Probably my final update to this thread.

Thanks for the comments and feedback. Well, I spoke with Zen again today just to confirm their policy on retention and it's definitely a no. However, as I was preparing to end the call stating my intentions to choose another provider at the new address, the guy checked my account and found that I was infact paying slightly more compared to the same package and increased line rental. To get to the point, I stuck with Zen for the following reasons (at least for my first line):
- The new line install cost was reduced significantly
- Activation fee for FTTC was waived
- I downgraded my choice of plan to initially unlimited fibre 1, will check on attainable speed once it's live
- Simultaneous provide has been arranged

Install date, if I don't get an engineer no-show or a botched job from a subcontractor if one of them turns up instead, is Friday 9th October for both phone and FTTC. I've been told I'll keep my existing number but it'll have to be moved over after the line becomes available. I'll also keep my existing block of 8 routed static IP's.

I will likely try, and hopefully use, Sharedband (if I need a second line). The second line will be the one that is apparently currently active, hence why I opted for a new line install for sake of saving time despite a little more to pay for the setup. Maybe the previous tenants at the property were unable to cease the line or otherwise forgot to do so. I'm not sure who it's with but I imagine it'll either be Sky or TalkTalk.

One thing I'd like, which I don't know if it's possible, is for the existing master socket and new master socket to be located in the upstairs front bedroom rather than the living room. Is this possible to do if I ask the engineer and offer tea/coffee and biscuits ?

You ask Zen to order the (free - or was) Data Extension Kit. (Openreach call it the Home Wiring Solution).

Depending on the engineer almost anything is then possible. The ideal being re-routing the incoming connection to come straight from outside into the bedroom.

I see, ok. I did send an email to Zen querying this relocation as I forgot to mention it on the phone call. If I've not heard much back by lunch tomorrow I'll call them and see if they can amend the order. They've got to surely locate the new line upstairs anyway since I've ordered a new line and that's where I want the master socket for that line?

Edited by Ixel (Tue 29-Sep-15 23:47:05)

In reply to a post by Ixel:

They've got to surely locate the new line upstairs anyway since I've ordered a new line and that's where I want the master socket for that line?

That's a good point. If they and the engineer buy that, the coffee and biscuits could get the desired result of moving the existing one as well. Without the data extension kit.

Normally, the master for a second line is placed close to the first, as another pair in the same cable is used. So to move both could be easier than the two widely separated.

Are there any extensions that would need sorting out?

I see.

No extensions would need sorting, I don't like extension sockets or wiring .

This thread is great, I'll be giving Uno a call in a few weeks as I'd really like to get bonded lines

@Ixel when you said

The bonding has a maximum aggregate of 80-90Mb currently with the higher end routers.

Are you saying that even with 2 lines you still only get 80mb download? Shouldn't it be 160 with 2 lines?

Edited by deleted (Fri 02-Oct-15 10:05:25)

Sorry for the late response, however what I understand is that this is a limitation of the router. So even with a 160/40 connection (two lines at 80/20 each for example), the connection can only achieve an aggregate speed of between 80 to 90 megabits. A Firebrick, if it works with however Uno would do this, might be capable of more.

I wonder what router they're using.

If the solution uses MLPPP, a small x86-64 box running pfSense would probably work at full speed. Ideally you want a device with Intel NICs, as other brands have proved inferior. It's a good idea to look for a processor supporting AES-NI, as this will accelerate AES based VPNs.


For those that don't know, pfSense is a free router and firewall based on FreeBSD. Currently it is limited to x86 devices, but there will hopefully be an ARM version in the near future, allowing you to use cheap ARM boards like a Beaglebone Black as a pfSense router (the BBB would need you to use a switch supporting VPNs, as it only has one NIC).

I've recently contributed RFC 4638 support, which allows the use of a 1500 byte MTU over PPPoE with suitable hardware. This will hopefully appear in the forthcoming pfSense 2.3. I can't see any reason why RFC 4638 over MLPPP will not work, but I only have a single Zen FTTC connection. MLPPP is probably rarer these days than in the ISDN days, when it was common to bring up and drop B channels as bandwidth requirements changed.


The beauty of pfSense is that you can try it for free, by booting it on an old computer using a Live CD or memory stick. If you are happy with the results, you can go on to buy dedicated hardware.