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BT Master sockets

BT Master sockets

Generally speaking, over the years there have been various types of BT master sockets installed.
There is a specific style you should have as an end user, for todays technology to work efficiently and have a demarcation point.
This will allow you to verify if you have a fault on your house wiring or whether it’s in the BT network.
However, having the wrong socket fitted and calling Openreach in, to check for a fault can be very costly.

Master sockets in your home

The list below will show one of the sockets you may have installed your premises.
BT master sockets are generally fitted as standard nowadays.

Telephone socket 2/2A, (generally a telephone system socket) compared below
to a s
ingle 3/1A or twin 4/1A faceplate socket.

BT Master Sockets installed
2/2A Small telephone socket

 

All your BT master sockets worked on.
2/2A in comparison to a 3/1A

As a result of having the “small” system socket you have no way of testing the individual line coming into the premise,
if there is extension wiring attached.
The picture below shows two cables attached to the 2/2A socket.

BT master sockets are good pieces of equipment
2/2A with mains & extension wiring attached

One cable is the incoming service from your service provider (the one with black tape).
The other cable is feeding your extension sockets around your house.

Should you experience some type of fault, you only want to test the cable that feeds the socket, (The black tape cable).
You can’t do it. Thus, you have the wrong type of socket installed.

Regardless of the socket being a 2/2A or 3/1A , you cannot disconnect the extension wiring from the circuit
without physically removing the wires from the telephone socket.

Consequently, (should you get a broadband or telephone line fault), instead of just testing the BT side of the line,
you are testing the house extension wiring, including the external BT network wiring.
Specifically, you cannot tell if it’s your house wiring at fault, giving the possibility of an expensive call out charge from Openreach.

A single or twin faceplate socket, likewise, is the same as the small system socket.
Therefore all your wiring will be connected together with no capability of testing the single incoming circuit
without testing your house circuit in tandem.
This is generally the piece of kit an electrician or similar amateur would fit
unaware of the problems they may be causing in the long run

BT master socket NTE5a

The most common at present, a master socket NTE5a.
If wired correctly, this will disconnect any extension wiring just leaving the incoming line from the BT network attached.
All new installations should have genuine BT master sockets installed.

We fit genuine BT master socket NTE5a
BT master socket NTE5a

This has two small screws that undo, allowing you to pull off the front plate.
This actually allows you to test whether your telephone line or broadband is working correctly from the test point inside the socket
as your circuit is now within the limitations of the service provider contract you have agreed to.

Using BT master sockets help define where a fault is located
BT master NTE5a with extension wiring attached

With the screws removed you can pull off the face plate, this will reveal another socket within the body of the remaining plate.
This is your “demarcation” point, The point where your service providers commitment takes effect.
In most cases, you are responsible for the wiring leaving the faceplate.

BT NTE5a master with VDSL faceplate attached

Similarly you may have the nte5a with a larger cover socket on the front.

BT master sockets have attachments fitted to them.
VDSL front plate fitted
BT master sockets with added components
The 3 components of an nte5a with VDSL front fitted.

The VDSL plate is designed to stop the broadband signal from being transmitted along the extension wiring.
Thus eliminating any possible interference from the cabling, sockets or equipment plugged in to it.
All being well, the broadband signal you receive at the master socket with the VDSL front attached,
should be the best you can achieve.

The latest BT Master socket NTE5c

This has a pull off front, that again if wired correctly, will give you access to a test socket.
Allowing you to test whether your telephone line or broadband is working correctly.

The NTE5c is one of the BT master sockets range
Nte5c with extension wiring attached

If wired correctly, this will disconnect any extension wiring just leaving the incoming line from the BT network attached.
In contrast to the NTE5a the NTE5c has the same demarcation abilities. Its difference being it has a pull off front and the connections are of a clip down termination, not needing any tools.
Similarly to the NTE5a it also comes with a VDSL front plate allowing the plate to filter the broadband service at source, before it connects to your extension wiring.

BT master sockets have front plates fitted to them.
NTE5C VDSL front plate

It also has clip down terminations & a test socket inside

BT master sockets have vdsl plates fitted to them.
NTE5c with front plate removed

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