This topic

Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

MissMoppett — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 09:13:15 GMT

Life would be a lot simpler if all master sockets included a port to plug in your router.

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

HHGTTG — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 09:39:54 GMT

Supposing there is no Broadband FTTC at this socket though? The faceplate can be changed, can't it?
Hey, but what do I really know as I'm only a beginner here.

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

gg30340 — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 10:24:00 GMT

@MissMoppett wrote:

Life would be a lot simpler if all master sockets included a port to plug in your router.

It would depend on what type of broadband you have whether or not a master socked would be used.

New build houses are now built to accomodate full fibre broadband and are generally not fitted with a master socket and as more properties are moved to FTTP and a digital phone service they no longer requier a master socket so while your idea may seem like a good one unfortunately it would not be workable.

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 10:23:28 GMT

@MissMoppett

Can you clarify exactly what you mean?

What use would an ethernet port on the master phone socket serve? If you mean so that a separate plugin filter is not required, then the Openreach Master Socket 5c mk4 does that. But neither of the sockets on the faceplate is "ethernet", aka RJ45 - the router connection is RJ11 and the telephone is BT431A/631A

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

HHGTTG — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 11:12:35 GMT

I thought that FTTC required the face plate to have an Ethernet socket as the router would plug into that or is that still RJ11 then? That is RJ45 one end and RJ11 at the other.
Confused of Bromley.

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 11:19:02 GMT

@HHGTTG

No, the cable from that faceplate to the router has a RJ11 plug at each end.

Paul - ex of Petts Wood. 😀

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

HHGTTG — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 11:24:40 GMT

So uses that same old ADSL socket on the router then that I'm currently using for my ADSL BB.
I obviously git that wrong then.
Thanks.

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

wkirkman — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 11:52:23 GMT

Hello,

To be exact, the ports of the MK4 Faceplate on the Master Socket 5C are: on the right, a BT Telephone Socket and on the left an RJ45 socket that also takes an RJ11 plug. It is not an 'Ethernet Port' as it does not actually accept Ethernet Frames and is not connected to an Ethernet Network, but the socket itself is dual.

(I, myself, had fitted an RJ45 plug to my DSL lead (RJ11 one end to the router, RJ45 to the socket) because as I was redecorating the router fell and the lead stretched to breaking point — and the only plugs I had to hand to replace were RJ45's.)

I have since removed the MK4 and replaced it with a plain BT Plug faceplate and re-crimped the cable with a BT431A end as I have FTTC and digital voice and so a filter faceplate is no longer needed… but that's a bit off topic.

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

HHGTTG — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 12:58:22 GMT

Well I'm completely confused now. Currently, I have ADSL and a Master socket comprising just an RJ431 type socket that supplies both phone and ADSL with filters at each phone and my router.

If i go over to FTTC or VDSL, what change will need to be done to the faceplate as presumably I now need an RJ11 socket for the router and another for the phone until the switch to DV.

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

wkirkman — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 13:10:59 GMT

For FTTC only the left hand socket is used for VDSL and fits in exactly the same port in the back of the Smart Hub as ADSL - the small grey RJ11 port.

You should have, ADSL or VDSL (if you are not using a later Master Socket 5C) a DSL filter dongle. Not just on your phones. The dongle plugs in BT connection to the Master Socket, provides RJ11 for Internet and Phone for normal PSTN phone. If you are not using a filter between Master Socket and router, you should be. ~~And that might be the confusion.~~ I think you are. So a filter is needed there and an RJ11 to RJ11 connection between that and the Smart Hub router (supplied with the Smart Hub).

If your socket was upgrade to the Master Socket 5C as above, the filter 'is' the MK4 faceplate, and the separate ports are presented within it.

If you were moved from standard phone to Digital Voice (VoIP) then your phone would not plug into filter dongle or faceplate but into the green port at the back of the router itself.

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

imjolly — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 13:07:29 GMT

if you move to FTTC then hub will connect in exactly same way as you do now - master socket and using a filter

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

HHGTTG — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 13:55:05 GMT

In effect no change then , UNTIL the switch to DV when my phone would plug into the back of SH2 or plug into a DV adapter paired to the SH2. And then I don't need filters fote the phones, obviously other than to cure some old phones that don't apparently ring!

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

imjolly — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 13:51:01 GMT

@HHGTTG

yes normally you then could do away with filter but as still have old master socket then you need to keep filter to connect to hub rj11

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

HHGTTG — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 14:21:50 GMT

I have my hub on an extension (Oh NO cries I hear) and I have my microfilter there. Two other phones on extensions from same master socket (more cries) have filters where they plug into their dedicated extension sockets.
It works!

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

MissMoppett — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 14:25:55 GMT

Till I retired I worked most of the time in an office built on the side of the house. BT moved the master socket into my office so that the router was nearer my PC, but leaving of course the bog standard phone socket there. However for some unknown reason the wifi signal into the rest of the house has become very intermittent recently though I get a satisfactory 65 Mbps in my office. I've tried various TP-Links which are pretty useless, so we've come to the conclusion it will be better to move the router back to the hall. Unfortunately plugging in the obvious dual filter/phone gadget into the hall socket does not work, presumably because BT have just wired this as a "junction box". Hence my query, wouldn't life have been much simpler if the master socket had been ethernet dual with pnone? Hope this makes some sense. And thank you for your interest.

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

ptrduffy — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 14:47:40 GMT

The reason the Master Socket doesn't have an Ethernet connection is that it doesn't provide an Ethernet interface.

When you get your broadband delivered via a Master Socket, it is by definition coming over a copper pair which runs to the nearest cabinet (or even all the way to the exchange). In order to send data over such a connection, the data bits have to be converted into waves in a frequency range that can travel the necessary distance - this process is called modulation, and its reverse is demodulation. Hence the Master Socket presents a connection that requires a modem (modulator-demodulator) to be connected to it.

Ethernet connections do not use any such modulation process. If you connected the Ethernet port on your computer a a new Ethernet connection on the Master Socket it just wouldn't work - unless the Master Scosket was also upgraded to include the modem component internally, which would complicate things significantly.

As others have said, when a property is moved over to FTTP the Master Socket is no longer used, and the fibre terminates on an ONT, whcih does present an Ethernet interface.

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

HHGTTG — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 14:50:37 GMT

Yes I do understand that. FTTP is quite a different beast.

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

licquorice — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 15:49:11 GMT

@MissMoppett wrote:

Till I retired I worked most of the time in an office built on the side of the house. BT moved the master socket into my office so that the router was nearer my PC, but leaving of course the bog standard phone socket there. However for some unknown reason the wifi signal into the rest of the house has become very intermittent recently though I get a satisfactory 65 Mbps in my office. I've tried various TP-Links which are pretty useless, so we've come to the conclusion it will be better to move the router back to the hall. Unfortunately plugging in the obvious dual filter/phone gadget into the hall socket does not work, presumably because BT have just wired this as a "junction box". Hence my query, wouldn't life have been much simpler if the master socket had been ethernet dual with pnone? Hope this makes some sense. And thank you for your interest.

Does the master socket have 2 sockets, one for phone the other for your router?

If, as I suspect, it does, then it is a filtered socket which means broadband is not extended to your extension socket.

Simply transfer the 2 wires that are currently terminated on pins 2&5 of the removable faceplate (that go to the extension socket) to the data extension terminals instead.

Re: Why doesn't the master socket include an ethernet port as standard?

MissMoppett — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 17:41:35 GMT

I am grateful for your reply, however . . . In an enlightening, nay exciting day, I learnt a smidgeon of knowledge about BT sockets by delving into the many YouTube videos and found this suggestion of swapping two wires to AB. However as you can see there are already two wires in these slots, so I haven't ventures along that route - but please tell me if I'm wrong.