In reply to a post by Quark999:

but it seems that OR are trying to pass this off as rocket science

I'd venture to suggest that to the bulk of customers switching to fibre (come to that, those with any sort of broadband connection) it's exactly that!

You only have to look at some of the queries raised on here, and the speeds achieved on the tbb broadband maps to realise that the this site does not present a typical cross-section of the BB-using public.

I'd guess that BT may loosen up the equipment requirements in time (as they appear to be proposing for installation in the near future), but I can quite understand their strictness in the early stages of a rollout of a new(ish) technology.

VDSL2 is an age-old and tested technology that has been used around the world for years - it is not really any different than ADSL, at least not from the end-user end.

But I don't really mind that they are trying to keep that much control over it initially (even though a bit more truth and a bit less snake-oil wouldn't go amiss), my issue is that I'm supposed to be using that OR modem, yet nobody tells me that. Just because Dabs doesn't sell them doesn't mean that they're not out there - so they should either make it clear that the demarkation point is the ethernet port on the modem, or let people use their own equipment. This is the snake-oil I was referring to - because other VDSL2 modems aren't available on the UK high street yet, that somehow *implies* I'm not allowed to use them?

In reply to a post by Quark999:

VDSL2 is an age-old and tested technology that has been used around the world for years

That's why I said "new(ish)"- it's new to BT as a consumer product.

I didn't think it necessary (more accurately- cba'd ) to spell it out in detail

That's why I said "new(ish)"- it's new to BT as a consumer product.

I didn't think it necessary (more accurately- cba'd ) to spell it out in detail

Doesn't answer whether I can't or can use a different modem

In reply to a post by DaveTomlinson:

Sadly it's not a quite a self install wires only option, you still have to use the BT modem. I asked exactly the same question last week and got this answer:

"There are no immediate plans but Openreach are committed to working with CPs on it. What people may be getting confused with is a PCP Only trial that OR are planning. This enables Accredited CP Engineer install; but using Openreach supplied SSFP+Modem and NOT (for now anyway) a Wires Only device."

I know off topic but any details you can glean on bt cabinet 1 on bradwell Abbey?? I.e. If/when fibre provisioned??

Thanks

In reply to a post by Quark999:

That's why I said "new(ish)"- it's new to BT as a consumer product.

I didn't think it necessary (more accurately- cba'd ) to spell it out in detail

Doesn't answer whether I can't or can use a different modem

Its no different to what Virgin do with their service? You can only use the supplied modem or now their super duper hub.

Ask BT whether you are allowed to use your own modem, horses mouth 'n' all that. I doubt its the case though

Since I'm not with BT but still had an Openreach install, surely there must be *Openreach* documentation for that, which isn't accessible to me as the end user. So apart from the fact that all the other ISPs are responsible for not communicating properly either - what is the official line?

In reply to a post by Quark999:

Just because Dabs doesn't sell them doesn't mean that they're not out there

Dabs belongs to BT, that may be why they don't sell them.

That was a tongue-in-cheek example, of course their out there, I've been using my Fritz!Box happily. But the question whether that's in line with the the TOCs or not is still out there...

In reply to a post by Quark999:

Since I'm not with BT but still had an Openreach install, surely there must be *Openreach* documentation for that, which isn't accessible to me as the end user. So apart from the fact that all the other ISPs are responsible for not communicating properly either - what is the official line?

The diagram on page 6 might be of use:

http://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/products/llu/su...

(PDF)