Something Connected To Telephone Cable?

[bctom]

Not sure that this is in the right forum but here goes...

Before I spend 2 hours waiting for someone at BT to answer the phone I thought I would ask on here.

A couple of weeks ago I had my BT line installed, at the time I noticed that the engineer who installed the line had put something on the outside of the house which I have never seen before or none of my neighbours have. It is black and looks as though the cable goes into one end and then out of the other. I have taken acouple of pictures (see below) to see if anyone can tell me what it is or does?

Image One
Image Two
Image Three

Thanks.

[Keiran2K8]

To me it looks like a microphone or the end of a badminton racket.

Just checked our line and we dont have one.

From the top of my head, Perhaps its a static guard or something.. Interference blocker.. lightning shield.

Sorry I cant be of more help.

[paulcarrm9mx]

TAKE MY ADVICE GET BT TO CHECK IT OUT IT LOOKS DOGEY BUT FIRST LO0K AT THE END OF THE CABLE NEXT TO THE GOLD RING IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS ATTACHED BY A PEICE OF STRING AGAIN VERY DOGEY IT MAY BE TRANSMITING YOUR PHONE CALLS TO SOMEBODY ELSE

[JaXanim]

That does look odd doesn't it? There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation, but the unit appears to be fastened to the incoming phone line using electrician's tape. That doesn't seem to me to be a likely 'official' BT fitting. Was the engineer who fitted it a verified BT employee?
JaX

[bctom]

So is this something which may affect my broadband download speeds?

[JaXanim]

So is this something which may affect my broadband download speeds?

Until you know what it is, that's difficult to answer.
jaX

[adslnation]

It looks like an external join in the cable, almost as if the engineer either ran out of cable or stupidly cut it to short and then had to join it to reach where it was meant to go.

[Lytham2]

Hi
Looks like the Gold ring is just a ring hook, just used to tie the main incoming cable to the building.
As for the black object, I think its just a surge protector or a joint, again just used to tie the incoming cable to the cable into your house.

Cheers
John

[JaXanim]

That's a join? ?
Aren't surge protectors built into the master socket?
What happens when the insulating tape weathers away?

JaX

PS: If it's some kind of shared line filter as suggested on the other forum, you'll have to live with it. BT don't concern themselves with your ADSL speed, only that your phone is OK.

[Old_nick]

You don't get ADSL on shared lines. It's probably an RF notch filter.