Moving BT Master Socket?

Hotspur

I am switching from virgin cable to O2 ADSL next week and getting a wireless router however I would prefer to connect my PC to the router using an ethernet cable. The problem I have is that the PC is in the office upstairs and the BT Master socket is in the lounge behind the TV. Can I move it or is it a BT only job?

Options are
1. To get the BT master socket relocated to the office (I guess that could be expensive?)
2. Connect the router to the extension socket in the office
3. Leave the wireless router connected to the master socket downstairs and somehow run approx 15 to 20m of whatever ethernet suitable cable I need to the office - need it to be invisible as far as possible
4. Get a wireless dongle or network card for the PC and connect wirelessly.

I'd appreciate your view on the best option or other suggestions that I may not have considered. Would the wireless option mean slower speeds or unreliable connection?
Thanks
H

Justin_Scotland

1. I think you would be on dodgy ground moving the master socket.
2. whats the problem with using the router from the extension socket just make sure you have microfilters at all phone points to prevent issues with interference.

Or just buy some HomePlug networking devices new 200mb are awesome. For £100 you can get a pair of pass through home plugs. Just plug one downstairs behind you telly and have the router plugged into that with the ethernet cable plugging into the network port on the homeplug. Other one goes upstairs in your study. Instant network and no wires. Also then means you can just add extra homeplugs when you want to use it somewhere else in the house.

I used to use wireless but just find it a bit flaky and wasnt overly happy about having it transmitting through my young childrens heads 24 hours a day so switched it off. Get much more reliable speeds from the homeplug anyway

so get a set of these. Then you can take them with you when you move house rather than moving the master telephone socket
http://www.faculty-x.net/homeplug%20200-twin-pt.htm

isofa

Only BT can move the master socket, as they would have to move the wiring which comes in from the street to your house to where you'd like the master relocated.

Providing the internal cabling is good, use the extension socket.

If you are going to end up running Ethernet from the master upstairs, you might as well rewire the extension using this, and then with the correct face plates at the other end, you can have the phone and ADSL running over a high quality internal extension.

I'd always go for wired first, with wireless as the final option (security, speed, signal etc).

Make sure you use good filters, or replace the faceplates with inbuilt ones such as those from ADSL Nation much better than the cheap rubbish than come "free" with packages.

Paul_Herring

Why the preference to connect the PC to the router via CAT5?

olly300

Paul_Herring wrote: »

Why the preference to connect the PC to the router via CAT5?

Speed.

Also the fact that the PC doesn't have a wireless card.

Personally I would get wireless card/adapter.

Marty_J

It's a lot easier just to get a network card. BT own the master socket and tampering with it is a criminal offence.

I imagine BT would charge quite a bit to have an engineer come out and move it.

I use wireless and my computer is sitting right beside the router. I just can't be having wires everywhere.

mdbarber

going to an o2 router will be 100mbs max so a set of the 85mbs homplugs will do just fine, ebuyer have them for £45, dearer than cat5 or wifi but a whole lot better.
are you sure the previous owners/tenants didn't move the master socket?

Paul_Herring

olly300 wrote: »

Speed.

Unless the PC is going to be used for things like *cough* downloading Linux ISO's etc, is speed that much of an issue with wireless? My main machine at home is a laptop connected via wireless to the desktop PC/router and I'm quite happy with the speed, even when the desktop is also being used.

Also the fact that the PC doesn't have a wireless card.

Given the time and thus eventual cost it would take to self-wire 20m of cable, I think a wireless card would be cheaper and less hassle.

Personally I would get wireless card/adapter.

Ah - you also came to that conclusion anyway... ;D

Hotspur

Thanks everyone,

I guessed that BT would have to work on the master socket and had no intension of moving this myself. I'll try the simple 'use the extension socket' first and work from there.
I was under the impression that connecting the PC to the router via ethernet was more relaible than wireless and for the best speed the router should really be connected to the master socket. But, from what you say and for my general surfing and limited downloading, the wireless adaptor should do the job for minimal cost if the extension doesn't do the trick

Thanks again

isofa

I run mine from an extension, it gets a very good connection, I get about 5 or 6Mbps normally, near to our exchange, but I did improve it by using high quality filters. I'd much prefer to use wired than wireless, which is as good as useless in our house.

Linbox

isofa wrote: »

Only BT can move the master socket, as they would have to move the wiring which comes in from the street to your house to where you'd like the master relocated

Um... do you think that they log the position of each and every master socket? Do you think that the "tech" (don't make me laugh) checks any paper work, other than his work sheet when he attends to your home? Do you think that the "tech"cares where the master socket is?

Its easy to move a master socket - its easier to fit an extension socket.