Odd problem with BT landline and broadband

andymitchell · 24-08-2009, 15:24

Hiya,

I have a strange problem with my BT line and virgin ADSL internet connection. The master BT socket is in the bedroom, with a wired extention to a faceplate into the front room.

With the router plugged into the socket in the bedroom (with a filter), it all works fine and the router connects in about 20 seconds. This is when its plugged into the front of the socket, and also into the main master socket behind the front panel.

But when i plug in into the socket in the front room it wont connect, just sits there with the DSL light flashing but never establishes a connection. It used to take a long time (maybe 20-30 minutes) then got a connection, but now it doesnt at all. The only way i can get it to work is to plug a phone into the filter as well, and then lift the handset. After lifting the handset it will get a connection after about 30 seconds. I can then put the handset down again and it stays connected and all is fine!

I've changed the phone socket, no difference. Different filter, and phone cable, no difference. I've tried using a different pair of wires to the extention to check its not a wiring fault. No difference either.

The phone works fine as well plugged into all sockets.

Any suggestions, cos i'm running out of ideas!!

Many thanks.

webcrawler2050 · 24-08-2009, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by andymitchell

Hiya,

I have a strange problem with my BT line and virgin ADSL internet connection. The master BT socket is in the bedroom, with a wired extention to a faceplate into the front room.

With the router plugged into the socket in the bedroom (with a filter), it all works fine and the router connects in about 20 seconds. This is when its plugged into the front of the socket, and also into the main master socket behind the front panel.

But when i plug in into the socket in the front room it wont connect, just sits there with the DSL light flashing but never establishes a connection. It used to take a long time (maybe 20-30 minutes) then got a connection, but now it doesnt at all. The only way i can get it to work is to plug a phone into the filter as well, and then lift the handset. After lifting the handset it will get a connection after about 30 seconds. I can then put the handset down again and it stays connected and all is fine!

I've changed the phone socket, no difference. Different filter, and phone cable, no difference. I've tried using a different pair of wires to the extention to check its not a wiring fault. No difference either.

The phone works fine as well plugged into all sockets.

Any suggestions, cos i'm running out of ideas!!

Many thanks.

How long is the extension lead?

Is the extensions, wired Directly into the master socket or through a plug in lead? If so - how is it plugged in i.e filter is plugged into the sock, then extension plug into filter.

Do you get sync?

andymitchell · 24-08-2009, 17:05

Its a proper wired extension to another faceplate as opposed to an extension lead. Its in a flat so the distance isnt far, maybe 5 meters. It is connected via the IDC connections on the back of the removable faceplate on the master bt socket. The ADSL filter is then plugged into the extention plate in the front room and nothing is plugged into the main socket in the bedroom.

The DSL light flashes on the router, and thats it. Until i lift the phone handset and then it connects.

webcrawler2050 · 24-08-2009, 17:13

Sounds like the wiring is knackered, who put the extension in?

andymitchell · 24-08-2009, 17:16

It was already there when i moved in. Im guessing BT put it in as the original extension faceplate in the front room had the BT logo on it.....

**Graham M** · 24-08-2009, 17:36

I've seen that problem before, usually down to broken wiring somewhere

andymitchell · 24-08-2009, 19:57

an update.

i made up a cable with a phone plug on one end, with pins 2 and 5 shorted together. I removed the face plate from the main bt master socket and unplugged everything from the extension socket in the other room.

I plugged in the cable and then measured the resistance between pins 2 and 5 at the other end of the cable, got a reading of 2 ohms, which seems fine and says that the cable is ok....grr.....

Checked another pair of cables and got the same....grrrrrrr

webcrawler2050 · 24-08-2009, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by andymitchell

an update.

i made up a cable with a phone plug on one end, with pins 2 and 5 shorted together. I removed the face plate from the main bt master socket and unplugged everything from the extension socket in the other room.

I plugged in the cable and then measured the resistance between pins 2 and 5 at the other end of the cable, got a reading of 2 ohms, which seems fine and says that the cable is ok....grr.....

Checked another pair of cables and got the same....grrrrrrr

Connections on the actualy phone socket?

andymitchell · 25-08-2009, 12:09

yeah i tested from both socket ends on the front side of the panels.

webcrawler2050 · 25-08-2009, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by andymitchell

yeah i tested from both socket ends on the front side of the panels.

Sounds like 1 of a few issues -

* Broken wiring
* Wierd Filter setup

Is there anything else on this line, i.e Sky box etc?

andymitchell · 25-08-2009, 12:38

the only other thing on that line is a normal phone. ive tried 2 different filters too.

The phone works fine and the problem is the same regardless of whether the phone is connected or not.

webcrawler2050 · 25-08-2009, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by andymitchell

the only other thing on that line is a normal phone. ive tried 2 different filters too.

The phone works fine and the problem is the same regardless of whether the phone is connected or not.

Sounds like a call to BT is needed i'm afraid.

andymitchell · 25-08-2009, 16:08

sounds expensive too lol....

webcrawler2050 · 25-08-2009, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by andymitchell

sounds expensive too lol....

Well.. or who'm ever your provider is - who should be able to send out an openreach engineer

Lucifer1 · 25-08-2009, 17:43

Hi,

If i am getting this right your broadband and phone work in the master test socket (the first socket your phone line goes to when it comes in from the pole outside) but when you use your extention socket in the front room the phone works but the broadband doesnt?

If this is right it does sound like a wiring issue but as it all works in the master test socket as far as your ISP or openreach are concerned its all working fine as anything after the test socket is the EU's responsibility to resolve, so to save wasting yours, openreach's and your isp's time and a hefty bill i would advise against raising it as a fault, your best option would be to get maybe BT to come and install a new extention to replace the old one or someone out of yellow pages as BT may be expensive, although on another note your better off keeping your modem/router in the main socket to get the best speed out of your line anyway as being in the extention would add extra attenuation to the line and slow things down.

Hope that helps

Helix