what will FTTC mean to me?

BT are due to install fibre to the cabinet at the entrance to my estate (60 houses).

will that FTTC make any existing ADSL2 connections go faster?

i.e.
exactly what difference would FTTC (specifically as implemented in the UK & not by some European telephone companies) make to existing ADSL2 connections?

would any existing ADSL2 connections go faster when the cable from exchange to cabinet is replaced by fibre?

or is it necessary for "other things" to happen?

e.g.

maybe a different type of router?

some sort of switching or enabling in the exchange?

a new ISP contract?
(as existing contract is only for adsl2)

thanks

You have to 'sign up' and pay for a faster connection (like FTTC).

BT/OR will then enable the connection from your Cabinet and install their Open Reach Modem and give you a Home Hub 3 Wireless Router.

From your distance from the Cabinet (assuming it's reasonably close- a few hundred metres), you should expect 10 to 20 times the speed of an existing Exchange connected ADSL.

It makes no difference to an existing connection. Basically it replaces it, like broadband replaced dial-up.

I've got a description here of how it works.

Only BT (Retail) supply the Home Hub that has been mentioned, just like they do with their ADSL products. With the others, listed on the sub-page of that link, you have to get buy a (cable) router to connect to the Openreach modem. This can be from your chosen ISP or anywhere you like. There's also a link on my "list" page to an excellent spreadsheet by orly and yarwell, given potted details of what FTTC products are available.

Should have added...

The BT/OR Website for their FTTC (Infinity) product is at-

http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProduc...

You will need a Degree in Mining to find out anything meaningful though.

It's not just BT that can do the new FTTC type connections, other ISPs can do it too and will supply their own new router (free in some cases) to you for when the Openreach engineer comes with the new FTTC modem. Don't be led to think this is a BT only thing as they'd like you to think!!

There is no such thing as a BT/OR website for Infinity. Infinity is merely BT Retail's offering based on Openreach FTTC. There are many other suppliers of Openreach FTTC, as explained to the OP.

Which ISPs apart from BT supply a free router please? It's worth knowing.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Which ISPs apart from BT supply a free router please? It's worth knowing.

Plusnet, for one.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

With the others, listed on the sub-page of that link, you have to get buy a (cable) router to connect to the Openreach modem.

Strictly speaking- not necessarily.

If you only need to connect a single computer to the internet (ie you have no LAN) you can just connect the computer's Ethernet port direct to the OR modem.

True!

I expect a WAP could also be used connected direct to the modem?

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

I expect a WAP could also be used connected direct to the modem?

Indeed, yes. I am waiting for someone to write-up that is just what they have done.

I don't know anything about WAPs (never used one) but it would seem to be a sensible route to follow if, for example, all the computers in the house were laptops.

But can a WAP handle the PPPoE login to the ISP? Otherwise I'm not sure how this would be handled with multiple laptops coming in and out of use.

But can a WAP handle the PPPoE login to the ISP?

That is a very good point, Bill and something that needs to be looked into. Not being a "stand alone" WAP user, I don't have a definite answer.

I believe that bottom of the range devices would not be suitable, however I strongly suspect that more "up market" devices would have the necessary functionality available. (Another item on my list "to research", when I eventually get "a round tuit".)

In reply to a post by billford:

If you only need to connect a single computer to the internet (ie you have no LAN) you can just connect the computer's Ethernet port direct to the OR modem.

The BT engineer who did my install did not know this and thought it impossible.

DrT

In reply to a post by DrTeeth:

The BT engineer who did my install did not know this and thought it impossible.

Far be it from me to comment on BT engineers

Seriously, he probably had no idea how to set up the PPPoE except on a router, and I've got some sympathy there. I know how to set my Macs, but if it were Linux or any flavour of Windows I'd be making heavy use of the Help screens

In reply to a post by billford:

But can a WAP handle the PPPoE login to the ISP? Otherwise I'm not sure how this would be handled with multiple laptops coming in and out of use.

The Airport Express (essentially a WAP) can do PPPoE, and its tiny. Could work for some people. I don't know if the ethernet socket is any use in that mode, never tried as I don't have a suitable ISP

http://www.apple.com/uk/airportexpress/specs.html

Its neater in the US with the smaller power pins:
http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/specs.html

I've got an Airport Express, but didn't think of it .

I use it for streaming music from iTunes to the audio kit- I think it should work in this context but I'm afraid I have no intention of tearing my system apart to find out

In reply to a post by billford:

In reply to a post by DrTeeth:

The BT engineer who did my install did not know this and thought it impossible.

Far be it from me to comment on BT engineers

Seriously, he probably had no idea how to set up the PPPoE except on a router, and I've got some sympathy there. I know how to set my Macs, but if it were Linux or any flavour of Windows I'd be making heavy use of the Help screens

The difference is that YOU would know it *is* possible and have to find the details. He thought it *impossible*. There is a big difference .

Regards

DrT

In reply to a post by DrTeeth:

The difference is that YOU would know it *is* possible and have to find the details. He thought it *impossible*. There is a big difference .

Where there's a Bill there's a way.

The difference is that YOU would know it *is* possible and have to find the details. He thought it *impossible*. There is a big difference

...or possibly not.
It's easy to be smug, but I bet the engineer can do stuff that many couldn't. Cut off a 100pr heat shrink joint, clear the fault and reclose it, all whilst doubled over in the rain.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

The difference is that YOU would know it *is* possible and have to find the details. He thought it *impossible*. There is a big difference

...or possibly not.
It's easy to be smug, but I bet the engineer can do stuff that many couldn't. Cut off a 100pr heat shrink joint, clear the fault and reclose it, all whilst doubled over in the rain.

I was not being disparaging towards the engineer and apologise if that is how my prose came across. I am *full* of respect for those craftsmen. However, I do take issue with that engineer's training or lack of it.

DrT

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Cut off a 100pr heat shrink joint, clear the fault

Or possibly not.

Don't be so sensitive- I've no problems with BT engineers as a whole, BT as an organisation may be a different matter.

I was not being disparaging towards the engineer and apologise if that is how my prose came across. I am *full* of respect for those craftsmen. However, I do take issue with that engineer's training or lack of it.

Thank you.

Don't be so sensitive- I've no problems with BT engineers as a whole

OK.

TBH I have to be fairly thick skinned to do my job and be a regular user of this forum. It's amazing the almost pathological hatred BT as a company, can produce in some.

I have become inured to it, in the most part, but some times a direct attack on some miserable old scrote, like myself, just has to be defended.

TalkTalk only charge £25 for the installation and send out a new router free.

Things are looking up then, that's three including BT - covering a huge chunk of the population.

>>Cut off a 100pr heat shrink joint, clear the fault and reclose it

Ah. Just the small stuff eh.

In reply to a post by RandomJointer:

>>Cut off a 100pr heat shrink joint, clear the fault and reclose it

Ah. Just the small stuff eh.

Ah, but Zarjaz's jointing is accurate and lines end up where they are supposed to - unlike someone else's efforts which at the best of time can be described as Random!

... and to be fair, I don't three tonners on site with at least one working tea kit in the back, and two colleagues for moral support.

Now now. My cables may ring wrong but they are nicely balanced.

And one of those tonners is the Precision Testing Officer and he don't make his own joints or his own tea.

Edited by deleted (Wed 17-Aug-11 20:30:21)