Migration to BT Broadband - username?

In a couple of days my ADSL connection (< 8Meg service with sync at about 5Mbit, not ADSL 2) will be changing to BT. As there are some hardware changes (Homehub 3 replacing modem and an elderly cable wireless b/g router) I am planning a 'phased migration' by using my existing modem and wireless equipment for a little while until I have sorted out the email clients (new SMTP and its restrictions on other email identities). I then will then install the Homehub, sorting out the DHCP ip address range to avoid any risk of a clash with a NAS which has a fixed ip address. There loads of other tasks such as changing the wireless SSID, password, re-establishing the links with 5 wireless devices.

There are 3 questions:-Firstly, are there any pitfalls in this migration strategy - e.g. the exchange seeing a change of modem after a few days?
Secondly, the instructions on page 16 of the BT Total Broadband User guide indicates that the connection user name is [email protected] with no, or dummy, password. Is the username really broadband.user or should it be the username I created when signing up and is the first part of the new BT primary email address?
Lastly, the exchange went 21CN a few weeks ago though my existing ISP was unable to get a date for bulk migration ("could be a few months"). What are the chances of BT alteing the connection to ADSL2+?

The Homehub 3 is nasty although your neighbours may appreciate you offering the BT Wifi connection to them. DLM is interested in errors and retrains especially in the first 10 days, so it may reduce your line profile if you disconnect and reconnect too often.
The username really is that, with no password needed. Just as an example, my fibre modem username is [email protected], again with no password.
I don't know what will happen about ADSL2+ for you.

Edited by deleted (Wed 12-Dec-12 17:09:54)

Where is you email hosted? Is the problem just that BT block port 25 for other SMTP, because that can be got round.

I don't quite see the logic of not using the HomeHub from the start. I don't see that it makes any difference to changing the email client setup. But there should be no problem swapping after a few days. Just don't do lots of reconnections in a short period, however you proceed.

Yes, that really is the username to use.

Unless you have something wrong at the moment, and should be getting nearer 8Mbps connection now, ADSL2+ isn't going to give you any more download speed. Just more upload. Note - you didn't mean ADSL 2, you meant ADSL2+ which is not the same thing.

Come the day that BT put you on ADSL2+, which may be Day 1, you will probably find your best option is to force it down to ADSL2, in the interests of both speed and stability.

Have you ever checked your extension wiring or seen what speed you sync at using the test socket, compared to your normal socket?

Thanks for this:
Re SMTP, I plan to switch to BT's service from current ISP's and verify the various email identities so I can still send from Thunderbird.

By leaving the HomeHub for a little while, I can maintain connectivity and do the hardware changes when a bit less busy. It will be a one-off change unless I run into problems!

I'm not expecting much of a download speed change (speed checker measures ~3.3 Mbit) but a little more upload speed would be nice.

The current Solwise 605EH modem is as close to the 1979 vintage BT master socket in the hall as is possible (about 4 metres of wiring) with the filter/splitter plugged into the master socket . All phone sockets are on extension wiring plugged into the voice side of the filter. Ethernet over powerline is used to get the connection to a useful location. I have tried moving the modem even closer to the socket (1 metre) but there was no discernable benefit.

From looking at what is being broadcast, a couple of neighbours have HomeHubs but the signal strength is not too good (detached houses). However, I followed RobertoS's advice and used inSSIDer, altering the wireless channel to avoid conflict - now no overlap.

Thanks for the info.

Don't bother installing the BT software, including NetProtect - it doesn't like Thunderbird.

Oh, and BT's servers e.g. SMTP and DNS have always been poor and still are.

In reply to a post by aps2011:

All phone sockets are on extension wiring plugged into the voice side of the filter.

You will almost certainly have an unfiltered ring/bell wire in every one of those extension leads. That could do a lot of damage.

Are you saying the master socket is an LJ 2/1A as on the right here? If so, I suggest you fit an NTE5 next to it as described here. Replace the standard faceplate with a filtered faceplate, and that will filter the ring wires.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

<snip>The username really is that, with no password needed. Just as an example, my fibre modem username is [email protected], again with no password.</snip>

I just double checked in the web admin pages of my Netgear WNR3500L and the username which I have is [email protected] with a dummy password (Some third party routers won't allow a null/blank password)

I hope this info helps.

It can be, literally, anything you like, as long as it's @btbroadband.com.

whatanicedayitistodaynowthatwehaveasuperduperbtinternetconnection@btbroadband.com

Thanks for the advice - I will look into it. The socket is indeed the LJ 2/1A but a bit yellow with age! I had already disconnected the ring wire to extensions but a fixed socket would certainly be tidier than a trailing filter.

As an update, my service changed over at 12:00 noon - a couple of hours before the home hub was delivered. The phone went dead for about 10 mins as well. Thus it was useful to set up the old modem and start getting emails working (a word of warning - see below). The modem synced a bit faster (5.7Mb vs ~5Mb before) . The HH3 connected at the same speed and, as far as I can tell, still on ADSL Max (connected G.992.1 Annex A; noise margin ~ 12dB during the day, ~9dB late evening).

One small niggle with BT - having chosen a good password when setting up the user name, I had to change it as they sent it in clear form on a confirmatory email! On 3 different devices I had to alter the SMTP details.

Thanks again - really helpful to get confirmation - better to ask when one can rather than struggle without any internet connection.