Fibre switch Qs

[karvala]

Hi guys,

I'm in a broadly similar situation to Niall (didn't want to hijack his thread], though  ), except that FTTC is apparently already available in my area so I'm thinking of making the switch this week (probably to the Fibre Pro package).  Phone checker promises speeds some ten times what I'm currently getting (and what it thinks I should be getting) on ADSL2+, which is too tempting to pass up at just an extra tenner a month.  I want to start running an NAS drive to access some documents while I'm at a work as well, which the increased upload speeds would be very helpful for.

I have to admit that I haven't really been keeping up with broadband developments these days, so I have a few obvious Qs about FTTC, which I'm hoping some of you more knowledgable folk might be able to answer:-

(1) It talks about needing a new router, but only mentions needing it for PPPoE (instead of PPPoA).  I currently use a Netgear Rangemax DG834PN, which has an option to select either PPPoA or PPPoE in the interface.  Does that mean this router would work okay, or would I still need a new one or significantly benefit from a new one)?  Obviously I'd rather avoid the cost/hassle if possible.

(2) Is the download allowance 24/7, i.e. there is no distinction between peak and off-peak here?  And presumably this is strictly downloads, i.e. doesn't include uploads?

(3) How much downtime/disruption is there typically during a switch?

(4) What is the timescale for switches (i.e. how many days/weeks/months/years do BTW take to go to the exchange and plug in the right thing, and how many attempts do they usually require? )

(5) Are speeds something typically like those advertised in the phone checker?  Obviously I realise there are no guarantees, but I want to avoid an ADSL-style "you can get speeds up to 55Mbps" translating into "if you get more than 5Mbps then think yourself lucky".

(6) Finally, also thinking of switching to the phone package (sick of BT), and will probably add international calls to that as my better half likes to call her folks in Ireland. Anything I should know about that?  I take it from Niall's thread that this is now completely separate, i.e. no bundle packages or combined discounts?

Many thanks for any insight you guys can provide. 

[Glenn]

(1) It talks about needing a new router, but only mentions needing it for PPPoE (instead of PPPoA).  I currently use a Netgear Rangemax DG834PN, which has an option to select either PPPoA or PPPoE in the interface.  Does that mean this router would work okay, or would I still need a new one or significantly benefit from a new one)?  Obviously I'd rather avoid the cost/hassle if possible.

I think you would need a different router, but others will confirm

(2) Is the download allowance 24/7, i.e. there is no distinction between peak and off-peak here?  And presumably this is strictly downloads, i.e. doesn't include uploads?

On the new packages there is no 'off peak', only downloads are logged

(3) How much downtime/disruption is there typically during a switch?

The actual downtime for my switch over last year was about 30 minutes

(4) What is the timescale for switches (i.e. how many days/weeks/months/years do BTW take to go to the exchange and plug in the right thing, and how many attempts do they usually require? )

I think they work to within 15 days timescale

(5) Are speeds something typically like those advertised in the phone checker?  Obviously I realise there are no guarantees, but I want to avoid an ADSL-style "you can get speeds up to 55Mbps" translating into "if you get more than 5Mbps then think yourself lucky".

My estimated speed on a 80/20 line is 46mb, I get 29mb at the test I ran yesterday.


(6) Finally, also thinking of switching to the phone package (sick of BT), and will probably add international calls to that as my better half likes to call her folks in Ireland. Anything I should know about that?  I take it from Niall's thread that this is now completely separate, i.e. no bundle packages or combined discounts?

No combined bundles now.

[MisterW]

I currently use a Netgear Rangemax DG834PN, which has an option to select either PPPoA or PPPoE in the interface.  Does that mean this router would work okay, or would I still need a new one or significantly benefit from a new one)?  Obviously I'd rather avoid the cost/hassle if possible.

You need a new router. The connection from the router is Ethernet to the BT supplied modem. You therefore need a router with an Ethernet WAN port capable of establishing a PPPoE connection, these are usually known as Cable routers. Some ( more expensive ) ADSL Modem/routers have an Ethernet WAN port as well as the DSL port.

[Lance]

Also might be worth getting a router capable of gigabit networking as some 10/100mb routers have been a limiting factor in the past.

[Tacitus]

You need a new router. The connection from the router is Ethernet to the BT supplied modem. You therefore need a router with an Ethernet WAN port capable of establishing a PPPoE connection, these are usually known as Cable routers. Some ( more expensive ) ADSL Modem/routers have an Ethernet WAN port as well as the DSL port.

Would something like one of the smaller Zywalls or the equivalent Draytek router/firewalls work?  I believe these use PPoE and are usually put behind a separate modem running in bridge mode.  You can often pick them up cheap on eBay.

[karvala]

Many thanks for the quick and clear answers; that helps clarify things a lot.    Looks like I'll be needing a new router then, and going gigabit makes sense.  I'll have a look at the routers people have been talking about in the FTTC router setups thread, but any other recommendations are welcome.

[Lance]

As you'll see, quite a few of us use the Billion 7800N.

[psp83]

(3) How much downtime/disruption is there typically during a switch?

(4) What is the timescale for switches (i.e. how many days/weeks/months/years do BTW take to go to the exchange and plug in the right thing, and how many attempts do they usually require? )

Every install is different.

It took BTo nearly a month to get mine installed, all cock ups by them though.

My line was routed through 2 different PCP's, they commissioned FTTC on the last box which was quite far away from my house & the engineer wouldn't install it.

A line re-route was then requested so they could commission FTTC on the box around the corner from me where my lines goes to first. the re-route was done but BTo forgot to update the records and when they re-commissioned the FTTC it was back on the same box as the first time, again... no install was done.

So I had to wait again, finally someone updated the records for my line and a BTo came out one morning with no warning and everything was installed within 15 mins.

[karvala]

Just a final update on this: opted for the Fibre Pro package, had it installed today, now back up and running.  Wasn't immensely impressed by the BT guy.  I had deliberately hooked up the new router to the old ADSL modem/router overnight, and configured it properly so that all that needed to be done today was disconnect it from the old one and connect it to the new one, so that my (non-technical) better half could use it while I was at work, but no, that was apparently beyond him.  You'd think with an £80 connection fee, and someone who was diligent enough to set up the router ready and provide all relevant settings on a piece of paper, that they would at least make sure it was properly up and running before leaving; or rather you'd think that if it were anyone other than BTW.  Anyway, that was easy enough to do when I got back, and now working nicely, and a good deal faster than before!  Getting download speeds of around 40-60Mbps (depending on which speed test I use!), and upload speeds around 17Mbps, which is pretty much what I was expecting, so that's great. 

[Glenn]

Sounds good.

[Steve]

 

[Lance]

Enjoy