" means Internet Security and is nothing at all to do with connection methods.

IS would be Interstitial plate I guess

Ah! Probably .

I did find the whole post rather confusing, to be honest. It seems he has a friend who has made some bodge-up of his wiring but he doesn't know exactly what, and there are problems. Possibly when on ADSLx, and certainly since the engineer install on Infinity. We don't even know what the engineer did, if anything. (If nothing, almost certainly not an Openreach person).

Edited by RobertoS (Sat 06-Dec-14 12:34:03)