In reply to a post by CurlyWhirly:

Her master socket looks very old and I'm also wondering if BT would replace it for a more modern version free of charge ?

If it is an LJ2/1A as per my previous post, then if BT come out on a fault call where a line fault has been agreed by them to exist during remote testing, then yes, a modern NTE5 will be fitted for free.

If called simply to replace the master with an NTE5 then that would be very expensive.

In reply to a post by iwish:

have you done the test from behind the face plate on the master socket.

I'm over there now and have taken the front cover off and discovered that there is no test socket so the unit must be quite old ?

On a more modern master socket (like mine) there are more components and a test socket.

Does anyone know if she can get BT Openreach to come out and replace the master socket for a more modern version that is more compatible with a broadband connection ?

You try this DIY solution: http://www.clarity.it/telecoms/nte5.htm

In which case are you able to disconnect any extension wiring, easy if plug in, but if using the IDC connections you'll need a tool to put them back on.

A older master socket with no extensions should perform just as good as a modern one, unless faulty. Even if you cannot disconnect extensions, then removing the ring wire (pin 3) will usually help improve things.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Even if you cannot disconnect extensions, then removing the ring wire (pin 3) will usually help improve things.

Will removing the ring wire (pin 3) mean that she will no longer get a ring on her phone when someone rings her ?

Is it easy to remove the ring wire or do I need a special tool ?

In reply to a post by 4M2:

You try this DIY solution: http://www.clarity.it/telecoms/nte5.htm

I don't see how adding your own NTE5 line box would help ?

I have a faceplate fitted to my master socket which negates the need for an (unsightly) ADSL filter but with her master socket it is different as the front face isn't divided into two sections like mine is - I have a modern master socket with a test socket inside.

Given the phones should be using a microfilter anyway they should all still ring

Special tool, fingers or a cocktail stick or similar thing to lift the wire from the connector is all that is needed

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Special tool, fingers or a cocktail stick or similar thing to lift the wire from the connector is all that is needed

Thanks. I will try that when I next go over there which will be thursday.

Her ISP is the Utility Warehouse and she rang them the other day and they said that they ran a line check and said that her line is fine but I don't believe them as only BT Openreach can do that surely ?

Personally I don't think they can be bothered with the problem of her broadband connection dropping intermittently.

There is definently line noise on her line but it is only faint and I even took my BT Freestyle cordless phone over there and connected it up and there was still line noise and on my line there is no line noise using that particular cordless phone.

I think that as the line noise is not affecting the telephony side of things (apart from an irritating background noise) then BT Openreach will charge her if they send out an engineer as BT Openreach are only obliged to make sure that her telephone line works for telephony not broadband which is considered an accessory service ?

UW if their wholesale provider (they just buy from various wholesalers at best price in area) exposes the testing can run tests, but I doubt they have much in the way of real tech staff who understand the nuances of ADSL.

To see if noise is affecting the ADSL what you can hear is irrelevant as humans cannot here noise that affects ADSL. If it is exceptionally bad some may bleed down into the audible range. Router stats are the key

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

UW is their wholesale provider (they just buy from various wholesalers at best price in area) exposes the testing can run tests, but I doubt they have much in the way of real tech staff who understand the nuances of ADSL.

Agreed. She said that there was an Asian guy on the phone and he didn't really get what the problem was.

I had a similar experience when I was with AOL a few years ago.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

To see if noise is affecting the ADSL what you can hear is irrelevant as humans cannot here noise that affects ADSL. If it is exceptionally bad some may bleed down into the audible range. Router stats are the key

I don't know the URL for her router - it is a Gateway router which I have never heard of before.

[EDIT: I may be wrong on this. I will email her tomorrow and find out for sure what the name is on her router]

Edited by deleted (Sun 09-Sep-12 22:48:31)