Slave / Master Phone Jack Wiring

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Ohohgumiho

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#211612 4-Apr-2017 12:00

Hi guys

I've just recently moved into a new home and am currently experiencing horrible internet speeds. At the moment we are only receiving 1mpbs. Quite shocking since we've moved from kaitaia (which we were receiving at least 9mbps) and to come down to Auckland with that speed is a shocker. I've contacted our ISP to which confused them quite alot. On their side they are seeing that we are connected but it is almost as if the internet connection was being piggybacked off of a neighbor's existing one. At the moment I am going through basic troubleshooting, but the issue is that the 2nd phone jack is no longer working. I've attempted to Google the correct connections for the coloured wires but mine are slightly different. I did sort of learn about slave / master ports though. Are there any other wires in my jack missing?? I would post images but the internet is too slow to even do that.

Phone line not working:

Connected wires : black -A1 - 2

Red - A2 - 5

Loose cables: blue, white, orange, green

Phone line working:

Connected wires : 2 white wires going to A - 1&2

2 orange wires going to B - 4&5

( I did notice there is a bunch of wires coupled together, cut, but they are red, blue, yellow, black. This one also has a diode or a resistor, I'm not too sure myself what it is

Thanks in advance for your insight !

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#1756245 4-Apr-2017 12:19

Can you post the xDSL stats from your modem - specifically sync rate, attenuation and noise margin. Also, roughly where are you (suburb)?

Is there a specific jackpoint in the house that is labeled modem/ADSL/VDSL or something similar?

The colours used and types of jackpoint are really too hit and miss to troubleshoot without a photo, and may be a red herring anyway. The master/slave thing is really not relevant to xDSL - it relates to which outlet has additional components to enable some (now several decades old) phones to ring properly.

Ohohgumiho

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1756264 4-Apr-2017 12:46

Sorry I've had a look for all the information you were looking for and this is all I could find. I'm currently in pakuranga.

Nothing is labeled as ADSL/VDSL. I haven't seen any jack points for VDSL anywhere.

This is the downstairs connection

And this is upstairs

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#1756343 4-Apr-2017 14:16

There's nothing obvious wrong with the wiring from those photos. Of course, given there's different colours at each jackpoint, it would be nice to know why.

Your sync rate is consistent with the 42dB downstream attenuation. This (high) attenuation is generally caused by a long line to the exchange/cabinet, but can also be a symptom of a wiring issue in the house. To check whether this is a reasonable sync rate for your area, stick your exact address in the broadband checker for Chorus here https://www.chorus.co.nz/ Then put in a few addresses either side and see if they are about the same - if they are, then you are likely stuck, unless fibre is available. If they are higher than your address, then you almost certainly have an internal wiring issue.

Can you find the demarc point where the line comes into the house? On newer dwellings, this will be square white box, either a foot or so off the ground for an underground leadin, or under the eaves for overhead. Older houses, the demarc will be the first jackpoint - there will usually be a black external 049 cable.

Ohohgumiho

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1756378 4-Apr-2017 15:21

I've had a look into the website and can confirm that almost everyone is capable of up to 9mbps. Fiber is not available at all (apart from the house right in front of mine). I've also found the little white box you mentioned as well. Unfortunately I can't get into it because of the triangular screws. But judging from what the chorus website has shown me, changing provider wouldn't fix the issue, would it?

Also I think the reason for the downstairs port no longer working would be due to trying to connect a modem while there was another one upstairs. Please correct me if I'm wrong though. I completely forgot to turn the upstairs one off first, before connecting the downstairs modem.

Appreciate all your help

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#1756411 4-Apr-2017 16:05

Only one modem at a time! Try each jackpoint one at a time...

Not the most reliable method, but is there a jack fairly close to that white ETP - or can you trace the internal cables from there? Essentially, trying to bypass as much of your internal wiring as possible. Unused jackpoints, corrosion, forgotten extra ringers, alarms, Sky decoders and all manner of other things will have a negative impact on DSL sync, so if possible, see if you can isolate all those - if you can find the first jackpoint, just temporarily disconnect the wires that daisy chain to the next.

Up to 9Mb/s doesn't sound promising - you are likely on a pretty long line to the exchange - not familiar with your area, perhaps @coffeebaron is?

The current connection speed on the Chorus site shows the current downstream sync rate for the property - is that about the same as your neighbours'?

It's probable a master filter would improve things - this goes in the white ETP, and provides for a dedicated outlet for the modem, bypassing the existing internal house wiring.

trig42

5810 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1756427 4-Apr-2017 16:31

I think you need to get someone to come and look at the phone wiring in your house.

It seems your Upstairs and Downstairs jackpoints are not connected at all (to each other).

From the photos, it looks like tha cable connected to the Downstairs jack (with the Red and Black) is not connected to the Upstairs jack at all (But it is in the photo, unconnected to anything).

Are there any other phone jacks in the house? Those two cables connected to the upstairs jackpoint suggests one is coming from the demarc, the other is going to another jackpoint. You need to find the first jackpoint in the chain from the demarc (where it enters the house).

You also need a DSL filter I'd say - hence why I suggested getting someone in. Paying someone for an hour or two of their time to get a few more mbps is well worth it. Could you ask you neighbours to do a speedtest and find out how fast their DSL is? Yours should be about the same.

Jase2985

13459 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#1756428 4-Apr-2017 16:31

a flat blade will work with those triangle screw heads

Sharesies

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RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#1756444 4-Apr-2017 16:47

trig42:It seems your Upstairs and Downstairs jackpoints are not connected at all (to each other).

Possible, but not yet confirmed. OP says they had plugged in two modems at the same time when testing the not working jackpoint - that would stop it working!

trig42:Could you ask you neighbours to do a speedtest and find out how fast their DSL is? Yours should be about the same.

Already covered - as above, just plug the neighbour's address into the Chorus site and it displays the downstream sync rate.

coffeebaron

6232 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#1756606 4-Apr-2017 20:44

There are a few old copper areas in Pakuranga on longer lines, so certainly dealing to the internal wiring will give you the best chance of maximising the performance of your line. Feel free to message me with your address and details if you would like a master filter installed.

Cheers

Fraser

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
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Ohohgumiho

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1757372 6-Apr-2017 09:27

Ended up having to contact chorus. They've inspected a fault at the mailbox line and have fixed it. The only irritating thing is that they've advised me that the internet will only be down for 5 minutes and left. It is now the next day and I'm still on data. This whole thing has been a nightmare.

Thanks all for your input . I really appreciate the help