Crackling on a Broadband Phoneline!

[wanty1974]

Here's the rub; got a single phone and wireless broadband modem on a splitter out of what I think is the main phone socket in the house. We suffer occasionally with terrible (and I mean TERRIBLE) hiss and crackling when phoning. This comes and goes and even though it can be stopped by leaving the modem off, the modem can stay on for weeks with no hiss and then it starts again for no reason.

Splitters have been changed regularly and phone & modem are quite new. BT say there's no problem with the line. However, the previous occupants of the house wired up 2 living rooms and 3 bedrooms to have a phone line and I can't actually be sure which one is the 'main' socket - would this be an issue?

Thanks in advance.

[pdV6]

You'll need splitters on all the extensions, even if there's just a 'phone plugged into the socket IIRC.

[wanty1974]

But I don't have anything plugged into any of the other sockets.

[pdV6]

Got a feeling you might still need the splitters (aka filters).

If you're not using the extension sockets, maybe the best bet would be to un-wire them from the main socket?

{meant to add:} In our old flat we used to get terrible crackling on the phones - was down to an unused socket that had corroded inside. Unwired it and everything was ok again.

>> Edited by pdV6 on Tuesday 19th April 15:07

[wanty1974]

I thought that may be a suggestion. Thing is its obviously such a complicated wiring pattern under floorboards and inside walls that I haven't a clue how it fits together. I wouldn't want to start unwiring everyting unless I unwire the main socket!

I can fell a very expensive visit from BT coming on...

[zcacogp]

Warning ... I don't know much about telephones ....

Usually, the main socket is a "master"-type one, with a small PCB inside it. The others will be simply "slave"-type ones, with a wire coming and (and possibly a wire coming out to another slave-type one.)

Take them apart, and I'd have thought that the master one would be immediately apparent. (It is also most likely to be downstairs, near to or on an outside wall and may be close to the front door or some other entry into the house.)

But I could be completely wrong ...


Oli.

[pdV6]

wanty1974 said:

I thought that may be a suggestion. Thing is its obviously such a complicated wiring pattern under floorboards and inside walls that I haven't a clue how it fits together. I wouldn't want to start unwiring everyting unless I unwire the main socket! I can fell a very expensive visit from BT coming on...

Nah - any extensions will be wired to the master socket.

The line to the outside is separate to the bit where internal extensions connect. Should be fairly obvious when you take the front off the master socket.

In fact (IIRC) inside the master socket, the external bit plugs into the internal gubbins via a standard BT plug & socket affair.

Can't remember if the external bit remains "live" when its unplugged from the backplate. If so, there's your first test - take the master socket apart, unplug the 2 halves and see if that improves things. If so, its then just a case of removing the connections for the extensions from the backplate.

>> Edited by pdV6 on Tuesday 19th April 17:25

[pablo1602]

Its likely to be a loose wire somewhere. Could even be your phone (have you tried a different one?)

I had a similar problem, checked the sockets and wiring. No joy.
Disconnected them all except the master (which I replaced) but still random crackling at times.

Spoke to BT and they said the line was fine, but kept at them as it was intermittent. Eventually got them to come and have a look outside. Turned out that the cable into the property had come loose. When the wind was blowin it caused the crackle.

Engineer changed the external connection box and replaced the cable from it into the house. As the fault was outside my property they didn't charge me.

That was a few years ago. Took a few goes to get the buggers out. Usual call centre stuff, until you get someone who wants to help solve you're problem you'll get fobbed.

P

[simpo two]

Wanty - I had exactly this problem a week ago.

BT at first tried to pretend it was one of my phones. The problem went, then came back. When I picked up the phone, I lost my BB connection. Sometimes it would keep breaking anyway.

I complained again and they sent an engineer. He quickly found a corroded connection outside the house and made it good. So you've got water ingress somewhere, I'm sure.

[Rob P]

I also had this problem.

After a few stressful calls to BT's local engineers in India I got 2 new microfilters which both worked perfectly

BT claimed that it was "unusal to have sent you two dud microfilters, we send two to make sure at least one works"