Changing home again and have specific reqs for FTTC

Hey all,
Hope you're all doing well!
Coming to you after searching the forums for 30 mins trying to find an answer.
I'm moving to an area where FTTP isn't ready yet so I have to stick with FTTC. No one seems to guarantee upload speeds, and download speeds seem quite inferior too (I know you can't really compare).
My partner and I both work from home with regular Teams meetings, the kids game a lot, and we're usually streaming on the TV as well — probably 8-10 devices connected at any one time.
So I'm looking for a good solution that also lets me use my own router (I've got an ASUS RT-AX92U). Cost is important, but speed and reliability matter more.
I'm in the East Midlands, so any advice for this area would be greatly appreciated!

Before moving house this is the minimum I would check for the new property:

For FTTP coverage try https://bidb.uk you never know there may be FTTP coverage.

If you are stuck with FTTC or even ADSL be absolutely sure wherever you move to can get the speeds you want. You can use https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com as a guide.

Remember both urls are estimates on speed and coverage and could be completely wrong.

Also worth seeing what type of speed you can get on your mobile phone ideally one from each of the 3/4 providers O2, Vodafone/Three and EE as a fall back. If you have decent 4G/5G coverage it may be quicker than FTTC but comes with some disadvantages also.

Thanks for this and the tool.
I've got to decide today, was thinking about going with IDNet.
I don't have any of those tool values to input, but I am sure there is no FTTP yet (work will be carried out this year I've been told).
I hope ID Net will be better than OneStream I had now (current location had FTTP)

In reply to a post by grumpygamer:

So I'm looking for a good solution that also lets me use my own router (I've got an ASUS RT-AX92U).

Are you sure this works on FTTC? A quick look on the internet turned up no evidence that it could and an AI essay which said you need to use a DSL type modem.

oh ... is like fttc = dsl?
wow that takes me back some years!
Uh you're right then, my router is not a DSL modem!
Dang, big mistake averted, thanks!
So I will need an external modem anyways....

FTTC = VDSL = a higher speed version of ADSL. Many years ago, Openreach used to provide you with a modem, but it's "wires only" now.

I used to use a Draytek Vigor 130 modem on FTTC (I believe that's an end-of-life model and they replaced it with a new one).

The larger consumer ISPs will provide you with a router with built-in VDSL chipset; and if you still want to use your own router, you may or may not be able to switch the ISP router into modem mode / bridge mode. YMMV.

Smaller ISPs like IDNet, Aquiss etc often don't provide you with the equipment, and the speeds you get won't be any different to the larger ones since they're all taking the same Openreach service into the same VDSL line card in the cabinet. However the smaller ISPs will have better customer service, and if you end up with (say) an intermittent copper fault, may be better at diagnosing it and/or push harder through to Openreach to fix it. It's worth it, in my opinion.

broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com (address checker tab) is the place to start to get an estimate of what you might get from FTTC. But beware, it's based on line models as well as measured speeds. The actual speeds you get may be at the lower end of the predictions, or below.

If the speeds on FTTC aren't good enough, then you could consider 4G/5G subject to coverage - try SIMs from different providers - although it's also subject to big variations in performance, for example towers being turned off for maintenance without notice. If it were me, I'd stick the kids on 4G/5G and keep the slower but more reliable FTTC line to myself. In the absence of good coverage from any mobile network, Starlink is another option.

You could use an HG612 modem.
I was surprised to find that they now cost as much as £20 on ebay.
You might find a dsl router that can be set to modem mode.

You say "My partner and I both work from home with regular Teams meetings, the kids game a lot, and we're usually streaming on the TV as well".

If FTTP is not available to you, then the only practical solution to meet your needs is STARLINK.

Post deleted by bit_bucket

Edited by bit_bucket (Wed 25-Feb-26 14:23:22)

Indeed, the Openreach branded Huawei HG612 is the most reliable and best performing VDSL modem in my former (I am now retired) experience.
The Broadcom chipsets, used by Huawei, outperform the Lantiq VRX chipsets, as used in ECI modems, even on the R-DSLAMs from ECI themselves.

The one and vital caveat is not to use Version 1 of the HG612 modem, which is unstable due to overheating.
The higher the version the better.
Version 3/3A/3B etc are best.
Version 2's are OK.
Don't touch version 1's, even with the proverbial barge-pole.

The version number is printed, in large bold typeface, on the boiler-plate label, on the underside of the modem.
If an eBay listing doesn't show the label, don't buy it.
I always used to get the seller to confirm and guarantee the version to be supplied, before purchase, after one time I got caught out, when the modem didn't match the listing's photos.

Having said all of the above, I agree others, in that you stated use case:

"My partner and I both work from home with regular Teams meetings, the kids game a lot, and we're usually streaming on the TV as well — probably 8-10 devices connected at any one time."

... is going to be a stretch, even with an FTTC line that syncs at >= 80mbps.

Good luck!

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

You say "My partner and I both work from home with regular Teams meetings, the kids game a lot, and we're usually streaming on the TV as well".

If FTTP is not available to you, then the only practical solution to meet your needs is STARLINK.

I think if you can get a solid 40M downstream, and you are not expecting to run Teams simultaneously with the streaming and the kids games, you will probably not need to go to starlink.

In reply to a post by DFScale:

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

You say "My partner and I both work from home with regular Teams meetings, the kids game a lot, and we're usually streaming on the TV as well".

If FTTP is not available to you, then the only practical solution to meet your needs is STARLINK.

I think if you can get a solid 40M downstream, and you are not expecting to run Teams simultaneously with the streaming and the kids games, you will probably not need to go to starlink.

Since the OP stated that all devices are normally in us at the same time, and an endorsement of my sentiments by another contributor to this thread, I would say that STARLINK is the only practical solution for the OP. In all probability their respective employers would make a contribution to the monthly rental.

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

Since the OP stated that all devices are normally in us at the same time, and an endorsement of my sentiments by another contributor to this thread, I would say that STARLINK is the only practical solution for the OP. In all probability their respective employers would make a contribution to the monthly rental.

No, OP does not state all devices are in use at the same time. It is 8-10 devices. This is probably more than 1 per person, so some might be IoT or low bandwidth devices.

Given that Starlink is quite expensive, there is value in outlining some of the compromises which can be made rather than your absolutist position of Starlink.

Edited by DFScale (Thu 26-Feb-26 13:53:51)

In reply to a post by DFScale:

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

Since the OP stated that all devices are normally in us at the same time, and an endorsement of my sentiments by another contributor to this thread, I would say that STARLINK is the only practical solution for the OP. In all probability their respective employers would make a contribution to the monthly rental.

No, OP does not state all devices are in use at the same time. It is 8-10 devices. This is probably more than 1 per person, so some might be IoT or low bandwidth devices.

Given that Starlink is quite expensive, there is value in outlining some of the compromises which can be made rather than your absolutist position of Starlink.

Unfortunately you can't try before you buy (subscribe to) an internet connection from (I think) any ISP and therefore could be stuck in a 24-month contract for something that does not work for the OP. Eventually the OP could be forced to turn to STARLINK. For sure shelling out £75 to STARLINK is hard to swallow, made worse by the continued mandatory payment to an ISP.

This thread must be helpful to the OP to make an informed decision of what to run with; whether you or I have given the most appropriate advice, only time will tell. Neither of us really knows the simultaneous use of connected devices by the entire family that would make it obvious of what would be best.

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

Unfortunately you can't try before you buy (subscribe to) an internet connection from (I think) any ISP

You can get FTTC on 1-month contracts from some ISPs. Of course, there will almost certainly be an up-front installation cost - to cover the costs the ISP themselves have to pay, which are normally amortized over a 12-24 month contract. But it's certainly doable.

Check the expected performance at broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com (address tab). This uses existing FTTC measurements and/or a computer model of the line length to estimate speeds.

If you get an FTTC connection which is close to the 80M down / 20M up maximum, it will be very usable on its own. TV streams which are not 4K/UHD are only 5-10Mbps. Games *playing* uses little bandwidth. Games *downloading* will fill the pipe, but that doesn't mean things like Teams won't work, and in any case you just make it a rule that new games are only downloaded overnight.

If limited bandwidth does turn out to be a problem, then you can split your network: two different routers with their own wifi SSIDs.
- FTTC for business/work use
- a separate connection for entertainment - which could be 4G/5G or Starlink.

So if it were me: I'd start with the FTTC (on a good provider with a 12+ month contract), and add the other option if it became necessary.

I'd also try 4G/5G before Starlink; if there's a good signal from one of the three networks then it will be cheaper, and will use less power, than Starlink.

If none of those options work, then Starlink is the fallback.

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

Unfortunately you can't try before you buy (subscribe to) an internet connection from (I think) any ISP and therefore could be stuck in a 24-month contract for something that does not work for the OP.

That is something of a strawman argument. Anyone in OP's position and acting rationally would look for the shortest commitment.

One could not stream tv while using Teams.

In reply to a post by broadband66:

One could not stream tv while using Teams.

Are you sure?

Streaming one TV channel might take 5-10Mbps out of the (potentially) 80M downstream, and almost zero from the upstream. Unless you insist on streaming 4K/UHD.

A Teams call is a few meg.

In reply to a post by candlerb:

In reply to a post by broadband66:

One could not stream tv while using Teams.

Are you sure?

Streaming one TV channel might take 5-10Mbps out of the (potentially) 80M downstream, and almost zero from the upstream. Unless you insist on streaming 4K/UHD.

A Teams call is a few meg.

I agree. I used to have a 30M connection from a wireless ISP. I successfully set up a Zoom session with an outside user with 3 sessions on my side. It worked fine.

If someone is on a Teams call then that someone is probably working. Why would they need to be streaming a TV programme?

Sometimes people have to prioritise what they do with what they've got.

In reply to a post by broadband66:

If someone is on a Teams call then that someone is probably working. Why would they need to be streaming a TV programme?

Sometimes people have to prioritise what they do with what they've got.

We'll leave you to tell the wife and kids that they have got to stop what they are doing while a Teams call is going on.

Thank you all for your help!
I looked at various options and then decided to make the most of SKY.
Starlink was an interesting option that I never heard of too, so thanks for that.
I've decided to run network cables throughout the house to try and minify signal dispersion with WiFi too.
Lets see how it goes, thanks for all your replies!

In reply to a post by grumpygamer:

I've decided to run network cables throughout the house to try and minify signal dispersion with WiFi too.

I think in your case the limiting factor is the speed of the broadband (coming into your property), improving the throughput from all devices within the property is only likely to cause a bigger bottleneck between the router and the FTTC cabinet.

Edited by PCJM40 (Mon 02-Mar-26 09:32:13)

The goats can go outside and eat the grass.