Noisy phone

I have been having problems on and off with a noisy phone line. In the last few days it has been affecting BB speeds drastically (in the hundreds) and disconnections very frequently.

So I disconnected all phones and took out the plug in extension plug (which goes in the master socket), into which the filter usually goes and then phone and router wire into that. Plugged phone direct to socket - still noisy. Took faceplate off and plugged into test socket - still noisy. Tried two more corded phones - noisy.

Decided to call BT as I was fed up with it. Got through to India as you do. They tested line said it was OK and I was coming across clear. He read out a script stating there would be (I think) £99 charge if it was found fault was within the property. I said I didn't know what else I could do to ascertain where the fault was given I was connected direct to the test socket and three phones tried. Agreed it was likely a line fault, so I booked a visit a few days ahead.

Next day I lifted the phone - dead quiet! By this time I had the router back connected so connected back to test socket, kept switching phones and connecting everything back again and still ok and with far better internet speed (especially so when direct to test socket). So I cancelled the engineer call to monitor for a while. What do you know - a few hours later I lifted phone and it was crackling away again. But here's the thing, internet has remained stable, and in particular, still faster when connected direct to test socket even though line remains noisy. There is still some sort of problem clearly but I wondered if I might benefit from an Iplate, as we also have very old extension wiring into the faceplate. I see broadbandbuyer.co.uk has them for about £3 something +£2 postage. Amazon similar price.

What do you reckon guys?

Edited by rob54 (Mon 14-May-12 00:33:28)

Hi,

Noisy phone line will cripple ADSL speeds so it needs sorting first, try recording the line noise with callinbox and play this to the engineer and/or for the call centre to hear when reporting the fault.

ADSL faceplate will usually benefit most lines to some extent - but no point unlessline is quiet and stable in the first place as speed won't be stable enough for you to see what benefit there is.

An ADSL faceplate is merely a neater version of a dangly filter, though most, (if not all), now have a ring wire filter built in as well.

An iPlate is purely and simply a ring wire filter. It wouldn't help this problem at all. I expect you already have the ring wire disconnected anyway?

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

An iPlate is purely and simply a ring wire filter. It wouldn't help this problem at all. I expect you already have the ring wire disconnected anyway?

Looks like I have wire 2,3 and 5 connected to the faceplate. Is 3 is the ring wire? If so is it needed to make old phones ring? The extension phone is an old BT Stateman (I think it's called. I could swap it for a newer one if the ring wire needs to come off (unless an iplate would do it).
I understand it not helping the noise, which again is dead quiet. So frustrating.

photo of back of faceplate showing wires connected

this is usual arrangement (apologies for terrible photo). This also results in lower speed than when into test socket and no external extension as shown here.

Edited by rob54 (Tue 15-May-12 01:36:56)

yes no 3 is the ring wire start by removing that

What is on the other end of that splitter that is plugged into the faceplate, as well as the dangly filter?

What colour is the wire into T2?

Gently ease out the ring wire, T3, but don't cut it. Tuck it so it doesn't touch the bare wire or another contact.

You appear to have something connected BEFORE the filter, it looks like an extension cable and should be connected AFTER the filter.

In reply to a post by Going_Digital:

You appear to have something connected BEFORE the filter, it looks like an extension cable and should be connected AFTER the filter.

Yes it's a plug in extension. Oh right, only thing is it'll make it even more untidy to plug that into the filter. If I do as you suggest, will the phone (and dialup modem) at the other end of the cable not then need a filter there?

It almost certainly contains another ring wire as well, which only gets filtered by filtered faceplates or possibly an iPlate.

Have you been using that splitter when using the test socket?

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

What is on the other end of that splitter that is plugged into the faceplate, as well as the dangly filter?

Plug in extension to room where pc is for phone and dialup modem.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

What colour is the wire into T2?

Don't know at present can't see as I've put it back to original arrangement (and slower speeds )
Am expecting a call so don't want to disturb it now, but will take a better look later after the call and report it. Looks like someone has wrapped insulating tape doesn't it.

Yes, I wondered if the insulation tape was just to protect over-stripped wire, or whether there is a join there.

If the computer is in the room that plug-in goes to, where's the router and is there another computer there or are you using wireless?

It might be easier if you just describe the complete setup . Sounds strange so far and each post generates two questions.

In my previous post I also asked about that splitter when using the test socket.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

It almost certainly contains another ring wire as well, which only gets filtered by filtered faceplates or possibly an iPlate.

Have you been using that splitter when using the test socket?

Oh blimey on a hiding to nothing then! Unless I can do away with it and hard wire it to the faceplate.
Yes I was using that filter when plugged into the test socket.

I'm not sure you got the question there.

Did you have that plugin extension (splitter) in when using the test socket, with the dangly filter into the splitter, or just the dangly filter into the test socket?

Is the dialup ever used?

What is on the end of the wired extension?

I had filter into test socket only, no splitter, and the speed test result in my initial post was that arrangement. That was the best speed I've had in years! Having said that I did try the splitter briefly into the test socket then the filter into splitter, but briefly, and I can't remember what effect it had. I kept using the speedtest.net app on the phone to test difference, but ought to have noted each result with each arrangement and noise etc - but didn't. I was just swapping things about as noise was coming and going.
With arrangement as it is in second pic (everything plugged in as now) it is now....terrible.. usually speed will be around 3.0. Phone is quiet at present.


The arrangement (to answer fully), is that splitter, then filter. Splitter take a line to socket for phone and didalup modem to another room where PC is. Plugged wire comes out of socket there, into a Belkin mains filter which has points in and out for phone and modem. Router is sited only 18 inches to the left of that master socket. An RJ45 cable runs from the router to the PC in that other room (think it was a 4m cable). The only wireless use is a mobile phone.

Will report back colour of wire to position 2 when I can.

So if you don't like the untidy approach of pluging the filter into the master socket and the splitter into the filter then surely what you need is a filtered faceplace on with the router directly into that, the splitter plugged into the faceplate and the other lead into the splitter?

You would then have no need of any other filters anywhere!

Unless I have interpreted your installation wrongly?

When reference is made to the "test socket" you have removed the face plate and used the socket behind the faceplate?

EDIT: Looked at the photograph again. You seem to have three voice connections but have only mentioned two that I can see.

You have an extension lead connected to the back of the faceplate as well as the splitter and a filtered leead in the filter? Do you have filters on the first two of these and do you use them?

A filtered faceplate would definitely tidy this up!

Edited by greenglide (Tue 15-May-12 16:19:03)

In reply to a post by rob54:

....... I kept using the speedtest.net app on the phone to test difference.....

OUCH!!!!
Use a computer that is hard wired to the socket to run speedtests. Anything else, particularly a phone, will not give accurate results.

Yes I could use a filtered faceplate couldn't I! Lots of advantages, except one can't swap a filter when needed.

Yes I used the test socket behind the faceplate.

There are three voice connection. Main phone plugged into filter, one from the splitter, another wired into the back of the faceplate see first photo and you can see same wire semi-buried in wallpaper in second pic. see http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/general/t/4123275-r...

Edited by rob54 (Tue 15-May-12 18:14:46)

As a bit of an update. I haven't changed anything, but I did try putting the splitter into the microfilter. Just a little too wide.

Although phone is quiet most of the time the speeds have been poor see below. I called O2 and it seems they had changed the noise margins to suit. They change to default and this speed below is the result. Also tried updating software (or is it firmware) but it wouldn't saying it was showing very old version. I also told then it was no longer possible to log on as SuperUser (I tried it whilst on phone again) and that the logon dialogue no longer comes up as you go to the router URL, with Administrator as the user. And that it can't find the time server.

So thought part of prob maybe router as line is capable of better. So I am to get a box 5 on Monday. So go from there and if that doesn't fix problem (of slow speeds) they'll accelerate prob to the next level (engineer I think)

Maybe this ought to go in o2 part of forum.

Hmmm - with a filtered faceplate you shouldnt "need" to change a filter and if you did you would simply plug the filter into the already filtered socket on the faceplace or into the test socket.

I hope the new router helps!

Ah right - so if filtered faceplate fails, just plug filer into filter (or test socket of course).
If new route does help (somehow doubt it though that's possibly my natural pessimism) then I will go for a filtered faceplate. Be nice to clean up appearance, although there's loads of wires for other things around and about the socket and router.

Well, the wireless box 5 (TECHNICOLOR TG582N) turned up OK today (eventually). It's so dinky! It has improved the connection no end. Well, at least back to where it ought to be! One little thing I don't get is the connection is indicated as "Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 1.131 / 4.502. Those figures seem to be Mbps not kbps!

After initial successful connection of my mobile to the router using the SSID and key, I had trouble with it not staying connected, even though all indications were that it was, and I wondered if it had to do with the lack of antenna on this box. But then it made no difference sitting right next to it. Anyway, I called o2 and they changed to a different channel (I can see now it changed from 1 to 13).

Next stage has to be to get a filtered faceplate. Only problem being that the phone socket on those is on the right and my splitter for one of the extensions has the body offset to the left see pic so it might prevent getting the router plug in as it does now if I try to plug it in after the socket (i.e. into the microfilter).

Could someone possibly measure the centres on their, say, Solwise or ADSL Nation faceplate filter?? I can check if these are suitable. Thanks.

Edited by rob54 (Mon 21-May-12 22:17:06)

In reply to a post by rob54:

Anyway, I called o2 and they changed to a different channel (I can see now it changed from 1 to 13).

Be aware that some phones ( Blackberries) do not support channels 12 & 13 and will not see a wifi network on these channels.

Mine is a lowly Samsung Galaxy Apollo ans seems fine now on channel 13. The o2 bloke seemed to think it due to interference and changed it to one that is apparently less prone.

In reply to a post by rob54:

Next stage has to be to get a filtered faceplate. Only problem being that the phone socket on those is on the right and my splitter for one of the extensions has the body offset to the left see pic so it might prevent getting the router plug in as it does now if I try to plug it in after the socket (i.e. into the microfilter).

Could someone possibly measure the centres on their, say, Solwise or ADSL Nation faceplate filter?? I can check if these are suitable. Thanks.

If you have a filtered faceplate you dont have any microfilters or have I misinterpreted your post?

In practise the RJ11 connector fits all the way into the faceplate so if you plug it in first you should have plenty of room.

The separation between the BT socket and the RJ11 socket on my ADSL Nation filtered face plate is a fraction over 1 cm - this is the solid plastic, not the distance between the centres.

It is about the size of a BT socket.

Having looked at your attached picture (which took about 10 minutes to open so I hadnt seen it when I posted the previous comment) I understand the question now! If the offset bit to the left is less than 1cm there is no problem, if slightly more it should still be ok as the BT plug is slightly smaller than opening in goes in.

In reply to a post by greenglide:

In practise the RJ11 connector fits all the way into the faceplate so if you plug it in first you should have plenty of room.

Ah right well that helps hugely. Should be fine then.

In reply to a post by greenglide:

The separation between the BT socket and the RJ11 socket on my ADSL Nation filtered face plate is a fraction over 1 cm - this is the solid plastic, not the distance between the centres.

The measurement you took on your ADSL Nation faceplace is a couple miliimetres more than the same on the microfilter. Thanks a lot - I can go ahead and order one now.

In reply to a post by rob54:

Mine is a lowly Samsung Galaxy Apollo ans seems fine now on channel 13. The o2 bloke seemed to think it due to interference and changed it to one that is apparently less prone.

I used channel 13 for my main home network - as O2 correctly said it is often not used. However had to change channel after spending a considerable time trying to work out why my daughter couldnt see my main wifi network on her new Blackberry but had no problems seeing my FON wifi networks !!

InSSIDer is a useful program for seeing what wifi networks are visible, what their strength is and what channel they use. You can then choose a relatively free channel.

In reply to a post by rarrar:

In reply to a post by rob54:

Mine is a lowly Samsung Galaxy Apollo ans seems fine now on channel 13. The o2 bloke seemed to think it due to interference and changed it to one that is apparently less prone.

I used channel 13 for my main home network - as O2 correctly said it is often not used. However had to change channel after spending a considerable time trying to work out why my daughter couldnt see my main wifi network on her new Blackberry but had no problems seeing my FON wifi networks !!

InSSIDer is a useful program for seeing what wifi networks are visible, what their strength is and what channel they use. You can then choose a relatively free channel.

Channel 13 still had problems. They said try 6,7 or 8. 6 ok initially now trying 7. They said wireless box 5 is proving problematic wirelessly (great!). And if I can't get it stable to my phone they will have to send me a 2 or 4

I downloaded and installed InSSIDer to my PC (which is connected by wire to the router and had no wireless adaptor. I can't get it to show any networks.

Edited by rob54 (Tue 22-May-12 18:19:26)

In reply to a post by rob54:

I downloaded and installed InSSIDer to my PC (which is connected by wire to the router and had no wireless adaptor. I can't get it to show any networks.

inSSIDer will only work on a computer with a wireless adaptor - e.g. a laptop.

OK thought it was looking like that

Read that . (dot) as a comma

Stupid firmware - the 780WL was like that

Can be changed, but cannot remember the command at the moment

Edited by nredwood (Wed 23-May-12 00:05:15)