I am currently suffering a phone outage and major drop in internet connection
speed, to less than a half of the decidedly average usual speed. Having sorted
out getting to the master socket to confirm that the problem is not down to my
own equipment, as is customary with BT given the threat of a callout charge if
they deem it isn't their fault, I have just spent some time chatting to their
support and find myself somewhat perplexed.
Firstly it seems that some parts of the master socket are part of the BT
network and other bits are customer equipment. The bit that is screwed onto the
wall and includes the so called 'test socket' is BT, the bit that connects into
that to provide the split out for the FTTC socket and the bit that then
connects into that providing the filtered phone point are customer equipment,
even though they all screw together into a single unit. I can sort of see it
given that, although they fit like a 3D jigsaw together, the customer bits are
the equivalent of the ADSL filter that is generally dangling out of the socket
on a tail but it still seems odd to provide a part that fits together as a
single unit and have different parties responsible for different parts of it.
There is however the complication of finding a replacement when it goes wrong.
BT don't supply one without a £129 engineer callout, Maplin, RS, Screwfix and
other similar vendors don't appear to do them. Solwise, who are specialists in
parts like this don't either. BT claimed that they were easily available from
any electrical retail outlet for a couple of quid. In practice the best option
seems to be somebody I've never heard of in the Amazon marketplace for anywhere
between £15 and £30 (although one is listed at £100!).
Are they really that difficult to get hold of? Does anyone know of a local
supplier? I've nothing against getting one from a small business (I am one
myself and an FSB member), but the descriptions on Amazon leave me without the
confidence that it is the part I am after - most are for ADSL not FTTC/vDSL it
seems.
--
Paul Tansom | Aptanet Ltd. |
http://www.aptanet.com/ | 023 9238 0001
=============================================================================
Registered in England | Company No: 4905028 | Registered Office: Ralls House,
Parklands Business Park, Forrest Road, Denmead, Waterlooville, Hants, PO7 6XP
--
Please post to: Hampshire@???
Web Interface:
https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire
LUG URL:
http://www.hantslug.org.uk
--------------------------------------------------------------
