Kitz Forum
Broadband Related => Telephony Wiring + Equipment => Topic started by: Berk on June 19, 2018, 03:34:01 PM
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Hi all,
Following a few days of intermittent time out issues my ISP has suggested fitting a new faceplate. I've had one each of ADSLnation's and Clarity faceplates in the past, but my ADSLnation faceplate currently AWOL, presumed lost so I need something new to test.
I just found the NTE5c plates for sale and wondered if these are supposed to be installed by Openreach engineers only since it involves touching the wires on their side of the socket? or can any qualified telephone engineer do it? or are end users allowed to install them now since they're tool-less?
I assume it will be £100andsomething+VAT for Openreach, so if that is the only 'legal' maybe it would be better to just go for a regular NTE faceplate, in which case is there a best version of these to look for?
Thanks
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You couldn't pay me to swap from an NTE5A to an NTE5C.
It (the NTE5C) is very poorly made compared to its predecessor
On the older NTE5A the components are properly soldered into place.
In the NTE5C the components are "clicked" into place.
I recommend using an NTE5A in combination with an OpenReach MK3 SSFP.
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I recommend using an NTE5A in combination with an OpenReach MK3 SSFP.
it's just a shame they end up sticking out the wall so much.
if you're unlucky that master socket is in the middle of wall then it's very bad to look at and is very easy to knock it when walking past it.
very bad design where you end up just putting things on top of existing sockets.
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I have swapped mine only because BT fitted a new line as part of a trial I was doing. It's given me 2.5Mb increase on download but upload stayed the same.
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Hi all,
Following a few days of intermittent time out issues my ISP has suggested fitting a new faceplate. I've had one each of ADSLnation's and Clarity faceplates in the past, but my ADSLnation faceplate currently AWOL, presumed lost so I need something new to test.
I just found the NTE5c plates for sale and wondered if these are supposed to be installed by Openreach engineers only since it involves touching the wires on their side of the socket? or can any qualified telephone engineer do it? or are end users allowed to install them now since they're tool-less?
I assume it will be £100andsomething+VAT for Openreach, so if that is the only 'legal' maybe it would be better to just go for a regular NTE faceplate, in which case is there a best version of these to look for?
Thanks
OP's crux query, I'd say, concerns the aspect I have coloured, and whatever SSFP the answer to that would be identical. I leave it to the inteligensia here to respond to that, but legal or not, I paid ~ £40 all in to an ex BT man.
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I think it fair to say that Openreach don't have very accurate records as to which type of faceplate is fitted where.
As such, as long as the one at the master socket point is an official BT/Openreach version, and the fitting of it is to a reasonable standard, then you would be highly unlikely to encounter any issues.
I would also go for an NTE5A as the quality of construction is superior to the 5C.
Both the NTE5A and the MK3 filters are still available at reasonable prices on eBay.
Examples:
NTE5A - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BT-Master-Socket-NTE5a-Openreach-Phone-Line-Brand-New-NTE/263707663036 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BT-Master-Socket-NTE5a-Openreach-Phone-Line-Brand-New-NTE/263707663036)
MK3 SSFP - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-BT-Openreach-MK3-FILTER-NTE5a-MASTER-FACEPLATE-SOCKET-BT-Openreach/153063991552 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-BT-Openreach-MK3-FILTER-NTE5a-MASTER-FACEPLATE-SOCKET-BT-Openreach/153063991552)
NTE5A and MK3 SSFP - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/In-original-packaging-Genuine-Openreach-MK3-Filter-NTE5a-Tel-Socket-screws/263761384538 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/In-original-packaging-Genuine-Openreach-MK3-Filter-NTE5a-Tel-Socket-screws/263761384538)
Admitted the 5C is available cheaper but I think the extra would be well spent.
:)
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If you're reasonably competent at wiring (there only two - and it'll make no difference if they're reversed), then there would be no problem in fitting a 5C.
However, I'd echo what tubaman and others have said - stick with the 5A and get an SSFP Mk3.
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Thank for all the replies on this. I haven't ordered anything yet, but I am now leaning toward sticking with the NTE5 with Mk3 faceplate.
I was waiting for my ISP to reply re the official price of a call out with fitting of NTE5c, but my query has been ignored. An interesting customer service choice by the ISP since we're just out of contract...
I have swapped mine... ...2.5Mb increase on download but...
While trying to skim through comments about the new design I have seen a handful of remarks that marginal speed increases occur in some cases, but perhaps more significantly there are comments about fewer errors.
Fewer errors would be a boon, we're rural enough that interent connections in our area have always been low quality.
You couldn't pay me to swap from an NTE5A to an NTE5C... ...I recommend using an NTE5A in combination with an OpenReach MK3 SSFP.
it's just a shame they end up sticking out the wall so much...
This is an annoyance, our master socket is in a bedroom and the overall room layout means we need/want a chest of draws in the corner so that it opens onto the socket. A real PITA and I already have a chock of wood wedged into the corner to prevent anyone pushing the chest of drawers up so far it would smash the socket.
Since I am leaning toward getting the Mk3 I guess I will be looking for something else to fill the space and push the drawers further out.
OP's crux query...
I think it fair to say that Openreach don't have very accurate records as to which type of faceplate is fitted where...
If you're reasonably competent at wiring...
I'm pretty sure I could wire myself without issue, there's just that teeny tiny nagging doubt from comments I've read before that if something goes wrong it's possible to trip or blow stuff in the street cabinet or at the exchange. Maybe it's just scaremongering to put people off, but I can't say I know for sure.
Disappointingly I can't find anyone in my local trade ads so far and the idea of £120+ for Openreach to do such a trivial thing really grates, so all considerations are pointing toward the Mk3, despite the potentially improved connection stability that may be offered by the Mk4.
Thank again everyone for the advice.
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You may find suitable people under other specialities e.g. TV, digital, electrical, cabling.
The one I found in Checkatrade dealt with TV Aerials, but was ex BT.
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Since I am leaning toward getting the Mk3 I guess I will be looking for something else to fill the space and push the drawers further out.
I'm pretty sure I could wire myself without issue, there's just that teeny tiny nagging doubt from comments I've read before that if something goes wrong it's possible to trip or blow stuff in the street cabinet or at the exchange. Maybe it's just scaremongering to put people off, but I can't say I know for sure.
There is absolutely no chance whatsoever of you doing anything to the street cabinet (unless you connect the socket to the mains!!!)
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I have swapped mine only because BT fitted a new line as part of a trial I was doing. It's given me 2.5Mb increase on download but upload stayed the same.
swapped it with what? a mk3 or mk4 ?
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Any increase anyone has seen from an NTE5C over an NTE5A has been from the engineer correcting a poorly terminated wire or fixing some other problem.
I can assure you it is not from the NTE5C being a better performing master socket.
They essentially have the same internals.
On 1 design they are soldered and on the other they are clicked in place, what do you suppose would perform better?
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There is absolutely no chance whatsoever of you doing anything to the street cabinet (unless you connect the socket to the mains!!!)
@Berk As an ex BT escapee (I believe @liquorice is too), I can confirm that no damage can possibly be done, even if you short the wires.
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There is absolutely no chance whatsoever of you doing anything to the street cabinet (unless you connect the socket to the mains!!!)
@Berk As an ex BT escapee (I believe @liquorice is too), I can confirm that no damage can possibly be done, even if you short the wires.
Thanks for the reassurance, I feel sure I could do it without problem but I'll try the simpler faceplate change first since there is a general consensus that the NTE5 + Mk3 is the least hassle and higher quality.
Now I realised I need a new lower faceplate for the Mk3 as I've no clue where the original is, so:
Kauden vs Pressac
Is there any difference in quality between these socket manufacturers? I can get the Kauden NTE5 master socket locally, but many of the ads online promote "genuine Pressac" or "original Pressac"
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There is absolutely no chance whatsoever of you doing anything to the street cabinet (unless you connect the socket to the mains!!!)
Will this work on an ECI cabinet...... I jest of course ;D
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As far as I know Openreach only used the Pressac manufactured NTE5.
I would go for a BT/Openreach branded one to avoid any questions if an Openreach engineer needs to attend at any future point, but that's just me.
:)
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Not sure if branding would be an issue? all the Openreach/BT guff is printed on the filter plate and the phone socket plate is blank on all that I can see.
I'm just going off my experience of other wall sockets, some feel very cheap, some feel nice, some are a PITA to wire, others are easy. There may be nothing to discern between Kauden and Pressac as far as NTE5 master sockets, but if one is known to be more robust or better fit there could be a clear preference.
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Mrs Weaver’s hands are bad and she finds it difficult to unscrew the fronts of the NTE5As if we are required to plug a phone into the test socket. Apart from that I would prefer having NTE5As. We have one NTE5C now complete with new-style curvy Mk4 (is it?) SSFP which I neither need nor want. I asked that a BT man be sent out to replace the NTE5As after a lightning tweak a year or so ago. If I remember correctly, I had bought a nice new NTE5A ready for our engineer to fit, but possibly Mrs Weaver failed to give it to him because an NTE5C+Mk4 SSFP is what I ended up with.
Is there any chance that I could get it changed back?
I presume that I can get hold of a good NTE5A if I need one?
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I presume that I can get hold of a good NTE5A if I need one?
Yes, there are many genuine NTE5/As available on eBay, for example.
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eBay is what I've done, ordered a bundle with Openreach branded NTE5 + Mk3
I guess that should be Pressac for the phone socket if above comment is correct. I might grab a Kauden one as well to look at next time I'm at my local supplier and just see if there is a difference, but I won't be making a trip just for that now I've got everything I need on the way.
Thanks again everyone for your help :)
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Apparently there are 2 versions of the Mark4 socket, the first version one that seems to have caused issues - reported around the net was the first with coloured 'blue or red' push terminals/bad design camlocks, causing high resistance faults, now there is a newer version with clear push terminal camlocks and this is suppose to have the initial problems resolved, see link below and look under "Camlocks" and comments from users...
https://www.telecomgreen.co.uk/engineering/bt-openreach-new-nte5c-master-socket-guided-tour/
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It's not the MK4 but the actual NTE5C that was revised.
The main change was to correct the unit not sitting correctly against some back boxes.
None of the issues discussed on this thread were fixed (the lack of any soldered components/poor build quality).
edit: I think the mk4 might have also had small revisions to the cam lock only
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Does anyone have a picture of the good ones and the bad ones?
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Does anyone have a picture of the good ones and the bad ones?
I can send you copies of two Openreach documents, otherwise I attach, below, an image taken from one of those documents . . .
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^^^^^^^
Yeah that's what I've seen about on the net, blue and clear although there's also been reference to a red camlock.
This is suppose to be one of the 'good ones' on ebay, the last two images clearly show clear type camlocks /also mentioned in the description as a new design...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BN-2018-Openreach-Telephone-Master-Socket-NTE5c-MK2-VDSL-ADSL-Faceplate-MK4-BT/222508950471
Interestingly one of his images shows the backplate taken off the MK4 front plate bit, looks well made.
[Moderator edited to simplify the above link.]
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.....
Interestingly one of his images shows the backplate taken off the MK4 front plate bit, looks well made.
The SSFP (filter) is perfectly well made but the master socket components are not.
This YouTube video shows the issue rather well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD67a-ZC7VY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD67a-ZC7VY)
:)
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^^^^^^^
Yeah that's what I've seen about on the net, blue and clear although there's also been reference to a red camlock.
This is suppose to be one of the 'good ones' on ebay, the last two images clearly show clear type camlocks /also mentioned in the description as a new design...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BN-2018-Openreach-Telephone-Master-Socket-NTE5c-MK2-VDSL-ADSL-Faceplate-MK4-BT/222508950471
Interestingly one of his images shows the backplate taken off the MK4 front plate bit, looks well made.
[Moderator edited to simplify the above link.]
i'd be dubious about buying anything from anyone that can't spell "picture", and get it wrong on every pucture :)
[Moderator edited to quote the post with the simplified link.]
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The SSFP (filter) is perfectly well made but the master socket components are not.
This YouTube video shows the issue rather well - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD67a-ZC7VY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD67a-ZC7VY)
:)
Seen that video although it's based on the older plate back in 2016 (see video date) that had the issues /and the mentioned blue/red camlocks, can't believe they'd use such a poor design to connect internal components.
Now I wonder what the newer type nte5c's with the clear camlocks are like at the component level, anyone seen images of this?
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Yes, they are identical. The only changes are the ones already documented.
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He sold a lot of them though...
"After receiving the item, cancel the purchase within 14 days
Buyer pays return postage
You're covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee if you receive an item that is not as described in the listing."