Question regarding converting socket to an NTE5

Hi Guys,

I realise this is another question about converting a BT master socket, but I need a little bit of information and clarification. Basically the socket conversation if for my grandparents so that additional extensions can be wired in (there are no extensions currently in place). My grandmother is hard of hearing and my grandfather has just come out of hospital after breaking his leg so we are looking to put in extensions upstairs and downstairs.

From when I was down there last, the phone wire comes into the house and into one of these and then from there into this style of socket. From there the phone plugs into the socket.

I don't know how long the socket has been in there but they moved into the house around 50 years ago.

This afternoon I called BT on the 150 to enquire about the costs and process of getting this done (didn't want to book anything at this point). I got through to a department who dealt with products and services and they advised me I need to speak to the "Service" department and they very kindly put me through. I then spoke with a staff member who (after a bit of research) advised me that it can be done and it would be free of charge due to my grandmother being hard of hearing. When she had explained the next steps, I asked her to hold whilst I discussed the call with my parents, at which point the lady at BT cut me off.

I attempted to call back a few minutes later and then got cut off whilst getting transferred to the service department. When we called back a third time, we got through to a gentleman who explained the price would be £130. He then asked who we pay the line rental to, at which point we advised him that my grandparents pay the line rental to Talktalk. He then revised his quote for the work to £199(!) and told us it would need to be booked through Talktalk.

Is there a particular department within BT that we can speak to about this and get clear, concise answers?

Although this is a BT line, do we need to speak to Talktalk or can we go to BT direct?

According to this page at the bottom, it states a cost of £25 +VAT (or free if certain conditions exist) to get Conversion of hard-wired master socket to Linebox and Regularisation of illicit master socket.. Where were BT getting this price of £130 (and later £199) from? I know it costs about £144 for an Openreach engineering visit.

Many thanks in advance,

Edited by aquilla (Fri 27-Aug-10 20:19:27)

You must speak to Talk Talk to get their price, as you pay line rental through them, its not contracually a BT Retail line . It maybe different but I would not be surprised if they try and pas you back to BT!
BTW, I cannot get your links to work

Edited by deleted (Fri 27-Aug-10 19:26:55)

The links don't work for me either. So can't see what sockets are in question.

I have uploaded the photos elsewhere and here are the new links. Please note that these are not photos of the actual sockets but what I believe to be in the house at the moment. I will try and get photos of the actual sockets when I'm next down there.

http://www.zen7850.zen.co.uk/bt-photo1.jpg
http://www.zen7850.zen.co.uk/bt-photo2.jpg

You need to talk to talktalk. You'll get nowhere with BT as they do not have the account.

the quick and easy, legitimate and not incredibly expensive way is just to use dect phones.

Why bother with extensions, the cost thereof and getting in touch with your correct line provider, whoever that is? Why not get a cordless system with 1 base station plugged into the existing socket (which is not a "illicit master socket" just older than the current ones)? They got to buy more handsets anyway.

BTW: Had no trouble accessing your links.

For some reason this often becomes a tricky issue?!

BT_Care have also quoted £25+VAT of FREE here.

I can't see any reason why this wouldn't work for you - but from my experience you do have to persevere

THe Line rental is being paid to Talk Talk, not BT Retail, so Talk Talks charges apply not BT Retails

Those links don't work either.

Have you tested them from a browser yourself?

Hi b4dger,

Thanks for that. I did see a similar post over at the BT Community forums. All I need to do now is find the correct department (either within BT or Talktalk to talk to).

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Those links don't work either.

Have you tested them from a browser yourself?

Robert, yes I have tested those links. They work for me in both Chrome and IE8.

All working for me!?! [Via Freeola/Entanet connection]

As I said this often seems to be tricky(!) but don't give up as it does work...

In reply to a post by ggremlin:

the quick and easy, legitimate and not incredibly expensive way is just to use dect phones.

I appreciate the easiest way is to use cordless phones, but have you ever tried to teach 90 year olds how to use and understand new technology? It's taken me several months to get them to use a mobile phone!

Plus they can get phones with nice large buttons and visual indicators for when it's ringing.

Appears to be an issue my end (O2) as the links work ok via an alternative connection method
For the benefit of anyone else who is interested and cannot view the links the 1st is just a screw terminal junction box (block terminal) and the 2nd is a line jack unit

Looked at Talk Talk site and unsurprisingly not very helpfull .
Could try this for starters, but the lack of any clear link to what you require dosnt bode well.
I would haveguess dialling 150 from their line would put you through to Talk Talk sales, but that may not be convenient for you to do.
Seeing as you will still be left with the cost/issue of installig the extension wiring , any particular reason you need to get the socket replaced? Extension wiring can be either hard wired to the existing LJU or simple plug in extensions can be used

Edited by deleted (Fri 27-Aug-10 21:02:57)

the links show a simple wire to wire junction box and an old style master socket.

But to revert to the original problem, buy a 3 handset wireless phone for about £50 such as this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B003LPTANY...
and plug the base station into the existing master socket. Then locate the slave stations wherever in the house you chose. You don't need a physical phone line to the slave just a mains electrical plug for power. When the master phone receives a call and rings so do the slaves. So pick up the nearest.

Forget BT, you'll try 6 or more different departments and be passed (p*ssed) around for ever.

Edited by deleted (Fri 27-Aug-10 20:59:12)

In reply to a post by aquilla:

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Those links don't work either.

Have you tested them from a browser yourself?

Robert, yes I have tested those links. They work for me in both Chrome and IE8.

Sorry .

It was a temporary problem on Be/O2 routing apparently.

In reply to a post by aquilla:

Plus they can get phones with nice large buttons and visual indicators for when it's ringing.

And amplifiers and settings for hearing aids.

Edit - I think you used to be able to get remote lights as well. Certainly additional external bells. (We can often hear the one across the road two hoses down! On a slightly different tack, you can also get lights to come on over the TV or similar place when the doorbell rings.

Edited by RobertoS (Fri 27-Aug-10 22:54:47)

Now I've seen the pics !!!

Scroll down to the bottom of this page.

Then you or anyone else with a brain can wire in as many extensions as you like. Extension cabling needs to be CW1308 or CAT5.

As a TalkTalk customer it must go through them. You cannot go to BT direct.

BT absorbs the costs where a disabled person in one of their customers - but whether or not TalkTalk do is a different matter.

You can get DECT phone line extensions which use DECT links to provide standard extension sockets. Useful to avoid long cable runs, may work here as will allow you to use standard phones with big buttons etc if that is what you want.

Amazon, Maplin etc others sell them - click here for an example.

Otherwise, as others have said, speak to TalkTalk to get them to sort this out.

Post deleted by lenaspell

Plus they can get phones with nice large buttons and visual indicators for when it's ringing.

DECT phones too. If you taught them to use a mobile DECT is the same.

With respect, why have such traditional people switched their phone line away from BT to TT? If they had remained with BT they would not have such trouble.

Is it because they have BB? If so, surely if they mastered the Net then they could master a simple cordless handset?

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

With respect, why have such traditional people switched their phone line away from BT to TT? If they had remained with BT they would not have such trouble.

Is it because they have BB? If so, surely if they mastered the Net then they could master a simple cordless handset?

They do not own a computer and never have done. The reason for swapping to TT was for the cheaper line rental.

Just a thought: if the old folks are living in a rural district or one with overhead wiring, as we do, you should ensure they have at least one wired phone or they will lose their telephone service during the occasional but inevitable power cuts.

In reply to a post by aquilla:

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

With respect, why have such traditional people switched their phone line away from BT to TT? If they had remained with BT they would not have such trouble.

Is it because they have BB? If so, surely if they mastered the Net then they could master a simple cordless handset?

They do not own a computer and never have done. The reason for swapping to TT was for the cheaper line rental.

You seem not to have noticed my post pointing out you can perfectly legally add an NTE5 as an extension to the old-style master, then run the real extensions off that.

BT used to sell extension kits for those old masters. I bought one. Just an extension box, some cable, a plastic IDC tool and a tiny instruction leaflet.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

In reply to a post by aquilla:

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

With respect, why have such traditional people switched their phone line away from BT to TT? If they had remained with BT they would not have such trouble.

Is it because they have BB? If so, surely if they mastered the Net then they could master a simple cordless handset?

They do not own a computer and never have done. The reason for swapping to TT was for the cheaper line rental.

You seem not to have noticed my post pointing out you can perfectly legally add an NTE5 as an extension to the old-style master, then run the real extensions off that.

BT used to sell extension kits for those old masters. I bought one. Just an extension box, some cable, a plastic IDC tool and a tiny instruction leaflet.

Hi Robert,

I had seen your post, I just never got around to replying.

I had a look at the information in more detail this afternoon and I think that maybe the way to go.

Many thanks for everyone's help / suggestions.

I had a look at the information in more detail this afternoon and I think that maybe the way to go.

In fact I don't think you absolutely need to add the NTE5 unless you wanted to fit a filtered faceplate as well. A couple of extensions can just daisy-chain off the master, instead of the NTE5.

Adding the NTE5 may be safer though, particularly if any changes are needed in the future.

Good point! They could keep a corded phone in reserve or on a splitter with the DECT base station at the lone master socket.

I think Roberto1 is talking about overhead power lines, though power cuts are feasible on any lines.

There's also the possibility of simple blown fuses with underground power, that the elderly may need to call for help to mend. Many homes still have fuse boxes.

Yes, that was what I took him to mean. His advice was sensible. In all cases have a corded phone handy as it does not require power.

Obviously, if overhead phone lines are down then no handset is going to work and one will need to resort to a mobile!

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

His advice was sensible.

Isn't that a banning offence?

Then you should have been banned years ago