topic Re: BT master socket and an old BT oval box in Home Phone

BT master socket and an old BT oval box

tomp1 — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 21:37:59 GMT

Hi,

Moved into a property which has tiled floors, so its not very simple to follow the BT cables in the flat. We have a modern BT master socket in the kitchen and I've ran an extension to the living room and all is good. What I want help with is, there is an old oval BT socket in the hall, with the wires disappearing beneath the tiles. Is it likely this old socket is between the line coming into the property and the modern socket, or will the new master socket be the first connection in the flat? In which case will it be ok to remove the old oval socket?

Thanks

Tom

Re: BT master socket and an old BT oval box

Gel — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 08:22:11 GMT

Best post an image with lid of old junction box off.

Re: BT master socket and an old BT oval box

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 08:36:29 GMT

@tomp1

What shape is the actual socket hole on the "old oval BT socket in the hall"?

If it is round, then it could be the remnants of an old BT Plan 4 extension installation:

https://britishtelephones.com/documents/dla102plan4_1973.pdf

Re: BT master socket and an old BT oval box

HPsauce — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 11:34:20 GMT

The only way is to open up what sounds like a junction box, look inside and test it.

Live phone circuits carry about 50v so a multimeter could check for that.

Then, if it appears "dead" disconnect wires one at a time, being prepared to reconnect, and see if the phone and broadband continue to function normally.

Re: BT master socket and an old BT oval box

Townman — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 11:57:58 GMT

Broadband performance will not sparkle on an extension lead.

Re: BT master socket and an old BT oval box

HPsauce — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 15:24:37 GMT

The effects of an extension will largely depend on how it's wired however.

I'd also have a look behind the faceplate of your master socket to see what the incoming wire pair looks like and whether there are any other wires going anywhere that you don't recognise or understand.

Hopefully there's nothing connected that is consistent with whatever is in the old-school socket/junction box.

Re: BT master socket and an old BT oval box

tomp1 — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 21:39:40 GMT

Thanks all for the advice. On opening the socket it turned out to only have an input set of wires and was therefore not an active cable. Removed box and cut wires back and existing BB is all good.