Master Socket

Hi,

The wiring in our house was done by BT back in the days, around the 1990's. They had installed one socket in the upstairs front room and a extension in the front room downstairs. There was a extra third one which BT installed in the living room.

Now, coming forward to just two years ago. A BT engineer was working on the telephone pole and he must have forgotten to reconnect the wires, well something happened and it knocked our telephone line out.

Well, BT engineer came around, check everything, found the fault on the Pole and reconnected the wires.

He noticed that we didn't have a BT Master Socket, so he replaced the socket in the upstairs front room with a master socket.

Well, around two weeks ago, I was experiencing problems with my broadband speeds, was getting nothing, around 160kbps.

Well, BT engineer came around today, found a fault with the wiring from the master socket to the black connector which connects to the main wire to the telephone pole. Well he changed that wire and he also done some wire changing from the BT junction box to the bottom of the pole.

After all of that, I was receiving around 7MB, which was great.

BUT for some reason, when he connected the internal wiring back in, the speed dropped. He said it was probably because of the other wire which goes from the master socket, down the outside wall and back into the downstairs front room. (this was the socket which BT installed yonks ago)

(before the this speed problems, I was getting a cool 6MB on my internal wiring with no problems)

He said to replace that wire as its probably damaged and moving it around will have caused it more damage. I asked him, isn't BT responsible for what they install? He said no, its only upto the Master Socket.

Is he right? Is it upto the Master Socket and thats it. Even if BT have installed the other two extensions???

In reply to a post by JaspalSingh:

Is he right? Is it upto the Master Socket and thats it. Even if BT have installed the other two extensions???

Yes.

If the ring wire is still connected with the old extension, that could be the cause of the problem. If it is still connected, disconnect it (see http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/socket.htm).

And of course, make sure you have a microfilter fitted at the extension if you are using it.

Edited by StephenTodd (Tue 11-Sep-12 22:00:21)

Two scenarios - BT install wiring and the customer paid the full cost and BT gave a 1 or 2 year guarantee from time of install, so that would have expired. So, after the guarantee period, it is down to the customer to resole faults normally by paying.

The second is that BT installed the extensions and charged a monthly rental fee for each one and were liable for any repairs at any time. If your bill shows additional rental charges then you might have a case, but it is unlikely as I believe they charges were removed years ago.

So, yes up to the master only and nothing past it is the likely situation.

the extension wire which is connected from the faceplate, then going outside, downstairs and back into the house, etc. I can only see two wires connected to the back of the faceplate.

do I have to check each socket and make sure that the "ringwire" is disconnected?

Surely, if they are disconnected at the master socket faceplate, that would be enough?

I will try and run a temporary wire from the upstairs faceplate to the downstairs socket and see if I get an improvement.

What I don't understand is, even if the router is connected directly to the master socket, via the faceplate, the speed shouldn't drop should it??

In reply to a post by JaspalSingh:

I will try and run a temporary wire from the upstairs faceplate to the downstairs socket and see if I get an improvement.

What I don't understand is, even if the router is connected directly to the master socket, via the faceplate, the speed shouldn't drop should it??

If there are still extensions connected to the faceplate then yes you could still experience a drop if those wires are picking up noise or causing an imbalance.

do I have to check each socket and make sure that the "ringwire" is disconnected? Surely, if they are disconnected at the master socket faceplate, that would be enough?

That seems logical, but I have read somewhere (?) that it is worth removing the ring wire at both ends. But there are lots of old wives tales in broadband technology, so who knows?

I have just ordered this IDC tool, and will get some 2 pair wire to run outside the house. Problem is, I can't find any external telephone cable which is like the old grey wire I have now. I might just run the internal one outside.



http://www.amazon.co.uk/IDC-Punch-Down-Tool-automati...

the only thing which is hard wired into the phone line is the adt alarm, but never had a problem with it before the speed problems.

I did disconnect all sky boxes and telephone aswell. Can't disconnect ADT alarm as its wired directly into a socket. But like I said, before this speed problem, never had an issue.

So it might just be that old croded wire, well the plastic cover is croded, the wire itself inside is ok.

I'll eliminate the outside old wire first, then move onto the next thing, as soon as I have collected all the tools. Waiting for IDC tool, should come tommorow.

For example http://www.telephone-wiring.co.uk/external-cable-12-...

[better link]

Edited by deleted (Wed 12-Sep-12 15:12:00)

Is the ADT filtered?

They don't use a microfilter, but a hardwired filter. Changes to the wiring may have mad the non-filtered alarm have a greater impact on the ADSL.

brilliant.

The 2pair internal cable I found at wickes and b&q is thin, slightly smaller than a pencil.

Would this 2 pair black cable be thin or just as big the one BT wired upto the new master socket?

I will check if maplins to them, that way I can see it before buying it

The alarm has a broadband filter inside the control panel. I have had the system for over two years now and would have noticed a difference by now.

Like I said, before the speed problems, I was getting 6.5MB in my room, where the router is, thats at the end of the whole extension. My socket is the last one.

But now, its nearly half.

when the adt guy comes around to service the system and battery change, I will ask him if he can disconnect the filter and see if I get an improvement.

That is real BT cable - solid copper, twisted pair and external. It's unlikely the High St shops have it.
If you're going to connect it to existing wires, I recommend gel-filled crimps as well.

the cable will go from the upstairs front bedroom master socket, outside, down and back into the downstairs front room.

what is a gel-filled crimp???

Just checking, as so many don't know one is needed

Crimps (connectors) that BT use to join cables together.

The use of gel makes them good for outdoors (inside another housing). Not used that often for internal extension wiring, junction boxes are more common.

In reply to a post by JaspalSingh:

brilliant.

The 2pair internal cable I found at wickes and b&q is thin, slightly smaller than a pencil.

Would this 2 pair black cable be thin or just as big the one BT wired upto the new master socket?

I will check if maplins to them, that way I can see it before buying it

My next door neighbour used internal grade (white) cable for an external extension a few years ago and now it's deteriorating due to UV and weathering - for a long term solution it's certainly advisable to use the external grade cable that BatBoy suggested.

One thing to bare in mind though is that it's against fire regulations to use more than 2 metres of external cable internally.

I have ordered the insertion tool from amazon, as soon as that arrives, hopefully fingers crossed and that all the Gods in the heavens and beyond have mercy on me, that when I replace that old wire everything should work fine and proper.

In reply to a post by JaspalSingh:

I have ordered the insertion tool from amazon, as soon as that arrives, hopefully fingers crossed and that all the Gods in the heavens and beyond have mercy on me, that when I replace that old wire everything should work fine and proper.

Divine intervention will probably be dependant upon your karma

I do try my best to do good deeds.

I shall the mass multi-faith prayers this evening.

thanks for your input, I shall update when I start and finish working, have to wait until the weekend till I get the tool and cable.

Well, I ran that wire and it seems the old wire still has some life left in it, as there was no improvement. Well slightly, very little that it can be ignored.

The faceplate seems ok aswell.

So, what next, I think I need to re-check all my wiring.

what is confusing me is that I have not touched my wiring at all, BT engineers come in install a new socket and leave.

is it my wiring?

I have seen they have connected the blue wire to the number 5 terminal and orange wire to the number 2 terminal.

I guess I have to re-check all my wiring and make sure its the same as this right???

Well, re-wired everything and the speed is up, stable at 7.4MB.

Blue to 5 and Orange to 2, all excess wiring removed.

Thanks for all your help.