I have a line fault where I can hear other people's phones ringing, but BT say there is nothing wrong with the line. Anyway, my question is - is changing to FTTC likely to solve the problem? I'm a long way from the exchange so I'm inclined to think it would help, but on the other hand I live in flats, so is it likely that the problem is being caused within the building?

FTTC only affects the broadband. It won't alter how the voice side of the line is delivered to any great extent. It will still use the same pair of wires from the exchange. Though there will be some rewiring at your local cabinet and of your master socket. If that is where the fault is then there is a chance it might sort it. But if the fault is elsewhere chances are there will be no change, hard to be definite until it is installed.

There are a few things you can do before hand though. Do you have a NTE5 master socket? If so have you removed the lower section of the faceplate and plugged into the test socket behind it? That connects directly to the line and disconnects any internal wiring in your home. If you get noises on that then the fault is with the line, otherwise it is your internal wiring or something plugged into the line at fault.

If it looks like your wiring/kit try unplugging all bar a single phone. If the noise goes away then you have a faulty device so reconnect them one at a time to find the culprit. Also check the cabling for damage as that can cause all sorts of problems.

Another thing to try is to open up the master socket and look at the terminals on the back of the faceplate. Remove any wires on terminals 3 and 4 leaving just 2 and 5 connected. Do the same at the extension sockets. Many modern phones work with just the line pair on 2 and 5 and don't need 3. Very few domestic systems need 4.

you really need to explain your problem in greater detail. It randomly rings? or when you are on the phone you can hear rings in the ear piece?

The 'brrp brrp, brrp brrp' noise you hear when you phone someone and you're waiting for them to answer - I hear that at random times when I'm on the phone. It happens whoever I'm on the phone to, and it only started when I moved here so I'm sure the problem is at my end.


Ah, that scuppers my plans then, I thought it would be fibre to the cabinet for voice too.

I've tried plugging the phone directly into the master socket and that doesn't make any difference.