faulty BT phone/line - advise please

anne15

Hello,

can anyone help ?

i've had a crackly BT line for ages. A couple of weeks ago it was impossible to use - very crackly then cutting off, going silent then coming back.

I reported it to BT but there service is not very user friendly. anyway it seemed ok again so i didn't pursue it.

The same thing has happened again last night so i will have to get it fixed.

I have a small rectangular box in the hall where the phone line comes in to the house then a socket where the phone plugs in about 4m further on. There is no test socket ( BT keeps telling me there is one !).

it is possible this 4m of internal cable was damaged when new carpet was fitted.Cable has 4 wires ; red, yellow, blue ,green. The blue and green are not connected in the joining/connection box.

i'm not sure what BT charge but i'm sure its astronomical but don't think i can afford it.

1. can i replace this 4 m of cable myself ? if so where do i buy ? are safety hazards in doing so ?

2. does any one else repair phone lines other than BT ? didn't seem to be in Yellow Pages.

3. any other helpful hints, points to look for, etc.

i'd appreciate any advice.

regards Anne

macman

BT are responsible for any problems up to the master socket, beyond that is down to you. Not clear what the 'rectangular box' you mention is, does it have a phone socket in it?-if so you need to plug your phone in there and retest. Have you also checked it with a different handset? If noise is still present then you need to get back on to BT again-you can do it all online, no need to phone them. If you keep complaining then then will send an engineeer out t test it properly, rather than just run a remote test
Noise on the line is more likely to be a fault on the BT side, but you must test from the master first, otherwise you will be charged £125 for a call out if the fault is in your wiring.
Only 2 connections need to be present in any box, at terminals 2 and 5. The other 2 wires are surplus, so unless the cable shows physcial damage this is unlikley to be the fault. But if it is, you can change the wiring as long as it's beyond the BT master. You can buy phone wire at any electrcal shop, or any electrician or jobbing DIYer can rewire it for you. But doesn't sound like that's where the fault is in your case.

aamuk

anne15 wrote: »

Hello,

can anyone help ?

Can you add some pictures so we can get a better idea of what you have? If you take some pictures, you can upload them to something like imageshack.us or photobucket.com and then add links in your post.

macman

Is it like one of these (modern one)?
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/images/iplate/bt-master-socket-size-large.jpg
Or like this (old style one)?
http://media.photobucket.com/image/BT%20master%20socket/tinners/mastersocket.jpg
Or even older?
http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/attachments/cabling-faceplate-help/859d1216983428-old-bt-master-socket-de-embarkation-image228.jpg

anne15

Hi Macman,

thanks for your help - the box where the line comes in from outside is like your 3rd picture ( mind you couldn't open the 2nd one).its a 'connector' box. i haven't had anything changed for maybe 20 yrs so old style wiring, etc. after the 1st box is a more modern socket to plug the phone in - but no test plug inside.

i suspect its the 4m wire between these 2 boxes that may have been damaged by carpet fitter - but not sure so was trying to eliminate.

sorry can't upload any photos to help.

thanks Anne

macman

Yes, that's a very old one-I have the same.
Which socket does your next box/extension resemble? Click 'yes' and then 'continue' to reach the image.
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=25075&s_cid=btb_FURL_accelerator

If the extension and the BT master both have the two wires connected, then no reason to think that the cable is damaged, unless you can see actual physical damage. Much more likely that the fault is upstream of the BT master.

anne15

Hi Macman,

sorry for the delay replying - i only have computer at work.


the 2nd box is like No.1 - only central socket, no test socket inside.

Which of my 2 boxes is the 'master socket' ?

there is a 1/4 inch bit of the cable where the insulation is damaged/missing. I have a feeling the carpet fitter may have damaged it -maybe with a nail or something but not sure so trying to find a way to eliminate this as a cause before i call out BT & have to pay £125 plus.

do you know if i can i replace this 4m of cable between these 2 boxes myself ?

regards Anne