BT i-plate
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Joined: Jul 2000
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From: ask crewing
BT i-plate
Been looking at this product to try and improve my broadband speed. All the reviews suggest it does actually work.
Out of curiosity, I looked up what it actually does, and it seems just to be a new faceplate to disconnect the now redundant ring wire used with the older style phones before the introduction on touch dialling (who still remembers those
)
Question is could I save myself a tenner and just cut/disconnect/rewire this myself? Doesn't sound that complicated (famous last words).
Out of curiosity, I looked up what it actually does, and it seems just to be a new faceplate to disconnect the now redundant ring wire used with the older style phones before the introduction on touch dialling (who still remembers those
)Question is could I save myself a tenner and just cut/disconnect/rewire this myself? Doesn't sound that complicated (famous last words).
More bang for your buck
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,513
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From: land of the clanger
Question is could I save myself a tenner and just cut/disconnect/rewire this myself? Doesn't sound that complicated (famous last words).
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 18,575
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From: UK
I did mine (the cheap way) on Sunday having been 'going to do it' for months. Very simple, but there are caveats depending on which BT master socket you have. Initial response was drop in line speed
, but I obviously need to wait the statutory ?3? days for BT to adjust to the line change. Will let you know. Top before was 2.3MB.
EDIT: Fom 680 kb last night 'post-mod' I am going through 1.8 mb this pm. Fingers crossed!
, but I obviously need to wait the statutory ?3? days for BT to adjust to the line change. Will let you know. Top before was 2.3MB.EDIT: Fom 680 kb last night 'post-mod' I am going through 1.8 mb this pm. Fingers crossed!
Last edited by BOAC; 12th April 2010 at 16:33.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,443
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From: Cambridge, England, EU
Two suggestions:
(1) Get a cable modem, get 10 or 20 or 50 meg now.
(2) Vote Labour and wait a few months, they guarantee you 16.8 megabits by the end of 2012: Labour shock pledge: 16.8-meg broadband for ALL by 2012! ? The Register
(1) Get a cable modem, get 10 or 20 or 50 meg now.
(2) Vote Labour and wait a few months, they guarantee you 16.8 megabits by the end of 2012: Labour shock pledge: 16.8-meg broadband for ALL by 2012! ? The Register
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 565
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From: Passed away on Sept 6th
Another reason for substituting the plate is that the ADSL filters which the internet providers give out are very cheap and seem to fail not infrequently. I've gained an unwarranted reputation as an internet genius by giving surplus ones to friends whose "internet won't work". I also suggest to them that buying a new faceplate will stop the problem in future.
It is reassuring when thing go wrong that this particular fault can be disregarded: I've never heard of an i-Plate failing... they seem to be made to a higher standard than the individual filters.
It is reassuring when thing go wrong that this particular fault can be disregarded: I've never heard of an i-Plate failing... they seem to be made to a higher standard than the individual filters.
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Earth
(1) Get a cable modem, get 10 or 20 or 50 meg now.
(2) Vote Labour and wait a few months, they guarantee you 16.8 megabits by the end of 2012: Labour shock pledge: 16.8-meg broadband for ALL by 2012! ? The Register
.... Ever considered a job as a stand up comedian ? 
Two Technical Terms to add to your vocabulary*** :
Contention
Packet Shaping
(***= Well, more than two terms are easily possible, but we'll assume that something will happen and give them the benefit of the doubt)
Add the technical terms above to consumer grade technology and the old story of delivering the service over copper and I think you'll see the light and agree that "16Mb fo ALL" is probably wishful thinking. Cities and larger towns, sure, no probs (subject to technical terms above that WILL limit your experience, in addition to the normal "Fair Use Policy"). Someone in the middle of nowhere 10+km from their local exchange .... fat chance.
Official PPRuNe Chaplain
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Witnesham, Suffolk
The i-Plate does more than just disconnect the ring wire and add an ADSL filter, doesn't it? I think it also removes entirely the circuitry round the ring wire, so you don't have that soaking up ADSL signal.
I just binned an ADSL filter that had been in my former study for years - at last I know why the telephone on the desk played up!
I just binned an ADSL filter that had been in my former study for years - at last I know why the telephone on the desk played up!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: ask crewing
More confused than ever, finally got around to removing the faceplate to have a look and found this:
Clearly rewiring is no longer an option, but now have two new questions.
First has my master socket been installed incorrectly, it looks like I am permanently connected to the test socket, is this a problem?
And second, can the i-plate still do anything for me?
Clearly rewiring is no longer an option, but now have two new questions.
First has my master socket been installed incorrectly, it looks like I am permanently connected to the test socket, is this a problem?
And second, can the i-plate still do anything for me?
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 67
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From: London
Only the pair of wires from the exchange should be connected to the bit still fixed to the wall.
Extension wiring should pass through that big hole and be connected to the front plate. Removing the front plate disconnects the extension wiring and provides a test point/socket on th BT part of the line.
Extension wiring should pass through that big hole and be connected to the front plate. Removing the front plate disconnects the extension wiring and provides a test point/socket on th BT part of the line.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 565
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From: Passed away on Sept 6th
It actually means that an I-plate would do you next to no good!
1. You would still have to use an ADSL filter on each phone/fax/Sky etc connector;
2. You might get a cleaner & thus faster internet connection - but quite possibly there would be some degradation from the other circuits running round the house.
If you want to put things right, and have the time & energy, you could either,
1. Ask BT or your telecomms provider to wire the master socket correctly or,
2. (what I would prob. do - illegally) rewire the master socket. Info here, for example:
UK Telephone Wiring
On balance, if you're getting an acceptable speed / reliability, you may wish to leave things as they are. Up to you.
Good luck.
1. You would still have to use an ADSL filter on each phone/fax/Sky etc connector;
2. You might get a cleaner & thus faster internet connection - but quite possibly there would be some degradation from the other circuits running round the house.
If you want to put things right, and have the time & energy, you could either,
1. Ask BT or your telecomms provider to wire the master socket correctly or,
2. (what I would prob. do - illegally) rewire the master socket. Info here, for example:
UK Telephone Wiring
On balance, if you're getting an acceptable speed / reliability, you may wish to leave things as they are. Up to you.
Good luck.
