As the family IT "specialist", I've been asked to take a look at the MILs broadband connection as it's "not working". When I had a look at the router, it was seemingly not able to connect. I removed the faceplate of the socket it was plugged into (master socket), plugged into the test socket behind and everything sprang into life.
I asked if they'd had anything done or if anything had happened to the phone wiring etc, the answer to which was that one of the grandkids had disturbed some wiring at a junction box prior to the master socket, but that had been sorted. I'm ruling that out anyway as it's before the problem point I think.
Any suggestions as to what to check next? Can duff/missing ADSL filters cause this kind of problem? I tried an iPlate but that made no difference (there was no bell wire anyway, so I didn't think it would). There are some extensions, but the router is plugged in to the master socket.
There are some extensions
I'd wager this is where your problem lies. Connecting to the test socket bypasses these. There's something screwy in the household wiring.
You've got the general idea, reconnect the extensions but remove all filters and other equipment to see if it works. If it does, start plugging things back in one at a time. The broadband will work with no filters at all when nothing else is connected, so if it drops out as soon as you reconnect the filter, its guilty. Similarly, if there is a filter missing somewhere, that will stuff up the broadband as well.
The box 'before' the master socket...its not unheard of for an extension to be 'back wired' through some of the lead-in. (using spare wires in the lead in to provide an extension elsewhere in the house) If this is the case, some of the wires on the feed will be connected to the removable faceplate.
Prime suspects are carpet fitters, cavity wall insulators, MIL pruning outside and chopping an externally run extension etc.
