BT master socket - Phones dead - broadband fine.

[benali]

I've had a few powercuts recently and now I've noticed the phone line is down (broadband is fine)
It looks like a BT NTE5 master socket with a mk1 filtered faceplate.
When I remove the faceplate and plug the phone in, the line is working again. (There are no other extensions on the faceplate)
So I suspect the faceplate is faulty from maybe powersurge etc?

But what I really dont understand, is prior to the master socket is another junction box where the line has been Teed into, to go to an upstairs phone socket. Probalby against BT rules, but anyway, this upstairs socket (with a filter) doesn't work at all regardless of faceplate in or out.
Can anyone give me some advise here?

Edited by benali on Monday 28th December 11:50

[Blockbuster]

There’s 2 sets of crimps in that box, suggesting that the “teed” socket was actually a separate line which has long since been cancelled and disconnected somewhere in the network.

[benali]

Well, I'm not sure on that. I didnt want to pull all the crimp blocks out in case something got dislodged and the bb went down!
This teed line is the one my landline is on and was working fine untill about a week ago, the phone has never been on the mastersocket.
The landline now only works into the back of the NTE5 but not the front and not from the teed line at all.
Confused?

[Mr Pointy]

You either need to pull out that rat's nest so we can see what is conected to what or get BT in to regularise the installation - not cheap. There are often local ex-BT engineers to advertise their services so have a look in your local advertiser or ask on your local FB page.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=local+ex+bt+engineers&am...
https://www.exbtengineers.com/
http://ex-btengineer.co.uk/

[Tyre Tread]

Had similar recently. Friend is BT engineer.

It'll be the filter on the phone socket.

Unplug phone unscrew and remove filter plate. Plug in alternative filter (if you have one) and see if phone and broadband work.

Buy new latest socket fitting on eBay. Terminals on new ones are push and click down the cover to secure. Terminals are numbered so note which colour wires go to which numbers before disconnecting old socket. Then refit.

Newest style sockets about £12 in Ebay

[benali]

Mr Pointy said:

You either need to pull out that rat's nest so we can see what is conected to what or get BT in to regularise the installation - not cheap. There are often local ex-BT engineers to advertise their services so have a look in your local advertiser or ask on your local FB page.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=local+ex+bt+engineers&am...
https://www.exbtengineers.com/
http://ex-btengineer.co.uk/

Ah, perhaps this isn't teed in prior to master box, looking closer now, but beyong me tbf.
Can't trace cables, as behind the skirtings etc!

[Mr Pointy]

Ok, this is my guess:

Bottom black wire is the incoming line on Blue/Blue-White
Connected to Green/G-W on the upper black wire which goes off to the NTE line input
Coming back on the upper black wire is the phone extension on B/B-W, connected to B & W on the cable off to the phone extension
Also coming back is the Bell Ringing on the Orange wire, connected to the Red wire to the phone extension.

Try changing the NTE to a new one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_t...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2019-BT-Openreach-Maste...

Or you might be able to find a replacement for your faceplate:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-GENUINE-REPLACEMEN...

[benali]

Thank you Mr Pointy!
Makes a bit more sense now, with the upstairs line being after the master box as you would expect.
I was a bit confused as the phone upstairs had a filter on it which it probably didnt need then as it is after nte5 faceplate filter.
But isnt it the bigger intermediate plate the one I need to replace, not the small lower one?
Or, as you say, buy a newer version. Are the newer complete units better in any way?
Thanks!

[Who me ?]

On the incoming cable (which shouls be dropwire) the signal carrying wires will be Orange + white as first pair and Green + black as second pair. The little yellow wires are steel bracing wires for the cable.

[Mr Pointy]

benali said:

Thank you Mr Pointy!
Makes a bit more sense now, with the upstairs line being after the master box as you would expect.
I was a bit confused as the phone upstairs had a filter on it which it probably didnt need then as it is after nte5 faceplate filter.
But isnt it the bigger intermediate plate the one I need to replace, not the small lower one?
Or, as you say, buy a newer version. Are the newer complete units better in any way?
Thanks!

I think the latest NTE5s are an improvement & they are certainly easier to install as you don't need any tools to punch down the wires. Put up a photo of the NTE you have - with the lower half off as well - & we might be able to guess which half has the filter. I think it's in the removeable bit so the line test socket exposes the bare line for testing.

[Mr Pointy]

Who me said:

On the incoming cable (which shouls be dropwire) the signal carrying wires will be Orange + white as first pair and Green + black as second pair. The little yellow wires are steel bracing wires for the cable.

Not necessarily. It's very common for there to be an intermediate juction box joining the stiff overhead wire to a more suitable internal one.

Edited by Mr Pointy on Monday 28th December 17:22

[Coin-Slot]

My Infinity was always running at around 25d/10u, I just accepted it for about 5 years as we live a fair distance from the Exchange.

One day the phone and broadband died and I had to call out BT, the engineer couldn’t blame our internal wiring quick enough, also saying our powerline adaptors were making things even worse etc etc.

BT wanted something like £200 to come out and fix our house wiring.

I found a local guy, ex BT engineer who spent three hours tidying up a huge rats nest of cables, also finding our house alarm system chopped into the phone line without a filter and various other codges.

The local guy charged me £75, BT reset the dslam (whatever that is) and now I get 70d/18u and my connection speed hasn’t dropped at all in over a year. He also fitted a brand new mastersocket for that £75 too, whether he should have done or not isn’t my concern, but if he was happy to change it then go for it.

Probably the best £75 I’ve ever spent.

[benali]

Mr Pointy said:

benali said:

Thank you Mr Pointy!
Makes a bit more sense now, with the upstairs line being after the master box as you would expect.
I was a bit confused as the phone upstairs had a filter on it which it probably didnt need then as it is after nte5 faceplate filter.
But isnt it the bigger intermediate plate the one I need to replace, not the small lower one?
Or, as you say, buy a newer version. Are the newer complete units better in any way?
Thanks!

I think the latest NTE5s are an improvement & they are certainly easier to install as you don't need any tools to punch down the wires. Put up a photo of the NTE you have - with the lower half off as well - & we might be able to guess which half has the filter. I think it's in the removeable bit so the line test socket exposes the bare line for testing.

Thanks again MrPointy!
My bb is decent at 65mbps, but if any improvents can be had, always welcome. I did read that some versions of NTE were better than others.

[Mr Pointy]

That looks like a NTE 5a with a VDSL faceplate.
https://www.btengineerlondon.co.uk/bt-master-socke...

The problem is there aren't many online as everyone is flogging the new NTE 5c. I've found one (I think):
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-BT-Openreach-Mk...

But for about the same money you could have a new NTE5c (example - there are lots):
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BT-Openreach-MK2-Phone-...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2019-BT-Openreach-Telep...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Openresch-Bt-Ma...

Some have pattress boxes, some charge postage.

[benali]

Thanks for your help.
I have ordered the latest and greatest, so fingers crossed just swap the cabling over and bobs your uncle.
Cheers!

[Mr Pointy]

benali said:

Thanks for your help.
I have ordered the latest and greatest, so fingers crossed just swap the cabling over and bobs your uncle.
Cheers!

Well it shouldn't be any worse performance & hopefully you will get your phone back. One common complaint about the NTE 5c is that the front plate just clips on & the fit is poor but if it's tucked away it shouldn't be an issue.