Finding the master socket for BT

Browntoa

different beasts , the BT web site does say they "may" need to come out on infinity installs and that there is no charge . The new faceplate has a built in splitter and the Openreach engineer does some line tests on the day to check the quality of the line .


removing any other extensions avoids the risk of that being the problem ( although I suspect its not enabled in the exchange)

Super_Whiskey

Okay thanks. When you say 'removing any other extensions' is that what you were referring to when you suggested removing the wires? I could understand needing a new faceplate if it was FTTP but as it's FTTC the existing infrastructure should support it (and does judging by the other routers I can see on my wifi!)

I will try their online chat now and see how I get on. Failing that, will give them a ring tomorrow.

Retrogamer

No need to disconnect the other extension sockets. Just make sure you disconnect any hardware from them so they aren't in use. If the fault still persists at the master socket, then you shouldn't be liable for any fees as you've done everything reasonable to eliminate a fault with your internal wiring.

Super_Whiskey

Okaythank you. None of the other sockets had anything in so it looks like it is the master socket.

artyclarty

Although this is from the plusnet website, everything else should be identical except for the setup card.

- Has the openreach person been round to install your new socket? Fibre will not (as far as I am aware) work without the upgraded master socket? They would have come around and changed the faceplate and given you the white openreach modem and connected it to your master socket.

- Have you plugged in the openreach modem into the new master socket? It then needs connecting you your homehub via LAN. The phone then goes into the normal phone socket underneath.

- You also need to remove any old ADSL filters as this will interfere with the fibre and at best slow your speed down, at worse stop it from working altogether. The new master socket I believe already has an inbuilt filter.

If any of the above have not been done then your fibre will most likely not work.

Also, your router is just that - it routes anything it can see around to anything else it can see (in my house, at any one time it can see 4 computers, 3 games consoles, an HDD, 2 bluray devices, both our phones and a NAS server as well as the internet). I used the USB on the back to plug in a portable HDD in order to stream music around the house. What you have to have attatched to the router inbetween the master socket and the router is the white BT Openreach modem for it to be able to distribute the internet around the house.

I hope that this helps to at least eliminate any problems at your end before you have to incur any call out fees.

iniltous

Browntoa wrote: »

I assume you are getting dial tone ??


there is additional jumpering in the exchange that needs doing to separately connect the broadband part ,

make a note of all other connected wires to the socket apart from 2 and five and remove them and see if it works . Then reconnect them to reconnect your extensions ( a small screwdriver will push them back in )

If there is a dialtone at the master socket, dial 17070 and check the number read out by the AVR is your number.
A friends daughter had problems in her student flat when at uni , and the problem was BT had connected broadband to the number she asked for, but there was so many previous installations for previous occupants , using various providers, the socket she thought was the 'correct' one for her line was in fact a socket for an unknown line/ provider, albeit at he same flat, after looking around the correct socket was located and the broadband worked fine, if she had dialed 17070 she may have realised sooner that she wasn't plugging the router into her line/ number.
This may well be the case if you had a line 'started' without a visit from Openreach ,in a property that has had many occupants in the past, if the correct number is there and you have used the socket in the past , then it would suggest that OR have not connected you in the FTTC cabinet or the port is faulty, I guess this is one of the problems with CP 's going for the cheaper self install rather than the managed install where the OR engineer visits and demonstrates the service working

DigForVictory

Copious mental notes being taken so I can help colleague unknot her comms problems.

Doesn't help you, OP but this is masterclass info flying! Many thanks!

force_ten

looking at the photo of the socket with a capacitor in it that is what you have as a master socket, it is a late 70,s early 80,s line jack unit with a capacitor that was often fitted as a master back in the 80,s

when the BT helpdesk refer to the master socket they are assuming that your line has an NTE5 master socket with a removable faceplate and a test socket in behind the faceplate

looking at the wiring that you have posted pictures of you have inherited a mish mash of DIY wiring which could potentially affect or slow down your broadband

but from what you say about the old BB was working and the new not sounds like it is either an exchange/config issue or an issue in the street cab that is causing your problem

Super_Whiskey

A bit of an update on this as I didn't want to jinx it; Engineer came round, looked at the wiring and determined I didn't have a master socket. He proceeded to install a BT one on one of the extension sockets before going to the exchange to mess with things. When asked whether I'd be charged for it he said he doesn't know as he just does the engineering side of things but got my bill through from BT today and haven't been charged for it so that's a bit of a result!