I am getting a lot of noise on my phone and disconnections on my broadband and have decided to investigate the problem.

Through reading various forums I was trying some options - e.g. disconnect the "ring" wire, purching a XTE master faceplate.

On removing the faceplate I discovered that the external BT line was wired directly into back of the NTE faceplate (I hadn't noticed when installing an extension previously coz I didn't know better!). Also, when touching this wire (faceplate back in position) I could lose the signal altogether or it would vary in noise level - obviously loose or broken wiring.

For the time being I have taped the wire to the skirting board in a position where I get no noise interference.

What I want to know is that I'm 99% sure I'm not allowed to fix this myself, so do I call out BT or Sky (I'm a SkyTalk & line rental customer) and will I be charged for the privege?

cheers

You are not allowed to touch the wiring inside the XTE master socket, however you are allowed to take off the small face plate and wire extensions to it. If the main incoming line has been connected to the front face plate then someone has been messing with the wiring.

Your best bet is to call BT (as it's there line) and tell them what the problem is, if they ask questions then tell them that it has been like that since you moved in.

If BT reconnect your line, it may reduce the noise on the line, if not then you might want to consider getting one of these: https://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Sho...ProductID=3306

This replaces the small faceplate on your XTE master socket, and gives you both filtered and unfiltered connections. There are sockets on the front for your standard phone and an ADSL connection. However if your ADSL router / PC is too far away then you also have the options to connect to the filetered or unfiltered terminals on the inside of the new face plate, this allows you to filter all of your standard phone lines from the primary socket (no need for further filters) and to run an unfiltered line directly to your PC.

I have just done a similar thing and my speed jumped from 1mbps to 2.2mbps.

Yes, that's exactly the faceplate I was looking to fit untill I noticed that there was something not right with the master socket wiring. (Incidently, it has been like that since I moved in!)

Do you think they will charge me - even if it was the previous owner who tampered with the socket?

cheers

So, basically you're saying you have no idea what an 'XTE master faceplate' is then.

The OP already has a filtered faceplate, the XTE. The socket on the wall belonging to BT is an NTE. You have the 2 confused.


Shouldn't do, depends how obvious it is and what the engineer on the day is feeling like. FWIW if it's just some dodgy connections causing the only problem then I'd just reterminate them.

Looks like I've got the same problem as this guy:- http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s...=master+socket

This may be a common problem then!!!

Can I just clarify something. Do you definitely have an NTE5 master socket or one of the LJU types that pre-dated the NTE5.

They are fairly easy to tell apart. The NTE5 has a two part face plate with only the lower half being removeable and reveals a test socket under it.

The LJU is a single piece faceplate and has all the terminations and ring capacitor etc mounted on the reverse. There is nothing left behind in the backing box.

If it is an NTE5 then it should be fairly obvious if it has been badly wired or whether the wiring visible on the face plate goes off to an extension.

If you remove the face plate and reveal the test socket try plugging a phone in to that socket. if it is dead then either the line is dead or the thing is wired up wrong. If the test socket is live then chances are the wires on the face plate are not the BT line.

If the test socket is dead try re-plugging to the socket on the face plate, with it still detatched. If you get dial tone now then the socket really is miswired as the faceplate should be completely dead when removed.

If the incoming cable is wired to the faceplate then contact Sky (as you pay rental to them) to arrange an engineer visit to put it right. In theory this should be free as it is not your fault.

It's definitely an NTE5 master socket. Post #5 has a link to photo showing exactly the same way my socket is wired .



Yes, phone into test socket is dead. Phone into detached faceplate gets a dial tone.



One phone call to $ky coming up!!

Cheers all for your advice. I'll report back what happens.