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Thread: New to Infinity - some info and recommendations please?

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    New to Infinity - some info and recommendations please?

    I’m *finally* getting FTTC/Infinity in my area so I’ll be upgrading as soon as I can, but I currently have a slightly convoluted ADSL configuration and am hoping that somebody can help me out with a little info.

    First, my setup. I currently have ADSL (from Zen), which comes into the master socket behind the sofa in the living room. The sofa is heavy as and I haven’t managed to move it since it was ‘installed’ when we moved in.
    My ADSL wireless router (Billion 7300G) is plugged into an extension in my den and is connected to a 16 port 100Mbit switch (to be upgraded to gigabit when I get FTTC), to which I probably have about 5 connected servers and workstations. I do need to keep a wireless AP in this room.
    My house is three stories high so I also have a HomePlugAV network coming off the switch and a Buffalo Wifi AP on the top floor via this network to give me wifi coverage throughout the house – mostly for laptops, phones and tablets as I wander around. This doesn't really need to be much faster than it is currently, though I might upgrade to AV500 HomePlugs at some point.
    I have a gaming PC and this is wired directly into the Billion.

    I understand that regardless of whoever I get to supply my FTTC service, I will get an OpenReach ‘modem’ that will bridge the cable from outside to my internal network. Most providers also give me or sell me at a discount some cr*ppy looking router that connects to this modem.

    Now the questions:
    Am I correct that any cable router that supports PPPoE will work with the FTTC service? I just connect my router of choice to the OpenReach modem with a regular RJ45 cable?
    Does a new faceplate/broadband socket need to be fitted, and if so does it need to be at/next to the existing master socket? Can I still connect the OpenReach modem to any extension?
    Is there an all-in-one solution (e.g. a cable wifi router with 5+ gigabit ports) that I can use in place of my Billion or would you recommend I get my gigabit switch, router and AP as separate devices?

    Thanks in advance!
    Last edited by chuckskull; 22-11-2012 at 01:18 AM. Reason: Language

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    Re: New to Infinity - some info and recommendations please?

    Welcome to Hexus

    Quote Originally Posted by QuackingPlums View Post
    Now the questions:
    Am I correct that any cable router that supports PPPoE will work with the FTTC service? I just connect my router of choice to the OpenReach modem with a regular RJ45 cable?
    Im pretty sure this is the case, it certainly is with Plusnet and BT. I would be surprised if any other ISPs used a different protocol but i think its technically possible so its worth checking the chosen ISPs FAQ on using 3rd party routers before buying anything.

    Quote Originally Posted by QuackingPlums View Post
    Does a new faceplate/broadband socket need to be fitted, and if so does it need to be at/next to the existing master socket?
    There will need to be a new faceplate to the existing socket at a minimum. You might need an entire new box depending on the age of the one you have.

    I Just needed a new faceplate when i got it but my dad needed a whole new box. He took the opportunity to move the box to a new and more convenient location though.

    Quote Originally Posted by QuackingPlums View Post
    Can I still connect the OpenReach modem to any extension?
    They don't recommend it, however they offer a service to put an extension in for you. To be honest though, once they have set it up and left you can do whatever you want. Just bare in mind; the longer the extension the worse you speeds may be.


    Quote Originally Posted by QuackingPlums View Post
    Is there an all-in-one solution (e.g. a cable wifi router with 5+ gigabit ports) that I can use in place of my Billion or would you recommend I get my gigabit switch, router and AP as separate devices?

    Thanks in advance!
    Personally i would get a combined router and AP and keep the switch seperate.

    On a seperate note, you wont really see any difference in internet speed between a Gb LAN and a 100Mb LAN. The best i think you are likely to get with infinity is about 76Mb down and 18Mb up, unless you are in a new fancy 160Mb trial area?

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    Re: New to Infinity - some info and recommendations please?

    Hey, thanks for the reply. I've actually been lurking for many years but either I've not posted in so long my account got pruned, or I just forgot my previous account details...!

    Quote Originally Posted by Biscuit View Post
    There will need to be a new faceplate to the existing socket at a minimum. You might need an entire new box depending on the age of the one you have.
    Oh well. I guess I'll need a couple of strong mates to help me shift this sofa then.
    My house is only ~5 years old so hopefully the box and cabling are still considered modern. Having said that my AV200 units suffer a lot from dropouts, despite them not being on the same circuit as the kitchen appliances.

    Quote Originally Posted by Biscuit View Post
    Personally i would get a combined router and AP and keep the switch seperate.
    That's more or less the conclusion I'd arrived at. As it's essentially just a cable router anyway there should be a fairly large choice of devices with the features I'm looking for.

    Quote Originally Posted by Biscuit View Post
    On a seperate note, you wont really see any difference in internet speed between a Gb LAN and a 100Mb LAN. The best i think you are likely to get with infinity is about 76Mb down and 18Mb up, unless you are in a new fancy 160Mb trial area?
    Haha 160Mb - I wish! The gigabit upgrade will be primarily to increase the speed I can shunt data between my NAS, servers and workstations.

    My current ADSL tops out at about 3-4Mb but the Inifinity checker says I can expect 76/20. I'll believe that when I see it but even a doubling of my existing speed will be worth it.

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