FTTP Question

[#1]

Hi all,

I'm moving in with my sister for a bit and so there will be 3 of us living there now for a while. Me, her and my niece.

We will all be using the internet a fair bit. Neice watches TV on demand, sister works from home and I will be too.

I noticed some work going on, a while back at her road. A box has appeared outside. It has a BT Openreach logo on it so my powers of deduction suggest it is telephony?

BT Wholesale checker says this:

Featured Product

FTTP Install Process
WBC FTTP Upto 1000 Upto 220 -- Available KCI2 Assure

(Sorry for my rubbish formatting as I am typing this on my iPhone).

Does this mean FTTP is available now to her place? I ask as I will be moving in soon and with me there too we could do with using it. I will try and encourage the boss (my sister to upgrade).

I went through the PlusNet portal upgrade process but didn't confirm anything.

Is it just a case of upgrading on the portal, signing for a new 2 year contract via upgrading on the portal, getting a new router (Hub Two?), waiting for it to go live and just plugging in the new router and that is it? Or is there more to it than that?

Also I want to minimise the risk of any downtime if possible. I assume once FTTP is live the current Hub One will stop working and will be about as useful as a chocolate teapot?

Worst case if the broadband does go down we will use data tethering on my phone in the interim I suppose.

Sorry for all the questions just a bit excited and working in IT is it my duty to make sure we have the fastest internet possible!

[#2]

@Alex 

You could phone Customer Options on 0800 013 2632 for specific answers but it appears FTTP is either available or is in the works for your sister. If the portal upgrade option shows FTTP then this pretty much conforms things.

You only need to be aware that she'll lose her phone number.

It might just be possible for you to set up a FTTP account for yourself and your sister keeps her FTTC connection. Be aware you would have no PN e-mail doing this.

You could post a picture of the OR Box if you want it identified.

Brian

[#3]

Thanks Brian,

Losing the existing landline phone number would pretty much rule it out then I think, I could be wrong but I doubt it. The house has had it years and we still know people who don't use mobiles.

Grrr .. trying to insert a photo on my iPhone but can't. I will try again in a bit.

[#4]

@Alex 

If PN e-mail doesn't matter to your sister then it appears possible to set up a new FTTP account, get it installed and then port the phone number out to a VOIP provider, cancelling the FTTC account. According to a wizard known to this forum PN would waive any early termination charges on the FTTC account.

Brian

[#5]

Thanks Brian,

That sounds like a lot of hassle though and I can't see the boss agreeing to all of that. Especially if it could mean any downtime.

I think the best plan would be to see if I need another internet connection when I move in (i.e. if three of us using the current FTTC connection is no good) and setting up a separate FTTP account for myself if needed. Oh well I suppose at least I know the option is there.

Thanks for your help.

[#6]

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@Alex wrote:

... the best plan would be to see if I need another internet connection when I move in (i.e. if three of us using the current FTTC connection is no good)

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What is the upload and download speeds of the existing FTTC ?

[#7]

@Alex 

It would be little more hassle for your sister to set up a FTTP acount and then port the number from FTTC - especially if you're doing the work.

In general FTTP is better as it's more stable and you get close to the advertised speeds of your chosen product.

Two accounts, one for you and one for your sister would require two routers in service and would almost cerainly be more expensive than a single FTTP account. Get some thing like FF145 for the 3 of you. If or when you move out, your sister would be able to downgrade to, say FF78, at the next contract renewal is she wished to do do so to save a few quip.

Brian

[#8]

Thanks Brian,

My sister doesn't see the benefit in faster internet .. yet .. but I am working on it

The only thing that is putting me off is the 2 year contract. I wish people in charge of big companies would recognise that long contracts put people off.

I told her about losing the landline number and she is not sure yet. I can understand why as it has been with the house for many years.

You've got to laugh and you can tell I am an IT person. She is worried about the colour of my bedroom walls and I will have to go and carry on painting then tomorrow. That is going to be about as entertaining as watching a TV programme hosted by Ant and Dec.

I would be sarcastic and say that is about as exciting as watching paint dry, but the irony is that is exactly what I'll be doing.

I couldn't care less about the colour of the walls and more worried about the internet connection

[#9]

The PlusNet checker says I can get it and FTTP is available. Shame about the 2 year contract and is the only thing which is really putting me off.

It says FTTP doesn't require a landline. So, is it not possible to:

Get FTTP.

Once that is all working cancel the existing broadband off the landline. So:

Have that landline only, existing number kept just with no broadband going down it.

Separate FTTP connection which is now the internet connection and nothing to do with the landline.

Landline only then with the same number and no broadband going down it at all.

Internet now going down the completely separate FTTP connection, (but shame about the 2 year commitment).

Or is it more complex than that? (Knowing our government and BT Wholesale nothing would suprise me).

[#10]

@Alex What you suggest is possible but expensive as you will be paying for FTTP plus line rental for the copper line. I seem to remember this is what Plusnet suggested when they started offering FTTP for anyone wanting to keep their landline. The problem is Plusnet don't do Phone line only contracts so you have to transfer the line and number to a different supplier.

I have used Pulse8 in the past when I was in a short term rental, their price for no contract line rental is £16.20 per month including VAT which is a lot less than BT and call charges to landline numbers are very reasonable, e.g. Daytime 1p a minute with no set up charge.

[#11]

I completely agree with @RealAleMadrid  regarding using Pulse8 line rental and calls, and as a Pulse8 customer I have been very impressed by their service.

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@Alex wrote:

The PlusNet checker says I can get it and FTTP is available. Shame about the 2 year contract and is the only thing which is really putting me off.

@Alex  if you used Pulse8 FTTP  (click on the FTTP tab at the top of the table), you wouldn't be stuck on a 2 year contract, as all their products are on a 30 day rolling contract from the start !

Your easiest solution would be -

Get a new Pulse8 FTTP line installed.

At this point you will have new Pulse8 FTTP,  AND your sisters current FTTC and landline, working in parallel.

Unplug your sister's FTTC connection and get your household internet working from the new FTTP service.

Once you are happy that your FTTP broadband is working,  migrate the Plusnet landline number to Pulse8.

Migrating the landline will automatically cease your sister's Plusnet FTTC,  all with virtually zero downtime.

[#12]

@Alex 

Still think getting your sister to sign up to PlusNet FTTP as a new account and then porting the phone after the FTTP install to cancel the FTTC account is best - PN will waive early termination fees.

Convince your sister it's not faster speed per say but simply ensuring 3 people on FF145 get the same service as two on FTTC 78.

Although the website shows only 24 month contracts the Legal pages show 12, 18 & 24. The site also shows only 3 speeds but I believe at least two others are available. You should phone sales and enquire. It should be pointed out that shorter contracts will almost certainly be more expensive.

Brian

[#13]

Out of curiosity, even though I'd checked most recently less than a year ago, I followed the link to Pulse8.

Using their checker, it seems they still can't provide me with FTTP even though it's been available at my DP since June 2013, and I've been on a PlusNet FTTP trial connection for over 7 years, but they kindly offered ADSL2+. 

Their cheapest listed FTTP product @£36 for 115/20 is somewhat more expensive than I'm currently paying for my PN 80/20 connection.

Just saying.  

[#14]

@RobPN, definitely something odd there.  I've just tried myself and it's telling me that only FTTC is available even though I'm already on FTTP as well, and the BT Wholesale checker now shows that FTTC isn't available to me!

[#15]

@pjmarsh 

Agreed, and FTTC's never been available to me.