Need help making sense of old phone wiring in flat

[srdegnan]

Hi

moved into Partner's old 1950's flat recently and trying to make sense of the telephony setup. Broadband is slow (10Mb when should be 30Mb) and wiring hasn't been touched for a long time.

Long term IT specialist - but used to ethernet - not this stuff. Any help appreciated - see images

* Junction box at front door - wiring comes through from outside - Has what looks like on top white and orange (or brown - I'm not touching the wiring at the moment given the state) connecting to white/blue and blue/white below respectively.

* socket near front door - has been played with (not by me!) white/blue and blue are connected as is blue/white to orange . There is no connection to the actual external socket. I'd assumed this was the main box - until I saw there was a capacitor in the living room box!

* socket in living room - orange and blue to points 2 and 5 respectively. And a capacitor so assuming this is the main box (not the extension)

So if I'm reading this right it's

Junction is incoming presenting white-> white/blue and orange-> blue/white
This then gets connected at the socket near door white/blue -> blue and blue/white -> orange
The blue and orange then run to the living room and are presented as a "main box
... ie: there's multiple connections between the function before it gets to the main box

and if I wanted to make it "right" with mainbox near the door and extension in the living room I would do following:

1. in socked near front door which I want to be master connect white/blue to 5 and blue/white to 2 on a new master box
2. use the orange and blue which were previously connected in the box for the extension at both ends

help appreciated!

 

[rsgaz]

1. in socked near front door which I want to be master connect white/blue to 5 and blue/white to 2 on a new master box

A master socket takes the incoming line on A & B, not the numbered connections. In your case white-blue to A and blue-white to B. Your extensions then come off pins 2 and 5.

That strange cable with only blue,orange,green,brown, can you tell whether it is twisted pair or not? If it's not, replace it with 2 pair CW1308 cable.

On the incoming line from outside, is the green wire stuffed in with the blue-white, or just a camera trick/angle?

 

[srdegnan]

A master socket takes the incoming line on A & B, not the numbered connections. In your case white-blue to A and blue-white to B. Your extensions then come off pins 2 and 5.

That strange cable with only blue,orange,green,brown, can you tell whether it is twisted pair or not? If it's not, replace it with 2 pair CW1308 cable.

On the incoming line from outside, is the green wire stuffed in with the blue-white, or just a camera trick/angle?

Thanks for quick reply. I've uploaded a better picture.. The green wire is tucked in but doesn't get terminated

So effectively you are saying I would be taking the white-blue and blue-white from the junction box to feed the main box? Sorry just looking to be sure.

On the strange cable... If that's the one at the top there the one coming in from outside... So changing it myself isn't an option.

 

[rsgaz]

you are saying I would be taking the white-blue and blue-white from the junction box to feed the main box?

Yes.

strange cable... If that's the one at the top

I mean your extension cable from your 2nd pic to your 3rd pic, Blue & orange in use and green & brown spare.
Your incoming line is Orange, white, green, black.

Where is the router supposed to be going?

 

[srdegnan]

Yes.



I mean your extension cable from your 2nd pic to your 3rd pic, Blue & orange in use and green & brown spare.
Your incoming line is Orange, white, green, black.

Where is the router supposed to be going?

I'll pop router beside planned main box beside the door. I may dispense with the extension all together in the living room.

 

[rsgaz]

I'll pop router beside planned main box beside the door.

In which case fit an NTE5c Mk4 VDSL plate for best speed.

I may dispense with the extension all together in the living room.

That's a good idea if that cable is as dodgy as I think it is.

 

[srdegnan]

In which case fit an NTE5c Mk4 VDSL plate for best speed.

That's a good idea if that cable is as dodgy as I think it is.

Cheers! Sounds like a plan!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Can I just suggest, it might be worth following that incoming cable back, just to see where it comes from. Does it come up from the ground or is it from the pole? There is always the chance of other poor joints in that system, between you and the pole/ground.

Your poor throughput speed, might due to the distance between you and the exchange and /or a noisy line back to the exchange. Try dialling 17070 and select 'Quiet Line Test' it should be absolutely silent, any crackles or noise indicate an issue on the line.

 

[winston1]

You shouldn't be touching any wiring up to the master socket. It belongs to Open Reach. If it is faulty they will fix it foc.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

You shouldn't be touching any wiring up to the master socket. It belongs to Open Reach. If it is faulty they will fix it foc.

Looking at the incoming line and dialling/listening on 17070 is not touching the line.

 

[winston1]

Looking at the incoming line and dialling/listening on 17070 is not touching the line.

Indeed but this is :

1. in socked near front door which I want to be master connect white/blue to 5 and blue/white to 2 on a new master box
2. use the orange and blue which were previously connected in the box for the extension at both ends

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Indeed but this is :

1. in socked near front door which I want to be master connect white/blue to 5 and blue/white to 2 on a new master box
2. use the orange and blue which were previously connected in the box for the extension at both ends

That reads as if you are the OP (srdegnan), are you asking those questions, or are you trying to help the OP?

 

[winston1]

That reads as if you are the OP (srdegnan), are you asking those questions, or are you trying to help the OP?

I'm pointing out that doing those things is touching the line which he is not allowed to do.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I'm pointing out that doing those things is touching the line which he is not allowed to do.

Unless someone does something really stupid, then BT will never know and even if they found out, do you really think they might attempt to prosecute their customer? Back in the old GPO days, possibly, but BT is now just another business - I have never heard of anyone being prosecuted, have you?

Besides, no one has suggested he touch the BT side at all only look at it. The subscriber is entirely responsible for his part of the installation, inboard of the Master Socket.

 

[winston1]

Unless someone does something really stupid, then BT will never know and even if they found out, do you really think they might attempt to prosecute their customer? Back in the old GPO days, possibly, but BT is now just another business - I have never heard of anyone being prosecuted, have you?

Besides, no one has suggested he touch the BT side at all only look at it. The subscriber is entirely responsible for his part of the installation, inboard of the Master Socket.

Breaking the law is not permissible because you think you won't get caught. Nothing to do with BT. He may not even be a BT customer. The network is owned by Open Reach.