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BT and second telephone lines |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Barnet, N London
Posts: 150
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BT and second telephone lines
Hi, regular from the Homechoice/TiscaliTV forum here.
Ok - the short question first! Is it likely to make a difference (particularly to my broadband speed) if BT have activated the second phone line on a cable rather than the first? Now the longer version! I'm in the course of moving house (can afford to take it slowly as I'm not in a chain). I asked BT to activate the phone line last week. Now there are 2 lines in the house. 1) The original phone line (running from an old-style BT box to a master socket in the hall). This line has been extended to various places around the house and, I understand, was signed up to Talk Talk by the previous owners. 2) A second phone line (running from a junction box outside the house to a master socket in the loft conversion). I understand this was setup for the previous owners' granddaughter but don't know whether it was moved from BT or not. It doesn't run anywhere else though. Now, I understand that BT often install 2nd lines by splitting the line coming into the house but I don't know if that is what has been done here (perhaps the 2nd junction box indicates they've run a completely new line?) Nonetheless, after waiting all weekend for the phone to be activated I have discovered that they have activated line 2! There is a dialling tone on Line 1 but you can't dial any numbers (number not recognised) I'm rather annoyed to tell you the truth but can work around it if needs be. What does concern me though is whether having the second line activated rather than the first will have an adverse effect on my broadband when I order it. Does anyone have an opinion on this? I will contact BT after the weekend once I have a better idea of what I'm looking for...
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: NE Essex,6½m SSW of Sudbury TX
Posts: 7,107
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You mentioned Talk Talk on the 'first' line. That's probably the problem (the line is still Talk Talk's, not BT's so, when you asked for the line in the house to be reactivated, BT reactivated their line).
Sounds like you're in for a long haul - good job you're in no hurry. Getting Talk Talk to 'release' the line back to BT may well be a nightmare. When I had a 2nd line installed in my previous house, BT didn't 'split' the wire - they provided the 2nd line on the second pair of wires within their standard incoming 4-wire cable. The same happened in my current house. IIRC, one pair was solid orange/white and the 2nd was solid green/black. |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Reading
Posts: 27,894
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There are two methods for providing two lines into a property. Two physical pairs of wires or what is known as a DACS device. This is a digital device that combines two lines into one at the exchange and splits them back into two at the other end.
It is however very very unlikely that BT would share such a unit with another telecoms provider (or vice versa). So the liklihood is that you have two physical pairs of wires. And has as been mentioned by Heinz BT only "own" one of them. Even though they may have originally installed both of them. And if you order Broadband delivered via a BT line, whether or not it is BT Broadband, then it will be provided over the only BT line currently entering your house. In effect as far as BT and any broadband providers are concerned your first line does not exist. So you need to get in touch with Talk Talk to release their line. Though unless you really want two BT lines you may find re-provisioning the number they have activated onto the ex-Talk Talk line will be expensive. The other option is to get a competent electrician or specialist telecoms installer to run a cable from the socket on the active BT line down to the sockets on the inactive Talk Talk line removing the connection to the Talk Talk line. That way although the line actually enters the building in the loft all the phone sockets work. Would probably work out cheaper and be somewhat easier than getting BT to rewire the place. Especially if you don't want two numbers. |
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Barnet, N London
Posts: 150
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Quote:
The other option is to get a competent electrician or specialist telecoms installer to run a cable from the socket on the active BT line down to the sockets on the inactive Talk Talk line removing the connection to the Talk Talk line. That way although the line actually enters the building in the loft all the phone sockets work. Would probably work out cheaper and be somewhat easier than getting BT to rewire the place. Especially if you don't want two numbers.
This infers another issue which may well have been discussed extensively on this forum anyway but a heads up would be appreciated. If I transfer my line to another provider are there difficulties leaving? I am currently on BT with Homechoice/TiscaliTV as my ISP in my old place but was considering switching to TiscaliTV or Sky as my telephony provider in the new place (after my 3 month minimum period has expired) If there are these problems though I might reconsider and stick with BT for the phones (don't make enough calls to justify switching really) |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: NE Essex,6½m SSW of Sudbury TX
Posts: 7,107
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If you want to switch your calls from BT, I'd recommend a CPS provider (Sky Talk Freetime and Sky Talk Unlimited are two examples) rather than handing over your line rental (the Talk Talk problem with your 'other line' tells you a story).
That way you keep BT line rental (now down to £10.50/month when paid by DD if you take the 50p/month paper-free billing discount) and all your telephony and ADSL options remain open (see HERE). |
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I will contact BT after the weekend once I have a better idea of what I'm looking for...

