Switched from Cable to BT, now 2nd Landline won't ring?

Question

Hi, recently switched from Virginmedia cable phone to BT. First landline (primary box), dial tone, incoming and outgoing fine, rings a treat. Second landline - extension box, dial tone, incoming and outgoing fine - but will not ring.

Someone has suggested that it may be because the extension is 4 wire not six as the BT engineer had to rewire the first box.

Any ideas or is it a rewire job for the second box (haven't tried phone two on the main connection yet BTW).

Thanks.

Answer 1

You could stick a master socket where you extension socket is. He may of nicked the bell wire from your extension for the  second line to get the first line working as it should. The master has a circuit built in to it to allow the phone to ring. Or hes knocked the bell wire off when messing with the wires.

If your main socket for line 2 works fine. Then try a master socket instead of an extension socket. This will save the need  for  a possible rewire

The other solution....If it worked before he came & does not work now then complain & get bt to sort the problem out.

Answer 2

Look at the connections that have been made on the extension socket. There should be three, they should be on 2,3 and 5.

Make a note of the colours on each connection at the extension.

Look at the master socket and where the wire from the extension socket is connected look at the colours. Are they the same ? Are the wires on 2,3 and 5 ?

If not connect them up so they match exactly and your 'phone will ring etc at the extension socket.

If it doesn't there will be a fault either on the wiring or the socket.

Do not replace the extension socket with a master socket as this will put too much capacitance on your line.

Answer 3

If you have switched from cable to BT, the extension would not have been wired in to the BT Socket! The cable box has it's own DT from the cable service provider! You are probably hearing the dead dial tone on the extension.