FTTC Contract Ending - Will I have to move to FTTP?

Timalay

You know, you don't have to go on faster speeds.  You can't still stay on your same speed (and more than likely pay the same amount).  You do know if you have any problems with your line, you won't have any copper line replaced.  BT are phasing out Copper line repairs.

flaneurs_lobster

400ixl said:

SillyOldHector said:

I'm in a similar position. I'm now out of contract with BT and want to try and reduce my costs. I did order full fibre a year or so ago but it wasn't until the engineer came that I realised it's a massive faff to install in my terraced home. This is because my BT service comes into the front of the house where there's a small hallway, a toilet and a kitchen, none of which are suitable to house a hub. So to get the cabling to the back of the house where my TV is would mean running a cable through an internal wall over a door and across the living room. I have little choice but to stick with what I have and will never be to cut the costs or get any deals. Not happy!

Where is your current router then?

Bet @SillyOldHector 's setup is like mine. Current copper enters house by front door. In then disappears under 100 years'-worth of refurb and redecoration and travels by magic bellwire to the opposite corner of the house where it emerges at a BT Master Socket. The router sits here and connects to a bunch of stuff by cable & Wi-fi.

flaneurs_lobster

Timalay said:

You know, you don't have to go on faster speeds.  You can't still stay on your same speed (and more than likely pay the same amount).  You do know if you have any problems with your line, you won't have any copper line replaced.  BT are phasing out Copper line repairs.

Fully accept and understand all that. If I HAVE to upgrade then so be it.

My question was "do I have to"?

Eldi_Dos

400ixl said:

Why would you want to stay though, it is slower and less reliable and often now more expensive.

The one concern I have about FTTP is diverse routing, once the cabinets and exchanges are rationalised.

400ixl

flaneurs_lobster said:

400ixl said:

SillyOldHector said:

I'm in a similar position. I'm now out of contract with BT and want to try and reduce my costs. I did order full fibre a year or so ago but it wasn't until the engineer came that I realised it's a massive faff to install in my terraced home. This is because my BT service comes into the front of the house where there's a small hallway, a toilet and a kitchen, none of which are suitable to house a hub. So to get the cabling to the back of the house where my TV is would mean running a cable through an internal wall over a door and across the living room. I have little choice but to stick with what I have and will never be to cut the costs or get any deals. Not happy!

Where is your current router then?

Bet @SillyOldHector 's setup is like mine. Current copper enters house by front door. In then disappears under 100 years'-worth of refurb and redecoration and travels by magic bellwire to the opposite corner of the house where it emerges at a BT Master Socket. The router sits here and connects to a bunch of stuff by cable & Wi-fi.

That's not how most houses are set up though. Usually the copper comes in and the master socket is where it enters the house.

People then either have a router plugged into the master, or often then have their own internal extensions from the master socket for internal phones and plug the router into one of these.

FTTP installers are being more flexible than they used to be in that the ONT box (replacement for the master socket) does not have to be by the front door. There are examples where they have entered the house and taken the fibre into another room, run the fibre around the outside the house and come in elsewhere, even come into the loft.

To SillyOldHector, somewhere in the middle of the house is optimal, or even at the front of the house with an additional mesh device at the back will work. So having the ONT and router in the hallway or even kitchen is not a blocker.

QrizB

400ixl said:

FTTP installers are being more flexible than they used to be in that the ONT box (replacement for the master socket) does not have to be by the front door.

My BT socket is in my hall, which made sense when there was a line-powered wired phone attached but is less convenient now as there's no power points in my hall and I've had to run an extension lead from my dining room to power everything.

I'm hoping that, when we get moved to FTTP, they'll bring the fibre into my kitchen which will be far more convenient. I can stick the kit on a shelf (or in a cupboard) and forget about it.

edited for typos that I only spotted after 400ixl had quoted me!

400ixl

QrizB said:

400ixl said:

FTTP installers are being more flexible than they used to be in that the ONT box (replacement for the master socket) does not have to be by the front door.

My BT socket is in my hall, which made sense when there was a line-powered wired phone attached but is less convenient now as there's now power points in my hall and I've had to run an extension lead from my dining room to power everything.

I'm hoping that, when we get moved to FTTP, they'll bring the fibre into my kitchen which will be fat more convenient. I can stick the kit on a shelf (or in a cupboard) and forget about it.

Exactly, and this is why the FTTP installations are being more flexible and putting the ONT box where there is power etc.

What doesn't need to happen is for the ONT and router to be completely at the other side of the house, especially with modern mesh capabilities.

Timalay

flaneurs_lobster said:

Timalay said:

You know, you don't have to go on faster speeds.  You can't still stay on your same speed (and more than likely pay the same amount).  You do know if you have any problems with your line, you won't have any copper line replaced.  BT are phasing out Copper line repairs.

Fully accept and understand all that. If I HAVE to upgrade then so be it.

My question was "do I have to"?

I don't think have to, but Openreach is removing copper line repairs.  So if you have a problem, they will replace your line with fibre (if they can).