What century is this from and why has it broken my internet?!

Scam

Scam

Scam

Soldato
Joined
20 Oct 2002
Posts
18,988
Location
London
..well phoneline really. I live in a converted flat and when we moved in and got our phone andinternet installed we had terrible problems finding our master socket. We have 3 extension sockets, 1 master socket (that didn't work), and and ntl box. And this thing, which we presumed was out of date and had been replaced.

But the girlfriend was doing some vigorous cleaning and has managed to knock out the wires. Now we have no phone or internet! Can't believe this thing was actually active. Before I get on the phone to BT or plusnet, can anyone tell me what it is and whether or not we have a case to get BT round to replace it (for free

http://db.tt/S9U0AiiB

http://db.tt/wq5xCl79

It comes in from the outside.. I'm thinking its an old master socket that should have been turned off? :confused:
 
It's where the phoneline comes in, then goes off to a master socket.

As for BT doing it for free, seeing as it was caused by your girlfriend, I don't think so...
 
I knew them as Bakelite switches when I worked at Sky. They are an archaic pain in the butt as they usually ruin internet connections due to dodgy wiring/connections.
 
Looks just like a terminal box to me. All it does is connect the dropwire from outside to the internal telephone wire.
 
Hmn well the thing has been held together by masking tape since we moved in. I think she picked the thing up and the wires fell out. So it's hardly in a good state!

So there's blue, green, brown and red wires now hanging out. It looks like only the red and blue were ever connected though. Anyone know how to wire it up?

Edit: There's 4 screws/connections to choose from
Edit: pic with hand :p http://db.tt/PYOXMVEN
 
Last edited:
Scam said:
Hmn well the thing has been held together by masking tape since we moved in. I think she picked the thing up and the wires fell out. So it's hardly in a good state!

So there's blue, green, brown and red wires now hanging out. It looks like only the red and blue were ever connected though. Anyone know how to wire it up?
Click to expand...

Strip a bit of the cable (red and blue) maybe 1cm or 3/4cm and loosen the screws on the opposite ends of the box to which the dropwire is connected to.

Curl the bare end of the wire into a 'U' shape and then hook it under the loosened screw and then tighten.

In the second picture you can see where the blue wire was connected so if you remove it (unscrewing that screw a bit) you can see how it was shaped and connected.


Oh and to answer your question it's from the 70's and it broke your internet because disconnecting them disconnects your phone line (I assume you get your internet via that).
 
Yep cheers for that. Fairly happy how to connect them just couldn't tell where the red one goes (the blue is obvious as there's some of it hanging off!). What about the brown and green our end? They're coiled together and don't look like they were in use as there's no exposed wire.
 
Woohoo sorted. Red on the right, blue in the left. First time lucky :p Thanks for your help guys.

Now, seen as this is so crappy and liable to fall apart again, any chance we could get BT to replace it? I guess it will cost us :(
 
As it is just 'cosmetics' to BT it will probably be the standard £130 callout charge plus parts. Easily £200 knowing BT Openreach..

EDIT - Just had a Google and a few people have mentioned they have been quoted £150 to have a new master socket fitted.
 
Sparx said:
As it is just 'cosmetics' to BT it will probably be the standard £130 callout charge plus parts. Easily £200 knowing BT Openreach..

EDIT - Just had a Google and a few people have mentioned they have been quoted £150 to have a new master socket fitted.
Click to expand...

Could get it done free during a 12 month (or longer) contract with one of the fibre/adsl providers if you tell them.

But yeah it pretty is that much to get it done.

You could also buy a modern BT terminal box and install it yourself (not allowed though under BT's rules).

In fact I think even re-wiring it isn't allowed as it's still BT's property (the wires).
 
Scam said:
Woohoo sorted. Red on the right, blue in the left. First time lucky :p Thanks for your help guys.

Now, seen as this is so crappy and liable to fall apart again, any chance we could get BT to replace it? I guess it will cost us :(
Click to expand...

If it is working now, duct tape the external wires to the box to prevent them being pulled, then put a plant pot or cupboard in-front of it so it is hidden. Problem solved :)
 
Scam said:
Woohoo sorted. Red on the right, blue in the left. First time lucky :p Thanks for your help guys.

Now, seen as this is so crappy and liable to fall apart again, any chance we could get BT to replace it? I guess it will cost us :(
Click to expand...

You fixed that right?

Master socket is just as easy, grab one from eBay for cheap.
 
Either fit a master straight to the drop wire if there's enough spare cable, or get a nice small junction box and gel crimp the drop wire to the extension that runs off to the master. Much better quality connection and won't come apart just because someone sneezed near it.
 
I would fit my own NTE5 straight to the drop wire tbh. Forget BT releaving you of 150boys for the privilege.
 
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