BT Line Crackle

commandant

I have just moved home and have recurring crackle on my line. I've had two BT Engineer visits, both of which have identified the fault as a loose underground connection some 50 metres form my property. On both occasions the fault has been fixed only to reappear the following morning.

This also appears to be affecting my BT Broadband service - I'm currently getting a download speed of between 72 and 100 Kbps and the connection usually drops when the phone is used.

Any of the techies out there have any ideas - it would be nice to be able to focus the minds of BT's call centre staff.

Geoffo_M

I had a similar problem about a year ago. Sometimes, it wouldn't just crackle but in high winds, it would drop all together. I had such a problem convincing the BT engineer because when he called, it wasn't windy. In the end he reluctantly replaced the line from the mast to my property and the problem was rectified. Part of my problem was that the telephone passed through the branches of a large tree. Hope you get it sorted.

Geoff

commandant

Thanks Geoff.

The cable runs underground so I'm wondering if it is getting wet. It's just strange that after the engineers fiddling with (and replacing) a single connection the fault appears temporarily fixed.

Farway

I have had similar, once was wet cable junctions undergound, which vanished when the sun appeared

Another was the line from the mast to the house, I think this was the real culprit because it had chaffed trhough at the mast connection over the years due to wind.

So when it rained damp got in, stopped raining and dried out

BT replaced the line and all has been well ever since

The new cable is better technically than the old I was told, and BT would often replace with a new connection, but as I have always been BT for 20 years or so I guess they work on "if it aint broke don't fix it" Which as BT shareholder I must agree with;)

I found phoning when the fault was on the line was the best solution, otherwise any line checks show no fault, when it is crackly & hard to hear it is impossible for operator to deny there is a fault

You may have already done this of course

commandant

Thanks Farway,

I think that's probably the problem, exacerbated by the recent damp weather. I have another BT Engineer coming out tomorrow, but the forecast is dry

davy_fulla

commandant wrote: »

Thanks Farway,

I think that's probably the problem, exacerbated by the recent damp weather. I have another BT Engineer coming out tomorrow, but the forecast is dry

Whenever I was called out to faults like this I found more often than not that the fault wasn't caused by wet UG cables. This is more likely to cause a buzzing/humming noise than a crackle. Crackling is usually caused by a fault known as an HR dis. Without boring you with the details it's basically a case of a weakness in the cable (usually at the connection where 2 cables join). If your housing estate is around 25-30 years old it's likely that the UG cables are made with aluminium conductors which are all at the age now where they are deteriorating rapidly.

These faults were always hard to locate as I usually found that everything sounded fine when arriving at the house. If it is quite a bad 'HR dis' then the engineer should be able to attach his tester at your main incoming feed and test back towards the exchange. The distance to the fault should show up on the tester providing it is bad at the time he visits. Fingers crossed that its crackling like hell tomorrow!