phones and sync speeds

krysia · Feb 06, 2008, 18:55:27

On Monday, on one of my extensions, I replaced my BT Decor 1200 telephone with a Binatone Concept 100. With the former, I was sync-ing in the high 5000s during the day and in the low 5000s during the evening. With the latter, I still have the same high daytime sync speed, but I'm having more frequent evening resyncs and the speed is dropping to the high 4000s. Should I assume the phone is causing more noise on my line, even though this evening I haven't even used it?

Rik · Feb 06, 2008, 18:57:46

It could be putting more noise on the line, Krysia, what happens if you unplug it? It may be worth trying a different filter for that phone.

krysia · Feb 06, 2008, 19:32:51

I've got ADSL Nation xf-1e filters on all my extensions, so I think the only thing to do is experiment and see if it's the phone. Never occurred to me different phones might have different effects on noise!

Sebby · Feb 06, 2008, 22:21:18

It could be the phone. Even though you've got what are confused to be the best microfilters, one could still be faulty, so it's worth trying another one. The best test would be to swap phones and see if the problem goes away.

It could, of course, merely be coincidence (more noise around, for some reason). See how the experiment goes, and if it doesn't cure it, we can help you look into this a bit more.

Lance · Feb 06, 2008, 23:15:39

It could be the phone/base unit itself gives off more noise, regardless of the fact it's plugged into the telephone socket. Some DECT phones can cause problems like this.

krysia · Feb 07, 2008, 20:26:16

This new phone has to be plugged into an electric socket to make everything work, so I figured it was probably the cause (unless, as Sebby says, it might have been a coincidence). But this morning, I thought I'd experiment and unplug one of the bedroom extensions, as the new phone is one of main ones I use. I don't want to jinx things, but so far, so good: I synced at the usual 5728 this morning, and have only resynced once since, going down to 5568 around 6 pm. I usually dropped much more, about 400, even before putting in the new phone, so unplugging an extension I don't need to use seems to be a good move. (And thanks to all of you who suggested I do that in another, earlier thread about improving sync speeds!!)

Sebby · Feb 07, 2008, 22:06:44

I'm glad you've sorted it (hopefully!).

Rik · Feb 08, 2008, 00:49:56

Sounds like the result you needed, Krysia.

MoHux · Feb 08, 2008, 16:53:04

As a matter of interest; how many phones do you have connected?? I am thinking REN.

krysia · Feb 08, 2008, 18:31:24

Too many, actually! I have 5 extensions and they all work, but I don't have the ringers turned on on all of them.

Rik · Feb 08, 2008, 18:35:36

That's certainly not an ideal setup for ADSL, Krysia. Sorry, but I can't remember, have you removed the ring wires?

MoHux · Feb 08, 2008, 20:10:13

I have never had one, but I believe a 'Sky-box' can cause trouble if you have one. Especially plus 5 extensions and a router.

Rik · Feb 08, 2008, 23:22:17

Sky boxes can be the kiss of death, Mo.

I've known one take out a complete street due to the noise it put on the line.

krysia · Feb 10, 2008, 13:54:44

I wasn't able to remove the ring wires: three of my sockets are very old (they were already in the house when we moved in in 1986), and I wasn't able to loosen the ring wires when I tried. Maybe I should have investigated the two newer sockets. I don't have a Sky box, so I'm glad to say I don't have to worry about that! Right now I have one of the old extensions unplugged and am syncing at 5984; on Friday I sync-ed at 5856 during the day and went down to 5440 just after 5 pm. My line comes in from a telephone pole in the street, and I wondered if that affects evening sync rates - I imagine some lines are underground? Anyway, the sync speed seems good, as I think BT predicted 5.5 on my line.

Sebby · Feb 10, 2008, 15:06:24

Sometimes underground lines are said to be better, other times it is thought that there isn't a lot of difference.

Your issues are probably a lot to do with the age of the line, sockets and wiring. A new drop wire, NTE5 master socket, internal wiring and extension sockets would probably do a lot of good. Getting a new drop wire is difficult and would generally only be done by BT if there is something wrong with the current one. But, you might be able to get BT to fit an NTE5 and then you could re-do the extension wiring. I know that some people have told BT they want to add extension wiring but cannot do so as they don't have an NTE5. It's worth a try.

Rik · Feb 10, 2008, 15:42:00

Failing which, Krysia, cutting the ring wire at the extension sockets works pretty well.

krysia · Feb 12, 2008, 11:04:30

I had another go at my sockets and cut/removed the ring wires on all extensions. It's only caused a problem on the socket in the sitting room, which I have now identified as the master, as it has a capacitator in it. Cutting the wire there has disabled the whole extension, and as I can't get the ring wire back in (it's a very old socket), I'm going to have to have the socket replaced. Is it worth asking for an NTE5, even though I can't plug my router into it? I'm going to use an independent engineer rather than BT. BTW, result of all this is that I'm sync-ing at 7616 this morning.

Rik · Feb 12, 2008, 11:18:49

That's weird, Krysia, removing a ring wire should have absolutely no effect on the working of the socket. If it is the master, getting an NTE5 fitted would make sense as it will provide you with a test socket should you encounter any problems.

krysia · Feb 12, 2008, 11:21:45

Yes, I thought it was weird too, as removing the wire hasn't caused any difficulty in my other 4 extensions. Given how old the socket is, it's no bad thing to be forced to replace it, and it's good to know the NTE5 is worth getting even if I can't plug the router into it.

Sebby · Feb 12, 2008, 13:10:34

Be advised, though, that an independent engineer is not actually allowed to touch the master socket, let alone fit a NTE5. Just so you know.

shazzy · Feb 12, 2008, 13:52:21

Sky box was causing me problems a while back so that's worth checking. I didn't realise mine was the problem until my puppy chewed through the wire one day and I had a really good connection after that.

Sebby · Feb 12, 2008, 14:02:31

It's rare for animals to actually fix something!

krysia · Feb 12, 2008, 14:06:40

I haven't got a sky box, so that's not a problem. I didn't realise that only BT are officially allowed to touch master sockets - why is that?

Inactive · Feb 12, 2008, 14:18:35

Because they own them, anything up to that box is theirs, anything past it is yours.

Sebby · Feb 12, 2008, 14:50:12

Quote from: krysia on Feb 12, 2008, 14:06:40
I haven't got a sky box, so that's not a problem. I didn't realise that only BT are officially allowed to touch master sockets - why is that?

Because it's their property. When I said "master sockets" above, I mean the old type that you have. This is the reason NTE5 master sockets were brought in. They allow you to remove the front plate of the master socket and add/remove extension wiring without actually touching the line that comes into the house.