Possible BT Engineer charges

[Deleted User]

After a great spell with no computer problems I lost access to my email this evening, my computer speed dropped and searches 'timed out' before they were found.

Plusnet think there may be an intermittent connection problem and they are going to give me some checks to run. My download speed is 3000 kbytes and they think it should be a lot higher - maybe even 30,000.

I have to use my main socket with a new micro filter to check - so far things seem to be back to normal.

I've been advised that if BT come out and their engineer finds that there is no fault causing the connection to drop and that my internal wiring is flawed I will be charged £144 plus vat for the visit.

If it is necessary to check can anyone suggest a cheaper alternative way of having my internal BT wiring checked thoroughly without involving the potentially huge call out charge from BT? I'm not even sure if this charge would include repair to any internal wiring faults if they exist. (I wouldn't trust myself to tamper with it as I can only just about manage to wire a plug!)

If it is an intermittent fault and is not there all the time it might be difficult to prove to BT. If my wiring is the problem I genuinely don't mind paying (it's been there and has been problem free for about 15 years now!) but I'm afraid I'm wary of BT.

I'll be glad for any of your views or ideas, please.

Crimson

mr_vampy

Have a look in your local Yellow pages or other phone directory to see if there are any telephone engineers near you. They're usually ex-BT engineers and they charge a fraction of what BT charge.

[Deleted User]

Thanks mr_vampy - that would be a much more acceptable option. So far my computer seems to be 'back to normal' but it would seem to be much better to do as you have suggested if necessary. The possible BT Engineer charge seems quite a lot - especially if it turns out to be unnecessary.

Many thanks

Crimson

davb

Do you actually use the internal wiring? It was the norm a few years ago to have a number of phone extensions, but now with most people using dect phones with multiple handsets, it's not always necessary. It depends on the location of your equipment (main phone, adsl router, sky box), and of course your master socket - but it's a lot easier to disconnect extensions than to find and repair a fault.

The other thing to check, is your existing micro filters, as the fault could be with one of those. You said Plusnet have got you to try from the test socket with a new filter, which is a good check. You could try this using your existing filters, one at a time - and if your connection drops off, you have found a faulty one.

JasX

Deleted_User wrote: »

If it is necessary to check can anyone suggest a cheaper alternative way of having my internal BT wiring checked thoroughly without involving the potentially huge call out charge from BT? I'm not even sure if this charge would include repair to any internal wiring faults if they exist. (I wouldn't trust myself to tamper with it as I can only just about manage to wire a plug!)

Yup, basically if it works fine connected to your internal test socket and doesn't re-occur its pretty certain its your internal wiring.

Best way to trace, especially if its an internal probleem would be to disconnect everything and slowly reconnect everything one spur/device at a time until the problem reoccurs.

If you've connected all your sockets up with no phones/devices connected and are still seeing problems getting a cable termination tool to reconnect cables you're pulling would be prudent.

First thing to check would be is your bell wire disconnected?

[Deleted User]

Thanks, davb. I think I use the internal wiring (I apologise for my ignorance) as I have a 'corded' telephone plugged in to a BT fitted socket (about fifteen years ago) in my bedroom. The other two telephones I have (same brand etc) are not corded and are only plugged into the mains socket and not directly into a telephone socket.

Apart from the telephone socket in the bedroom I have one main socket in the living room. There is no telephone plugged into it - just the micro filter for my computer. (My router is wireless.) I changed the micro filter yesterday evening after 'phoning Plusnet and, so far, everything seems to be back to normal. I checked my download speed this morning and (from 3000 yesterday evening) it is now 12040 kbps. Does it sound as I might be OK for now?

Thank you.

Crimson

[Deleted User]

Thanks, JasX. As everything seems to have improved since I put the new micro filter on yesterday evening - does this sound as if the micro filter was the problem? Thankfully I have my normal email and access to the internet back. You only really appreciate it when it grinds to a halt or is not there at all. Thank you for your reply - much appreciated.

Crimson

spike7451

As far as BT are concerned,they are only responsible for the wiring UP TO & including the NTE5 Master socket.Any wiring after that is NOT their problem,be it fitted by BT or not.If your extensions run from the BT NTE5 faceplate,if the is an Orange wire connected (terminal#3) remove that.That's the ringer wire & it's known to cause interfearance as it acts like an aerial in some cases.
See here;
http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/lowSNR.htm

Dave_C_2

Deleted_User wrote: »

Thanks, davb. I think I use the internal wiring (I apologise for my ignorance) as I have a 'corded' telephone plugged in to a BT fitted socket (about fifteen years ago) in my bedroom.

Sorry if it's obvious, but you should have a microfilter on the corded phone in the bedroom.

However it does sound like you have the problem licked, so you must have.

Dave

JasX

Deleted_User wrote: »

Thanks, JasX. As everything seems to have improved since I put the new micro filter on yesterday evening - does this sound as if the micro filter was the problem? Thankfully I have my normal email and access to the internet back. You only really appreciate it when it grinds to a halt or is not there at all. Thank you for your reply - much appreciated.

Crimson

Quite possibly, microfilters are needed on EVERYTHING you have connected to your phone sockets.... if in doubt the troubleshooting is the same.

First go around unplugging everything except the computer. Plug that into the test socket (with filter).

Then Reconnect all th internal wiring by pligging into the 'notmal' socket.

Finally, slowly connect things back over time and see what it was that causes the problem

Final tip:

NEVER unplug the phone line from a connected router.... always turn the power off first and wait 2 to 5 seconds. Doing it the other way round can screw your profile at the telephone exchange and you'll be stuck with slow internet for about 2 weeks while it gets around to recalibrating itself.

[Deleted User]

Thanks spike 7451

I've had a message from Plusnet saying that there has been no interruption for over 14 hours and I'm happy to leave things for now. If the problem recurs I'll track down the orange wire as you suggest - I'm just scared to do anything now that it seems to be problem free. I appreciate your advice.

Crimson