Using XTF-68s on multiple extensions?

Late July, I received an email from Sky announcing that my "Sky Broadband is about to get faster". Since joining Sky, my broadband connection was consistently (for approximately the last 12 months) over 2.5Mbps. However, since August this has dropped to 1.7MBps.

I called Sky and they told me that, although my line should support 4Mbps their current tests show that my current configuration (which has not changed at all) will only go up to 2Mbps and have therefore capped my line at this limit. As my router is on an extension, they suggest that I move my router to the master socket at which point they will re-test my line and I should get nearer 4Mbps.

I understand that for best results the router should be on the master socket, but unfortunately it is not practical for me to move my router as I have a couple of devices that require a wired connection and cannot be moved. In addition to the master socket, I have three extensions. These extensions seem to be wired in a daisy chain, i.e. there is a cable from the master socket to the first extension, a cable from the first extension to the second extension, and a final cable from the second extension to the third. Sadly, (yes - you guessed it) my router is on this third extension.

All cables have three pairs of wires; blue/white and white/blue, orange/white and white/orange, and green/white and white/green - the green wires are loose and not used. Wiring otherwise seems to be standard, blue/white to 2, orange/white to 3, white/orange to 4, and white/blue to 5.

To improve the broadband performance I have been considering rewiring my telephone sockets using the XTE-2005 faceplate with one or more XTF-68 extensions. Given that my router must stay on the third extension (and I cannot change the wiring), I was thinking of purchasing one XTE-2005 (for the NTE5) and three XTF-68 - one for each extension.

Has anyone else got a similar configuration, i.e. daily chained extensions, router on the last extension and now using XTE-2005 and XTF-68 sockets? If so, is there an improvement to the broadband performance and is it worth doing? Also, would you be able to describe the wiring for the daisy chained XTF-68s?

Many thanks,

John

I 'd suggest before doing anything else you remove wires to terminal 3 (ring wire ) at all the sockets, as its not required and can result in significant ADSL connection improvements when disconnected.

I've been thinking about the option of removing terminal 3 as well (also considered the BT-iPlate, as I understand that this more or less does the same thing). Given that 4 isn't used, should I remove both (leaving just 2 and 5)?

TIA

There is an easier way to do this, but it does require a non-standard router cable.

(1) fit the XTE-2005 faceplate at the master and connect you telephone extensions to the numbered filter outputs, now connect the unused green pair to the A and B terminals.

(2) connect the green pair to terminals 1 and 6 at each extension point.

(3) you now need a non-standard lead with a six way BT plug connected to a RJ11 plug for the router (if you want one PM me and I'll make one for you)

You can now plug the router or a telephone in at any socket.

4 dosnt do anything. Leaving will make no difference but only 2+5 are required so its up to you whether you disconnect 4 or not

Thanks again. Just to clarify - do I need to remove 3 from all the extensions, or can I just do it at the NTE5 box?

I can see what you're suggesting - good idea. I'm probably going to give the remove wire 3 first, but if this isn't successful, I might give this a try.

Could I use the green pair in terminals 1 and 6 and get away with just one XFT-68 at the final extension (using the green pair at the final step?

Either way, am I likely to see an improvement by filtering the line at source?

You would only need a XTE-2005 filter faceplate, the idea being that you feed the unfiltered green pair to 6 and 1 of all your normal extension sockets. It works because a normal 4 way telephone plug does not connect to 1 and 6 but a non standard router cable would. If you have normal extension sockets you only need to disconnect "3" at the master.

do I need to remove 3 from all the extensions, or can I just do it at the NTE5 box?

at the NTE5 should be enough, but if there is still a big difference between the test socket and the faceplate you may need to remove from extension sockets as well.

Removed the ring wire yesterday evening. Didn't make any difference (but then again, given the cap imposed by Sky, I didn't expect any change).

Phone Sky and asked them to re-test my line. My 1.7Mbps line is now running at 4.9Mbps. Blimey, didn't expect such an improvement.

Thanks all for your help and advise.