topic Re: Line Switch in Broadband

Line Switch

Xanadu_2 — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 19:17:54 GMT

Hello forum members.

How easy would it be to persuade Plusnet / Openreach to switch my ADSL connection to another line?

The diagnostics bot has found yet another fault on the line - the third so far - and I feel that using an alternative line, if one is available, might cure the problem once and for all. Would it only be done in extreme cases?

2:00 am this morning and I'm getting this speed:

Re: Line Switch

jab1 — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 19:19:49 GMT

Has the bot suggested any action? This sounds like it needs Openreach intervention.

Re: Line Switch

Xanadu_2 — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 19:23:44 GMT

Hi Jab,

Yes, an engineers visit was advised, but the previous two visits didn't fix the problem, so I don't have much faith that a third engineer would be any better.

Re: Line Switch

jab1 — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 19:27:30 GMT

Is your phone line silent if you run the 17070 option2 test? Which router are you using?

Re: Line Switch

Xanadu_2 — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 19:41:46 GMT

@jab1

Yes, I did a quiet line test, all okay. The modem/router is a Cisco Linksys WAG320N.

The last engineer fitted a new 5C Master Socket - the old one was 30 years old. He also recrimped the wires outside because he found some corrosion on them. After he had done that, his testing equipment returned a speed of 6.10 Mbps.

Re: Line Switch

jab1 — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 19:50:27 GMT

If the QLT passed there must be some other fault. I don't know that router, but does it have an error log and/or a page showing your line status?

Re: Line Switch

Xanadu_2 — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 20:03:07 GMT

No logs, and the line status reads "Interface: Connected", along with my IP address and list of subnet mask, default gateway, etc.

Re: Line Switch

jab1 — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 20:08:44 GMT

OK, not the most user-friendly of routers then. Can you attach a screenshot of the line status page - obscuring any personal data like your user name - don't worry about your IP address.

Re: Line Switch

Xanadu_2 — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 20:19:44 GMT

Using the tabs "Modem Router" and "DSL Connection".

Re: Line Switch

jab1 — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 20:23:25 GMT

OK. I'll have to request release of those images, so probably won't answer until tomorrow.

@James_B This situation is intolerable!!

Re: Line Switch

Xanadu_2 — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 20:34:28 GMT

@jab1

Okay, and thanks for your assistance so far.

Re: Line Switch

markhawkin — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 21:28:21 GMT

To ask the obvious question, I assume there is no possibility of any kind of full or part fibre service where you are.

I might be thinking about trying a mobile service with those speeds.

Re: Line Switch

Xanadu_2 — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 03:25:47 GMT

@markhawkin wrote:

...I assume there is no possibility of any kind of full or part fibre service where you are.

Yes, there is. I'm in a FTTP area, but my current contract doesn't expire until September 2026. If I switch to fibre mid contract it would possibly mean agreeing to a new 24 month contract with all the unwanted price increases included. I would prefer to shop around for the best deals towards the end of my contract.

Three have a home broadband deal at the moment which looks attractive. It's a home hub with a sim card in the back, but I'm not sure how reliable a mobile signal is when compared to fibre.

It would just be nice to get the 5 to 6 Mbps service that I was getting when my contract started. I really haven't had anything to complain about until now.

Re: Line Switch

mystreet1 — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 05:44:16 GMT

If you purchase the Three deal online, you can get it and try it out. If it doesn’t work, return it within 14 days. That is what I did when looking around.

Re: Line Switch

jab1 — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 06:27:54 GMT

@Xanadu_2 wrote:

Yes, there is. I'm in a FTTP area, but my current contract doesn't expire until September 2026. If I switch to fibre mid contract it would possibly mean agreeing to a new 24 month contract with all the unwanted price increases included. I would prefer to shop around for the best deals towards the end of my contract.

Three have a home broadband deal at the moment which looks attractive. It's a home hub with a sim card in the back, but I'm not sure how reliable a mobile signal is when compared to fibre.

It would just be nice to get the 5 to 6 Mbps service that I was getting when my contract started. I really haven't had anything to complain about until now.

If you still have a year to go on your contract, you will still have at least one more price increase to come on that. Bear in mind that you will have to move to either an FTTP or mobile contract before December 2027 anyway - as things stand at the moment, the PSTN/ADSL service will finish at that point.

You could of course try the Three service at any point, as @mystreet1 has pointed out,it is available on a 'suck it and see' basis, and using it would not affect your current ADSL service.

Re: Line Switch

Baldrick1 — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 07:31:20 GMT

@Xanadu_2 wrote:

Three have a home broadband deal at the moment which looks attractive.

So which are you considering, paying for a Three mobile data contract in addition to your Plusnet one or paying Plusnet Early Termination Charges for cancelling this service?

To be pragmatic, are you currently getting your minimum guaranteed speed (MGS)? If not you should talk to Plusnet and ensure that it is recordrd that if they can't get your line speed up to the MGS within 30 days, you require them to release you from your contract, penalty free.

If you are achieving you MGS then keep reporting it and ask for the fault to be escalated within Openreach. A request by Plusnet for a line switch will fall upon deaf ears, but they can ask for an escalation if you have repeated problems.

You are obviously on a very long line and the only long term solution is to upgrade to Full Fibre. When fixed there's no guarantee that your ADSL connection won't fail again after a short period.

I understand your desire to shop around but have you fully explored the cost implications of casting off your obsolete, pathetically slow even when working at its full potential service, and upgrading now to Full Fibre, shopping around a year later?

Re: Line Switch

markhawkin — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 08:23:37 GMT

@Xanadu_2

While the Plusnet in contract price increases are annoying you will have one with your current contract and two with a new FTTP service,

Even at the slowest speed offered it will be very much better than your ADSL service and much more reliable.

I would phone up and see what can be negotiated with Plusnet as essentially they will get a full fibre upgrade (which Openreach incentivises) and you will get a reliable service.

It's a way (and possibly the only way) of getting your current fault fixed. Note the phone line will go if you do this.

I wouldn't look at a mobile service if FTTP is available.

Re: Line Switch

krusty — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:35:52 GMT

@Xanadu_2 wrote:

@markhawkin wrote:

...I assume there is no possibility of any kind of full or part fibre service where you are.

Yes, there is. I'm in a FTTP area, but my current contract doesn't expire until September 2026. If I switch to fibre mid contract it would possibly mean agreeing to a new 24 month contract with all the unwanted price increases included. I would prefer to shop around for the best deals towards the end of my contract.

Three have a home broadband deal at the moment which looks attractive. It's a home hub with a sim card in the back, but I'm not sure how reliable a mobile signal is when compared to fibre.

It would just be nice to get the 5 to 6 Mbps service that I was getting when my contract started. I really haven't had anything to complain about until now.

you have a year left on your adsl contract, i would not go with mobile internet, i've tried it and it can be very variable and speed gone in a second. Without properly testing its a gamble.

I'd suggest given your situation to take a new 24 month fttp contract at the lowest speed and look for something in '27

Re: Line Switch

krusty — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:37:37 GMT

@jab1 wrote:

@Xanadu_2 wrote:

Yes, there is. I'm in a FTTP area, but my current contract doesn't expire until September 2026. If I switch to fibre mid contract it would possibly mean agreeing to a new 24 month contract with all the unwanted price increases included. I would prefer to shop around for the best deals towards the end of my contract.

Three have a home broadband deal at the moment which looks attractive. It's a home hub with a sim card in the back, but I'm not sure how reliable a mobile signal is when compared to fibre.

It would just be nice to get the 5 to 6 Mbps service that I was getting when my contract started. I really haven't had anything to complain about until now.

If you still have a year to go on your contract, you will still have at least one more price increase to come on that. Bear in mind that you will have to move to either an FTTP or mobile contract before December 2027 anyway - as things stand at the moment, the PSTN/ADSL service will finish at that point.

You could of course try the Three service at any point, as @mystreet1 has pointed out,it is available on a 'suck it and see' basis, and using it would not affect your current ADSL service.

SoADSL will continue beyond '27.

Re: Line Switch

jab1 — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:41:40 GMT

@krusty But not be offered by Plusnet, unless BTCD change their current attitude.