In home connection

Although my home is not yet connected to fibre I am anticipating FTTC within the next 9 months. However, my BT master socket is located on a small wall between the front door and downstairs cloakroom; the position is such that I can only plug in a bell! I have connected a cable to the back of the master socket and now have my ADSL2 modem/router in a more convenient place. When the FTTC broadband is connected will I be able to use the existing socket used for my ADSL2 connection or will I have to relocate the master socket?

When you say back of the master socket, do you mean back of the faceplate where you are meant to wire extensions from?

If so then a dedicated data extension using a VDSL2 faceplate will give you best result with minimal mucking about e.g. VDSL faceplate on Amazon

http://www.coolwebhome.co.uk/faceplate/ shows how it all goes together and highlights the various connectors

Thanks for this, and yes I have connected my extension, and thus modem/router, to the back of the faceplate. So, looking at the coolweb link, I assume you are suggesting the connection of a twisted pair to the small IDC block. It states that this cable should be as short as possible; my current extension cable run is about 10 metres and I guess this is too long. If so I think I will have to relocate the master socket.

It should be fine as it is

Relocating the master socket wouldn't make any difference, even if you were allowed to do that - which you aren't.

What you could do, if the cable you have from it to your extension is decent phone wiring, (CW1308 is the normal), is replace it with CAT5 beforehand and connect that to an interstitial faceplate shown in MrSaffron's two links. You are allowed to add and remove stuff to/from the back of the faceplate, and fit that intermediate one.

You wouldn't need anything connected to the faceplate then, unless you have some other extensions currently connected to it. Note that you would be connecting the CAT5 to the A/B terminals pointed to by the yellow arrow.

Unfortunately it is a bit bulky. Sticks out rather more than at the moment.

Edit: Thinking about it, it would be unlikely to make much difference if you forget about the interstitial plate and just connect the Cat 5 to the back of the faceplate instead of the existing cabling. I'm assuming you don't want a phone there.

Edited by RobertoS (Tue 30-Aug-16 17:23:39)

Thanks. I would get BT to move the master socket if needed. However, I have found a site that has offered me various options as work-arounds, one of which is to connect cat5 to terminals A/B! For anybody else with a similar problem try this link:

http://www.mymatevince.com/

where there are many videos showing various ways to improve broadband speeds and also making networking connections.

Not in a place where I can watch the videos, but connecting to the AB on is only OK if this is NOT the incoming line, i.e. it has to be part of an interstitial or faceplate rather than the actual back of the master.

CAT5 is recommended because it has a higher twist rate than CW1308 phone cable and thus better at noise rejection for VDSL signals.

10m extension from the data terminals is fine and with CAT5 should not cost you any speed. When they say a long way there are talking 50m or more, e.g. some will through a cable over their roof to get to the back of the house rather than going through neatly.

Does the interstitial plate serve any purpose though if there is no intention of using the master for the FTTC? I think Cat5 straight off the NTE faceplate should be fine. Unless this bell that sounds to be plugged in would mess it up.

I'm just thinking of the bulk in a hallway.

Even the original OR Data Extension Cables were plugin to the NTE5 faceplate.

Edited by RobertoS (Wed 31-Aug-16 08:16:46)

Yes I understand that it has to be the AB IDC's top left of the interstitial plate. My concern was over the distance, which you have answered, thank you. As you had suggested a "dedicated data" line it was my intention to use Cat5.

I'm going to have to run 2 extension lines (currently wired to the back of the faceplate) plus a data cable to the modem/router; so as far as I can see the best answer is to use the interstitial plate with a data cable wired to the AB IDC's on this plate, with the 2 extension lines left connected to the faceplate. Yes it will be bulky but doable. Thanks for your suggestions.

In reply to a post by MandGJH:

Thanks. I would get BT to move the master socket if needed. However, I have found a site that has offered me various options as work-arounds, one of which is to connect cat5 to terminals A/B! For anybody else with a similar problem try this link:

http://www.mymatevince.com/

where there are many videos showing various ways to improve broadband speeds and also making networking connections.

I find his videos terrible. Really do not trust a guy who is showing users how to wire in the BT cabling to terminals A&B, which is against openreach T&C.

He also advises wiring in terminal 3 (bellwire) which is bad for ADSL and VDSL and will cause slowdowns. He suggests it's always best to connect it, which is just poor advice, & suggests that with BT infinity when you get rid of the micro filters you will need the bellwire again for the phone to ring - this is wrong.

He also recommends not calling a BT engineer, but getting somebody else out to do jobs on BT property. We all know this is where terrible setups usually happen.

Well that's interesting. I've only looked at one or 2 of the videos and clearly not the ones you have quoted!

I plan to follow the suggestions posted by Mr Saffron and connect a dedicated Cat5 data cable to the A/B IDCs on the interstitial plate.

In reply to a post by MandGJH:

I plan to follow the suggestions posted by Mr Saffron and connect a dedicated Cat5 data cable to the A/B IDCs on the interstitial plate.

That is best, in line with my first post. I was only worried if the extra depth in the hallway would be a nuisance.

Once you have that interstitial faceplate in place, the connectors on the back of the faceplate will only be carrying phone signals. You won't be able to plug a modem/router in at those two extensions. The Cat5 from the A/B IDC connectors carries both voice and broadband just like now.

I hope you are using a proper, (cheap is fine), Krone/IDC tool to push the wires in . Screwdrivers and credit cards can wreck the connectors. And if you've never done it before, you don't strip the insulation off. The connectors cut through it. (Apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but better that than you didn't know and so mess it up).

If you don't want a phone at the modem site then you could just fit a socket for the DSL cable instead of a phone socket, and eliminate the (dangly?) filter. That's because filters just stop broadband frequency ranges getting to the phone and back from it from noise getting onto the wiring between the phone and socket.

The broadband connection through a filter is straight through, unfiltered. It carries both broadband and voice. The modem just ignores the voice. So if no phone required, no filter needed.

I've been away from the internet for a few days but have one more point for clarification. When connecting the data cable to the socket (RJ45 or RJ11) am I correct to connect to the centre 2 pins? ie 3 and 4 for RJ45 or 2 and 3 for RJ11, and that the order is irrelevant (A to 3 or 4, B to 3 or 4).

In reply to a post by MandGJH:

I've been away from the internet for a few days but have one more point for clarification. When connecting the data cable to the socket (RJ45 or RJ11) am I correct to connect to the centre 2 pins? ie 3 and 4 for RJ45 or 2 and 3 for RJ11, and that the order is irrelevant (A to 3 or 4, B to 3 or 4).

It is connectors 4 & 5 for the 8P8C (a.k.a. RJ45) socket or connectors 3 & 4 for the 6P6C (a.k.a. RJ11) socket. The polarity of the connection is irrelevant.

Thanks, good job I checked!

You're welcome.

In reply to a post by burakkucat:

In reply to a post by MandGJH:

I've been away from the internet for a few days but have one more point for clarification. When connecting the data cable to the socket (RJ45 or RJ11) am I correct to connect to the centre 2 pins? ie 3 and 4 for RJ45 or 2 and 3 for RJ11, and that the order is irrelevant (A to 3 or 4, B to 3 or 4).

It is connectors 4 & 5 for the 8P8C (a.k.a. RJ45) socket or connectors 3 & 4 for the 6P6C (a.k.a. RJ11) socket. The polarity of the connection is irrelevant.

I've just now found the time to carry out this work and failed to make a connection with the internet. The only part that I see can be wrong is the pin connections. As advised I have connected the IDC A/B pins using cat5e cable to pins 4 and 5 on the RJ45 socket. On the socket they are coloured blue and blue/white. Is it possible I have a different standard of socket or can anybody offer an alternative reason why the connection is not working?

What type of Cat5e?

Can you confirm that the IDCd have cut through the insulation?

In reply to a post by MandGJH:

I've just now found the time to carry out this work and failed to make a connection with the internet.

Most peculiar.

Following on from MHC's questions, may I ask what type of tool did you use to make the connections, please?

And also note that there is a visible 'step' on one side of the mounting for the IDC terminations ... The wire should be fed in from the side WITHOUT the step, and the insertion tool used so as the cutting part is the same side as the step.

Hi, thanks for your input. I used a Digiflex Push Down Krone tool and I am aware of the step and the correct direction to lay the wires. However, having had this failure and as a result of postings on this forum, I have taken a closer look at the so-called cat5e cable that I bought and it is now clear to me that it most certainly is not up to cat5e standard (Chinese rip-off). I will try again with better quality cable; but I now also suspect the patch lead that I have bought. Appreciate your thoughts and would ask that you watch this space for the next up-date to my saga!!

I've done it once and I'll guess that you've done it once, just like all Openreach technicians . . . the wires are laid out onto the IDCs, there is a distraction as one is picking up the Krone tool, punch down and there is a loose wire with a neatly trimmed end and a fraction of an inch of wire correctly inserted into the IDC.

A few choice curses, remove the tiny bit of wire from the IDC and then proceed with attempt number 2 . . .

In reply to a post by MandGJH:

I used a Digiflex Push Down Krone tool and I am aware of the step and the correct direction to lay the wires.

Excellent. That is just what I was hoping to read.

I have taken a closer look at the so-called cat5e cable that I bought and it is now clear to me that it most certainly is not up to cat5e standard (Chinese rip-off).

For completeness, and to ensure that the information is here for anyone who reviews this thread in the future, I'll say that you should be obtaining the appropriate grade, solid-core cable, as for "structured cabling". Avoid copper coated steel or copper coated aluminium; the wires should be solid copper, not stranded.

I now also suspect the patch lead that I have bought.

A patch cable is the only cable that should have stranded wires. If it looks flimsy and feels flimsy then view the said patch cable with suspicion.

Appreciate your thoughts

Offered above.

. . . would ask that you watch this space for the next up-date to my saga!!

Will do. I always "look in" once per 24 hours.

A few choice curses, remove the tiny bit of wire from the IDC and then proceed with attempt number 2 . . .

Which is the genuine purpose of your 81's.

The saga ends!! I now have internet connection down the dedicated data cable.

I replaced the Cat5e cable and the patch lead with items I knew were good. There may also have been some wires shorting out as some debris fell out when I removed the old cable. My download speed has now increased from 3.1Mbps to 5.1Mbps, a big win, and I am now ready for FTTC when in arrives here.

A big thanks to all who offered their advice.

In reply to a post by MandGJH:

The saga ends!! I now have internet connection down the dedicated data cable.

Excellent news. Thank you for reporting back.

My download speed has now increased from 3.1Mbps to 5.1Mbps

I'm sure that every little helps.

A big thanks to all who offered their advice.

You are welcome.