Upgrade to Fibre 250 Halo 1: 2 questions

[FloFosterJenkins]

BT have offered an upgrade from current Fibre 2 to Fibre 250 Halo 1.

1. When I click to effect this upgrade I am taken to a page that insists on a landline "Add-on" that destroys my current deal of free anytime calls to landlines. I assume that there is no way of overriding this. £7 or £12 per month is far too much for the small usage involved, and £0 means paying 20p/min for calls that are currently free.

2. I see that an upgrade to a Smart  Hub 2 is not in this particular upgrade deal, but I currently have one in use - they sent it recently to replace a dodgy older Hub. If I upgrade would I continue to use the existing Smart Hub 2 and the Openreach MK2?

[glennbentley]

Hi,

You are correct in that a lot of the new upgrades do not include the same savings ref telephone calls, so this is an important factor to consider before upgrading.

If you are on Fibre 2, this is a FTTC (cabinet) connection, Fibre 250 is a FTTP connection which means openreach installing a fibre line directly from the street into your house. It involves new equipment and a FTTP version of the Smart Hub 2

[FloFosterJenkins]

Thank you very much, Glenn. That's very helpful.

However, I am puzzled as to why BT are recommending the upgrade to Fibre 250 with Halo 1 when my property is not yet FTTP enabled, according to BT's own checking system.

[glennbentley]

On the checking system, is G.fast showing as available?  G.fast also offers faster broadband speeds, only it uses your existing copper telephone line connection, rather than a fibre line coming into the house.

I believe the G.fast connection uses what's known as the Smart Hub X.

[VinceMarsters]

I can't say for all but my fibre 250 (with Halo 1) is a copper product into the house and uses G.Fast. BT do need to come out and replace the faceplate with a G.Fast compatible one but otherwise it uses the same cables coming into the premises as the other FTTC options.

[FloFosterJenkins]

Thank you for the helpful informative replies. When checking service availability all it says is that Full Fibre is not available. Nothing about G.fast and the need for an engineer to fit a new faceplate. It's odd that BT say nothing about G.fast anywhere on their website. This is the first I've heard about it.

Am I right to assume that my current SmartHub 2 is the right kit for Fibre 250 + Halo 1?

[imjolly]

can you enter your phone number and post results  this should show what is actually available whether G.FAST or FTTP or both

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

[FloFosterJenkins]

Thank you. FTTP is not available

[FloFosterJenkins]

the rest of the report:

[imjolly]

so from dslchecker results you are getting G.FAST which needs engineer to fit new master socket faceplate and you need a new SH2 capable for G.FAST connection.  it will use same connection wiring as existing FTTC -fibre to cab and copper to your homne