To future proof and to get the best, based on your comments ...

Master as early as possible. Install modem at that point. If Profile 30 comes along which will offer 200Mbps downstream, will there be too much noise and will te data extension be suitable? Or what if FTTP is available? In either case it ill be just replace modem and use existing cabling

Then, use the Cat5e to take the modem's Ethernet output to the Router - it will easily cater for 100Mbps and if faster speeds arrive then it will cater for those too.

You could use the phone cable to take a phone extension up stairs or use it to pull Cat5e back through and give yourself a Gbit socket near the master.

Edit to add:

You could use the phone cable to put a VOIP handset downstairs ...

Edited by MHC (Mon 07-Jan-13 13:37:13)

I realise this might fit better in BT or ISP unhappiness but thought those who advised me deserved an update.

Waited in all day, appointment scheduled 13-1800 for BT Infinity 2 installation this thread refers to. Cleared furniture, no work. My daily rate is pretty substantial. No phone call about problems or delays at all, on landline or mobile. Telephone with BT, broadband with Sky.

I rang BT at 1900 - on hold until 1920. Spoke to India. No clue. Coudn't speak to anyone in the UK, nobody with a clue in India. "No we can't put you through to complaints, engineers or CEO." "I can rebook an appointment - perhaps for next week, Sir. " In the end I asked to be put through to cancellations. Guess what, that, like sales, is in the UK.

Clueless woman, quite aggressive in the UK in complaints. Checked Openreach records and the record is blank. Nada. She said if I cancelled, she didn't know if I'd go back to Sky or not. No sorry, no compensation. Broadband is still connected to Sky ADSL. All in all, about three-quarters of an hour wasted on the phone to BT - 70% hold music.

Funniest bit was that I was selected for one of those 'How happy are you with the service you received today?' surveys. I at least did not think that was a waste of time.

Questions:

1. How do I ensure that my line is not stuck in some kind of limbo?
2. Do I have to give them their equipment back (i.e. YouView box) as they gave it to me free of charge, I didn't have to pay for it and they appear to be in breach of contract bang to rights as far as I can see? I wouldn't normally be so petty, but I am really very cross.

I'm going to call Sky now.

Just spoke to Sky:

Helpful chap says he can see I still have an ADSL service with Sky but I can't place an order with them as the Openreach database shows I have Fibre with another supplier. Which, of course, I don't...

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phone call from BT first thing this morning Openreach engineer appeared about 9.30 a.m.

BT Speedtest Lite (Beta) results:

74.94 Mbps up
11.86 Mbps down
38.38ms latency

Pleased.

In reply to a post by musical_uk:

Phone call from BT first thing this morning Openreach engineer appeared about 9.30 a.m.

BT Speedtest Lite (Beta) results:

74.94 Mbps up
11.86 Mbps down
38.38ms latency

Pleased.

Are you sure?

74 Down / 11 Up would be reasonable! Although I would be querying the upstream at 11 ... it sounds a little low.

Reading through various threads, trying to understand the purpose of the Data Extension Kit versus Ethernet cable.

If you can run Ethernet cable from the Openreach (and it is located at the master socket) to the router location somewhere else in the house, what is the purpose of the extension kit?

Does it extend the copper wire/VDSL transport from the master socket to the router location - and the Openreach is installed at that end close to the router?

If so, what is the value of that above just running CAT5 from a modem installed beside the master socket? Thanks

Does it extend the copper wire/VDSL transport from the master socket to the router location - and the Openreach is installed at that end close to the router?

Correct

The value - the engineer does it for you and also a common place for a master socket is in the hall where power may not be available or just plain difficult location.

By Openreach I presume you mean the modem.

The purpose of the data extension kit is so that the modem can be located elsewhere, not where the master socket is.

And the value of that is that not everybody wants the modem where the master socket is

Edit: I type too slow.....

Edited by R0NSKI (Wed 23-Jan-13 23:04:56)

A data extension kit, if fitted, will take the VDSL 'signal' from the frontplate filter on the NTE to the Openreach VDSL modem to a distance of up to 30m.

This gives the installer the option of just shifting this part rather than a shift of the NTE, this being done if the punter does not want the modem and router next to the existing NTE.

Got it, thanks