So for 20 years this set up has worked perfectly.
Master landline to master socket.
The Master socket has one port out to the Router for broadband. This works perfectly.
The port it the phone out. BUT ... this cable is cut and the 4 wires connected to a Patch Panel (1) and daisy chained across a series of the ports. This allows any ethernet port in the house, which terminate in a PatchPanel2, to be "Patched" into a phone line when connected to PatchPanel1.
ie. Any socket in the house can become a phone line with the RJ45 to Phone dongle, connected to the phone.
We have 3 phones connected this way. All have worked perfectly for 20 years.
SO..thats
Phone to rj45 Ethernet Port in room to Patch Panel in attic (via cat5) & patched to the PhonePatchPanel and then to BT Master socket.
About a month ago incoming calls started to be auto-answered and the caller hears a crackly line.. nobody there.
I have line tested all cables. There are no crossovers.
The BTMaster socket receives just 2 wires incoming - Blue and Blue/white.
The phone OUT from the master has 4 wires which go to the Patch panel ports (daisy chained across 4 ports).
As I said.. this has worked for 20 years.
What could be causing this change? Has BT changed anything ?
We can dial out no problem. But nobody can dial in. The phones partially ring, but its then auto-answered. Not by an answerphone. Even with ONE standard handset connected, it starts to rin and then dies.. The caller thinks its been answered but nobody there and crackly.
A few times we've even had one of the lines phone , ring non stop at 5:30 am in morning... Anyone Explain that ??
Yes I know this is an old set up. There's no 'exchange' or 'switch' on the system. But to put the Master downstairs would be a horrible task. All wires are wall bedded but are cat5. So !!!!
Anyone any thoughts ?
