This topic

New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

JimWells — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 18:52:31 GMT

Hi,

First time poster - please be gentle.

I've just moved into a new home where the BT line hadn't been used for a while. The master socket has some non-standard adaptions, and the face plate is missing. Picture below, with and without flash.

After three attempts, the landline is working without an engineer visiting the house. Which is good, but to be honest I'd be happier if an engineer had needed to visit.

Can a safely remove the cable that has been cut from the screw terminal block?

Is it possible to obtain a replacement face plate and screws, to tidy the whole thing up?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

licquorice — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 19:03:44 GMT

@JimWells wrote:

Can a safely remove the cable that has been cut from the screw terminal block?

Yes, of course, it isn't doing anything.

Is it possible to obtain a replacement face plate and screws, to tidy the whole thing up?

Yes, from Amazon etc.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

iniltous — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 19:11:21 GMT

Yes to both questions, but you may have to buy a complete NTE5 master socket to get the faceplate ( they are pretty cheap) , if this is where your broadband router is going to be connected , you could get a faceplate that’s filtered so you don’t need a separate ADSL ‘block’ filter , that will tidy up the master socket as a single unit, search something like ‘DSL filter socket ‘

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

imjolly — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 19:40:16 GMT

Where is the working phone connected? Another socket?

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

JimWells — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 18:43:31 GMT

you could get a faceplate that’s filtered so you don’t need a separate ADSL ‘block’ filter , that will tidy up the master socket as a single unit, search something like ‘DSL filter socket ‘

Wouldn't a DSL filter socket require disconnecting the incoming cable?
Given the state of the thing, I'm not sure I'm brave enough for that!

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

JimWells — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 18:44:19 GMT

Yes, of course, it isn't doing anything.

Thank you - reassuring.

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

WSH — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 18:44:29 GMT

"Wouldn't a DSL filter socket require disconnecting the incoming cable?"

It shouldn't do. The reason it looks a mess is because someone has removed the lower faceplate. The socket you can see is actually the test socket. You can get a faceplate of Amazon or somehwere that plugs into that and provides a phone socket + a DSL socket. (It will also look a lot better too).

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

JimWells — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 18:46:58 GMT

Where is the working phone connected? Another socket?

I'm using the socket in the picture now. That picture was taken before I moved me, the phone and the router in.

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

JimWells — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 19:11:39 GMT

Thinking further, is it possible to work out what the cut off cable that is hanging out was used for?

Looking more closely, I can see another set of unattached wires inside. I wonder how it is working at all!

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

JimWells — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 19:14:43 GMT

Also in that picture, I can see that the face plate screws are not self tapers, as I had before. Can anyone advise what size they would be?

Shame an engineer's visit wasn't needed - I would guess they carry stocks of face plates and screws!

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

WSH — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 19:21:55 GMT

It looks like an extension that's just been cut off. If you don't want to disconnect it, it should be OK just to roll it up and tuck it in the back. Just make sure any cut ends are taped over so there is no chance of them shorting against the backbox.

The unconnected wires are normal. The drop cable usually used today has two pairs. One is connected, the other is spare in case the first pair get damaged.

The early faceplates where machine screws, the later ones where STs. Don't know the size off hand. Sorry.

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

WSH — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 20:09:17 GMT

Just had a look on Amazon and you can still get the filtered faceplates. Can’t post you a link as commercial links are against forum rules and I’ll get my legs slapped, but search for “Pressac filtered faceplate”. Don’t be put off by the ADSL. They also work with VDSL. I had one years ago and I seem to recall it came with both sets of screws.

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

licquorice — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 21:15:13 GMT

I'm struggling to understand what the purpose was of the cut cable.

Where does the cable it connects to go?

Does the external cable enter that socket?

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

JimWells — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 21:27:55 GMT

Hi Licquorice,

Where does the cable it connects to go?

I don't know, other than into the hole - which isn't much help. I'm wary of unscrewing from the wall to find out, in case the whole thing stops working.

Does the external cable enter that socket?

As in the incoming line from BT's exchange? Yes, I think so - this appears to be the master socket.

The place I left had a nice tidy installation, with fast broadband (40meg+ download, and fast upload). Here I have a not so neat and tidy installation, with the broadband currently measuring at 14.2Mbps download, and 0.78Mbps upload. And I've realised caller ID and 1571 voicemail have disappeared. It is a good job the new place has loads of other advantages!!

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

licquorice — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 21:59:32 GMT

Are there any other sockets in the house?

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

WSH — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 22:00:31 GMT

I suspect it’s the remains of an extension naughtily tapped directly off the A and B legs at the back. They were screw connectors then not the IDCs you see today.

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

WSH — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 22:18:27 GMT

I've got boxes of old junk from years ago, (just in case it will be useful some day).

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

licquorice — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 22:19:41 GMT

I don't think so, if that were the case there would be no need for the connector block inserted in the box. That would appear to be there to connect the cut cable to a pair in the cable within the box which we don't know the purpose of.

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

WSH — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 22:26:36 GMT

Yes, it's difficult to tell just by the picture.

Connection to an alarm or a telecare device perhaps?

Re: New home - non-standard connection at master socket, missing face plate

tonysmini018 — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 18:38:56 GMT

Ask your provider for a home visit, that’s an older obsolete socket. It’s not really up to purpose (front plate missing).

An engineer can determine what that block was for and remove it properly.