|
|
sarahjay
new user
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 3
|
|
I've just installed broadband but to do this I have had to move my PC into the room where the BT box is - not very practical as my office is upstairs and the BT box is in the lounge! I've read some of the posts on here and most confirm what I have now realised, extension leads and broadband dont mix! Is my only option to get an addional BT box installed upstairs or are their specific types of extension leads that I could use?
Appreciate any help/advice
S
|
|
greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 18207
Loc: Colchester
|
|
There are mixed views on the use of extension leads. We have users who quite happily use 25 meter extensions and others who say that you can't use one at all. The best advice is try it and see. The best type will be the one that uses a similar standard of cable to the original BT stuff. It contains 6 copper cores and you can usually buy a kit that has a double socket at one end and the box to screw in the wall at the other. Simply run the free end of the cable from the current BT terminal to the new location and tack it down with the cable clips provided in the kit. Then follow the wiring diagram to connect up the new junction box and plug the other end into the BT box. If you still want to use the original BT box for a telephone you will need to use a BB filter and you will also need one in your new box.
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
|
zoolander
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 483
Loc: United Kingdom
|
|
Sarah I have had broadband for around 8 months and because my pc is upstairs and the master socket is downstairs, I purchased a telephone extension kit and never had any problems at all. speeds have been perfect and no connection issues.
so called ''experts'' will say you need a special type of extension kit when the reality is that if your adsl connection is going to work via a telephone extension kit, it makes no difference to which one you purchase.
I went down to argos bought some cheap one for £4.99 and been running 1meg broadband with no problems.
You have to remember that as long as you have micro filters, splitters, extension kit, rj11 cable, modem and they all are all in working order then adsl broadband WILL work with a telephone extension kit.
''FireFox is inherently more secure than IE. However, more secure is not equivalent to perfect. You have to understand that any code, no matter how secure, will contain bugs that need to be fixed. The fact that FireFox takes days to fix the problem (compared to weeks or months for IE) makes a huge difference when it comes to ongoing quality of security.''
|
greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 18207
Loc: Colchester
|
|
Sorry but it DOES make a difference which cable you buy. A normal voice analogue signal will work perfectly well on any old cheap and cheerful extension lead because the human ear can differentiate between line noise and voice quite easily. A digital signal needs a better standard to ensure that the signal doesn't degrade to such a degree that the modem and filters cannot split the two types. If the original BB signal at the BT socket is good quality then you can get away with a lower standard of extension lead. If the signal is 'on the edge' then a cheap extension lead will kill it completely.
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
|
zoolander
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 483
Loc: United Kingdom
|
|
greysts I hope you have actually used adsl broadband via a telephone extension kit and you are not a cable broadband customer speaking about a subject you have no experience of.
I am sitting here using adsl broadband, I have many family members and friends who also use adsl broadband with a variety of isp's, all using bog standard telephone extension kits and speeds are perfect.
you talk about if the bt signal is bad quality then a cheap extension kit will kill it, have you been smoking wacky backy?, if the bt master socket is dodgy then that is down to bt to ensure the socket is working perfect, along with the broadband line and not a chance to try and pass the blame on the telephone extension kit.
''FireFox is inherently more secure than IE. However, more secure is not equivalent to perfect. You have to understand that any code, no matter how secure, will contain bugs that need to be fixed. The fact that FireFox takes days to fix the problem (compared to weeks or months for IE) makes a huge difference when it comes to ongoing quality of security.''
|
Noviciate
HijackThis Helper
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 2542
Loc: Numpty HQ
|
|
I was under the impression that you were recommended to locate your computer as close as possible to the Master Phone Socket when connecting to Broadband-the longer the cable the greater the signal loss. Given that we've just had a digibox fitted and the aerial guy replaced our supplied cables because he didn't rate them and it improved the picture suggests to me that cables may affect a signal. But if it's strong to start with, probably not a great problem. (P.S. Still nothing worth watching!)
|
ourstanley
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 8150
Loc: Yorkshire, England
|
|
Quite correct in your assumption. Seems it may be an added feature in SuckSocks (there may be something in this)  Stay Tuned For Updates
Your choice  or a soggy biscuit. 
|
zoolander
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 483
Loc: United Kingdom
|
|
novicaite it is not about what companies recommended, it is about what actually works, that is why people should only comment on subjects they have first hand knowledge of.
A digital tv has nothing to do with a telephone extension kit working with adsl broadband so why are you even comparing them?
remember this thread is about adsl broadband and telephone extension kits, not cables in general.
ADSL broadband runs through your telephone line so it is common sense that a telephone extension kit will work with ADSL broadband.
retailers will try and sell you fancy cables because they know most customers are clueless and will will fall for all the sales talk.
''FireFox is inherently more secure than IE. However, more secure is not equivalent to perfect. You have to understand that any code, no matter how secure, will contain bugs that need to be fixed. The fact that FireFox takes days to fix the problem (compared to weeks or months for IE) makes a huge difference when it comes to ongoing quality of security.''
|
Braindead
regular
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 456
|
|
My personal situation is that I have an 8m telephone extension and then a 20m rj11 cable to get my BB upstairs where I want it - I have a great signal with no loss whatsovever. My cable came from eBay - far cheaper than going to the shops, where you will be sold what they want rather than what you need.
I would advise either measuring carefully, or buying twice the length you think you need, because if you are routing it over doorways, up stairs etc, it will take a large amount
Celeron 2.4, XP-SP1, 30gb, 256mb RAM, AVG, Sygate, Spybot, Adaware etc
|
Noviciate
HijackThis Helper
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 2542
Loc: Numpty HQ
|
|
I hope this is of some interest.
While I accept no direct connection between ADSL and Digital T.V., surely electrons are electrons regardless of their mission.
|
zoolander
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 483
Loc: United Kingdom
|
|
Noviciate I understand what you are saying.
I have broadband and I am running a telephone extension reel which cost me around £4.99, nothing special, just a big standard kit.
if I went to a adsl ''expert'' he would tell me, I need some special type of extension and the one I have is not good enough.
I have been running adsl broadband on the reel for 8 months, no problems and the same applies to people I know.
Am I, my family members and mates the lucky ones or is the expert talking sweet fa, I know which one I would choose.
''FireFox is inherently more secure than IE. However, more secure is not equivalent to perfect. You have to understand that any code, no matter how secure, will contain bugs that need to be fixed. The fact that FireFox takes days to fix the problem (compared to weeks or months for IE) makes a huge difference when it comes to ongoing quality of security.''
|
Noviciate
HijackThis Helper
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 2542
Loc: Numpty HQ
|
|
Two thoughts  .
1) Would your speeds improve if you used a shorter cable?
2) A coiled cable offers greater resistance than a straight one. I trust you uncoil it before use.
|
zoolander
regular
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 483
Loc: United Kingdom
|
|
Noviciate I have done tests, I moved the pc downstairs for 2 weeks running the connection to the master socket so all that was being used was the rj11 cable for the modem and a micro filter, no improvement in speeds.
''FireFox is inherently more secure than IE. However, more secure is not equivalent to perfect. You have to understand that any code, no matter how secure, will contain bugs that need to be fixed. The fact that FireFox takes days to fix the problem (compared to weeks or months for IE) makes a huge difference when it comes to ongoing quality of security.''
|
Noviciate
HijackThis Helper
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 2542
Loc: Numpty HQ
|
|
So, I figure that's settled then.
I hope sarahjay's glad she asked now!
|
sarahjay
new user
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 3
|
|
Thanks guys, didnt intend to spark such a heated debate but all replies were useful. I've since done some tests and realised that the way the extension leads were set up (inc. splitter of some sort) is causing the problem - it works with a standard (relatively short) extension lead with no problems. Now, all I need to do is pull out the old cabling and do the job properly!
|
ianm
regular
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 349
Loc: Colchester
|
|
Have been reading this thread with some interest. My daytime job is working as a BT engineer occasionally fitting extension sockets for Broadband, My experience is that the cheap extension leads seem to work just fine, They do slow down dial up connections but then the general rule seems to be the more sockets in a house the slower the connection becomes, with broadband as long as the signal gets to the modem with a loud enough noise (within the db lossage limits) it should work with no problems, it will either work or not there is no inbetween ie slow connections. Any 3 pair cable will work fine, People often say you need cat5 cable but you dont, the only time you need cat5 (osca) cable is for an extension on the digital port of a highway, the reason for this it uses more than 1 pair of wires in the cable to send a digital signal so there must be no overhearing between the pairs, hence cat5 cable pairs are twisted around each other tighter to help prevent this.
Anyway to recap almost any old kit appears to work with these extensions, remember that broadband is designed to work over 6km of 0.5 copper cable so dont worry about another 15 meters around your skirting board.
Regards
Ian
|
sarahjay
new user
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 3
|
|
Ian,
I discovered that from the main BT socket there was a junction box/splitter that had 2 separate extension cables going from it. From one of these extensions was another extension lead which is where I originally plugged in the broadband. I hasten to add at this point that this wiring was done by the previous house owner! Do you think that this was the reason I could not connect (no dial tone error message and the ASDL light on the modem was flashing)?
Appreciate your expert advice
Sarah
|
ianm
regular
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 349
Loc: Colchester
|
|
Normally if you can plug a phone in and get dial tone then the broadband will work, but some of the cheaper plug in extension leads use braded cable which is not good and every connection point looses some quality so it is posible, If you can just run one length of cable from one socket to where you want your pc then things should work ok. Any probs post back here and i will try and help.
Regards
|
Lyssa
new user
Reg'd: Fri
Posts: 1
|
|
Interesting post ianm. I can indeed get a dial tone from my phone line. Unfortunately, this does not mean I can get Broadband.... of any description or speed. BT made a press statement in August, to the effect that 'distance for the 512k and 1mb speeds was now not an issue following trials in Scotland'. With glee I applied to AOL for my BB modem. My neighbour was actually telephoned and offered Broadband when our exchange was enabled on November 10th. A BT engineer duly arrived and informed my neighbour that he was 'too far away from the exchange'. We are in fact 6.4 km from the exchange, Ok, that is driving distance. I assume 'line distance' is further. But even so, according to BT's statement, that shouldnt be a problem. I am awaiting my own visit from BT tomorrow, but am expecting the same result as my neighbour. We do not live on some tiny island in the North Sea or further. We are actually located a mile from a busy main road in a street of 20 or so houses. How many other small hamlets like this exist that will not be able to get Broadband? Quite a few I imagine. Somehow I think BT's claims of 99.6% of the population having BB available by next summer is a promise they will never be able to keep. And why don't ISP's who are repeatedly having to arrange for modems to be returned, do something about it and tell BT the buck stops with them? Anyone on here with any suggestions they will be gratefully received.
|
greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 18207
Loc: Colchester
|
|
Ianm makes the point that BB will work up to 6km running over copper cable. Big problem is that BT laid significant amounts of cable in certain areas using aluminium core because copper was horrendously expensive a few years back. Allie is a very poor conductor and does not like digital signals one little bit. You say your are 6.4km from the exchange so you already have a problem. It only needs a poor connection somewhere in the system for BB to become unavailable at your address.
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
