BT engineers/generally savvy people

Bennie-Mac

Bennie-Mac

Bennie-Mac

Soldato
Joined
10 Sep 2008
Posts
11,973
Location
Bangor, Northern Ireland
Hi guys, ive been having so much trouble with my phone line since the day i got it. At times my broadband will connect and stay connected for a week but then it goes through weeks of not connecting, or connecting and dropping out after a short while. My phone line is also very noisy, even when i plug the phone into the test socket. If i use the phone the broadband will connect but within seconds of hanging up it will drop out again.

After various line tests and reading i have deduced this is likely due to a rubbish wiring job. Does anyone know how to wire it up correctly or have a wiring diagram or anything? Its an Openreach master socket.

Sorry for the long post but i thought people might have other ideas why its not working, im willing to try anything except pay £125 for an engineer :D

Thanks!

Edit - From the looks of things i have a blue wire, a blue and white wire and an orange wire connected to the socket. There is a green wire, a white wire and an orange and white wire not connected to anything.

There are 4 connection points in a row numbered 5,4,3,2 the wires connected are:

5 - Blue and white wire
4 - nothing
3 - Orange wire
2 - Blue wire
 
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If the line is noisy, but clear through the test port then it could be down to the faceplate/filter. Try disconnecting the faceplate and connecting phone and broadband via the test port using a dongle filter and see if this makes any difference. If it does then you may just need to replace the faceplate/filter.
 
ran_out said:
If the line is noisy, but clear through the test port then it could be down to the faceplate/filter. Try disconnecting the faceplate and connecting phone and broadband via the test port using a dongle filter and see if this makes any difference. If it does then you may just need to replace the faceplate/filter.
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Actually i just checked the test port again, seems its not clear like i thought...Tried plugging both the broadband and phone in, but no joy getting it to connect. Also when its connecting you can hear a faint dial up tone when you pick up the phone along with more noise :confused: The filter is brand new btw

Shakeel said:
same thing happen to me. BT said it was a fault with the line so they didnt charge us the engineer fee
Click to expand...

Really? I did many a line test and they said it was fine. :(
 
It is also worth checking if there are any legacy extensions on the line. Check for any other sockets in the premises, check if they have a dial tone if a phone is connected. If there is a dial tone, remove the faceplate from the master socket. If there is still a dial tone after doing this, then it is a filtering issue as the extension is not being filtered through the faceplate on the master socket - this can be a fairly common one as people are often not aware if an extension that has been fitted by a past occupant is still live.


Also just for information, if it is a BT line you should be able to carry out a quiet line test by dialling 17070 and selecting option '2' for quiet line test. If there is noise on the line with the faceplate removed and there are no unfiltered extensions running on the line, then you will probably need to fault it to BT- but this will most likely be chargeable if it is down to any wiring problem within your premises.
 
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ran_out said:
Also just for information, if it is a BT line you should be able to carry out a quiet line test by dialling 17070 and selecting option '2' for quiet line test. If there is noise on the line with the faceplate removed and there are no unfiltered extensions running on the line, then you will probably need to fault it to BT- but this will most likely be chargeable if it is down to any wiring problem within your premises.
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Doing this test through the socket behind the faceplate will eliminate your own wiring as a problem, as the only part of 'your wiring' will be the phone you plugged into the socket. That socket belongs to BT, and you're not strictly allowed to touch anything the other side of it.

If there is noise on the line, report a fault to BT as a *voice* fault. They're not particularly interested in ADSL, but they will be required to come out and fix it if there's noise on your PSTN service. And, as above, they should do it for free. If there is noise on the voice part, it'll almost certainly be the reason your broadband is flakey. If the 'line tests' you talk about above were for ADSL, they won't really be of much use.

This is best answered in Networks & Internet, as there are a lot of folk in there who'll give good advice on this.
 
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ran_out said:
It is also worth checking if there are any legacy extensions on the line. Check for any other sockets in the premises, check if they have a dial tone if a phone is connected. If there is a dial tone, remove the faceplate from the master socket. If there is still a dial tone after doing this, then it is a filtering issue as the extension is not being filtered through the faceplate on the master socket - this can be a fairly common one as people are often not aware if an extension that has been fitted by a past occupant is still live.


Also just for information, if it is a BT line you should be able to carry out a quiet line test by dialling 17070 and selecting option '2' for quiet line test. If there is noise on the line with the faceplate removed and there are no unfiltered extensions running on the line, then you will probably need to fault it to BT- but this will most likely be chargeable if it is down to any wiring problem within your premises.
Click to expand...

I have 2 other sockets in the house, they have a dial tone but only when the faceplate is connected. Its a newly built house and im the 1st occupant. Im pretty sure it is a faulty wiring problem, hence why i didnt want to call out an engineer and get charged :(
 
csmager said:
Doing this test through the socket behind the faceplate will eliminate your own wiring as a problem, as the only part of 'your wiring' will be the phone you plugged into the socket. That socket belongs to BT, and you're not strictly allowed to touch anything the other side of it.

If there is noise on the line, report a fault to BT as a *voice* fault. They're not particularly interested in ADSL, but they will be required to come out and fix it if there's noise on your PSTN service. And, as above, they should do it for free. If there is noise on the voice part, it'll almost certainly be the reason your broadband is flakey. If the 'line tests' you talk about above were for ADSL, they won't really be of much use.

This is best answered in Networks & Internet, as there are a lot of folk in there who'll give good advice on this.
Click to expand...

Sorry didnt see your post :) Oh thats some good news, ill run a quiet line test now and see whats what. CHeers
 
Bennie-Mac said:
I have 2 other sockets in the house, they have a dial tone but only when the faceplate is connected. Its a newly built house and im the 1st occupant. Im pretty sure it is a faulty wiring problem, hence why i didnt want to call out an engineer and get charged :(
Click to expand...
This is how the NTE5 master socket works. The extensions are wired into the faceplate. Removing the faceplate is a way to disconnect all the phone extensions, which will assist you in eliminating any internal wiring issues.
 
Get chatting with a BT engineer when he visits. Ask loads of questions and explain about your situation.

I got chatting to a nice chap who came to us after a series of disconnects and he told me the line going down the street was a brittle old aluminium cable. In fact he mentioned how he'd been called out on the same fault at least 20 times from people in the area.

He even said it's a nightmare for them as the joint box is so touchy; one movement and some strand of aluminium will break = more call outs = more fiddling with joint box = more callouts.

He eventually put in for the line to be changed to a decent gauge copper wire which improved the service :)
 
Have done a quiet line test from the test socket and theres definately a hiss, but nowhere near as bad as when the broadband is connected or trying to connect. Looks like ill have to get an engineer to call out... Does anyone know if they do have to charge you, is it just added on to your next bill?
 
Right folks, ive just borrowed some bits and bobs to test with, new microfilter, cables and a corded phone. The phone interference has completely gone away, i assume the cordless phone was the problem here :rolleyes: But when the broadband is connecting or is connected, the line is horrible and full of interference again (with a dial up style tone faintly in the background). And the broadband is still not staying connected. :mad:

I know its not the microfilter that is causing these problems, as this one is also brand new. Could it be the modem? Its a Sagem Sky modem, so i dont think i can replace it due to needing passwords etc.

Thanks
 
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You can test the line with another router. You just need to get the username and password from the current routers config.

I'm not sure if I can post the link to where you can obtain your username/password but shall PM you the link instead.

It may be worth a try testing the line with another router if you can get your hands on one to borrow.
 
Wiggins said:
You can test the line with another router. You just need to get the username and password from the current routers config.

I'm not sure if I can post the link to where you can obtain your username/password but shall PM you the link instead.

It may be worth a try testing the line with another router if you can get your hands on one to borrow.
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I have a BT voyager router spare and also already have my sky password and username, how do i go about installing a new router though, im a bit thick when it comes to them :o
 
what model voyager is it ,, look on its base..

usually they use 192.168.1.254 for log in and in there you look for option to enter your user name password
also setting are usually

Connection type: PPoA
VPI: 0
VCI: 38
MRU: 1500 bytes
 
Bennie-Mac said:
I know its not the microfilter that is causing these problems, as this one is also brand new.
Click to expand...

That may not strictly be true, just because its new doesn't mean it isn't faulty. It may be worth trying another just to make sure it is filtering properly, they only cost a few quid. I went through 3 brand new microfilters before I found one that worked properly.

Mikey
 
HaMMuS said:
That may not strictly be true, just because its new doesn't mean it isn't faulty. It may be worth trying another just to make sure it is filtering properly, they only cost a few quid. I went through 3 brand new microfilters before I found one that worked properly.

Mikey
Click to expand...
Yep some new filters are crap I use a filtered master socket much the best way to go
 
it could be a bunch of things, the line test thry run is pstn usually and doesnt really look at noise/loss etc that bband engineers look at, so your phonbeline may well pass the test but the bband wouldnt (if that makes sense). A good line test also shows up where there is noise/intermittent faults.

I would do as above, try a diff filter, theres a load of cheap naff ones being sold online at the mo :(

also could be a faulty hub/modem as I am on my 4th homehub (new black one now and the wireless is shocking around the house!!)

if the issue still remains then report it as a bband fault as a voice engineer will not look into the bband side of things

it could be faulty equipment in the exchange aswell cos there are a load of dodgy cards in some exchanges (they bought a shedload of cheapo ones that are failing left right and centre)

good luck :)
 
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