Crackly Line? What type of noise?
First, does the noise sound like a ‘Scratchy crackle’ or is it a steady ‘Whooshing sound’?
‘Wooshing’ is often associated with the ADSL Broadband Filters so make sure you have one plugged in. You need an ADSL Filter connected in between any phone or device plugged into a telephone socket. All telephones in your house must be filtered.
If you’re experiencing a noisy crackly line, have you got more than one telephone socket even if they aren’t used? Then it’s a Fifty Fifty chance of an inside or outside fault. You must now do another test at the Master Socket with the lower front plate removed (if you have the later type).
Faint or Intermittent Noise: Perform a Quiet Line Test..
If you’re experiencing a faint or intermittent noisy land line try lifting the handset and dialing ‘1’. This will clear the line of dial tone for a short time, allowing you to listen closely. If you need to do this for a longer time, try dialing the following.
Dial 17070, then following the prompts press 2 for Quiet Line Test. This test works for BT customers but may not work with other Service Providers.
Remember – any noise at all is too much and will wreck your Broadband speed.
If all you have is One Master Socket..
If you ONLY have the Master Socket, no other wiring of your own, or you are plugged directly into the Test Socket, then Openreach (through your Service Provider) HAVE A DUTY TO MAINTAIN up to and including your Master Socket. This service is FREE OF CHARGE.
Is it a steady 'wooshing' or 'hissing' noise ?
This type of noisy line you’re hearing is actually data being sent and received by your Router (or someone elses line if you have a crossed line or overhearing fault). The ‘whooshing’ sound isn’t normally due to a fault. The ADSL or Broadband Filter is used to stop this from being heard on your phones, the idea being that it filters it out completely. You can always contact me for advice.
First, check you have a filter plugged in between the wall socket and your phone. If you need to buy an extra filter here’s a link.
This filter is already built into the latest type of BT master socket filtered front plate.
The ADSL filters don’t often go wrong. A crackly line or scratchy noise is more likely to be a fault with your phone wiring due to moisture or bad connection outside that needs repairing.
Dampness corrodes connections, which causes a crackly line
Look at this corroded junction box that has been installed on a damp window sill. Over time the condensation has built up and bridged the connections inside. This is just one classic example demonstrating the cause of a crackly line.
Yes - a Crackly Line or Any Noise will ruin your Internet speed!
A crackly line will completely ruin your Internet speed so don’t put up with it. Any noise on the line will mess things up when it comes to Broadband Connection Speed. So, have your faulty line fixed as it’s likely to get worse anyway. Any noise at all on the line will cause unstable Internet and ‘Drop Out’s’.
A noisy crackly line and slow Broadband often go ‘Hand in Hand’. Therefore if this is the first time you’ve used your landline phone in a while, you’ve just discovered why your Internet was really slow. Your Router ‘Talks’ to the Telephone Exchange equipment. Just like shouting across a noisy pub to another person, if they can’t hear you they ask you to repeat what you said. This is where your Router starts to ratchet down the connection speed. When a low enough speed is found where it doesn’t have to ask ‘Repeat that again’, then that is your current reliable speed.
But the Advisor said my Line Tested OK
“But BT said the line tested OK”.. Yes they often will say that because the line is only tested for a split second. If no crackle happens at that particular moment the advisor will tell you it’s fine! WRONG ADVICE!!!
The problem is that the Advisor should interpret the test results – something they seem unable to do these days because it’s all about a ‘Tick in the box’ on their screen.
Test results are valuable but in the case of a crackly line or noisy fault the least they can do for you is run the test five or six times to see if the result varies. If the fault is intermittent and isn’t picked up at the split second when the test is carried out, the advisor will likely blame your own equipment, or at best tell you there’s nothing wrong with the network.
Will I be Charged?
THE ONLY thing you can be charged for is dampness or corrosion on your internal wiring or socket. Because if it’s caused by a building defect (Not by BT installing the line in an inappropriate position) it isn’t normal wear and tear.
Misuse or damage – a hoover hitting the socket, dog chewing through the cable or a cat urinating over the socket is chargeable. I’ve had a few crackly line faults like that in my time as a BT Openreach Engineer.
If you have no condensation or dampness issues, and no obvious damage that you’ve caused, it’s time to call your Service Provider.
They make an appointment on your behalf with Openreach who maintain the phone and Broadband network.
