BT test socket

unclebob123 · 29 Aug 2008 at 15:18

Why is there a test socket on the BT master socket?

Why not just make the test socket the 'main' socket?

tolien · 29 Aug 2008 at 15:26

Because the main socket connects to the test socket?

The point of it is that there's no extensions connected to it, so when you're using that your extensions are out of the picture...

unclebob123 · 29 Aug 2008 at 15:29

Yeah I believe it does.

ISPs always ask to plug in to the test socket if your having problems with your broadband. My thinking is why not just bypass this supposed weak link, and make the test socket the main socket.

Just seems strange to me.

tolien · 29 Aug 2008 at 15:58

Because the whole point is eliminating your extension wiring?

(It isn't a question. I know it's the case.)

pennywise · 29 Aug 2008 at 22:38

The main socket is there to allow extensions to run off it as far as I'm aware. If you didn't have any extensions, you could run off the test socket with no problems at all, but if you were to make the test socket your main socket, then the extensions would have nothing to connect to (since they connect to the back faceplate that is the "main" socket), and so (obviously) wouldn't work. Good question though, I know quite a lot of people can be confused by this when they only have one socket in their house

tolien · 29 Aug 2008 at 22:49

Yeah, if you don't have any hard-wired extensions, the socket on the faceplate and the test socket are basically the same thing.

"Use the test socket" is basically an idiot-proof version of "try your connection without any extensions".

unclebob123 · 30 Aug 2008 at 02:30

ok thanks for clearing that up.

CurlyWhirly · 31 Aug 2008 at 15:17

Also I believe that using a filtered faceplate is the same as plugging directly into the test socket itself.

tolien · 31 Aug 2008 at 19:23

Not quite - the sockets on the front of the faceplate are either filtered (voice side), or the same as the normal faceplate with a different socket (ADSL side).