Anyone know their way around a phone socket?

EdwardTeach · 18 Oct 2011 at 23:54

I have been having some problems with my Broadband cutting out. The technician on the phone at 02 noticed that I had a bit of static on the line and suggested I try plugging my phone onto the test socket.
here is a picture of my socket:

And here is a picture with my front plate off:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/829/phonesocketwithpanelrem.jpg/

You will note that there is no wring connecting to the front plate. Is this unusual? Presumably this means that the front plate accesses the line via the test socket. That being the case I don't understand the purpose of hiding the test socket like this?

There is some static when I connect a phone to the socket on the front plate. there is for example quite loud static if I shake the line a bit. When I am connected directly to the test socket there is no static. I presume that the maybe something slightly wrong with my front plate, for example maybe the connections have degraded. Is it possible for me to buy a replacement front panel, if so where could I find one?

3dcandy · 19 Oct 2011 at 00:02

the front socket is like that because you can on some sockets connect extra lines via the actual socket but the test socket is then immune to external wiring...
Have you tried a new/different filter? Removed the ring wire?
You could invest in a new front plate filter, either BT i-plate or even better adslnation do a good filter HERE

EdwardTeach · 19 Oct 2011 at 00:13

I am assuming as there was no wiring connecting the front plate, then there is on ring wire?

3dcandy · 19 Oct 2011 at 00:16

ring wire is connected to the main socket...read up HERE matey

EdwardTeach · 19 Oct 2011 at 00:29

Thanks

3dcandy · 19 Oct 2011 at 00:38

no worries. if you're not happy messing with the wires, then a decent filtered plate (either i-plate or whatever) will help a great deal. More info would help, router and router stats are good. Eliminate the static and you should get a much better connection!

moogle · 19 Oct 2011 at 01:20

EdwardTeach said:
You will note that there is no wring connecting to the front plate. Is this unusual? Presumably this means that the front plate accesses the line via the test socket. That being the case I don't understand the purpose of hiding the test socket like this?

The purpose is, when you have an extension it connects to that front plate that you remove. However if you have line problems taking that plate off removes the extension from the line and allows you to use the test socket with no other lines interfering with it because it's the master socket and on the other end is BT's line (which by default should be working fine), so if the problem goes then it means it's your internal home connections at fault, and if the problem still exists at the test socket then it may mean the problem is on BT's end.

PS - Ring wire is #3 (usually orange), all you need is #2 and #5 to be left in. If you're worried but still want to fiddle, then take a photo on your phone or something before you remove the wires

(Although you're not allowed by BT to do that, but I don't think they would come round to remove that even if you wanted to)

If you want to listen to BT then buy an iPlate or some sort of filter plate which will replace that front plate you have.

Sin_Chase · 19 Oct 2011 at 02:08

Get a replacement filtered faceplate, not expensive and gives you the best quality signal to train up on. Won't really matter what else you have plugged in or what crappy extension wiring goes back to the master socket.

Don't mess with anything beyond what you already took off as it's the NTE5 master and BTs property. (Many people do though

)

Phemo · 19 Oct 2011 at 12:31

3dcandy said:
ring wire is connected to the main socket...read up HERE matey

Yes, the ring wire goes from the front plate on the master socket and is connected to extension sockets. If there is no extension wiring then there is no ring wire to remove. So he was quite correct in stating that as there was no wiring behind the faceplate there's no ring wire involved anyway.