Getting a decent Master box for ADSL

Rang up and made 2 complaints.

1) That it would cost me £130 for an engineer to come out, even though it's there equipment:

Response: The advisor should have told me that there is only a charge if the box is damaged by me basically, and not just wear and tear.

2) That the advisor told me it was ok to replace the master socket.

Response: I should not replace the master socket, and they are owned by BT Openworld world now. The advisor should not have told me it was OK to do so (No surprise there).


So, do I get an engineer out knowing I've replaced the cable already between the line and the 'bell box' and the master socket due to the dog ripping it off the wall lol. (and that part is fine, but obvious). I may paint over that bit lol.

Hmm.. I may be moving in a few months anyway.. but I hate things like this being knackered.
 
Food for thought*

If you where to go with BT Infinity, they would sort all this out for you for free.

My story is very similar to yours.....

I wanted to go with BT infinity, but my master socket (old bell box to be exact) was located downstairs and so I was sceptical if it would be possible fr me to even get Infinity.

The engineer came as rewired my connection and installed a new Master socket for me all free as part of the Infinity install.

Maybe you could do the same rather than paying out cash?
 
Scougar said:
Right.. he only gave me the telephone number for the complaint people. He (without telling me) did a line check on my line, and it all came back fine. So.... they wouldn't actually do anything. Sorry, but that's nuts.. I explained my line rate keeps dropping because the box is defective and keeps cutting out. My line speed is currently half what it should be at around 600Kbps rather than 1300Kbps.
Click to expand...

from my experience if there line checks prove the voice part of the connection is fine that's all their interested in, the fact your line rate drops is irrelevant to them.

you might be better of going through your isp if the line rate keeps dropping, they should then get in touch with BT if its not something to do with the isp side of things.
 
BT are my ISP.

I'll probably just make the socket not work then get them to line test....

Anyway, I know my options now. I'll update when I've done 'something'.
 
I'm with BT for everything. I went on there website and got the number for problems... and went down the 'phone' route. I then complained about it using the 'phone' route. I never selected 'broadband' when going through the menu's.

I will take apart the Master socket in a minute (maybe) and see perhaps if I can bend the legs out so it makes better contact without cutting out for the moment.

The box is so stuffed though IMHO.. I just need to get a regular BT box from somewhere.. no way I'm gonna risk BT coming out and potentially charging me for the pleasure.

OR

I'm going to do as the 'clarity' website suggests, and try to add an NTE5 box as the first extension, right next to the master socket.
 
Here is the problem, you actually got BT involved :( they are muppets as you have experienced.

Simply trace the incoming cable and replace the first "box" it goes to with the gear that Troop posted. All you'll need is a knife and a small screwdriver.

Plug phone and ADSL cable to modem directly into your new box :)
 
They may be muppets (a little unfair I think), but I they still have the legal right over this equipment unfortunately.

I assume my line is pretty bad that I can hear bizarre noises when just listening to the dialing tone? (whines and other noises).
 
Well today, the good wife is working, and whilst the baby is asleep I had a look at the master socket. Took it off the wall (didn't disconnect the wires), and had a gander, and the contacts look in fine condition. So.. I looked to the extension cable.

Basically, that's the main issue. The extension cable that goes upstairs is a useless and it's that, that is causing the cutting out it seems. So... Because I may be moving soon.. I already have a CAT5 black shielded cable that I could use, so I just ran that upstairs and hooked it into the router. Looks cack, but I will take it down when I leave.. it's a good quality cable I've never used lol. I wish I had a long enough network cable to reach the computers upstairs but never mind. I'm pretty sure the wife will not be happy with black cable randomly going up the wall....

Anyway... I called BT to get them to reset my BRAS profile and they did a line check. Apparently an 'underground fault' was detected on my line lol. So I'll be getting a call from an engineer when they've sorted that sometime after Thursday.

Still very tempted to get a new master box though, as this one is so old, improvements have to be made from new components.
 
IrishChr1s said:
So your long telephone extension cable was at fault....your troubleshooting skills impress me! :)
Click to expand...

I had my 14 month old little girl wielding a screwdriver alongside me, I'm sure she was there giving advice ;-) But yes, turns out the box is working ok, and the extension was the mainly the iffy bit.

GoogalyMoogaly said:
I'm a bit confused, how can you replace a phone extention cable with a CAT5 cable without some rewiring/connector changing?
Click to expand...

Prob not cat5, but shielded phone line of the same thickness as cat5 is what I meant, rather than just plain flat extension stuff. It's not that I used networking cable lol (although I wouldn't have minding doing that).
 
Take that bell box off the wall, put a new master socket in it's place, then if you want to have the modem where you currently have it then get a longer RJ11 cable :)
 
I would do that, but as the boxes really need to be updated at some point I don't think I'll chance the wrath of a BT Engineer lol. Shame I can't get them to update it all for free tbh as it's so damn old.

I'm just gonna leave it for now and put up with it, as I suspect I'll have bigger problems depending where I'm living for the next few months (where I'll likely be sharing a net connection).
 
There's really nothing to it.

If you can wire a plug then you have the skill needed. In fact, there are 2 wires coming in and only 2 terminals to put them on.. and they don't even need to be the right way round!

Screw a faceplate on your new NTE5 socket, and it's done. You will now have a pre-filtered ADSL master socket for the sum of £20 inc VAT depending on where you buy the stuff.

If you do a half-decent job BT will be none the wiser. If anything, you'd do a better job! :)
 
EFA there are four wires coming in and 6 terminals on an NTE5 and they do need to be the right way round

and it's illegal to touch it but apart from that you're correct
 
Well, the BT engineer called (my wife), and although the person I reported to originally said there was an 'underground fault' and wouldn't need access to my property... the engineer turned up at the house. Apparently he said the installation was a mess (no surprise, it's old and literally falling off the wall, looks terrible with the "bt speed booster" without a cover on it, slot into place.
Turn's out I think I know the engineer from my childhood (lived behind me). Small world as they say.
Anyway.. I'm hoping he's replaced the awful old school box and replaced it with an NTE5 unit, and hopefully not charged me... will find out soon I guess lol. I'm just VERY glad I didn't replace the BT box with something else, otherwise today may have gone pretty differently lol.
 
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