Help wanted from a BT/Telephone Engineer

[davieG]

Here's the scenario my phones seem to work or not work depending on which one you plug into which socket or which leads you use from the phone to the telephone socket.

I've tried various combinations but there seems to be no logic.

Anyone got the time or inclination to check them out for me, for a suitable remuneration - I live in Glenfield. It's fairly urgent because I'm having to replace my Sky box this Tuesday because it's fooked and they wont let me have a new one unless there's a working telephone connection.

I can't use my suppliers because although like most it's a BT line I pay Sky for it's use to enable me to get digital TV and neither of them are interested in what's happening in my house.

Note for Sky haters , I can't get decent freeview signal and Virgin don't do digital in my area.

Yours desperate and pissed off!

[fox123]

Not sure if it helps, but, if you look in the Leicester Mercury classifieds section, there is usually an advertisement for ex BT engineers who, I'm told, are relatively cheap.

[Nick]

Not sure if it helps, but, if you look in the Leicester Mercury classifieds section, there is usually an advertisement for ex BT engineers who, I'm told, are relatively cheap.

Davie, you may have tried this but what I would do to find the fault or at least start doing it is this:

Unscrew the main BT box that comes into the house (take the facia off)

Plug each phone in turn into the socket.

See which one works that may give you some indication as to where the fault lies.

I did the same to test my true broadband speed not long ago.

That's about all I can contribute my friend, hope it helps.

[Sparky]

Im mates with the ex BT man who advertises in the mercury , did some work at mine for reasonable price

[davieG]

Im mates with the ex BT man who advertises in the mercury , did some work at mine for reasonable price

Can you pm me his phone number.

[davieG]

Davie, you may have tried this but what I would do to find the fault or at least start doing it is this:

Unscrew the main BT box that comes into the house (take the facia off)

Plug each phone in turn into the socket.

See which one works that may give you some indication as to where the fault lies.

I did the same to test my true broadband speed not long ago.

That's about all I can contribute my friend, hope it helps.

I'll give it a go, I've also used it to test the broadband. The thing is I can plug a phone into the master socket with a long extension on it and it works but when I take the lead off the phone and plug it into the sky box - nothing. I'm beginning to think the sky box phone connection is the actual problem.

[Edmund]

Here's the scenario my phones seem to work or not work depending on which one you plug into which socket or which leads you use from the phone to the telephone socket.

I've tried various combinations but there seems to be no logic.

Anyone got the time or inclination to check them out for me, for a suitable remuneration - I live in Glenfield. It's fairly urgent because I'm having to replace my Sky box this Tuesday because it's fooked and they wont let me have a new one unless there's a working telephone connection.

I can't use my suppliers because although like most it's a BT line I pay Sky for it's use to enable me to get digital TV and neither of them are interested in what's happening in my house.

Note for Sky haters , I can't get decent freeview signal and Virgin don't do digital in my area.

Yours desperate and pissed off!

Are you having sky + fitted or standard sky. If it's the latter then you don't need a telephone connection in theory. The engineer wont give a shit. It's just a rule which isn't important and it's main purpose is to stop expats from taking there box to Spain. If you ever get a call from them say your decorating and the phone line is disconnected.

If it's Sky + you will need a phone line because it's sending data to and from constantly.

Note for Sky haters , I can't get decent freeview signal and Virgin don't do digital in my area.

It's a sad day for sky users when you have to explain your reasons for owning a box.

Let me see freview or sky, freeview or sky. Yep thats right Freeview.

[davieG]

Are you having sky + fitted or standard sky. If it's the latter then you don't need a telephone connection in theory. The engineer wont give a shit. It's just a rule which isn't important and it's main purpose is to stop expats from taking there box to Spain. If you ever get a call from them say your decorating and the phone line is disconnected.

If it's Sky + you will need a phone line because it's sending data to and from constantly.

It's a sad day for sky users when you have to explain your reasons for owning a box.

Let me see freview or sky, freeview or sky. Yep thats right Freeview.

I'm going from standard sky to sky+, I don't think they do the standard one anymore do they?

[Edmund]

I'll give it a go, I've also used it to test the broadband. The thing is I can plug a phone into the master socket with a long extension on it and it works but when I take the lead off the phone and plug it into the sky box - nothing. I'm beginning to think the sky box phone connection is the actual problem.

What is the indication that it's not working? Are you getting an error on the sky box saying no phone line? Or is it just not communicating? Have you tried a box restart? Software update?

From what you're saying it does sound like a faulty phone socket in the sky box, if it works when plugged in the phone but not the box.

More info please...

[Edmund]

I'm going from standard sky to sky+, I don't think they do the standard one anymore do they?

Ok so you will defo need the phone line then.

Not to sure but I've still got one downstairs.

[Ford Super Sunday]

Ok so you will defo need the phone line then.

Not to sure but I've still got one downstairs.

I don't think he will

When I got Sky+ installed, I had the problem that my box was the complete opposite side of the house than where the phone cable was (and my box was installed upstairs), when I said this, he said 'oh well, it's there if you need it' and left the phone cable, but didn't install it.

I think to activate the box and card and that, he used some different equipment, rather than the telephone line

If you buy PPV programmes, and want to do stuff via the phone line, then yes, you definitely need it, but It isn't compulsory to have it connected (or it wasn't when I got mine anyway)

Ahh I remember that one month when I had Sky+, two days after promotion I got it installed

[davieG]

What is the indication that it's not working? Are you getting an error on the sky box saying no phone line? Or is it just not communicating? Have you tried a box restart? Software update?

From what you're saying it does sound like a faulty phone socket in the sky box, if it works when plugged in the phone but not the box.

More info please...

When I try to use the sky box to look at my account it says no connection. Have restarted the box, in fact it only came to light because I've moved it to another room using a different phone socket.

[Edmund]

I don't think he will

When I got Sky+ installed, I had the problem that my box was the complete opposite side of the house, when I said this, he said 'oh well, it's there if you need it'

If you buy PPV programmes, and want to do stuff via the phone line, then yes, you definitely need it, but It isn't compulsory to have it connected (or it wasn't when I got mine anyway)

Ahh I remember that one month when I had Sky+, two days after promotion I got it installed

In theory it's written into the contract that it must be plugged in but like you say there are allowances. I think without the phoneline it will work but you wont receive the anytime tv as that is sent via the phoneline.

Davie if your current sky box phone connection is faulty surely you're getting a new one on Tuesday so that one will be obsolete anyway.

[Ford Super Sunday]

You're right. Without the phone line, you can't do things like look at the account, buy PPV services, add packages and that, it would have to be done over the phone or via the internet on your online Sky Account.

Personal choice I suppose, how badly do you want the phone line

[davieG]

In theory it's written into the contract that it must be plugged in but like you say there are allowances. I think without the phoneline it will work but you wont receive the anytime tv as that is sent via the phoneline.

Davie if your current sky box phone connection is faulty surely you're getting a new one on Tuesday so that one will be obsolete anyway.

This is true although I'm not 100% convinced that it is faulty as it seemed to be ok before I moved it, leastwise I didn't get any messages to say other wise. The main reason for changing is that the old boxe keeps crashing when I view various channels.

I didn't want the engineer to turn up and refuse to set it up.

[davieG]

You're right. Without the phone line, you can't do things like look at the account, buy PPV services, add packages and that, it would have to be done over the phone or via the internet on your online Sky Account.

Personal choice I suppose, how badly do you want the phone line

I don't think I've ever used it, I only checked it out because the appointment confirmation said I had to have it so the engineer could set it up and download the latest software.

[Ford Super Sunday]

Have a chat with the engineer on the day. You can always unplug it, they can still access your box should you need them to, they had to send about 10 sets of mythical 'signals' to mine to solve the Copy Protect problem I had with my subscription.

I have a second hand one now, and have the recording capability enabled (£10 a month, though they haven't set up a drect debit yet , touch wood )

The main point is I can't think of anything you can do via the phoneline that you can't do on the phone or online. You should be fine really, see how nice the engineer is when he comes. The people on in the call centres can stick horribly to the script and the YOU HAVE TO blah blah blah crap.

[davieG]

Ok thanks to all, I'll stop worrying about it now and see what awaits me on Tuesday.

[fox123]

Yes it's strange Sky demanding a Line.

I am moving to a new house on Thursday, I ordered The whole Sky package, including Phone line, Sky HD+ and broadband. Sky are fitting HD+ on Friday, but told me I would need t' wait two days after instalation that the phone line would be connected.

[BoneDog]

I'm pretty sure that you can have it installed without the line working. Mine is at the opposite end of the room without the line plugged in. If I want something off box-office I just have to ring up to book it.

The record option may not work though

[davieG]

My email form them:

• When your viewing card arrives, please put it in a safe place and have it handy for when we come to install your Sky equipment.
  
• If you are not available on the day of installation, please make sure that another adult is present who understands your installation requirements.
  
• Please ensure you have a working phone line, as we may not be able to install your Sky without one*.
  

* If you have taken a free dish and box or a Sky+, Sky HD or Sky Multiroom subscription, your box will need to be connected to a telephone socket (and continue to be for 12 months), capable of outgoing and incoming calls to complete the full installation. Customers taking Multiroom must have their boxes connected to the same telephone line at all times.

[lavrentis]

My telephone line wire is never plugged in, its only used for when we book box office films and go on playjam. We don't really use it though.

[Edmund]

This is true although I'm not 100% convinced that it is faulty as it seemed to be ok before I moved it, leastwise I didn't get any messages to say other wise. The main reason for changing is that the old boxe keeps crashing when I view various channels.

I didn't want the engineer to turn up and refuse to set it up.

From my experience the boxes are as fragile as an egg. I got sent a new card and when I replaced it the reader broke. The technical department tried to blame me for misuse of my box.

I had the engineer round mine just on friday to install my third sky + box after the two previous were faulty. The same guy turns up each time and I reckon you will get him as you're not to far away from me. He is sound and isn't one of the engineers that does it by the book if you know what I mean.

Seriously I wouldn't worry about it and there should be no problems. Just don't bother ringing sky up as there customer service centre is appalling.

The technical departments answer to everything is switch the plug on the back on and off and wait two minutes. I feel sorry for the Scottish bloke who had to feel my wrath.

[Nick]

My email form them:

To be fair, Davie, it sounds as if your phone line is fine and your sky port connection is the problem - if you get a dialling tone from the main BT line, then the line is working.

The rest is up to, Sky, to route the cabling and ensure their equipment works. Which they will do happily.

I answered the door to my sky installer in my last house, went to make him a coffee after a brief discussion which room I wanted the sky cable in and came back and he had drilled a hole from outside to in, through a 3ft thick wall in an 18th Century stone cottage.

They don't mess about.

[davieG]

To be fair, Davie, it sounds as if your phone line is fine and your sky port connection is the problem - if you get a dialling tone from the main BT line, then the line is working.

The rest is up to, Sky, to route the cabling and ensure their equipment works. Which they will do happily.

I answered the door to my sky installer in my last house, went to make him a coffee after a brief discussion which room I wanted the sky cable in and came back and he had drilled a hole from outside to in, through a 3ft thick wall in an 18th Century stone cottage.

They don't mess about.

Mines only a normal cavity so I'd better just offer a cold drink else he'll be gone by the time I've made a hot one.