How to check the test socket

Your master socket

Your master socket is a white plastic box built into your wall, usually in your hallway or near your front door. It’s bigger than a normal phone socket because it’s the point where your external phone line comes into your home. It’s best to connect your router to your master socket.

You can use your master socket to troubleshoot problems with your internet, particularly if it has a test socket which can be found inside your master socket.

There are two types of master socket:

Standard master sockets have one port on the front. When connecting your router to a standard master socket, you’ll need to use a microfilter to stop your phone and broadband signals from interfering with each other. You’ll also need to plug a microfilter into every other socket you’re using.

Pre-filtered master sockets have two ports on the front. This means that your line is already split between your phone and broadband connection, so you don’t need to use any microfilters.

Not all houses have one, but if yours does, it’ll look like one of the images below:

Connecting to your test socket

Your test socket is inside your master socket. It lets you bypass the internal wiring in your house and connect directly to the phone line outside; making it the ideal place to test your internal wiring for faults.

If your master socket has a removable faceplate then it contains a test socket. If your master socket doesn’t have a removable faceplate, it won’t have a test socket (we don’t recommend forcing it to check).

Here’s how to connect your router to your test socket:

1. Carefully unscrew the faceplate on your master socket with a screwdriver.
2. Now gently pull the faceplate towards you.
3. With the faceplate removed, you’ll see the test socket on the right-hand side.
4. If you’re testing your router, plug a microfilter into the test socket.
5. Then plug your router’s grey broadband cable into the microfilter’s ADSL/DSL port.
6. If your connection improves whilst you’re connected to the test socket, then the problem is probably in your home.
7. If the problem continues, then there’s likely a fault in your local area.