Changed provider enginner?

Marvel1

I jusy changed provider from Now to One Stream

 Now Super Fibre (52.7-58.5 Mbps)

To

One Stream 

Supreme Full Fibre 80


I just had email saying about an enginner visit, logged into my account:
06/02/2025 PM - 1pm to 6pm 

Why would I need an enginner? I have been changing my broadband provider each time my contract finishes - roughly 6 times, only once needed an enginner as I left |Virgin Media and Openreach came out, and now I just change the router on the activation date.

If I do need an enginner, I will just cancel the order and try someone else but avoid an enginner visit, whay do I look for to avoid one?

Ayr_Rage

If you are moving from "fibre" with the last part of the connection over the phone line to real full fibre you need a completely new connection to your home.

The engineer will bring the fibre cable to your home, maybe have to drill a hole in the wall and fit a new termination point inside.

If you are currently connecting via a phone line and wish to remain on that you need a part-fibre/hybrid connection which will have a speed range rather than a fixed speed.

littleboo

As above, Supreme Full Fibre, is, Full Fibre so you will need that installed. Be aware that you will need to adopt full fibre sooner or later, it's also a superior technology.

oldernonethewiser

I changed from Now to a full fibre provider.

Engineers turned up, drilled hole to get the new cabling into the property.  Installed the ONT and set up the router. Both of these require power so 2 x 13A sockets nearby.  Took less than 30 minutes.

Marvel1

I will cancel it then, don't want to use my leave for that just yet, unless I really I have too.  Thank you

iniltous

If FTTP is available you may find that to change from Now  to any other Openreach provider will require FTTP to be installed, not just Onestream , even re-contracting with Now may  require you to take FTTP , so your only choice if you don’t want FTTP installed is probably to remain on Now but out of contract and paying a premium for that ( assuming it’s being out of contact and paying more is what has caused you to be looking for an new  provider in the first place  ) …..once FTTP is available , Openreach want ISP to put their customers onto it , so they incentivise the ISP to do that , so FTTC is effectively replaced by FTTP , it’s understandable that OR once they have spent money building the FTTP network want consumers onto it and off the old network so it can eventually be turned off .

You could rejoin Virgin if they can start their connection without you needing to be at home , but as stated,  staying put and paying whatever Now are charging as an out of contract customer may be your only option , if you don’t want to ‘waste’ your leave from work on providing access to your property for the FTTP installation 

Marvel1

iniltous said:

If FTTP is available you may find that to change from Now  to any other Openreach provider will require FTTP to be installed, not just Onestream , even re-contracting with Now may  require you to take FTTP , so your only choice if you don’t want FTTP installed is probably to remain on Now but out of contract and paying a premium for that ( assuming it’s being out of contact and paying more is what has caused you to be looking for an new  provider in the first place  ) …..once FTTP is available , Openreach want ISP to put their customers onto it , so they incentivise the ISP to do that , so FTTC is effectively replaced by FTTP , it’s understandable that OR once they have spent money building the FTTP network want consumers onto it and off the old network so it can eventually be turned off .

You could rejoin Virgin if they can start their connection without you needing to be at home , but as stated,  staying put and paying whatever Now are charging as an out of contract customer may be your only option , if you don’t want to ‘waste’ your leave from work on providing access to your property for the FTTP installation 

Thank you, was not aware of that.

Marvel1

As above looks like I will need the full fibre no matter who I join.

Now my only worry if there room for the OTN box, on the small wall I have that is external is a Virgin Media box, the current telephone socket and a gas meter and a radiartor.  I have about 15cm gap I think in between the Virgin media box and telephone socket.

wongataa

The ONT replaces the telephone socket box (assuming it is not a Virgin one).  It is about the same size square but thinner.

Marvel1

Ahhh, phone call from providerthe package I picked not available as over copper, offered higher speed on full fibre for more £.  Cancelled order and said I will get to them so I csn compare myself (also cashback). 

Why have them still displayed on comparison sites if not offered as i thought it was the full fibre option, my postcode is entered.  Third party website so likely not their fault, but they did allow me to order it.

iniltous

The speed should be irrelevant, you can have 40,55,80Mb on FTTP the same as FTTC , although you actually get the headline speed , no distance related reduction, you don’t need to take higher speeds just because FTTP is available, it’s more the fact that once FTTP is available, Openreach want customers onto it and not stay on the old FTTC product….if there is no official priority for FTTP , a provider can still order FTTC but OR don’t incentivise that , the ISP gets rewarded for putting customers onto FTTP when it’s available, so given these incentives, ISP will push you onto FTTP as it’s financially beneficial to the ISP and obviously OR want to get customers onto FTTP.

If you want to remain on FTTC , the usual way is to remain out of contract with your ISP , that way nothing changes , if your ISP wants to renew your contract on FTTC , they can , Openreach are not involved in your contractual arrangement , if you switch , then OR , depending on the area , may only offer FTTP to the new ISP .

You originally stated you were getting Onestream Supreme Full Fibre 80 , which clearly is a full fibre product but not a speed that needs full fibre , Onestream will have FTTC 80Mb over FTTC but obviously it won’t be called ‘full fibre’ , and may not offer it in your area now you have FTTP available …..if you are looking at other ISPs to keep FTTC , and not have the ‘hassle’ of FTTP installation, then most will want the OR incentive and offer FTTP not FTTC even if you are happy with sub 80Mb speeds that FTTC can provide , so you may struggle to get a new provider to give you service over FTTC .