Ok so likely no master & star wired in this instance. Not really ideal.

Nope its when we were told to only run cable for 3M once in the EUs property, unless they paid for more cable.

Another issue is that the line with no NTE across it would fail remote testing as 'dis(connected)' Not technically an issue, but a stumbling block to fault reporting and the like ....

Does that mean it's possible to check if a master socket actually exists on the line? If so, how?

If you are a BT customer then there are some line tests that you can run I think by dialing 151 (not 17070). IIRC these tests give some error if there are 3 (or more I presume) master sockets. It is quite possible that the tests would also report an error if there are no master sockets.

I find it surprising that Openreach have activated a line without a master socket, if this is indeed the case.

Does that mean it's possible to check if a master socket actually exists on the line? If so, how?

Physically connecting a JDSU or Exfo across the pair and testing towards the customer .... those of us who are somewhat older might use an SA9083 multi meter to 'look' for the capacitance kick of the capacitor in the NTE (you can even see an ADSLFTTC router attempting to make a connection, or if there's a phone connected)

The 'cap kick' of an NTE is what the most basic of remote line tests is 'looking' for. The old CSS RAT test would return a message saying 'bells A and B line test OK' or summit similar.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Does that mean it's possible to check if a master socket actually exists on the line? If so, how?

Check for a 470k resistance between pins 3 and 5 (if correctly wired) or pins 3 and 2 (incorrect wiring). If it's there, you've got a master socket. If it's open circuit, there's no master socket.

Uh?

Pin 3 on a huge number of installations isn't connected, particularly at the master. Not forgetting the question was about remote testing.

Pin 3 on a master will always be connected internally with a 470k resistor to pin 5 and 1.8uF capacitor to pin 2.

So a simple check with a meter will confirm it as a master.


Remote testing will show an open circuit if there is no phone or mater on the line. The 470k resistor is known as the out-of-service resistor and is there to allow remote testing (routining) when no phones are connected.

But there are only two wires coming in to attach the tester to. No pins at all. The only way the test suggested could work at all is if one incoming goes from the A or B connector for that, (I don't know which way round incoming wires should connect and not worth googling as you will), and the other of A and B goes to 2 or 5. Is that how the wiring works?

In either case the remote tester has no options.

It is possibly implied in Zarjaz's post that the A terminal goes to pin 3, in the light of Sarah and your posts. Still no pins to choose from remotely, though the possibility of her correct/incorrect wiring could apply.