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New Property - Copper Line Only

ccoplestone — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 16:50:58 GMT

Hi all,

I've stumbled across this forum whilst researching my options as to what the best solution is for my problem at a property I've purchased.

After a chat with BT, the line to the cabinet that serves my property is copper, as is the line to it. So a dated all-copper setup. No fibre. Ouch.

The speeds would range anywhere from 6-17Mbps which just isn't good enough. And what's slightly more annoying is my parents property, who live in the same town but served by a different cabinet get FTTC and get around 65Mbps download.

I'm now having to consider a few things, 4G home broadband (4G connectivity is good in that area) or Starlink. I know I could probably look at getting a leased line, but the costs there would be huge.

In terms of the two viable options (or there could be more) what would people suggest looking into here?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Re: New Property - Copper Line Only

Keith_Beddoe — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 16:57:05 GMT

@ccoplestone

Welcome to this user forum for BT Retail phone and broadband customers.

It would be helpful to post this information for forum members.

Use the address checker on the page below, and post the results, but edit out your address details first, but leave the exchange and cabinet number showing.

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

Please include all of the notes at the bottom.

Re: New Property - Copper Line Only

caravanj — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 17:14:36 GMT

@ccoplestone

I've stumbled across this forum whilst researching my options as to what the best solution is for my problem at a property I've purchased.

After a chat with BT, the line to the cabinet that serves my property is copper, as is the line to it. So a dated all-copper setup. No fibre. Ouch.

Ouch indeed!

Rightmove & other property sites include broadband speeds along with all the other property features as in today's world it's one of the most important.

On the assumption that BT have said you won't get FTTC or FTTP any time soon then personally, if I was in your position, I'd get Starlink.

Yes, the equipment cost is pricey at £499 & the monthly cost is £75 for unlimited high speed data but I'd be willing to pay that for the convenience.

But as @Keith_Beddoe has suggested, check that it's a definite that you won't get fibre in the near future.

Re: New Property - Copper Line Only

ccoplestone — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 17:27:57 GMT

Thanks for the link. Details are here:

Re: New Property - Copper Line Only

ccoplestone — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 17:30:34 GMT

You know what hurts the most? Rightmove and other comparison sites for a brief period were actually showing fibre speeds (screenshot from Rightmove):

Re: New Property - Copper Line Only

Keith_Beddoe — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 17:43:42 GMT

@ccoplestone

Fast fibre (80 Mbs FTTC) is available, its just that the cabinet is full at the moment, but spaces become available all the time, and Openreach often add more capacity. Also a transition is occurring to SOGEA, and that can cause the "waiting list" message, as others have found out.

If you place an order for ADSL, then once that is active, keep checking that website and wait until it says "available". Then quickly place an order to upgrade to fibre.

Have you actually tried to place an order for FTTC, as by the time it gets on the system, there may be capacity?

Re: New Property - Copper Line Only

ccoplestone — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 18:10:02 GMT

@Keith_Beddoe

Oh I see! Thanks for this information. I wasn't told about the ability to place an order for ADSL and keep checking the results on that site. But the rep on the other side of the phone did inform me about the cabinet being full.

Is the ordering for ADSL something I should do on the phone or is it possible to do through BT's website?

Re: New Property - Copper Line Only

Keith_Beddoe — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 19:18:11 GMT

Place your order via the BT website, you may find that fibre is available, as the helpdesk may not have up to date info.

If you do not need a phone service, you can order broadband only.

https://www.bt.com/products/broadband/deals

https://www.bt.com/broadband/broadband-without-landline

Re: New Property - Copper Line Only

ccoplestone — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 19:30:36 GMT

Really helpful information Keith. Thanks for your time.

I've recently joined an ISP as a software engineer so my networking knowledge is getting a little better, not so much in this scenario though!

I have seen recently though that any postcode I enter on that site brings up the following message:

'Sorry, we can't find results for your address at the moment We're updating our systems and we hope this will be fixed soon.'

Re: New Property - Copper Line Only

Keith_Beddoe — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 19:39:28 GMT

Is your address correct on the Royal Mail Postcode database?

That ordering site should work, but the format of the postcode may be critical.

You should be able to select a list of addresses from a valid postcode.

Re: New Property - Copper Line Only

ccoplestone — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 19:44:31 GMT

Correct, I can indeed select my new address from the dropdown list that appears after entering the postcode, so it would seem the postcode and address are recognised. I tried my parents postcode in the same town, same issue.

I've also tried other addresses I've lived at in different areas as a test and those all return product results.

Re: New Property - Copper Line Only

Keith_Beddoe — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 19:52:32 GMT

I expect its due to the transition period, and there may be a "stop sell" on ADSL products. This issue has been raised before on this forum.

By all means try ringing BT and see if they can place an order.

If you still have problems, a moderator can be asked to assist.

Re: New Property - Copper Line Only

ccoplestone — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 20:16:08 GMT

Would definitely make sense if a transition period is ongoing.

Would the transition potentially indicate an expansion of that cabinet to handle more properties that use it to have access to SoGEA, essentially just the data side of things and not a phone line?

I'll give BT another go tomorrow and see if they can explain what's going on. I'd rather not actually order ADSL if it means I'm on a contract getting 6-17Mbps, it would probably be better to have 4G broadband at that point, or even Starlink.

Thanks for your help.

Re: New Property - Copper Line Only

Keith_Beddoe — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 20:39:53 GMT

The transition was initiated when analogue phone lines were no longer available, I think it may have been Sept 6th 2023. That is why WBC FTTC is no longer available as a product.

I am sure you should be able to place an order, other forum members have posted in a similar situation.

4G may be an option, but you would probably notice very variable performance, depending on how many users are connected to the cell site.