Old GPO network Termination Point

gratton20

Hik

Apologies if this not the right place to post this.

We have just moved into a new property and are in the process of setting up a phone and broadband service. The only problem, is that the phone line that comes into the property ends in an old fashiooned hard wired GPO terminal. (The type from the days when all phones were rented from BT and hard wired into a junction box, before plug in phones came in - mid 80's I think)

This has not been upgraded to a modern master socket. However the last occupier has hard wired a modern extension socket to the old GPO box. My question is do I need to bother with the time and cost of getting BT to change the master socket, esp if I dont get phone service from them or will the extension socket, which obviously worked for phone service, also do to plug in an ADSL router to allow me to have broadband access.

Thanks in advance and again apologies if this not the right place to ask.

Mark_In_Hampshire

You'll be able to place an order for a new line and the existing wiring will be used, because the wiring isn't hard-wired into a handset - the extension has already been fitted.

Whether or not you're charged for a "new" line, the existing set up will apply. You could have the line supplier send an engineer to fit a new style NTE faceplate, but that will almost certainly be at your expense (even though it's Openreach equipment)

You will be able to plug in an ADSL router, assuming the property/line can get ADSL, however older wiring can dent the performance because of something called the "ring wire" being present. If that's the case then rewiring might improve the performance of the broadband but because the demarcation point is the GPO box - which is Openreach equipment you're not allowed to tamper with - then in theory, you'll have to pay for the call out for them to replace their own equipment.

I'd see if the ADSL works first, you might be perfectly OK with it and thus there's no issue to actually solve.