BT Master Socket

I am moving into a new house next week, rented so I cannot make any "noticeable changes".

The BT Master socket is in the front of the house and the computer room is going to be in the back.

Naturally I want to connect my router into the master socket (I will replace with an ADSL faceplate) and not use the extension wiring. Infact I plan to disconnect all extension wiring and just connect my wireless phones and router into the master socket.

Without wanting to use a wireless router and not wanting cable dragged through the house, is there anything else I can do?

One thing I wondered was whether it is possible to get the master socket moved to the back of the house, if so, how much does it cost and can it be done suruptitiously?

Any other ideas most welcome.

Without wanting to use a wireless router and not wanting cable dragged through the house, is there anything else I can do?

Could always use mains networking

I have toyed with this idea previously.

Interestingly that is my other predicament as the computer room and living room are apart. Currently in my flat I run gigabit ethernet through the loft as I stream HD material to my plasma.

I was going to drill a hole through the wall to the computer room as that is easy to fix up.

But..... if Powerline works well then I could give that a go. I have seen some 400meg stuff.

Is it dramatically better than wireless?

I have had bad experiences with wireless.

Is it dramatically better than wireless?

Provided it's wired from the same distribution board (can't see it going too far if it's not), should be significantly better that wireless (I've never managed more than around 30 odd Mbps from a wireless network, except over very short distances - although I know of a university project in Nevada where they managed 125 miles from an un-amplified 802.11b).

So, something like this?

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=3477

An SSP might be up your street. The SSFP is a Service Specific Face-Plate and it replaces the front part of the NTE5 (BT Master Socket). This provides a dedicated port for ADSL and a dedicated port for the telephones. By using this type of centralised splitter, rather than microfilters, the home wiring can be dramatically improved, giving higher rates and improved stability.
Any extension sockets which previously required a microfilter will now be filtered at the SSFP and will therefore no longer carry the DSL signal and will only be available for telephony services. Adding microfilters to these extensions can cause a detriment in performance.

An NTE shift (where the Network termination point is moved) is only possible when you have more than one line) they cannot re-jig your internal wiring.

Edited by durbanator (Fri 19-Jan-07 22:20:22)

That's the sort of thing.
About 6% cheaper at www.dsl-Warehouse.co.uk and you can get an extra 2.5% cashback if you register and follow the links from www.quidco.com (but DSL Warehouse are currently out of stock - wouldn't you just know it )

I kind of guess that's what the OP was talking about when he mentioned replacing with an ADSL face-plate.

In reply to:

---

Naturally I want to connect my router into the master socket (I will replace with an ADSL faceplate) and not use the extension wiring.

---

Why? If you already have an extension in your computer room then connecting your router to this is surely the best option?

Why? If you already have an extension in your computer room then connecting your router to this is surely the best option?

That depends on the quality of the internal 'phone wiring.
Using your "best option", I lose 2.5Mbps of speed, and my sync drops from 4288kbps (+/- a bit), to 1600kbps (+/- a bit).

In my current flat, I cannot maintain a stable connection for more than 5 minutes. The house is just down the road, same builders etc so on the assumption that the wiring will be as bad, the master socket is a must.

I have an ADSL faceplate. Agreed that will improve things but doesnt move the master socket to the room I want it in.

Thanks for the heads up.

I really want the best and am wondering if there are any other makes that would be better.

Definately, and get a good ADSL filtered face-plate too (something like the XTE-2005 from ADSL Nation).

Certainly bad extension wiring can be a problem, but it far more frequently isn't, especially if you disconnect the ring wire. Have you actually tried it? If not then you could easily end up going for a much more complex (and expensive) solution for no benefit.

Judging by the experience I had in this place I can pretty much guarantee that the new place will be the same.

In reply to:

---

An NTE shift (where the Network termination point is moved) is only possible when you have more than one line) they cannot re-jig your internal wiring.

---

Incorrect. We had our NTE shifted when we only had one line.

no point in spending on anything faster than 8M to connect to a BT broadband connection.

I fully agree and the most I will get at the new place is 3meg if not much lower, but this will also serve as a dual purpose for the high def streaming to my media pc.

Wireless always packed up, even 108meg.

Sorry, vague post. You can have an NTE shift, but you can't move the master socket 'into' an existing extension wired box. BT would have to come out and put a new NTE socket in the bedroom and deactivate the old one. Charge is about 120 I believe.

No I'm afraid you're wrong there too. I don't know where you're getting your information from, but we had an NTE master socket on the hall in the ground floor and an extension socket in the first floor study. We asked BT to come out and shift the NTE upstairs and they 'moved' the NTE into where the extension was so that I had one socket upstairs, and not one nte and one 'deactivated one' as you suggest, and he even fitted my clarity faceplate filter when I asked the chap. You're right on the price however, it was around

Edited by Stabilo (Sat 20-Jan-07 08:40:21)

Ok to get this straight, I can have an NTE move and will he use the existing wiring?

If he uses the existing wiring isnt that just the same as me plugging into an extention? I.E. will I see any benefit from an NTE move?

And apologies to the previous poster to you for not using the exact technical terms and being an expert in everything.

I don't know whether you'll see a benefit or not, but he'll take away the nte socket from where it is and move it to where you want it so that you have one less socket on the line.

I suppose one socket is better than two when it comes to these things to perhaps you will see a benefit I don't rightly know.

To most this may seem as if I am being a wee bit anal, but, the line stats are so bad where I currently am (and will be when I move), that I barely get 3meg here and it will be less there, so, any little improvement should help a lot

So what you are saying is that his existing NT1 socket that is linked to the extention wiring will be turned into his NTE?

I am saying my extension socket was turned into my NTE because that's what I asked for. I don't know what will happen with his but it is reasonable to infer that if they did it for me on my request they may do it for him.

I don't know what an NT1 socket is, it's a term I've never heard used, and I don't know where you're getting your information from.

I think the easiest solutuion is to go for the powerline option.

Checking out the mains option I have stumbled accross two Netgear products.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-111-NG

and

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-113-NG

I want to connect:

ADSL router - In living room
Media Centre PC - In different part of living room
Gigabit Switch - In computer room with 4 machines connected to it

Initially I thought I would just need three Netgear HDX101's but now I note the XE102 Powerline Ethernet Bridge which specifically mentions internet connections.

Now I am totally confused, do I buy two HDX101's and one XE102 or three HDX101's.

Anyone?

Anyone got any thoughts?

I would buy three of the same type to ensure they'll talk to each other, but as far as the ethernet side of things goes, ethernet is ethernet and if you plug your router into one of them you'll be able to connect your pc to the other, regardless of which models you are using, and regardless of whether the marketing spiel mentions internet connection specifically or not.

Looks to me like the only difference is QoS for streaming HD content, so if that's important to you choose that model.

Have you considered using something like a pair of these ? I have seen them used very successfully.

Thanks, been looking on other sites and as you quite rightly put, the kit cares not whether it is a router or PC so I will go for the three HD models.