Filtered faceplate install will BT do it?

[marchban]

I have read several reports suggesting dramatic improvements in speed, noise and reliability of ADSL connections after installing a ADSL filtered faceplate.

I am due to have a second line installed into my home in two weeks time and requested that BT install a filtered faceplate. Sadly the salesperson suggested that they only install NTE5 master sockets and knew nothing about filtered face plates. I also spoke to somebody within the broadband department who also did not understand my request.

Is the BT enigneer more likely to understand my requirement?

Would a engineer carry these faceplates and offer this during the install? if not should I purchase one and ask him/her to install?

Ive read that faceplates connect to the NTE5 socket, are there any all in one devices which one be suitable - eliamting the need for the NTE5 - which Bt would readily install?

Best Regards

marchban

[triplea4uk]

Standard BT engineer only do phone stuff so they only have them on there vans it's openreach that deals with the internet side which is filtered face.

[WelshBluebird]

firstly, do you have a standard NTE5 master socket now? If so, then first of all (if you haven't already), try using the test socket (to get at it, unscrew the front of the faceplate, and gently pull it away, you should see the test socket behind it).

Using this will show you what your line will behave like using a good filtered faceplate. If there isn't an improvement, then there's no point getting a filtered faceplate.

What a filtered faceplate is, it just a front of a faceplate, with the filter built it. There is no possible way to eliminate the NTE5 master socket, as the filtered faceplate just fits on top.
And I seriously doubt any BT engineers will have one with them, as AFAIK, BT do not make them themselves.

Its not that hard to do it yourself mind you. As long as your patient, and have the correct tool (an IDC punch down or insertion tool), then its a piece of cake (I'm 16, and before had no experience of doing anything with the phone line, and I fitted mine within 10 mins).

I followed the guide here http://www.clarity.it/telecoms/adsl_faceplate.htm#part3
All it basically is, is unscrew current faceplate.
Make a note of which numbers any extensions go into.
pull out faceplate off.
get new filtered faceplate.
Connect extension wiring to the correct number on the faceplate using the IDC tool (have to be the same number as old faceplate).
Screw new faceplate onto NTE5 socket.

[marchban]

thanks for the replys guys.

What is openreach?

This is a brand new phone line installation... (it will become my second line) so I dont have a nte5 currently.

Im happy to connect a faceplate myself, but was wondering whether BT would install one duirng the phone line installation.

Cheers

marchban

[mark.carline]

i thought that you where not allowed to touch/replace your main BT socket and it was illigal ?

http://www.readman.dsl.pipex.com/other/UKphonecatwiring.htm

If you successfully move your Master socket to have more “high quality user-side wiring” then good for you, but it is ILLEGAL to do this, if it is clear and obvious that you moved it yourself and BT issue’s a fine and/or terminate your line. Don’t say you weren't warned.

That was the warning… just in case you didn’t understand the ILLEGAL part.

[Uridium]

firstly, do you have a standard NTE5 master socket now? If so, then first of all (if you haven't already), try using the test socket (to get at it, unscrew the front of the faceplate, and gently pull it away, you should see the test socket behind it).

Using this will show you what your line will behave like using a good filtered faceplate. If there isn't an improvement, then there's no point getting a filtered faceplate.

What a filtered faceplate is, it just a front of a faceplate, with the filter built it. There is no possible way to eliminate the NTE5 master socket, as the filtered faceplate just fits on top.
And I seriously doubt any BT engineers will have one with them, as AFAIK, BT do not make them themselves.

Its not that hard to do it yourself mind you. As long as your patient, and have the correct tool (an IDC punch down or insertion tool), then its a piece of cake (I'm 16, and before had no experience of doing anything with the phone line, and I fitted mine within 10 mins).

I followed the guide here http://www.clarity.it/telecoms/adsl_faceplate.htm#part3
All it basically is, is unscrew current faceplate.
Make a note of which numbers any extensions go into.
pull out faceplate off.
get new filtered faceplate.
Connect extension wiring to the correct number on the faceplate using the IDC tool (have to be the same number as old faceplate).
Screw new faceplate onto NTE5 socket.


I got a Genuine BT NTE5 Filtered faceplate off ebay for less than a tenner. Just unscrewed the old one of the master socket and the new one slotted straight on!

[dmurray0]

I recently changed my set up for the pc. Previously had the router beside the PC with an ordinary telephone extension cable running into the BT master socket. Had a downstream of 400-500. Now, I've moved the router to the filtered face plate and CAT% cable runs to the PC. Downstream is now at 8.046. BIG BIG improvement. I had no other internal wiring in the master socket e.g. other lines or alarms, just a straight screw old BT plate off and screwed the new plate on.1 minute job.I'm using this face plate if it helps...
http://www.adslnation.com/products/xte2005.php
Good luck:thumbsup:

[mark.carline]

wow thanks I just ordered one of those - certainly see no problems fitting that yourself as it just replaces the front section (might want to keep the old front just incase you move in the future).

They have certainly been getting some decent reviews...

http://www.adslnation.com/phpapps/catalog/product_reviews.php?cPath=24&products_id=105

Wonder if we all should conduct some more scientific tests before & after - Know of any speed test sites we could run (10 times) before and after ??

[stratagem]

BT fitted mine, I have 2 lines and 2 faceplates with 2 ADSL, (neither BT), the filtered faceplates are embossed BT, some time ago mind.

[mark.carline]

I have so that thats fast service from adslnation (link above) - I ordered it last night at 4:50pm and it turned up in this mornings post at 8am !.

Anyway I tested the connection 10 times using the following link:

http://resources.zdnet.co.uk/speedtest/

These are the results BEFORE:
1727
1745
1751
1757
1751
1727
1733
1745
1738
1757

AVE = 1743.10

My DLink G604T router shows the following DSL stats:

DSL Status
Connection Status Connected
Upstream Rate (Kbps) 288
Downstream Rate (Kbps) 2272
US Margin 21
DS Margin 25
Modulation GDMT
LOS Errors 0
DS Line Attenuation 34
US Line Attenuation 17
Path Mode Fast Path

And AFTER I fitted the plate this is what I got:

1751
1770
1770
1770
1763
1763
1769
1769
1769
1776

AVE = 1767.00

My DLink G604T router shows the following DSL stats:

DSL Status
Connection Status Connected
Upstream Rate (Kbps) 288
Downstream Rate (Kbps) 2272
US Margin 27
DS Margin 27
Modulation GDMT
LOS Errors 0
DS Line Attenuation 34
US Line Attenuation 17
Path Mode Fast Path

So its not conclusive really (only a 1.4% increase) but the "US Margin" and "DS Margin" have both increased - what ever they are.

Anyone else seen any differences???

[WelshBluebird]

Not that much of an increase in the SNR margin (DS margin as shown by your Dlink), but even that 2dB increase could possibly help you get a better speed if you decide to move to a rate adaptive (up to 8 meg) service.#

When I connected mine up, I was on a 1meg line, and my SNR margin rose from around 10db up to around 17db. I'm now on a maxDSL service, but without using the test socket or filtered faceplate, I'm lucky to sync at over 1Mbps. With the faceplate, I sync at around 2.5Mbps (can sync at around 3.5, but it gets very unstable in the early morning)

[drummerjohn]

I just had an additonal line installed and asked the engineer to put an ADSL fileter faceplate on and he did.

[Grumble]

I fitted a filtered faceplate a couple of weeks ago.
I had four extensions with filters, was able to get 3.5Mb.
After I changed over to the new face plate I now get 6.5Mb.:thumbsup:

[dmurray0]

My settings are now showing ..

Uptime: 2 days, 4:33:03
Modulation: G.992.1 Annex A
Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 448 / 8.096
Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [GB/GB]: 2,38 / 2,39

Best couple of quid I have spent in ages, also move your router to the socket and don't use telephone extension cable!!

[pablo99]

i thought that you where not allowed to touch/replace your main BT socket and it was illigal ?


You can remove and modify the front lower part of the NTE5. This is designed this way to let the DIYer do his own extensions etc. To plug into the socket under this part is good to test the BT line without all other extensions and wiring. Handy for fault finding.

Do not remove the upper part of the front faceplate. That is not allowed.

Pablo

[stockyvillage]

bt fitted my faceplate when i went to bt max the engineers carry them in there vans

[thelawns]

After many posts to get my speed up with Be Unlimited, I went through the process of changing to a filtered face plate, here are my line stats now:

Link Information

Uptime: 24 days, 1:59:24
Modulation: G.992.5 Annex A
Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 1,399 / 24,574
Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [GB/GB]: 1.68 / 26.83
Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]: 12.0 / 17.0
Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]: 7.5 / 18.0
SN Margin (Up/Down) [dB]: 4.0 / 3.5
Vendor ID (Local/Remote): TMMB / µ
Loss of Framing (Local/Remote): 4 / 0
Loss of Signal (Local/Remote): 1 / 0
Loss of Power (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Link (Remote): 0
Error Seconds (Local/Remote): 17,130 / 0
FEC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 0
CRC Errors (Up/Down): 328 / 25,117
HEC Errors (Up/Down): 166 / 5,653

Not bad huh?? :grin: :rotfl: :clap:

[leaky5]

If you fit one of these to filter all telephones and then run an extension cable from the IDC terminals on the back. Can you still use another filter to connect an ADSL router to ? i.e. the router will have 2 filters in line.

[thelawns]

The ADSL (unfiltered) signal is only available on the front panel on this filter.

However, I think there are some modded versions, which allow you to add ADSL extensions(as well as line extensions) to the back of the plate so to keep things looking nice and tidy. I'll have a butchers, see if I can find one...

EDIT: Its the one from Clarity IT, already posted here but here's the link again:

http://www.clarity.it/acatalog/ADSL_Installation.html

:hiya: