So... to cut to the chase...

I will have a wired network & will connect all fixed items by cable.

Should I stick with the following ISP supplied hardware or buy my own?

BT HH 5 - keep or replace?
EE Brightbox - keep or replace?
Plusnet box - keep or replace?
SKY box - keep or replace?

Then perhaps you'd like to explain why i'm able to stream Sky HD channels wirelessly over 802.11ac without any buffering over 3 floors or why my desktop pc connected wirelessly gives me pings of 24ms to TBB, only 1ms worse versus a wired connection.

Some real world tests for you

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-rev...

Alas you are both correct, the variation depends on where you are and the RF environment and how nicely the different client devices play with the specific hardware.

So yes 802.11ac will cut the mustard for many people, but if planning to stream to main house TV still best to aim for an Ethernet connection for the device.

Thanks for all the comment. I've bought this...
TP-LINK Archer VR900 AC 1900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit VDSL2/ADSL2+ Modem Router for Phone Line Connections (Compatible with 4K streaming/View IPTV/BT Infinity/TalkTalk/EE/Plusnet Fibre/LTE Support)
("Used-as new" from Amazon Warehouse for £77 )

In reply to a post by janner58:

We have the option of both a BT line and a Virgin line and have both choices ready for connection dependant on who we go with.

Probably too late now but I don't see why anyone would want to take on the horrendous rental charges for a BT line if they don't have to.

I have a mobile contract with 1500 minutes for £6, about 1/3 of the BT line rental most will charge. 1500 is more than I will use and calls to other mobiles which would likely account for the majority of chargeable calls on a land line are free.

From a value for money perspective Virgin for internet and mobile for phone is almost a no brainer.

In reply to a post by RB291:

I have a mobile contract with 1500 minutes for £6, about 1/3 of the BT line rental most will charge. 1500 is more than I will use and calls to other mobiles which would likely account for the majority of chargeable calls on a land line are free.

That looks like a good price, who is the provider?

From a value for money perspective Virgin for internet and mobile for phone is almost a no brainer.

The problems with mobile phones are that they need a signal, and their batteries go flat particularly when the signal is very weak.

In reply to a post by Michael_Chare:

That looks like a good price, who is the provider?

Life Mobile through uswitch although their current offer is only 1000 minutes (and 5k texts/1G data) for 5p less. (1 month contract, EE 3G network).

Thanks. I must look at uswitch the next time I have to renew a contract.