Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Eagleaye]

Hello All.
I've moved house and going to arrange for BT to reconnect the line and then choose an ISP.
The current line runs from the pole to an external junction box that then splits to three telephone sockets, none of which are in suitable locations for my use.
What I want to know is how to use the opportunity of the reconnection to get the best possible ADSL connection. I'd like to prepare a suitable site for a new master socket for Openreach to use, but is it likely they will use the existing cable run from the pole via the junction box to the new master socket or can I ask for a new cable to by run from the pole directly to the new master without a join. Will a new cable without joins make a significant difference?

Any ideas appreciated.

[HPsauce]

Hmmmmm.
Well obviously you're not supposed to touch BT's wiring, but with an external junction who knows who put it there (Sky maybe?) what quality it is and which is the "real" BT master socket?

Time to "blame the builders"?
(who seem to have removed the junction box and all wiring from it into the house......    )

[BritBrat]

Was there a BT line there before?

Is it live? dial 17070 and see if it gives you the number.

If it has never had a BT line maybe you could order a new line and make sure they install all new eqipment and in a location that suits you (but there is a limit), if it has a line all they do is throw a switch at a remote location and may not even come close to your house.

If they just activate the line remove all other extensions and test the line.  Then install your own extension to a location that suits you or try home plugs for adsl location.

Also check samknows for what services are available to you.

[roseway]

Is it possible that the external junction box is actually an external NTE? See the item at the bottom of this page: http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/btsockets.htm

If it is, then the wiring from it to inside your house is your own responsibility, and I would recommend that you disconnect all but one of the cables coming into the house, leaving only the one which goes to where you want your master socket to be (assuming that one of them does this).

[Eagleaye]

Nope it's not an external NTE, just a brown, round box attached to the soffit. One of the cables runs to a NTE socket at the back of the house, not a good location for me, the other two to what look like LJU1's, again not in good locations. There must have been a line previously but it's not active now (no tone).
I'll have to have a closer look at the junction box it may well be that the cable from the pole isn't actually connected to it, the house had some refurbishment carried out before I got it so maybe the builders have dislodged some stuff!

I take it that a new cable without any joins would be the best option then, but will it make a significant difference? Is the cable used today any better than what was used a few years back? And how much work will Openreach do to help get the most suitable install for a customer?

[waltergmw]

Hi Eagleaye,

Wiring can make all the difference between a broadband service and no service at all.
Any circular box is likely to be a very old one and "star wiring" from it should be discouraged.
As you'll have to pay for a new service it can be installed in a room of your choice. BT will usually run external cable (nowadays usually without a join) around a two storey building but not a skyscraper!

Kind regards,
Walter

[BritBrat]

As it is not working (no dial tone) I would order a new instalation and make sure you get new and where you want it.

At the end of the day this should be less complicated than trying to get an old line activated and socket moved.

I am a bit out of touch on BT instalation but you may be able to get a free install for a 2 year contract.

Installing your new phone line

When you order a new landline we check your property to see if we can connect you easily or if you need an engineer visit. If a connection charge applies – most people find they don't need to pay this – it costs £30 if you're just taking a BT line or free with any broadband package.

productsandservices.bt.com

•£30 Connection Offer. Customers who require a new line will benefit from a £100 discount on the standard line connection charge of £130. Customers who are benefiting from this offer are not eligible for Line Rental Saver and must agree to an 18 month contract (applies to the Unlimited Weekend Plan or the Unlimited Anytime Plan). Minimum call commitment also applies – you must make at least 10 chargeable or inclusive calls per month (30 calls per quarter). You'll need to pay a charge of £5.15 for every month (if you are billed monthly) or £15.45 for every quarter (if you're billed quarterly) in which you don't make these calls, as compensation for not making the minimum number of calls required. These charges are not subject to VAT and will appear in the one-off charges section of your bill.

BUT:
Engineer visit: This may be required if you have an existing line that needs additional work (i.e. if the wiring/socket is damaged). The charge for an engineer visit is £130.
Engineer visit

[Eagleaye]

Thanks for the replies.
I've been offered free connection if I take BT broadband (but I don't want BT Broadband) on an 18 month contract, or £30 for an 18 month phone contract (not so bad). I also don't mind paying the full whack (£130) as long as I get what I want i.e new cable from the pole without joins to my pre-prepared site, I suppose it's down to me to make sure I'm about when Openreach turn up and ask for what I want and hope I don't get a jobsworth.
I was happy with the speed (around 6mps) I was getting at my previous house and had Cat5 wired from the master via a filtered faceplate to my modem/router, but the estimated speed for the new place is 4mps so I want to optimise. I also want to allow for BT infinity or equivalents when they are enabled next year.

Or I could just go with Virgin Media cable...........

[HPsauce]

I'll have to have a closer look at the junction box it may well be that the cable from the pole isn't actually connected to it, the house had some refurbishment carried out before I got it so maybe the builders have dislodged some stuff!

I'm quite sure that once you've inspected you'll find that is indeed the case. 
(in which case all the wiring and existing sockets are obviously redundant too so could presumably be removed)

If the overhead drop wire is to current standards (usually round and black with inbuilt strain relief) then they may well just join a new length of external-quality cable to it to run to the master socket.
If it's not (e.g. looks like a twin-core lighting flex, usually grey) they'll replace it all.

I think there's a relatively low limit on how much cabling they'll run internally so you'll need to think about where the cable will come in and where the master socket should be.

As ever tea/coffee and hob-nobs (or alternatives) are recommended to be available. 

[Eagleaye]

It looks round and black, is a join a major problem? I imagine joints could introduce "noise" on the line, but there must be quite a few on the run back to the exchange.

[burakkucat]

It looks round and black, is a join a major problem? I imagine joints could introduce "noise" on the line, but there must be quite a few on the run back to the exchange.

A joint made nowadays is nothing like that of the old screw terminals and the resultant insertion loss. Have you ever noticed what looks like an in-line black sausage? That would be a modern join.

As has been suggested hinted discussed before, if the building refurbishment that occurred before you took ownership of the property resulted in all the sockets and internal cabling being removed right back to that round junction box on the soffit board and the cover to that round junction box being missing, you should mention that fact when you make your service supply request.    An OR engineering visit would thus be necessary. Chocolate biscuits, bacon sandwiches, mugs of coffee or tea (time of day dependent) will all be appropriate offerings.