Could removing my unused second phone line help improve my broadband speed?

Question

I have BT broadband and the downstream speed on the hub is typically 2.9 Mbit/s on our normal phone extension but if I plug it into the master socket it increases to 3.7 Mbit/s. I can't move it there permanantly thought because there's no plug socket nearby! Aside from replacing the internal telephone wiring there is a second unused line and I wondered if anyone knew if this could be reducing the broadband speed at all?

Answer 1

This may be worth a try

Fisrtly Remake the connections at your BT Master socket and at your extension socket

ONLY reconect terminals 2 & 5 blue/white / white/blue

Do Not reconnect the Shunt terminal 3 orange / white
(as it not a twisted pair, it just a long aerial)

all microfilters have a bell capasitor in them so your phones will still ring Okay


:o)

Answer 2

If you connect ot the BT hub on an ethernet cable, buy a longer cat5e cable to connect to it with and move hub to master socket.

If you can't do this, buy an "extension socket kit" that comes with a wall socket, and SOLID CORE cable (that is the important bit)

Stranded leads for "extensions" lose too much signal, but solid core should be OK, for up to 10m or so.

Answer 3

The unused line should not be affecting your speed. There is a remote possibility there is a high resistance short in the line. Disconnect at source to verify. The wireless solution offered by another amswerer is one solution. As you mentioned, replacing wiring is the other option. Insure there are no cobwebs, dust, etc. in the junction box or the outlet boxes.