new phone line

[johnc86]

Hi. Iv moved into a totaly refurbished old house. At some point the telephone line has been snipped off by the front door and I only have about 10cm of 2wire cable coming into the house.

I have bought a master box but dont know how to wire up to it. The 2 wires dont appear to be colour coded or marked, just black with pvc (or rubber?).

the box has the numbers on the back so I guess I could just touch them up against the contacts untill I hear a dial tone.

Will the cheap master box Iv bought do the job or does this require something more sophisticated?

any help much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[GoingDigital]

Seeing as how you have just moved in BT should sort it for you.

 

[johnc86]

yeah they would for £120!

 

[GoingDigital]

Well if you want to fit your own you would be best fitting the proper BT style NTE5 master socket.

Plenty on eBay just search for NTE5 or try one of the following on-line retailers. Quick google search throws up Broadbandbuyer looks like one of the cheapest.

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=7311

EDIT: Oops just noticed out of stock, but there were plenty that came up on a google search for NTE5

 

[Lectrician]

The drop wire you describe sounds very old, and is likely to cause issues in the future. BT would likely replace this with a line provision.

So......the techi bit......

You have a pair of cables.

If you have bought an NTE5a, just connect this pair either way (their is a particular way, but either will work) to A and B.

If you just have a standard master, then 2 anf 5.

I dont have to tell you that the drop wire and any cabling upto and including the master socket is BT's property and responsibilty.

 

[tomy]

Why would BT sort it out they may not be his service provider , Openreach would sort it out at the service providers request , if you havent had an engineering visit when your line was activated then report your line as faulty to your service provider and then openreach will sort it out for you.

 

[Lectrician]

Why would BT sort it out they may not be his service provider , Openreach would sort it out at the service providers request , if you havent had an engineering visit when your line was activated then report your line as faulty to your service provider and then openreach will sort it out for you.

Folk talk generically about BT when referring to openreach. At the end of the day, they are still a BT company.

 

[johnc86]

I just rang bt and said Id just moved in and they asked for the address, they checked it and said that it could be switched on. I told them what the situation was with the line and they said it would be £120 for a new line. I said I would sort it myself and they said ok. They never said I shouldnt touch it or anything. Bt is my provider, I didnt realise I could get it provided my anyone else. I dont live in a cable area.

Are BT obliged to sort out this line for me then? Iv already started paying for the line rental as of last week.

 

[tomy]

Yeah report it as a fault , even if they tell you it tests ok it could be going to anywhere , inist on an engineer , they may advise you of charges but this is just protocol , when the engineer turns up and realises it has never worked there is a specific code for for him to book of the job and you wont be charged . Generically you could call openreach the GPO!!!!!!

 

[johnc86]

Tomy cheers for that but im not completely sure what you mean (im stupid lol).

Are you saying that bt are not obliged to sort the line out anyway? Like I say Iv already started paying them.

 

[tomy]

If your line has been turned on at your address and has not worked report it as a fault telling them you have no dial tone , they will test the line and it will come back as faulty , unless the line is going to a socket in someone else house ( happens all the time ) get an engineer out and they will sort it out.