Re: Master Socket and Lightning - who pays?

...I didn't know I was responsible for BT carrying out repairs to it's own equipment. A lightning storm blew over our area. Engineer came and replaced a component inside the master socket. A surge arrester I presume. Said he had spent all day repairing patch panels damaged by the storm. Then I got a bill for £100. Ive raised a complaint.
Ive phoned 4 times and still not had a resolution. The engineer notes say that my equipment was faulty and that my equipment had caused a power surge. Both claims are false. Also, apparently a Mr Morgan was informed of the charges. That's nice, but there's no one with that name at our address. I believe a mistake had been made. Can anyone help?

This page has some guidance about charges.
http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/12439/c/
If it was one of the new SSFP faceplates, then that is located after the test socket, so the customer would be liable for its replacement cost.
It looks like this
There are electronic components in this unit, which are easily damaged by surges.
There are some useful help pages here, for BT Broadband customers only, on my personal website.
BT Broadband customers - help with broadband, WiFi, networking, e-mail and phones.

Similar Messages

How to connect Master socket and extension to fibr...

I have just had my fttp service enabled.
I watched the online video on how to connect my phone, and it says that if you don't have the special socket that allows you to switch from copper to fibre, you should just connect the phne to the modem.
I don't have the socket, just a normal phone socket right next to the modem.
How do I connect my extensions? Can I just connect my modem to the socket and go from there, or do I need to do anything else?
Sorry folks, I know very little about this stuff!

There is a guide here.
http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/37138/related/1
My guess is that you would have to disconnect your extension wiring from the old master socket, and plug it into the Tel 1 socket via a phone splitter, if you need a phone near the fibre modem.
There are a few other FTTP users on this forum, who may be able to give you more advice.
There are some useful help pages here, for BT Broadband customers only, on my personal website.
BT Broadband customers - help with broadband, WiFi, networking, e-mail and phones.

2 master sockets and only one needed

Hi
The homes orginial master socket is upstairs in a box room. Downstairs in the extension is another master socket which was installed by my ex-employer for work related matters only.
The problem I have is that with the Home Hub 3 router being upstairs I cannot get Wifi in the extension which is the one place I need it. I'm trying to weigh up the costs of buying a BT wifi hotspot and extender versus moving the home landline line numberto the master socket in the extension (formerly paid for by the company).
Any advice at all would be appreciated.
Many Thanks
Andy

Welcome to the forum
Using one of the BT extenders would work out cheaper, and would not involve Openreach changing the routing, with the possibility that it may go wrong.
If you can use an Ethernet connection upstairs, then there are cheaper Powerline devices that do not have wifi capability.
If you decided to add wifi at a later date, then you can always plug in a wireless access point.
There are some examples on this page http://forumhelp.dyndns.info/networking/netcons1.html
There are some useful help pages here, for BT Broadband customers only, on my personal website.
BT Broadband customers - help with broadband, WiFi, networking, e-mail and phones.

Distance between Master Socket and Modem for Infin...

Hi, I wish to move my infinity modem and wireless router to another room which is about 20 feet from the master socket.
Will that cabling distance be ok please? Thx

Its rj11 not rj45 as its a modem connection rather than a network
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Master socket and BT Infinity.....

Hi there. Now that my area has got BT Infinity I'm looking to upgrade however the only problem I would have is with the master socket during installation. My master socket is in the hallway by the stairs. I would not want to have the router set up at the bottom of my stairs in the hallway. I do have another phoneline in a bedroom upstairs that my current ADSL connection uses. Is it possible for me to use this phoneline for BT Infinity? Thanks

Yup! the engineer will put the master socket where ever you want
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BT Infinity and the Master Socket - will they / wo...

It seems that they won't. Well not unless you pay. Like many others posting on this forum, I was seduced by Infinity, but then confused by the requirements of installation in respect of the utilisation of the master socket and subsequent location of equipment. My house is typical of the problem - master socket downstairs front of house - wanted equipment sited upstairs back of house. Didn't want an extension draped around the place. I needed to know: 1. Can the master socket be moved? 2. If it can be, is this part of the istallation? 3. If it is not part of the standard installation is there a cost associated with it? 4. What is the cost? Sounds straightforward - it wasn't. I won't bore you with the frustrations of BT customer services, these are well documented elsewhere on the forum. Suffice to say, I have decided not to go ahead with my order. Not because of the content of the eventual reply, but because these frustrations. Anyway, I did eventually get a response by using the complaints route - as BT seen unwilling to share this information, I have. Hope it helps. RESPONSE FROM BT COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT: The power needs to be plugged into the master socket so that the engineer can plug in your new Hub and Openreach fibre modem. If you haven't, no problem. Your engineer can run an Ethernet extension cable (up to 30 metres long) from where you can plug in your Hub and Openreach fibre modem back to your phone master socket. This extension can only go along walls - not under carpets or floors. If this is not suitable we can arrange a shift to be done, to move your master socket to a position of your choice. This would involve a one-off cost of £130.00. So there you have it.

@john46
'the engineer can convert an existing extension into a master for free or run a data extension also free'
Depends on the type of cable really, if its 'phone wire', you know those thin strands of copper coated steel then that would kill the broadband.
Also most peoples extensions are the untwisted 10, 15, 25, etc metres reels you can buy from a supermarket, again not ideal for ADSL Broadband, let alone FTTC.

BT Infinity 2 and Master Socket.

Hello all. We ordered our BT infinity 2 and telephone line and they said the engineer will be coming on the 13th to set things up. After looking through the installation of BT infinity I found out that it has to be connected to a master socket. This is my problem.
My master socket is located right next to my main door and there is an extention socket in my bedroom. Can I have the master socket moved during installation ? Having a bt hub where you keep your shoes looks odd. Will the engineer relocate the master socket or change the extention socket into a a master socket or I shouldn't be expecting anything ?

Reading through some of the posts, a lot of the installation depends on whether you get a decent engineer, luckily I did.
My master socket was in a downstairs room and my study / office is in the room right above it. I explained to the engineer what I wanted / needed. He was a bit hesitant as he said it meant him having to drill through an external wall, No it won't as I already have a hole that talkes an extension from the master to the study, right easy he says he could convert the extension to the master and make the old master socket the extension. Great, cup of tea and a few hob nobs later job done.
If the engineer can not do what mine did he should fit a 30m extension lead to the master socket and you can plug the hoem hub to this, my understanding is that the extension cable is pinned to skirting or wall they will not lay kit under carpet.
Good luck
Sholtie

Charged for engineer callout - Master socket

About a month or so ago I was having a problem with the phone line where the broadband was working fine but the phone line kept making a crackly noise...which got louder and more frequent until eventually after a few days you just couldn't hear anything on the phone so it became impossible to take a phone call.
We tried disconnecting everything else from the master socket and couldn't figure out what the problem was so gave customer support a call who ran through every check they could and couldn't find anything wrong. Customer service suggested there may be something wrong with the equipment within the premises and that if there was an engineer sent out and they found the problem to be with our equipment then we would be liable for it and be charged for the callout. I was happy to have an engineer visit because i was sure that it wasn't anything that we had plugged in.
So the engineer turns up and straight away determines that the master socket is at fault so I asked him if we would be charged for it and he assured me we wouldn't...after all its not our equipment.
I've just now gone to check my account and I'm absolutely shocked to stumble upon a £129.99 charge for an engineer and i simply dont understand why I can be charged for equipment that BT/Openreach has installed..its not my equipment...how can it be may fault...we havent damaged it and we have no damp etc!!!!
Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with this....has this happened to anyone else?
Thanks!
Athique

Hi Athiqueahmed,
Thanks for the post and welcome to the forum. I appreciate this charge was certainly a nasty shock. I would be happy to look into why you have been charged for this visit. I will be able to view the engineers report and we can take it from there.
Can you please drop me an email? Click on my username (SeanD) and you will find my contact link under the 'About me' section of my profile. Once I have your details I can find out what is going on.
Cheers
Sean
BTCare Community Manager
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Two lines in use, one master socket that is bypass...

I work at an organisation that has a subscription for two lines. One line is used for the main phone system of the business and the other is used for two purposes: 1. There is a payphone for guests on it; 2. The business internet connection comes through it (DSL). The internet connection is noticably slower than it should be and often drops out, so I've had a look at the wiring of the phone lines.
Both lines come into the building from the pole through a single 4-core black drop-cable, as is quite normal I think. This cable comes into the back of an NTE5 master socket. The wire colours are Green, White, Orange and Black. None of these connect to any part of the master socket - neither the main panel, nor the removable front plate. Instead, they are all connected with the little translucent crimp-type things to the wires of the internal "extension" cables. My first quesion is, is this correct? I think it's incorrect, especially as one pair of wires immediately gets split off to 2 extensions, as I'll now describe...
From the master socket there are two "extension" cables. One goes directly to what I think is a normal extension socket (smaller than an NTE5, but it does have some kind of inductor or capacitor, and it looks modern). This socket's pins 2 and 5 are wired directly from the orange and white wires respectively in the drop wire. To this socket, the ADSL modem is connected and nothing else.
The other extension cable goes off somewhere else. However, it must be carrying two phone lines - because the payphone must come off it (which shares the line with the modem), as must the main phone system. It is a 6-core round white cable. Its Orange and White/orange wires are connected to White and Orange in the drop cable (i.e. the same pair that goes to the modem extension) and its Green and White/green wires are connected to Green and Black in the drop-cable. I haven't been able to trace this cable yet, but all I know is that it must end up splitting off to the pay phone and the main phone system, because they are separate lines.
So, is the incoming line not terminated correctly, in that it doesn't connect at all to the master socket and the one pair of wires immediately splits off to two extensions? Could this be causing the internet connection problems?
Any help would be greatly appreciated - preferably from one of you former BT men ;-) I'm trained in electronics myself, so answer technically if you want.

Yes, the payphone has a filter.
Yes I agree that the line the main phone system comes off may not need a master socket for whatever reason (i.e. it may have its own circuitry).
But as for the broadband line - it splits off to the payphone extension and to the modem extension as soon as it leaves the drop wire, which seems wrong to me. As far as I understand, one of the purposes of the master socket is to be able to detach the front plate in order to isolate the consumer's extensions from BT's line; but with the extensions being hard-wired in, that's imposisble. And with no master socket, I assume that whatever circuitry is normally in a master socket isn't present on the line. Does this matter? Is it just surge protection, or is there some kind of filtering as well? We will of course contact BT about this, but I'd like to know first whether there really is something wrong.

BT Faster slow - lack of master socket the problem...

My new BT Faster FTTC broadband is not delivering the promised speed, and I hoped someone here might have some knowledgable suggestions.
I was promised a speed of 12-18Mbps down, but it's actually delivering (on first day) just over 8Mbps.
(The promised speed matches that returned by the dslchecker for my number, and the actual speed has been measured using speedtest.net as well as BT Wholesale speedtest).
Wondering if at least part of the problem is that the premises doesn't have a proper master socket. The only live sockets are "extension" sockets. I've plugged into the one of these nearest the small BT junction (?) box just inside the house to try to optimise speed.
I did warn BT that the house didn't have a proper master socket and requested an engineer install for this reason, but they insisted I try a self install of the HH5 and "see how it goes". I wonder if the speed wouldn't be improved to something closer to that promised if there was a master socket installed (an NTE5 or even a SSFP Infinity).
Any advice on how I should proceed and/or whether I should go back to BT to request they install a master socket? Any and all help would be much appreciated!
In case of any help, here are the hub stats from the "Helpdesk" view:
Product name: BT Home Hub
Serial number:
Firmware version: Software version 4.7.5.1.83.8.173.1.6 (Type A) Last updated Unknown
Board version: BT Hub 5A
VDSL uptime: 0 days, 03:02:33
Data rate: 1257 / 9395
Maximum data rate: 1257 / 8953
Noise margin: 6.1 / 6.0
Line attenuation: 0.0 / 35.2
Signal attenuation: 0.0 / 27.6
Data sent/received: 39.0 MB / 229.6 MB

Thanks for the reply John. The checkers are still giving me the same results as yesterday, screengrabs now attached:
1. Product name:   BT Home Hub
2. Serial number:   +
3. Firmware version:   Software version 4.7.5.1.83.8.204 (Type A) Last updated 28/02/15
4. Board version:   BT Hub 5A
5. DSL uptime:   0 days, 00:33:28
6. Data rate:   1261 / 9260
7. Maximum data rate:   1269 / 9293
8. Noise margin:   6.2 / 6.1
9. Line attenuation:   14.9 / 36.5
10. Signal attenuation:   14.9 / 28.6
11. Data sent/received:   13.4 MB / 188.7 MB

Need help identifying my master socket for broadba...

Hi i am awaiting my line to go active for broadband but i just want to make sure the socket i am going to use is my master socket.
I can only find 1 socket in my house and it has a T logo in the bottom corner. This socket is on the bottom of my stairs (annoying place). I have opened it up and it looks like it has a capacitor on it. When i follow my wire coming out of the box it goes down a couple of steps and goes into another small box with a T logo on the front but all this has on it is a screw dot in the middle and another T logo.
So is the socket on stairs the master socket and if so what is this other box is it some sort of wiring centre?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Ahh right so it is my master socket but it must be older than the picture above as mine takes the whole face off and not just the bottom section and it does not have any test point on it.
Would it be recommned to update my socket to a newer one? I ask this as i was looking into iplates to help boost my speed but there not conpatible with my current socket.
And i need to put a extention into my living room is it best to just plug it into my master socket or will i lose speed this way?

Master socket broken?

Hi guys,
had the second line in my house activated today.
Checked the master socket and test socket as when I plug a phone in, I don't seem to be getting anything. Phone doesn't work and neither does my new broadband
Here are some pics of what it looks like:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/30/pz6h.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/11/8iy3.jpg/
Is this right? The black and green wires aren't even connected to anything! I know this line used to work though, and im pretty sure the line hasn't been touched.
Excuse the wall, we're having it replastered lol.

Right okay, BT said that the line had been reconnected.
I guess not!

Another question (master socket)

Sorry for another question, but this is a forum after all .
Tomorrow all being well I should receive my welcome pack and business hub and on Friday I should receive Infinity, however I need something answered before the installation begins on Friday.
When I moved in my master socket, well, it had no faceplate on the bottom half (just a test socket basically) so I got myself one of those ADSLNation faceplate things which fit to the bottom half of the master socket and work as a filter. My question is:
- Should I remove the ADSLNation faceplate, use a standard micro-filter instead and explain to the engineer (if he queries it) that when I moved in there was no faceplate on the lower half of the master socket?
... or ...
- Should I leave it as it is with the ADSLNation faceplate on the front (screws don't properly fit either so I didn't bother with screws for that)?
Just concerned that if I appear to have used the ADSLNation (in other words not official BT faceplate) instead of an official BT one then the engineer might make a fuss or something?
Many thanks.

I see. Thanks for the clarification everyone.
I'll either take it off before Friday morning and use a normal micro-filter, so that it has no opportunity to go missing with the engineer, or if I decide to leave it there I'll make sure the engineer doesn't take it with him (as it doesn't belong to him after all, since I purchased that from ADSLNation and may at some point in the future need it again, e.g. if I moved years later to a location where Infinity isn't currently supported).

Request to resite Master socket-using external wir...

Sorry its a similar post, however these are my specific questions.
Engr coming this friday to install BT Infinty fibre service.Modem due tomorrow and Engr brings Router(I think).
My current layout is copper cable to house via BT Pole,to front of house first floor,then cable run down wall to lounge bay window and master socket is installed underneath/adjacent to bay window.(no power socket available nearby).
Lounge, hall, stairs and landing all recently replastered and redecorated.Yes I know I should had this lot installed first!
I will not accept Cat5 cable extension from downstairs to upstairs (clipped against skirting etc)and also fitting of a new twin socket outlet in the lounge.
We have a study at the rear of the house first floor where PC is installed with current Router, and sufficient sockets.
Will the nice Open Reach Engr consider the following,
1. reuse the copper wire to the house and cleat the cable run towards the rear of the property.
2. If the cable is not long enough, can he joint it-or is this a no no!(outside)
3. If 2 is not possible would he consider renewing the copper cable from pole and run it to my study(outside wall).
4. Will he drill through mortar/brick wall to gain access to study to run cable inside for less than 1 metre?
5. If he is not willing to do 4-Could I drill the hole for him!
I promise to make him unlimited tea/coffee, foot his ladder and buy loads of cake and biscuits.
If I am "kidding myself" please tell me!
Many thanks for any advice,
Regards
Graham
Solved!
Go to Solution.

graham6520 wrote:
Hi,
Many thanks for swift reply.
1. I have three sockets in the study with PC-so power sockets are not the issue!
2. I do have one"aftermarket non BT" phone socket in the study where the router/modem is currently connected to this socket. This socket is at the end of a "serial phone circuit"(ie master socket in lounge to phone in lounge to phone in kitchen then upstairs to study!).I know this route sounds long and "iffy" but its good quality cable and properly "terminated".I have had no problems whatsoever in 20 years re phone REN etc.Last time a BT Engr was at the property was summer this year and my download speed was 1.9mbps at the master socket and I asked him to test speed at the"end of my phone wiring in the study(where the router is plugged) and he confirmed same 1.9 mbps.
From this I deduced no loss on my DIY wiring!-I could be wrong-I am a novice!
the wiring will not be suitable for a master but the engineer will run a new cable then use the existing wiring just for phones
3. If the installer could just fit a master phone socket to replace my DIY existing socket in the Study, that would be fantastic and so easy! not possible
4. Please forgive my ignorance re your item 3 below, can you clarify or simplify ie does the router and modem"sit next to each other" and can they both reside in the study(if the installer can fit a master socket in the study).
master connects to modem, then modem to router, you can extend any of the cables that connect them though the best one would be modem to router as you can buy suitable cables in upto 100m length
I will be very grateful for a further update from you and other experts, this upgrade is really important to me, I am at home having lost my job through ill health 2 years ago and don't think I am well enough to drill a hole through the outside wall on a ladder with vertigo!-unless the installer refuses to drill the wall. I don't think my wife would sign off the risk assessment for me to do it! could always drill from inside, i always do, more important to have it in the right place on the inside than outside
Thanks once again,
Graham

IPlate/Master Socket, Help Needed!

(Before i start this is my first post so sorry if i mess something up )
Hi,
I want to install a BT Iplate but i have a Master socket that is not supported. (Pic below)
Is there any chance i can change my master socket to the one below so i can install an iplate?

Hi Eaglealex7,
The newer Openreach BTNTE5 master socket already filters interference from extension sockets. Pre-filtered ADSL/VDSL master sockets also already filters interference from extension sockets.
if you have a look at this link here it will tell you what Master sockets work with the iplate / Accelerator : http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=25075
The accelerator/iplate can sometimes cause more issues in some cases. Have a look at removing the BellWire/Ring wire from terminal 3 of your master socket and extension sockets which does the same thing as the accelerator/iplate but sometimes more effective. Link : bellwire removal
Cheers
jac_95 | BT.com Help Site | BT Service Status
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Re: Master Socket and Lightning - who pays?

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