Sky offering wires only FTTC???

A work colleague was able to finally get FTTC yesterday. He placed the order and was told 2-3 days no engineer visit. I told him that was a little odd beens the Openreach modem needs to be installed as well as maybe a new faceplate and testing.

he was told Sky have made an all in one router that does the VDSL work as well.

Is this correct?

To Sky having an all in one device on the way, yes and wires-only is on its way.

But no official launch from Openreach yet, it may be they have put them onto the trial, rather than the full launch.

isps's are all likely doing their own trials.

BT retail are.

Sr101 does not do vdsl

The new black Sky hub which I think is now in the late stages of beta testing is a combined VDSL modem/router.

In reply to a post by pcoventry76:

We (on Sky) currently have the Sky Hub which is the SR101 and I've seen people saying this one - or a new one is able to do the VDSL as well.

the SR101 dose support both ADSL and VDSL, But the built in modem is only ADSL if you look on the back of the hub there is a green bar on the bottom port this doubles as the WAN port if you put the hub into VDSL mode

Ash

In reply to a post by acpsd775:

In reply to a post by pcoventry76:

We (on Sky) currently have the Sky Hub which is the SR101 and I've seen people saying this one - or a new one is able to do the VDSL as well.

the SR101 dose support both ADSL and VDSL, But the built in modem is only ADSL if you look on the back of the hub there is a green bar on the bottom port this doubles as the WAN port if you put the hub into VDSL mode

Ash

So, no VDSL modem. Thus it does NOT support VDSL. IT is a router with an ADSL modem, that is all.

A router with ADSL modem, and an Ethernet switch where one port can be reconfigured to operate as an Ethernet WAN port to be precise, and thus interoperate with Openreach GEA FTTC and FTTP products.

But yes people need to be clear when saying a device supports VDSL, as can see lots of people moaning that the plug fits but nothing works.

All FTTC order must be installed by BT Openreach, without it, it won't work!

Yes but there's a difference between an engineer at the exchange (ADSL) or cabinet (VDSL/FTTC) and one requiring a visit to the customer's premises.

[pedant mode] BT Openreach or a subcontractor (Kelly etc.) [/pedant mode]

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

A router with ADSL modem, and an Ethernet switch where one port can be reconfigured to operate as an Ethernet WAN port to be precise, and thus interoperate with Openreach GEA FTTC and FTTP products.

But yes people need to be clear when saying a device supports VDSL, as can see lots of people moaning that the plug fits but nothing works.

So something like that thing that Plusnet supplies? But the thing that Plusnet supplies is just a ADSl router/modem with a knocked up firmware.

Oh dear, if they start doing that watch for even more complaints. I think I would wait for a while before I even tried it to be honest.

As things stand, but there are trials underway ahead of a launch where the engineer does not visit the customers home

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

As things stand, but there are trials underway ahead of a launch where the engineer does not visit the customers home

What if thing go wrong on the day of broadband installed?

Contact service provider and if necessary arrange an appointment , just like an ADSL provide .

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

As things stand, but there are trials underway ahead of a launch where the engineer does not visit the customers home

What are they doing: also sending vdsl Interstitial faceplates with the option of data extension kits if required?

I would hope they are doing that, but they may not be

More likely to be a micro-filter suitable for use with the VDSL service?

There is a router in the trial stages so it might be that but I feel it's more likely to be some kind of mis-communication. Although it is entirely possible.

In reply to a post by Ribble:

Contact service provider and if necessary arrange an appointment , just like an ADSL provide .

What if broadband isn't working and mean another appointment could delaying further. No thanks. I rather to have BT Engineer at the property to do the job done!

In reply to a post by speedyrite:

More likely to be a micro-filter suitable for use with the VDSL service?

Would, in general, the presence of connected bell wires on extensions have a significant affect on vdsl?

Down to the ISP, microfilters or the VDSL interstitial plate which is easy enough to buy on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006VX2P1M/ref=as...

And if you start at the bottom and work up http://www.coolwebhome.co.uk/faceplate you can see how simple it is to fit

So I presume when you have ordered ADSL you booked an engineer install?

Exactly the same 11 years ago when self install ADSL was introduced. I expect the option of a chargeable engineer visit will be available. The end user can decide if thy want to pay to the extra .

Much more significant that with ADSL2+, hence why I would recommend filter at the master socket and modem located there.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Much more significant that with ADSL2+, hence why I would recommend filter at the master socket and modem located there.

Any many many many people I meet are still unconvinced until I actually go to their house and get them a 4 or 5 megabit/sec sync improvement.

"wires only" VDSL will be cheaper, but its a silly idea from a performance / quality point of view - unless the ISPs will all offer a 6 month contract instead of 12 or 18 months.

Edited by jchamier (Thu 05-Sep-13 08:29:50)

The port will be tested at the cab by the engineer connecting it up.

But that said, these boards will be awash with people who have used the self install VDSL option, and now find that the speed/stability is suffering due to set up and wiring issues.

In reply to a post by speedyrite:

More likely to be a micro-filter suitable for use with the VDSL service?

i always hated the microfilters, which is why I installed another faceplate.

Microfilters get knocked around with the vacuum cleaner.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Any many many many people I meet are still unconvinced until I actually go to their house and get them a 4 or 5 megabyte/sec sync improvement.

I'm guessing you mean megabit otherwise you are, indeed, a magician.

Any many many many people I meet are still unconvinced until I actually go to their house and get them a 4 or 5 megabyte/sec sync improvement.

Agree here. Also I know people who live 300m from the telephone exchange but have only 3Mbps sync speeds. I look at their setup, there is two master sockets for some reason (both BT branded). One has an unfiltered Sky Box.

The other master socket is unused but the HomeHub plugs into the extension socket DIRECTLY next to the master socket.

Having told them it's all wrong they do not listen but still habitually complain about the service. Generally I find it's easier to just leave people to get along with it although these bad setups are going to cause issues on VDSL for sure. Also the openreach modem can be a little iffy at reconnecting if the connection drops (on both BT and Sky). Luckily it only drops once every few months.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

As things stand, but there are trials underway ahead of a launch where the engineer does not visit the customers home

One more question to ask where do we get Openreach modem from if there is no BT engineer in the property? We need Openreach modem for FTTC.

As with self install ADSL, the service provider will send you the equipment, probably a combined modem/router.

In reply to a post by kasg:

I'm guessing you mean megabit otherwise you are, indeed, a magician.

Oops yes, stupid mistake :-/

Just as with ADSL the choice is down to the provider, post an openreach modem, send you to PCWorld, or source their own combination or all in one device.

Interesting, so a device that can switch between ADSL and VDSL modem, sounds like good forward thinking from an ISP.

Edited by deleted (Thu 05-Sep-13 09:33:04)

In reply to a post by mikecrawford80:

Interesting, so a device that can switch between ADSL and VDSL modem, sounds like good forward thinking from an ISP.

All the VDSL modems I've seen thus far as backwards compatible with ADSL, This includes the Openreach provided ones, although since those are locked down you do need to hack/flash them first to get access to the settings.

If taking part in the trials at the same time as the other providers e.g.

EE have their own all in one, so do BT and seen the odd rumour from TalkTalk can be called forward thinking.

The clever ones will have retained an Ethernet WAN port, so that if a customer switches to GEA-FTTP Fibre on Demand no need ISP hardware just connected the Ethernet from the Openreach fibre converter into the router.