Blog articles
Read our latest articles
Phone Socket Wiring – BT Master Socket, The Orange and White and Other Mysteries
Once again, a quick look at Google reveals that lots of people ask questions around the subject of “BT master socket wiring orange white” (Really? OK Google, we'll believe you). It looks to us that the whole area of phone socket wiring and cables confuses folks. We...
In Search of an Avaya IP Office Telephone Engineer
We've been asked to provide an Avaya IP Office Telephone Engineer recently. We love sorting out problems with “orphan” systems. Usually, these lack a maintenance contract or even a casual relationship with an engineer. We've blogged about this, including a case...
Phone System Engineers and Neglected Phone Systems
Frequently, in our work as phone system engineers, we're called out to try and sort out a fault on a business system by a desperate customer. An Awkward Conversation Us:- “So, don't you have a maintenance contract for this system” Them:- “Well, we used to...” Us:-...
The Great ISDN Switch-Off – Some ISDN FAQ, Reassurance, and Reality
A quick look at Google reveals that in the light of The Great ISDN Switch Off, many folks are asking basic questions about ISDN itself. There's no sales pitch in this blog – I am simply a (hopefully) impartial independent telephone engineer working in North East...
The Great Analogue and ISDN Lines Switch-Off – What Do I Need To Do? An Engineer’s Observations on “Phonemagddon”
Let's get one thing straight first - I'm not selling anything! I'm an independent telephone engineer in The North East of England, blogging on the occasional industry topic. I fix, rather than "flog" these days. Fixing is better. However, the hype and sheer nonsense...
Wiring a House for Ethernet (Cat 5e/Cat 6). An Engineer Gives Basic Advice.
I'm a telephone and cabling engineer working in the North East of England. I spend some of my time cabling challenging places such as pubs and houses with data cabling. I'm often asked by private customers about wiring a house for ethernet (Cat 5e/Cat 6). This blog is...
How To Find A “Local Phone and Broadband Engineer Near Me”.
Apparently, The Mighty Google says lots of people search for "local phone and broadband engineer near me". Yes, I'm one of those engineers, based in the TS16 area of Stockton on Tees. I serve business and residential customers in the North East and North Yorkshire....
Removing Legacy PBX
We're soon to enter our twentieth year of removing legacy PBX of all sizes. We are mainly engineers these days, putting things in, rather than taking them out, and fixing faults. However, we love going “back to our roots” in removing large systems from tight spaces,...
Moving Your Master Socket and Getting A Bill
Moving your master socket and getting a bill. Sadly, it's quite easy. Moving your master socket is easy. Your service arrives via two wires, and all you have to do cut, extend and re-joint your cable. Well, in theory, that is... The Official Line However, first of all...
The Secret Life of BT Dropwire Telephone Cable
BT dropwire telephone cable – we shouldn't really be talking about it, as it runs from the master socket onto the BT (more correctly Openreach) network. Of course, no-one ever gets involved with that side of the network, do they...? This blog, therefore, should be...
Moving Your Master Socket – Will I Get A Fine?
Moving your master socket seems to be a very hot topic for our blog readers. It's actually a kind of "yes, but no" topic, rather than a straight answer. My simple opinion as a local telephone engineer is:- "Yes you can (unofficially)" ...but also... "No you...
BT Openreach New NTE5C Master Socket – Faster Broadband?
The BT Openreach New NTE5C Master Socket (with the Mk4 frontplate) has been available for some time now. As I'm a telephone engineer, who has dealt with master sockets for years, I thought I'd give a guided tour Before We Start... If you don't want to read my...
