Using the test socket, I can hear what appears to sound like a tv or radio in the background

It's very faint but it's there. What's the cause of this ? - it's actually having an adverse effect on my broadband. I have no Sky, cable, fax, alarm systems etc...

Thanks in advance.

Crosstalk from something most likely. Though exactly what is another matter.

20 or so years ago it could have been an analogue audio feed between a radio station and a medium wave transmitter. They sometimes used fixed circuits that ran alongside phone cables. But these days they are more likely to be digital. Not sure BT even offer analogue audio circuits anymore, so long since I needed one the old brain forgets these things

It shouldn't have any effect on broadband though. Unless the frequency response of the interfering signal extends into the band used by ADSL. if it is within the 3kHz limit of normal voice communication than it should have no more effect than making a phone call.

However having said that, the mere fact you are hearing this signal could indicate some other fault. You shouldn't really be hearing this signal, after all you don't normally hear other phone conversations on the hundred or so pairs that travel down the same cable to the exchange as your line.

Might be worth calling your phone provider to have a look into it.

Oh and nearly forgot. The sound you are hearing could be a Medium wave radio broadcast. The wires could be acting as an aerial and it is entirely possible to demodulate AM with nothing more than a dodgy connection!

Get your radio out and see if you can find a local station broadcasting the same material. But again you shouldn't be hearing this either so there may be a fault on the line or as I say a dodgy connection.

Thanks, Chris. I rang BT yesterday about this, and an engineer should be coming out today. Will let you know what he says.

And can I also ask, if the wiring in my house (from the pole in the street), is damaged in any way, will I be liable for any repair costs (as well as the call-out charge) ?

If the fault is anywhere between the exchange and your master socket, generally that's BT's responsibility, with a few exceptions.

If the fault is after the master socket, then yes you'll be liable for any repair costs and call-out fees, however, as you've said you can hear it when plugged into the test socket, that rules out your internal wiring, as removing the faceplate to get at the test socket disconnects all your internal wiring and extensions.

Thanks, TT.

What if the wire leading from the pole inside my house is damaged; will the engineer say that that is my fault ? - since it's in my home ?

I suppose it depends on how it was damaged, and whether BT originally routed the cable incorrectly to cope with standard day-to-day wear and tear like vacuum cleaners hitting it.

I don't know enough about how BT would decide such things to be able to advise - am sure someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly...

BT, or rather Openreach who actually look after the infrastructure, would need to prove that any such damage had been caused by you. And if it is inside your house then you have to ask who else might have caused physical damage?

There are though rules on how far they can route outdoor cable indoors (if that makes any sense ). So fairly soon after entering the house the cable has to be terminated. This could be on a socket or it could be a jointing box and indoor cable run from that off to the first socket. That could make working out where Openreach's responsibility ends and yours begins a little more difficult.

You can tell outdoor cable as it tends to be thicker and more often than not black. And the colours of the wires inside may be different to the thinner, usually white, indoor stuff.

Thanks again, guys.

Well, the (BT Openreach) engineer came and went; he checked everything and couldn't find the problem even though there clearly was one (the odd crackle here and there); I did say to him it's quite intermittent - i.e. sometimes it's a lot and at other times it's not so much.

Nevertheless, because his 'checks' proved no fault, he's going to charge BT for his time, which presumably they'll charge me for the call-out charge; but I guess he's going to charge BT regardless of whether he found the fault or not.

I had a conversation with the engineer and he agreed that I shouldn't have to pay for any charges (if I do that is); reason being, I'm paying BT their line rental and in turn, I'm not getting a 100% satisfactory service.

If I was to contest this (which I will if I'm charged), where do I stand legally ? - do I have enough 'clout' against BT since the problem is still there, albeit intermittently ?

When you reported the fault did the BT advisor on 151 read the mandatory statement to you, you would have to agreed to the chances of a possible charge before they sent an engineer out.
Not sure if you will be able to get out of the charge.

Yes; the statement was read out to me, but he said the charge would only be applicable if the fault was to be found on my side of things - i.e. anything after the test socket.

But since there is a fault, and the bizarre fact that the engineer has filed a report saying 'no-fault found', what will happen now ?

How can BT charge me when the fault is clearly still there, and not on my side ? - and how can they get away with saying there's no fault when there obviously is one ?

They really need to stop using their 'un-workable' trouble-shooting criteria when trying to identify faults (since it's not working).

The last bit of the statement is something along the lines of ".......... if the engineer deems the line is working ok and the visit was unnecessary.

So if the engineer said he could not find a fault I am sure you will find a callout charge on the next bill

But if the noise is so bad that you can hardly hear the other person, how can that be deemed as the line 'working ok' ?

I had this once - a long time ago. It turned out that the (long overhead) line to the house was picking up Radio 2.
BT came out and fitted a small filter between the incoming line and the master socket. Problem cured.

This was in the pre-broadband days so not sure how a 'filter' system would work now.

User 'openreachpeep' may answer if he happens to spot this thread.

Thanks, Appleseed.

And I received a text from BT not too long ago; they said the fault has been fixed (and yes, the line's fine now).

Question is, where do I stand regarding any charges ?

The demarcation point is your Master Socket. Faults upstream of it are your service provider's problem. Faults downstream are yours.

On moving in here I inherited a BT low-pass filter upstream of my master socket (very old style master socket it is too) filtering out medium-wave pick up. And those are a disaster for broadband.

Neither my BB supplier nor BT expressed any interest in getting it removed though it was clearly killing all BB signals. Fortunately a fairy came down the chimney one night and accidentally removed it, made a very good job of it too. BB instantly available.

I'd guess that the fault which BT have fixed for CXC3000 was that some part of the line had become unbalanced. If they've spotted the fault and fixed it without entering the premises that's very likely to be a cost that they will bear themselves.

I thought both upstream/downstream faults are the responsibility of the ISP and/or BT ?


The engineer did enter the premises; but again, whether the fault was inside or out, the fact is that there was a fault (after the test socket), so I'm not liable ?

[quote=CXC3000;38127180]I thought both upstream/downstream faults are the responsibility of the ISP and/or BT ?[/QUOTE
No. You own and are responsible for your Internal Wiring. If it is found by Openreach to be the cause of a fault, you will get billed.

BTW I was not talking in terms of data but hardware. By upstream I mean the wire between your premises and the Local Exchange. Downstream of the Master Socket is your Internal Wiring.

I do appreciate that, but the engineer didn't report a fault at all (even though there was one).


Thanks for the clarification.

I think it will depend on whether it's been disposed of as 'FNF' [Fault Not Found] or RWT [Right When Tested].

Did you get this Text after the Enginner Visited? If so then keep it and do not pay any call out charge (if they do charge you) as they say that A FAULT has been fixed on your text message.

It's never a good idea just to "not pay" the callout charge. You WILL have your service terminated for non-payment.
Instead, you should call the BT Retail repair team on 0800 800 151 and dispute the charge. Often the charge will be waived on the spot if the advisor has evidence readily available that the charge was incorrectly raised. If not, an investigation into the validity of the charge will take place with data not available to the advisor requested from Openreach.

Yep; will do.


Will bear that in mind.

Just to let you folks know: I received my BT bill and it looks like I haven't been charged for the call-out charge

I'm hearing Absolute Radio down my telephone line. This was a brand new installation in my home (no previous line ran to the property) and a new line from the telegraph pole again to my house.

Bizarrely, this only seemed to happen when Sky took over my telephone line from BT and placed me on their lines (not SVBN btw).

A filter was mentioned to me (not adsl filter) but I have no idea what they are talking about, but it sounds very much like the one appleseed mentions.

No idea how to get me hands on one of them either!

bg