Replacing BT Master Socket?

polythenegirl

Hi,
the BT master socket in my house has been replaced with a normal faceplate.
I recently moved broadband provider to Vodafone's fibre. I called them to complain about slow speeds and they asked me to remove the front to test in the socket behind, but when I removed it I found there was no socket behind! They won't provide any further assistance until a BT master socket is in place. Is it as simple as me just installing one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Master-connection-complete-backbox-compatible-White/dp/B006V1P39A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1548432165&sr=8-3&keywords=bt master socket

ChrisNic

Essentially yes but you don’t own the master socket, it’s openreach’s responsibility and I’m sure they will charge you to do a 5 minute job.

lowmans100

You can buy a BT NTE5 master socket for about a fiver, then get a NTE-2000 or VDSL Mk4 2018 Clear Cams filtered front plate so you don't have to have a seperate microfilter.

looking on eBay you can get both for under a tenner.

maf1970

Think you may find yourself caught between a rock and a hard place. If you approach Openreach about it they will probably say that your contract is with Vodafone so you need to go to them. Vodafone don't want to call Openreach because they have to pay them everytime they do so they will try to pass the buck back in your direction at every chance.

A question that springs to mind is, are you sure that is the Master socket ? I got caught by a similar situation but it turned out my Master was behind a radiator and there was no way could you get anything into the socket so the previous owner had wired in an extension.

My suggestion is you try and find an ex-BT engineer in your area who has now gone solo or working for someone else now and see if you can get them to help you fix things.

wormvortex

Then that is down to Vodafone to arrange for Openreach to install a master socket for you.

Openreach do not deal with the public so you cannot contact them and the master socket belongs to Openreach so you are not supposed to alter it yourself. Therefore the only logical thing that can be done is Vodafone arrange for Openreach to come out for you.

ChrisNic

Or just replace it yourself, apparently it’s a 5 minute job with a punch tool or the new version doesn’t even require that due to how they connect.

Bl4ckGryph0n

Just do it yourself if you are sure it is the master socket. Super easy.

mglzgsr

I have the same issue with 'superfast 1'. I'm having dropouts every now and then, also the wifi is very poor so the phones are disconnecting every time we move from one room to the other.
Vodafone told me to use the 'test socket' but my house was refurbished so I don't have that socket either. I had a new router to try, tried with different microfilters, also splitting the wifi into 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz in case was that... nothing! I'm now with Level2 support, not sure what's that...
I'll follow the thread and also keep you updated

mushii

Not all BT engineers are bad. I was having BT FTTC installed and wished to move the BT master socket from the front door to my comms cab in the Garage. I had moved the drop wire and had run Cat6 to the original master socket point to reconnect the house wiring.  The engineer gave me a new master socket to put it where I wanted, by my comms cab. He let me connect it up to the drop wire, then checked and tested my handiwork. He was low on 3 leg jelly crimps and swapped me a box of BT 2 leg jelly crimps for half a box of my 3 legs. Overall really nice guy and very accommodating.
Replacing a master socket is 2 wires. I would just get on with it and make life easy for yourself.