Phone line relocation and new sockets

freezspirit

To put you in the picture, bungalow line not connected for atleast 18 months. Would like to reconnect and go on something like BT Basic plus move my broadband over.

Master socket is in attic, similar to this but with the old Telcom logo in right corner, black cable going in and 2 white cables going out.



The two extenstions coming from the master, one in lounge and one in bedroom, again old Telcom socket 68x68mm, all wires connected inside sockets.



Would like to move master socket to either lounge or hallway and replace extensions with newer boxes that I can connect router or extra bell plus phone to.

I was thinking of doing this myself but have been told that I need an engineer to do it. What cost should I expect? If I do get an openreach engineer will I be charged for the new boxes or will that be inclusive of price or will I have to provide new boxes?

DVardysShadow

Leave the existing master where it is. You can wire into the customer side of this without having to ask anyone. Put new sockets where you want them wired from the customer side of the existing master.If you have an overriding reason for a new master, you can do this, wiring only 2 and 5 in the existing master to A and B [or is it B and A] on the new master. But generally, not a lot of point in doing this unless you have a good reason.

freezspirit

Only reason to move master is that its in the attic so a bit difficult if I have a problem in the future and they ask to use test socket to check line etc.

I was going to change old sockets in the two rooms but if its a reasonable cost get the engineer to do it.

Got the skills and tools but not the qualification/job title to do it.

I know that the wires are 2 and 5 optional 3 for bell but whats puzzling me is why all 6 are connected. Was it just to look tidy or for a purpose.

I remember last time we had an engineer out (20years ago) he refused to go in the attic at my parents bungalow for health and safety reasons.

Neil_Jones

freezspirit wrote: »

Only reason to move master is that its in the attic so a bit difficult if I have a problem in the future and they ask to use test socket to check line etc.

You can ask BT, it will probably be chargable but if you have the older style master socket it would get replaced with the newer NTE5 which is the one with the detachable bottom plate.

I was going to change old sockets in the two rooms but if its a reasonable cost get the engineer to do it.

Got the skills and tools but not the qualification/job title to do it.

Extension wiring is dirt cheap and anybody can do it. The extension kits go for under a fiver on any well-known internet shopping sites, just strip the connector off to expose the wires. Even the BT cable insertion tool for wiring into the back of the master socket I've just found for 89p on Amazon.

I know that the wires are 2 and 5 optional 3 for bell but whats puzzling me is why all 6 are connected

Wires 1 and 6 are not connected to anything. Neither is number 4 (technically connected but doesn't actually do anything). As stated, you only need numbers 2 and 5 connected. Taking number 3 out of the equation altogether can (but not in all cases) boost the speed of the connection.

Ady87

You can expect a £130 standard call out for an Openreach engineer plus £75 per socket you need extending.

Buzby

Actually, your master socket is in the ideal location. If you plan to use Broadband, and your router is Wifi enables, your requirement for an Ethernet (CAT5) cable is removed. Better yet, the height of your router means you will get a far greater range outwith the property (full garden, driveway etc) that may not be possible if the WiFi base is at ground level.

Mark_In_Hampshire

If the wiring is all intact, the question becomes academic. Nobody will actually visit, the line will be enabled at the exchange running down the same circuitry as now. (In our case, the line was "enabled" remotely even though there were just two bare wires sticking out of the wall not connected to anything, took weeks to sort out)

Getting it moved is something for later on. That said, it's likely to be prohibitively expensive.