BT Infinity & FTTx Discussion

[michellez]

Look at changing to BT infinity. What is everyone's experiences of BT infinity though? Quite interested about evenings having experienced BT ADSL Max broadband going down the pan in the evenings many a time too as well as barely syncing at 2/3Mbit and dropping regularly (whole area problem...).

Cheers
Michelle

 

[michellez]

Thanks everyone, interesting reading I had not thought about BitTorrent.

 

[michellez]

A thought I have had... IP addresses. From a bit of searching I understand they only offer a static IP on the more expensive BT business packages. How often does the IP address change on BT Infinity (consumer)? I know for example Virgin IPs are dynamic but in practice if equipment is left on all the time, the IP hardly ever changes.

 

[michellez]

Today is the day finally (after several screw ups with the BT order!).

Guy number 1 has been and connected us back to BT (from Virgin). Bit odd as I can receive calls but not make out bound. Only realised this after he had left. Will try again in an hour and see..

Interestingly he showed me how the extension wiring (with 2 phones on only) is pulling a lot of power as the dial tone is quieter when using the plug on the front of the face plate (extension wired in directly behind face plate). If you plug directly in to the master socket underneath (so faceplate and extension unplugged) it is very loud. Do you reckon this would cause us major issues with the Infinity? (waiting for the 2nd guy to do that to turn up this afternoon..). Audio level on phones is fine, sounds like it always has to me, so fine to the human ear. Obviously *DSL is a lot more sensitive though..

 

[michellez]

Argh. Why do these things always go wrong for me?

I have found that with the faceplate on (and so the extension that is wired into the back of it, not plugged in the front active) the phone is acting *very* odd. If I plug the phone in to the master socket all is fine!

Now keep in mind this extension wiring was working fine before, it has just been wired in to a new faceplate. It was actually Virgin before but they cheekily used the oooold old BT box and not their own (BT have replaced the front of this though).

I can:
- Receive calls
- I once managed to call 0800800150 (BT customer service number) but it didn't recognise me pressing any numbers
- Normally just comes up with 'number not recognised' or some times a long beeeeeeep after a few buttons are pressed.

Still waiting for the internet/Infinity man but suspect he will be able to do bugger all..

Any chance the BT bloke earlier has *&$£ up wiring the extension to the face plate? I'm not a stranger to network cabling/patching so I am off to Google what he should have done and what has been done...

 

[michellez]

Wiring looks fine (no obvious screw ups!).

Suspect they'll just not want to know as it's internal. It worked fine before they came and rewired it in to a new fact plate though!! :| Grrrr.

BTW the BT guy did comment as I explained above about the extension wiring making it quieter but didn't identify any problems. Just quieter to the human ear (sounds the same to me!) and may cause a problem to the VDSL/Infinity.

Unless I manage to get the broadband guy to do something I'll just get him to plug in the filter in the master socket! Shall at least try and wangle a faceplate out of him if he has one and won't refit it incase that's at fault.

Thinking about it... could it have been wired to an ooooold standard before? The old wiring and box were older than BT its self and labeled just telecom or something. Virgin were cheeky before and just ran their wire to a junction/fuse thing above the front door and didn't touch the box!

 

[michellez]

You guys will laugh at my problem above and what the issue was..

Checked wiring in BT box was correct. Thought the extensions must be wired differently for some reason (I know they are very old). Opened up one and got confused with odd color wires (I think they were old/faded now). Opened up the other extension box after that though and it was all wired as it should be.

Ok I thought, the junction box after the BT box would show if anything was wired odd as I know one of the extension boxes is correct. Opened that up, all correct so BT box is going to as standard too.

So I look at the BT wiring box again. Just a minute.. the blue/white and white/blue are back to front!!! Stupid *&@^ BT engineer!!

Little screw driver out and 30 secs later the phones are all working properly

Shell (not bad for a girl - I am an IT/network engineer for a living though lol!)

 

[michellez]

ARGH!! Not laughing now. Just let rip at the women who answered.

I'm sitting here, just gone 5PM thinking how the broadband/infinity engineer hasn't shown, though it could be any time until 6PM. I log on to BT.com to just look at the order status. It shows:

Your appointment is no longer required, as our engineer can connect your line without requiring access to your premises. The engineer will work to connect your line at the exchange.

Rubbish!! It's Infinity, I need my VDSL modem!

I ring up.. due to a communication error at their end (they never confirmed the appointment with the engineer) he isn't coming. I even confirmed this appointment myself with them twice on the phone in the last few weeks. I have numerous letters, emails, and texts confirming the engineer. NOTHING saying it had been cancelled though.

So first they screw up the order and have to cancel it and reorder it (as they didn't put down to bring our number back over). This was only discovered by me asking my normal 10 million questions making sure nothing went wrong (experience!). It was made VERY clear when I ordered.

They then re-order it and gave me a date which I could not do. Say they will ring me back with another. I hear nothing. So I have to chase and change the date to today. Today is weeks from the original install date given. The first order was placed ages ago now!

Then I get a bill for router delivery on the cancelled order (never received it either). This was last week so while they sorted that out I double checked all the details of the new order and the lady also sent me a text with all usernames, passwords, and both BT appointment details.

Today BT phone guy comes this morning. Moans about extension problem draining too much power, regardless that it's been working fine for decades before he came. Audio difference is fine to human ear, may effect Infinity though. I like ok, fair enough, probably always been like that as the audio level is still fine for use. It was VERY loud when he demonstrated it in the master socket. He's tested it though and calls/in out fine. I can only assume he got lucky here as only the odd call I made got out. Turns out he had wired the extension in the socket back to front (duh, that's why it was 'draining' so much power!). So I got a small screw driver out and that's sorted quickly. The women I spoke to when I phoned BT (before I sussed out the issue) said it may be up to mid-night before the extension sockets get activated. WTF?!?! I just ended the phone call there..

Now the Infinity guy isn't coming......... ARGH!!!!!!!

Problem is. They're all as bad as each other!

 

[michellez]

Cheers for tip John24! They're suppose to be phoning me back tomorrow and I'm hoping for a Saturday appointment (made it extremely clear I can not take another day off work as a result!). Also there was talk to see if this Saturday is possible. Not holding my breath there as much as I need it. I will go to the forums if I do not get any where tomorrow.

Guitarman0: Good luck I never seem to have any with BT though, even at work. They screwed it up nicely at work last time I ordered a line + ADSL. Completely wrong address I found out the next day. An hour placing the order. Then another few hours to cancel. I have found BT a lot quicker to answer calls the last month or two and getting through to people I can actually hold a conversation with more often. Also they now have a 03* number so if I am forced to call from a mobile like today, no big charges.

Any one got any idea if I am with in my right to insist on an ADSL face plate? Just preference to avoid ADSL filters hanging out of various walls in the house. Will change the extension so it's plugged in to the phone socket on the ADSL faceplate if they do! Reckon the BT infinity/broadband guy can do this? Twit-who-couldn't-even-wire-it-correctly-today just put a standard face plate on a very old back box (can I ask them to replace the back box too as we're going to be decorating the hall and the old one is manky!).

Cheers
Shell

 

[michellez]

I won't quote your earlier post, as it'll seem like I'm hounding you but I have a few things you might want to know..

1) The extension cabling can be ANY colour providing they are the same on both ends. The pair that comes in to your house (and terminates on the rear of the master faceplate to screw terminals i.e. the bit you can't see) can also be either way around without issue.

2) When the Openreach engineer arrives he'll provide you with a filtered faceplate, and if you ask nicely, he might even fit a new line box if you mention your previous problems. Tea and coffee helps

3) Bad news is, using a screwdriver you've possibly damaged the IDC terminals which may affect your stability. Just get a whole new backbox (it's called a Linebox, if you want to speak the jargon) and ask him for the faceplate too, to complete the set. He'll fit it as a matter of principle.

No prob

1) I appreciate that (I deal with network cabling as part of my job) but the rest of the extensions is/was already there in place and wired to the 'standards' (ignoring one funny box/cable with odd colours that threw me, the rest are as documented). So him rewiring one end wrong is utterly daft on that fact alone. Also if there's a standard my belief is you should stick to it, you're only going cause others/the majority headaches who follow them other wise. They are standard for a reason.

2) Brill. Thought/hoped so Tea and biscuits at the ready!

3) I was careful with the choice of screwdriver I needed to get the phones working though (having no proper phones until BT bothered to show up again wasn't an option) and I knew if something went wrong there was nothing that couldn't easily be sorted (re do the wiring/another faceplate!). It won't matter any way when an ADSL plate gets fitted as it will only be re-wired again

Again not having a go - just a good bit of banter!

 

[michellez]

They never called back - not surprised - 3rd call back for different issues that hasn't happened.

BT have only cancelled the broadband order! The 'Order management' desk (who clearly needs to go on some management courses! ) went home just before I called so nothing more I can be told or done tonight!

Unless they pull their finger out first thing tomorrow when I call back, back to Virgin we go! Bad as they are as well, I've had enough.

 

[michellez]

Ditch Infinity and get a real ISP such as Zen.

Oh I would love to, I am a huge Zen fan and use them at work when ever possible! My personal wallet doesn't agree with the huge price difference though..

 

[michellez]

Because being a female network engineer she's obviously too stupid to realise that taking a small bladed screwdriver and sliding it down the edge of the IDC "teeth" (as in tip of screwdriver flat against the teeth with the cable under it, basically like 1 half of the punch tool) it's able to clamp the cable as normal. She's just a "bird" with a butter knife and no clue, right?

..and because you're a bloke you didn't listen to what I said lol. I didn't just go and find *any* screw driver.

Also when you have some one who is seriously ill at home and the phones *must* be working you just do what's needed. I was fully aware I was not doing it the ideal method but I was still careful understanding the implications of a trip to the shops being possible later