Ring Wires iPlates etc

Tacitus · Jan 28, 2009, 11:48:15

Having had a deal of success installing an iPlate on a friend's line (33% improvement in the profile) I wondered whether I could do something similar for myself. Since I already having a Clarity faceplate, I tried removing the ring wire. I know that in my case this shouldn't make a difference but it's simple enough to do and, you never know.

However, unsurprisingly none of the phones now ring......

I thought that modern phones were supposed to be able to ring using a 2 wire system but apparently not. Are there any workrounds for this?

EG installing a filter on every socket, since I believe they contain a capacitor. Unfortunately I don't have any old ones to try, so I thought I'd ask here first.

Any idea how much BT/OR charge for fitting one of the new filtered NTE5s? Even on a decent hourly rate it shouldn't be more than £80 or so.

Glenn · Jan 28, 2009, 11:55:37

Tac, take a look here http://www.clarity.it/telecoms/nte5.htm

Rik · Jan 28, 2009, 12:13:55

The only workaround would be filters at every socket, Tac, but unless you have seen an improvement from removing the ring wire (which you shouldn't) then it won't be worth the hassle.

Tacitus · Jan 28, 2009, 13:01:51

Quote from: Rik on Jan 28, 2009, 12:13:55
The only workaround would be filters at every socket, Tac, but unless you have seen an improvement from removing the ring wire (which you shouldn't) then it won't be worth the hassle.

Thanks Rik and Glenn. There was some improvement but not enough to be sure of the reason - it could be down to rebooting the modem and the time of day.

I suppose it depends where the noise is picked up. Assuming UTP cable, any noise in the ringwire 3, shouldn't be picked up by 2 & 5. However it seems to me that it must be, otherwise I can't see any reason for the speed gains at my friend's house. The extension wiring is UTP.

The thought then struck me was that if (say) I fitted an iPlate between the NTE5 and the Clarity faceplate, the incoming ringwire noise would effectively be filtered by the iPlate before it got to the faceplate. Under those circumstances it could make a difference. It is possible to do this if you have some 50mm M3 machine screws or self-tappers.

Following on from this, logically, installing the latest OReach version of the NTE5 which effectively has the iPlate built in, might make a difference.

I suspect this is one of those things where the only way to find out is to try it.

Rik · Jan 28, 2009, 13:04:40

Are you using a filtered faceplate, Tac? I assumed you were from the mention of Clarity, in which case you have the ring wire pre-filtered by the plate.

Tacitus · Jan 28, 2009, 13:25:26

Quote from: Rik on Jan 28, 2009, 13:04:40
Are you using a filtered faceplate, Tac? I assumed you were from the mention of Clarity, in which case you have the ring wire pre-filtered by the plate.

Yes, but surely 2 & 5 by-pass the filter to go direct to the ADSL terminals. I thought the faceplate filter simply took out the ADSL frequencies on the voice circuit - not convinced this is exactly the same as the iPlate is doing. As I said my experience suggests something else is going on.

Sebby · Jan 28, 2009, 13:48:27

I agree with Rik - if removing the ring wire didn't help anyway (which I don't think it would have) then put it back and the problem is solved.

Rik · Jan 28, 2009, 14:04:18

The ring wire is filtered before the ADSL socket on the faceplate, Tac, so it should have no effect. It only impacts on ADSL where all the extensions are carrying the ADSL signal.

Tacitus · Jan 28, 2009, 14:35:17

Quote from: Sebby on Jan 28, 2009, 13:48:27
...if removing the ring wire didn't help anyway .... then put it back and the problem is solved.

Er, obviously.....

Tacitus · Jan 28, 2009, 18:44:23

Just to wrap this up could someone confirm how profiles are structured?

Is it 250k divisions up to 3Mb and then 500k up to 5Mb, with 1Mb divisions up to 8(ish)Mb?

Rik · Jan 28, 2009, 18:45:01

Not quite, Tac:

SYNC rate Data rate

288 - 415 250 kbps
416 - 575 350 kbps
576 - 863 500 kbps
864 - 1151 750 kbps
1152 - 1439 1.0 Mbps
1440 - 1727 1.25Mbps
1728 - 2015 1.5 Mbps
2016 - 2271 1.75Mbps
2272 - 2847 2.0 Mbps
2848 - 3423 2.5 Mbps
3424 - 3999 3.0 Mbps
4000 - 4543 3.5 Mbps
4544 - 5119 4.0 Mbps
5120 - 5695 4.5 Mbps
5696 - 6239 5.0 Mbps
6240 - 6815 5.5 Mbps
6816 - 7391 6.0 Mbps
7392 - 7967 6.5 Mbps
7968 – 8127 7.0 Mbps
8128 7.15 Mbps

Tacitus · Jan 28, 2009, 18:51:42

Quote from: Rik on Jan 28, 2009, 18:45:01
Not quite, Tac:
SYNC rate Data rate
........... ..........

Thanks Rik

[Edit] Interestingly that suggests I'm getting a fairly consistent and, above all solid, 2Mb profile which is the best it's been for ages. During the day - it drops off around this time of night - I'm also seeing tones in the 128-159 range for the first time so it may be BT are at last shifting their a..e and doing something to improve matters. I live in hope.

Rik · Jan 29, 2009, 09:59:43

I've certainly seen some changes in the past 6-9 months. I wonder whether WBC/21CN is prompting BT to improve joints or renew some cabling?

Sebby · Jan 29, 2009, 12:33:59

It's certainly plausible, Rik.

Rik · Jan 29, 2009, 12:34:32

Or just wishful thinking?

Sebby · Jan 29, 2009, 12:35:34

That too.

Tacitus · Jan 29, 2009, 18:49:41

Quote from: Rik on Jan 29, 2009, 09:59:43
I've certainly seen some changes in the past 6-9 months. I wonder whether WBC/21CN is prompting BT to improve joints or renew some cabling?

They've certainly not renewed the cabling - too much to hope for - but there is regular activity at the main boxes through the village.

Rik · Jan 29, 2009, 18:51:19

Same here, Tac.

Tacitus · Feb 03, 2009, 10:08:19

Quote from: Tacitus on Jan 28, 2009, 18:51:42
.......... I'm also seeing tones in the 128-159 range for the first time so it may be BT are at last shifting their a..e and doing something to improve matters. I live in hope.

I should have kept my mouth shut. Things are getting back to normal the last couple of days - SNR hanging on by the skin of its teeth, half the tones between 64-95 have gone awol and there's not much in the 96-127 bracket.

And all this despite being only a couple of miles from the exchange. Bah!!

Rik · Feb 03, 2009, 10:09:25

Some lines are just beyond hope, Tac.

Tacitus · Feb 03, 2009, 12:16:29

Quote from: Rik on Feb 03, 2009, 10:09:25
Some lines are just beyond hope, Tac.

TBH the only reason I don't have a serious go at BT/OR is because they'll probably condemn the line for BB and walk away. Having to go via the script monkeys in Bangalore doesn't help. I notice in all the recent proposals the idea that everyone should have a 2Mb connection (I notice "up to" is creeping in), nowhere does anyone seem to regard this as a legal obligation reinforced by law. It seems to be another of those aspirations for the future.

Meanwhile the Koreans are about to install 100Mb. OK this may only be in the major cities, but at least they're doing it.

Rik · Feb 03, 2009, 12:19:24

Quote from: Tacitus on Feb 03, 2009, 12:16:29
nowhere does anyone seem to regard this as a legal obligation reinforced by law. It seems to be another of those aspirations for the future.

I suspect that the industry has done some powerful lobbying and that a fudge has been arrived at.

Tacitus · Feb 03, 2009, 15:08:17

Quote from: Rik on Feb 03, 2009, 12:19:24
I suspect that the industry has done some powerful lobbying and that a fudge has been arrived at.

Sounds about right. Obama might talk about "The Audacity of Hope", we get "The Poverty of Aspiration"....

Rik · Feb 03, 2009, 15:11:10

I know. What's worse, we put up with it. Time for the barricades I say!

Tacitus · Feb 03, 2009, 17:14:27

Quote from: Rik on Feb 03, 2009, 15:11:10
I know. What's worse, we put up with it. Time for the barricades I say!

There'a a rather good piece here by Lynne Featherstone the LibDem MP.

There's not a lot to disagree with.