This topic

Ancient BT Master Socket

72Hickinwood — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 14:47:02 GMT

I've recently purchased a property built in the 1960s, and am in the process of getting it renovated. My electrician (previously worked as a telecoms engineer) has pointed out that my master socket and the wires inside are really old - it still says 'Post Office' on it (and so predates 1981) and the wires inside are really brittle. It's also attached to a window frame which I am shortly getting replaced.

Does anyone know how I would go about getting this upgraded to modern standards and moved to a more suitable location?

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

imjolly — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 14:52:37 GMT

are you a BT broadband customer or are you with another ISP?

you could always ask you electrician/telecom engineer if he can do work to openreach standard

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

Keith_Beddoe — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 14:55:34 GMT

@72Hickinwood

Are you currently a BT Retail customer?

If not, and you intend to place an order with BT Retail, then they will arrange with Openreach to provide a new master socket at your chosen location, within reason.

The cost is normally included as part of a new installation.

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

72Hickinwood — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 15:02:36 GMT

I'm not currently a customer, I wanted to make sure it was possible and that I wouldn't be expected to 'make do' with the current sockets and wiring before I placed my order. The slight complication is that I know the sockets and wiring work as the previous home owner had wifi - connected devices, but I want them upgrading to modern standards for obvious reasons.

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 15:10:10 GMT

Have you checked if FTTP is available? That would take the master socket out of the equation & it can simply be removed. Use the address checker.

BT Broadband Checker

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

72Hickinwood — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 15:26:56 GMT

@AnonymousFTTP not yet available at the location...

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

72Hickinwood — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 13:51:04 GMT

Any further suggestions?

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 14:10:17 GMT

How is the wiring supplied, underground or from a pole? If the latter then OR may replace the drop wire to allow relocation, if you just order the new service.Equally you may get an insistence on keeping the same location. Like Forest's box of chocs, with OR you never know what you're gonna get!

No reason why any competent person can't move the wiring & fit a new master socket. That may require the wiring to be extended from outside, in which case you'll need a BT66b junction box & exterior grade cable.

Is there still a dial tone on the old socket? If so that could be used to prove the new one was working before booking..

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

northshields — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 16:59:33 GMT

If your electrician previously worked as a telecoms engineer, could he not do it?

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

72Hickinwood — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 09:50:34 GMT

He could, but is conscious that OR / BT don’t like people messing with their equipment!

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

72Hickinwood — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 09:53:10 GMT

I’ve rung and spoken to BT who have advised that the only way of getting it updated and moved is to sign up to a broadband contract with them… which makes sense from their side of things but it means they have me over a barrel really in terms of using another provider.

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

imjolly — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 10:11:59 GMT

if you try your local paper I am sure you will find a local telecom person who will move your socket for you. I would doubt if openreach would replace dropwire if connection is not causing problems

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

iniltous — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 10:22:49 GMT

I think you are possibly overthinking this , if all you want is a neat and tidy ‘installation’ ready for when you pick a provider, that can’t happen ( legitimately ) , Openreach who are responsible for the cabling upto the socket , they only work on line-plant that is ‘live’ , and being ‘paid for’ by a service provider , the only exception is ‘safety’ issues , like a wire hanging over a road , or a street cabinet with an open door .

You say BT is limiting your choice , no it isn’t , if you want it tidied up now , done by ordering service and making the lineplant ‘live’ again, then use whoever you want , ultimately whoever you chose , BT or someone else, they will use Openreach to get the lineplant into a usable state.

Its not clear if the address is served from a telephone pole or underground, if there is an underground feed there may be a block on the exterior wall with a cable to the socket pictured, recovering the cable and socket although technically Openreach, when you ordered service , the Openreach installation would simply renew this cable to a new socket possibly in a different location ( if that’s what you want )

If overhead from a pole there must be a point where the overhead cable is converted to the internal multi core cable , you could do the same , obviously both these mean you would definitely need an installer(Openreach) visit , when you eventually order service, but looking at the state of the socket , that will be needed anyway, even if you left it as it is now

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

licquorice — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 11:00:03 GMT

It's simple. If the incoming line whether underground or overhead terminates in an external box and then internal cable connects to the master socket, just disconnect the internal wiring and remove the current master. You can then either replace it yourself at your chosen location or place an order with a provider.

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

72Hickinwood — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 11:11:41 GMT

But when I try to place an order with another supplier it says there is an existing line to the property (which is true), and so no engineer visit is necessary, and they'll just post the equipment out to me. Whereas when I place a dummy order on the BT website, it says that an engineer will visit the property.

I am one half of a semi, the overhead line goes to my neighbours who have a little box on the front of their house, and then wires come out of this, across the front of my house and in to my master socket on my window sill. Sorry I'm not more technical!

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 11:56:12 GMT

@72Hickinwood

I cannot comment on other suppliers, but if you use BT Retail, then you can request a visit, and have a master socket fitted in a suitable location, by Openreach.

The fact that a line exists, does not mean there is a master socket on the end.

If you are going to use a different provider, then I suggest that you post the question on their user forum.

Re: Ancient BT Master Socket

iniltous — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 14:45:19 GMT

If the background systems think a ‘line’ already exists ( using historical data ) then often the ‘system’ assumes no visit will be necessary, but if the ‘line’ hadn’t been used for many months/years , it’s entirely possible that part or parts of its external network have already been taken for other provide orders or to repair other lines, in situations like this , after the line is brought back into service, ( a start order ) it’s tested , if the test result shows a fault ( like no socket detected ) an automatic ‘early life failure’ engineering visit should be built , failing that , once your ‘date’ has arrived, you can call and say the line isn’t working, and that should also prompt an engineer visit….the other option is to order in person , not not on-line , and explain there is no master socket at the address, so a ‘new line’ order is needed, not a ‘start’ order

As already stated , if you don’t intend to use BT , but someone else , you really should be using that company’s customer help services,