This thing is a connector bend no.4, the external feed to your house. Carefully remove the screws from the top section, gently unravel the scrum of wires inside and take a nice clear picture please.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

This thing is a connector bend no.4, the external feed to your house. Carefully remove the screws from the top section, gently unravel the scrum of wires inside and take a nice clear picture please.

That's a good idea Zarjaz - if, for example, only the orange and white pair are connected to the blue/white and white/blue pair and there are no connections to the green and black pair (and no other complications) that would be a very good indication of the current wiring situation.

If that is how the wiring is currently configured then only the blue/white and white/blue pair will be connected to B&A on the back of the working NTE5 in the living room, thus allowing the efficient use of the extension connections on the back of the faceplate in due course.

Any more ideas? I checked outside and there is only one wire that comes in to the master socket. I have checked all other sockets, and they are wired.

In reply to a post by WaqiP:

Any more ideas? I checked outside and there is only one wire that comes in to the master socket. I have checked all other sockets, and they are wired.

We appreciate that you are inexperienced in this field but what you have written, above, tells us nothing.

The only thing we can deduce from that is there is a cable that originates from underground. Under the external protective hood (that Zarjar asked you to look beneath), at least two wires from the underground feed cable are crimped to two wires of another cable and the latter cable goes through the wall into the NTE5/A, where two wires are connected to the B- & A-terminals.

Please either take a clear photograph of what is present under the external protective hood (which coloured wire of which cable is crimped to what coloured wire of the other cable) or describe in clear detail exactly what you see.

Which fits in with the idea, that the non-working sockets are not wired to anything.

If you want them to be active then new extension wiring needs to be connected, and to be honest I would suggest considering paying a qualified telephone engineer (plenty in the local phone book) to quote you for what you want. Cheaper than paying BT to come out and do it for you.

The new extensions would be run from the removable faceplate (which has nothing connected to it at this time).

Another option is if this is just for phones, is to invest in a decent set of DECT handsets so you can have one in each room.

(that Zarjar asked you to look beneath)

Thanks for the name check burakkucap !

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

(that Zarjar asked you to look beneath)

Thanks for the name check burakkucap !

D'oh!

The b*cat blames that "mishap" on the lack of sleep, lack of food, various rodents and the neighbours dog -- anything other than to admit to a spot of "brain fade"!

In reply to a post by WaqiP:

Any more ideas? I checked outside and there is only one wire that comes in to the master socket. I have checked all other sockets, and they are wired.

Hi, the links will help you rewire and sort out your telephone network.

http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/wiring_info.htm

http://www.wppltd.demon.co.uk/WPP/Wiring/UK_telephon...

http://www.rob-r.co.uk/other/UKphonecatwiring.htm

http://www.clarity.it/xcart/product.php?productid=16...