Have I thought these changes through sufficiently? I have been reading many threads here and I understand things a lot better than before, but I am not yet confident enough to proceed. I posted in 'everything else' because it seems to be more than one topic. I assume someone will shift it if I'm wrong.
What we have-
1/ BT home phone on overhead cable, with old secondhand BT handset. It is hardly ever used but I prefer to keep it for the moment. We have mobile phones for occasional use.
2/ ADSL broadband from Plusnet, using a secondhand plusnet technicolour router. Usual speed is nearly 3Mb. (Its a long way to the cabinet) Our Force9 email has already been transferred to Greenby. I don't know about the free webspace.
We have recently received the same scaremongering letter from BT that has been mentioned by several people here.
I don't like hassle and I don't like firms who get you stressed out by making you ring up to do anything, but I can see I am going to have no choice.
What I think we need to do-
Arrange smallest size of full fibre from Plusnet. (Last time I checked I can't have FTTC, it has to be FTTP) Make sure they supply a newer router.
Arrange voipphone account with Voipfone or A&A. Tell them what our number is. The Plusnet account is in my husband's name so this will presumably also have to be in his name.
Buy new simple corded phone and adapter. (from voipfone? if so, when?)
Questions-
How much of this can be organised online?
What is the right procedure/jargon for changing our old broadband contract (no expiry date) to FTTP?
Can I continue to ignore BTs letter or is the 30 day limit 'to upgrade' mentioned at the end, relevant to something they need telling?
How quickly will 'they' fit the fibre and what happens if there are holdups or problems? The broadband availability checker says 'single dwelling unit OH feed with no anticipated issues' which sounds promising. The nearest pole (carrying electric cable as well) in next door's hedge only serves us two and the other house(which has never had broadband) is for sale. They cannot bring the fibre through our downstairs wall which is three foot thick rubble stone, which blocks wifi in some areas. Upstairs is brick. (The current phoneline comes through a wooden window frame but the windows are due to be replaced) I have no idea where to tell them to put the CSP/ONT. The spare bedroom would probably give best wifi coverage and I could arrange an extension cable as a temporary power socket. Unlike master socket to router, am I right that the ONT to router is ethernet? who provides that cable? How long can it be? If this works, the ethernet cables to our current PCs will need rerouting. Can the new router be tested without the PCs attached or will we have to move the cables in advance, despite not knowing if the engineer will agree to the suggested ONT location?
Have I missed anything?
