Advice on moving main BT telephone socket

helentroy_2

We are looking into the possibility of moving my mum's main BT telephone socket because where she lives the telephone wire comes through into the upstairs bedroom and that is where the main socket is. Previous occupants ran a plugged in extension cable down to the sitting room below and that is where her corded phone is plugged in.

I want to get her a wireless telephone and hopefully (in the future) on to broad-band. The main socket in the bedroom has no power supply near it so plugging in telephone and a router would be pretty difficult and need extension cables. Also with the layout- bedroom furniture there isn't really anywhere to set up the equipment so moving the main socket looks to be the only option. ?

My mum is a pensioner, on a v tight budget and has mobility problems so we have to see how the cost balances up with the benefits. Her line rental is currently directly with BT but we are looking to change that as not had a good experience (with them).

I don't know the best place to find out how much this will cost and who would have to do it so any advice much appreciated.

spike7451

You will have to get BT to move it as it's illigal under the Telecommunications Act to interfear with it.
Currently £95 min.
http://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/pricing/loadProductPriceDetails.do?data=u4Eg5%2Bv3zY69P26G4S6PAL%2FuVhXjMR5hQz3DdrCHJqBVrWsgMC%2F4dy9qJJFTkna2

Buzby

Can I suggest she has the best location for her Master Socket?

When switching to a cordless phone, the base station should be at the HIGHEST point in the house, as it will prvide the greatest range - out to the garden and even out to a neighbour's too.

The base is plugged into the upstairs mains socket, and a phone lead run to the master socket (as before). She can then either carry the hanset with her, or get a two-handset pack and keep another downstairs, plugged into a nearby mains socket.

helentroy_2

Thanks spike7451 and Buzby.
All the 'estimated' quotes I've been given re moving the box makes it unlikely at the present.
Having a two handset phone is a good idea but the problem with accessing the box to connect a wireless phone and a router remains though as it would be unsafe to have any power cables running across the floor- although it might be possible to run a longer phone lead to the main BT socket (if the wireless phone base station was next to the power socket) we would also need to get people in to move the bedroom furniture so that the phone lead could then go behind. Plans will have to be put on hold while we think what's best to do.

macman

Probably easier and cheaper to install a new mains double socket adjacent to the existing NTE5 position, spurred off the nearest existing socket (which could be in the next door room). This could just be surface run at the top of the skirting board with mini-trunking if necessary.
Much easier than paying BT's insane prices for moving the NTE5.
An easy job for your local sparky and shouldn't be expensive.

DVardysShadow

spike7451 wrote: »

You will have to get BT to move it as it's illigal under the Telecommunications Act to interfear with it.
Currently £95 min.
http://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/pricing/loadProductPriceDetails.do?data=u4Eg5%2Bv3zY69P26G4S6PAL%2FuVhXjMR5hQz3DdrCHJqBVrWsgMC%2F4dy9qJJFTkna2

But it could be possible to run your own extension from it, and this WOULD be legal

DonnyDave

I think that a general rule of thumb is to never move the master socket unless absolutely necessary, due to the amount BT is likely to charge.

Instead, I would hardwire an extension to the new location. This could be downstairs, somewhere in the same bedroom or elsewhere upstairs. Even if you have to get an electrician in because you can't do it yourself, it may be cheaper than paying BT to move the socket.

helentroy_2

Thanks macman, DVardysShadow, DonnyDave.
I'm thinking the same thing and looking into the practicalities now.
Helen