Speed loss between master socket & PC

jennyjelly

Hi, I wonder if anyone has any ideas on how to solve my problem.

According to the BT line speed checker my road has an internet speed of 2Mbps. With the router plugged into the test socket in the master box next to the front door I am downloading at approx 330Kbps, but when I plug it into the proper phone socket which is all of 3 metres away this drops to 80Kbps or less.

I've read somewhere that in the master box connections only 2 and 5 should be wired up, but in ours number 3 is also in use. I'm a bit scared to fiddle with it without any real knowledge, but wondered whether anybody had any ideas on how to stop this severe loss of speed.

Thanks in advance for your brainpower!

JJ

Donnie

Disconnect number 3, you don't need it. It's slowing your connection.

espresso

jennyjelly wrote: »

I've read somewhere that in the master box connections only 2 and 5 should be wired up, but in ours number 3 is also in use. I'm a bit scared to fiddle with it without any real knowledge, but wondered whether anybody had any ideas on how to stop this severe loss of speed.

Any wiring after the BT master socket is yours to do what you want with. Sometimes extension sockets are wired with burglar alarm cable, which does not have twisted pairs. Try disconnecting the wire on terminal 3 as it is not required, however it may not have any effect unless you have proper telephone cable.

Marty_J

The wire you're referring to is called the bell wire. It was once used to make the bells on older phones ring. It's generally not needed nowadays.

jennyjelly

If this is the case I'm surprised it's been left there at all, as BT sorted out all the phone wiring when we first signed up for broadband and it wouldn't work. We used to have a couple of extensions and they had to take these away to make the internet work. It's an old house and the wiring has been there since the stone age but they won't replace it as they say their contract is to supply a phone line, which they are doing.

Are you sure it won't do any harm to take the wire out of number 3? I'm a bit scared of messing with it and then having to pay BT to put it right - they charge such outrageous prices!

shadowdragon

have you got broadband filters on the master and the extension sockets? I read somewhere you need them on all your extensions and master socket.

espresso

jennyjelly wrote: »

Are you sure it won't do any harm to take the wire out of number 3? I'm a bit scared of messing with it and then having to pay BT to put it right - they charge such outrageous prices!

The wiring after the master socket is YOURS! BT are only responsible up to and including the master socket.

It will not do any harm to disconnect this redundant wire. Try it and see if it improves your connection speed.

ADSL filters are only required on sockets that are in use!

jennyjelly

We have a filter / splitter on our only remaining socket which is for the router and the phone.

Marty_J

I don't have the bell wire connected in my extension, and the router connected to it works fine. The phone works too.

Filters can often make a big difference. Something like this:

http://www.adslnation.com/products/xtf.php

or this if you don't fancy doing any rewiring:

http://www.adslnation.com/products/xf-1e.php

would be well worth it in my opinion. Certainly much better than the rubbish ones most ISPs hand out.

jennyjelly

We have been very brave and taken out the extra wire and are now getting speeds of over 300Kbps.

Thanks to everyone for the brilliant help!

Marty_J

Glad you got it sorted.