My BT master socket is currently surface mounted on a pattress. I would like to flush mount it on a sunken metal back box. What are the legalities of doing this myself? I understand that only a BT engineer should really touch their part of the socket but what are the repercussions of doing the work myself?
Thanks,
Graham
Technically it's not allowed but I wouldn't worry about it. If you're competent and know how to make the connections and have a proper insertion tool, just do it. BT won't give a care.
You're not allowed.
That depends if you balls it up. I might have moved a master socket myself once, and I may not have had any problems if I had done so...
OTOH, if you start chopping the cable or shorting them out, the exchange may boot you off and leave you with some explaining to do.
Christian.
I'm a BT engineer so I have to advise against it as it is actually illegal for you to go into our side of the NTE5. If you were to disregard my advice, then make sure that you have the correct IDC punch-down tool (or "podger" as we call them up here in the north :o)) and take the time to do a good job. It's an easy job - there's no witchcraft or black magic involved and almost anyone should be able to terminate an NTE5 correctly but the only people on the planet legally entitled to do it are us BT engineers.
If you end up putting any faults on the line and an engineer is sent out, you'll have to pay a callout charge of £75 plus his time and BT may suspend your telephone service and may even take legal proceedings against you so be sure you can do the job properly before disregarding my advice.
Mogweed.
Thanks for the replies, now on a similar note I also have a surface mounted NTL master socket but have long since canceled my account with them. I would like to remove this entirely and just leave it connected under the floorboards.
On the other have I have an urge to rip it out completely along with their CATV equipment and cable all the way back to where it enters my land. What are the legalities of doing this considering I no longer have an account with them? Should they not do it for free?
Graham
Is the NTL cable hindering you in any way?
I renovated a place where redundant NTL cables ran as well but I actually made provision for them just in case I or anyone buying/renting the place wanted to reconnect to NTL in the future. You never know!
Since when has there been IDC connectors on the BT side of an NTE5?
Doh, doh, and double doh! I'm having a blonde day here - sorry :o(
Mogweed.
Hope you never come to repair my installation ;)
As a BT technician you should know that it isn't illegal and hasn't been for many years. It is however a contravention of the Self Provision Licence issued under Section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 which few people even know they have :-).
Youse BT technicians would surely use a screwdriver - the BT side connections on an NTE 5 are usually screws are they not? (Other than that I wholeheartedly agree with the need to use a proper Krone tool for all blade connector wiring).
Just out of interest, being neither a BT engineer or someone who would loose any sleep over such a contravention, doesn't contravening a licence issued under an act of Parliament count as illegal?
I know this is the official line, but in the real world how often does this *actually* happen? Has anyone ever heard of it? I mean steps 2 or
3 (suspension and legal stuff), not step 1.David
It's extremely rare as long as the customer makes a good cuppa :o)
Seriously, I don't know of any engineer pedantic enough to report a customer - I never have. In fact Peter Parry's earlier post says that it's no longer illegal, which I didn't know - just goes to show how often it was ever put into practice. Mind you, they never tell us cable jointers anything :o)
Mogweed.
What happens if your kitchen fitter wrecks it (though extensions still work) and you have to repair the PCB (live!) with soldered links?
Channel 4 do it regularly and rarely get more than a slapped wrist.
Not necessarily. It may lead to a civil case being brought but it isn't automatically illegal. The Self Provision Licence certainly doesn't mention the consequences (if any) of violating it.
The only time I have heard of action being taken (and I don't know if it ever went to court) was a case, several years ago, of someone who thought their neighbour had tapped their phone line so connected it to a 13A plug and put 240VAC on it.
Peter, this sounds a good one, do you have any more info? A link?
Cheers Rob
I'll try and find one - I read about it in a medical publication. Apparently the person concerned was convinced their neighbour was breaking in and spying on them. They had gradually wired all the windows and doors to the mains. Finally they decided the phone was tapped and wired that up to a 13A socket as well. Various protective circuits took exception to this treatment and it didn't take BT too long to find out where the problem was. Apparently making the house safe again took some considerable time as almost everything metal was wired to 240VAC. Not sure what Part Pee would make of it!
Well, if it was equipotentially bonded....! (to 240v)
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