Clicking telephone line

[bekisman]

Have a friend in the Westfield area, Caithness, who's got a bad 'clicking' on the telephone line.
BT came out, said it's not our friends doing; it's an electric fence near the Westfield exchange, 'can't do nothing about it..'

This can't be correct - can it?

[Beat Bug]

I'd have thought that if it's a BT exchange, they'd sort something out.

[Geo]

When we had that problem years ago BT put filters on the line whuch made it less noticeable however they couldn't get rid of it.

[manloveswife]

Unfortunately Westfield is BAD for its clicking lines.
We have had filters installed by BT, which the clicking line fried but they are recognised not to make a difference so BT told us the last time they were out.
The weather also seems to make the interference from the fence worse.

As BT engineers have told us, it is mainly down to one farmer, who has his fences set "criminally" high, they do sometimes turn it down, but he turns it back up and refuses to alter it. Dont know if thats true but we have no reason to doubt BT's engineers, and mysteriously the clicking does seem to dissapear in winter when the fences are off.

The last engineer out found a spare line and switched us to that, which is somewhat better, so there may be some hope. Though in 3 years we have had BT out around ten times before getting anywhere, but we were also suffering a ghost line on ours aswell, meaning other people could hear our phone calls.

[Tubthumper]

Its like the Chinese water torture when you're on the phone.

[balto]

sometimes, i can hear other folk on the line at the same time as me, very annoying at times

[manloveswife]

Balto, keep getting BT out if you are getting the crossed line. We went 3 years, even to the point of our daughter being told to get off the F** line by someone, before the engineers managed to sort it. General rule of thumb, if you can hear them, they can hear you, do you want everyone to know your business......o.k, its a small place and they probably already think they do...... but what the heck.

In our case it took an engineer with a quiet day and the will to sort our problem, still not the best of lines but a darn sight better than before.

Apparently, they have only a set time to deal with the problem, then they forward it to the exchange, who do nothing except sign it off as fixed.

Keep calling them out, eventually you will get somewhere, as for the clicking, I know of one boy who set out with the tin snips in frustration
Trouble is he got the wrong fence..........

[bekisman]

Yesterday drove over to the Westfield Exchange and noticed that there were fields and fields; all with eclectic fence around the perimeters, which is - according to BT - is the reason for the loud 'clicks' upon the line, that our friend is experiencing - further research indicates that others are affected by this nuisance.

After all, the exchange (NSBO) serves approx 70 residential premises and 7 non-residential premises..
It was also intimated that the particular instigator of this turns the electric fence off when sending faxes or long telephone calls.

There is obviously a problem; bad earths? too much power? But the fact remains our friend has cancelled call waiting as it's impossible to differentiate between the background beeps and this continual nuisance.
It is reminiscent of the bad old days with the forelock-tugging of the workers showing due reverence to the 'master of the estate' who could do what he/she liked.?

I have spoken to my brother; a farmer, who tells me that if a farmer cannot maintain his fences in a stock-proof condition without the recourse to electric fences, then he's not much of a farmer..

[orkneycadian]

Clicks are caused by the discharges from the fence due to it tracking to earth somewhere. Remove all the bits that are leaking to earth (long grass, bad insulators, etc) and the clicking will disappear. Am surrounded by electric fencing, and the mains energiser is in the barn alongside the house, but providing you keep the fence in good condition, you'll get no clicks, no matter what "power level" you use.

Badly installed cables under gates are a prime source of trouble, as the cables get crushed if not properly protected and track to earth.

[Tubthumper]

Is there any legal recourse that we can get BT to resort to, in order to get a decent phone service? Surely this is willful interference with the public telecomms network, which must be breaking some sort of law?

[orkneycadian]

Doubtful, as its not wilful. Taking a walk along the road where the fence lines and phone lines co-incide and listening for any clicks from grass touching fences, then hacking it down is probably a lot more fruitful use of your time and effort!

[Tubthumper]

Good idea! But could the farmer take umbrage at me hacking away around his wire?

[orkneycadian]

Dunno, have you asked?

[bekisman]

Clicks are caused by the discharges from the fence due to it tracking to earth somewhere. Remove all the bits that are leaking to earth (long grass, bad insulators, etc) and the clicking will disappear. Am surrounded by electric fencing, and the mains energiser is in the barn alongside the house, but providing you keep the fence in good condition, you'll get no clicks, no matter what "power level" you use.

Badly installed cables under gates are a prime source of trouble, as the cables get crushed if not properly protected and track to earth.

Thanks for that, but as I mentioned: "I have spoken to my brother; a farmer, who tells me that if a farmer cannot maintain his fences in a stock-proof condition without the recourse to electric fences, then he's not much of a farmer.." But think you are correct.. Our friemd has been told by the telephone Company that they are sending a Specialist Engineer to put 'isolators'? on- not sure if that's just her line, or from the exchange, will keep tabs on it..
Ta

[orkneycadian]

I have spoken to my brother; a farmer, who tells me that if a farmer cannot maintain his fences in a stock-proof condition without the recourse to electric fences, then he's not much of a farmer

What the electric does do though is slow down the toonies who persist in climbing over the fences assuming the wires are stapled to the stabs to make a convenient ladder for them to climb on! String an electric wire along it too, and they're no so keen to try and clamber up a stab anymore, pinging the staples out or scraping all the galvanising off the wire, as it grinds on the staple!

[Kirdon]

Balto, keep getting BT out if you are getting the crossed line. We went 3 years, even to the point of our daughter being told to get off the F** line by someone, before the engineers managed to sort it. General rule of thumb, if you can hear them, they can hear you, do you want everyone to know your business......o.k, its a small place and they probably already think they do...... but what the heck.

In our case it took an engineer with a quiet day and the will to sort our problem, still not the best of lines but a darn sight better than before.

Apparently, they have only a set time to deal with the problem, then they forward it to the exchange, who do nothing except sign it off as fixed.

Keep calling them out, eventually you will get somewhere, as for the clicking, I know of one boy who set out with the tin snips in frustration
Trouble is he got the wrong fence..........

"general rule of thumb" Not true!
"Apparently, they have only a set time to deal with the problem, then they forward it to the exchange, who do nothing except sign it off as fixed." Not true! (engineer is filling your head)
"Keep calling them out, eventually you will get somewhere" with the overhearing yes but the clicking No!
" Trouble is he got the wrong fence" more than one fence will be causing the problem.
Hope this helps and well done to the engineer with the "Will to do it" shows there are good ones out there as well.

[dx100uk]

urm....

actually i think there is something you can do about it

1949 wireless telegrahy act protects you [as the primary user]
from interference by radio
a spark gap transmitter is still a radio!

dx