Finally getting fibre broadband!!!

[Harrison]

BT (British Telecom) have finally upgraded my local exchange and the street cabinets with fibre optics, and activated the ability to get Fibre Broadband in my area. :)

BT with Fibre Infinity Broadband is the main one to go for, but some other companies are also offering it by leasing it from BT Wholesale, including Sky, Talk Talk and Plusnet.

After looking at the details for each of the providers I've decided to go with BT Infinity 2. It offers the fastest bandwidth, which will be 76Mbit download and 19Mbit upload, and completely unlimited usage.

Just placed my order and managed to combine it with a phone package that will also save me money on phone line rental and call costs.

Annoyingly the first date they could offer me for the engineer call out to connect it up is 28th May, so nearly a month to wait... but at least it is on the way. :shades::shades::wired::biggrindance::rocker::w00tdance::boogiedown:

So, has your area been upgraded to receive fibre yet?

I was really surprised Chichester was so quickly. I looked at the roll-out schedule back in December and it had Chichester down for April-July to activate the exchange, but I was very sceptical. Gad I was proved wrong and I can't wait. Finally I will be able to watch Full HD streaming video without sudden hanging and buffering. And download much faster. I worked out that a 10GB game purchased via Steam currently takes my ADSL (5-6Mbit) connection about 4 hours to download. The same 10GB game should take about 18 minutes with Infinity. Now that is a really cool speed increase. :)

[Stephen Coates]

Nice. Be sure to let us know how it goes! :)

We've been able to get fibre here for some time, but I haven't really got any need for it. Certainly not worth me paying any more for it. It wasn't that long since I got my telephone line upgraded to ADSL2+.

Harrison, how much is the fibre going to cost?

[Kin Hell]

Yeah. See Sig 12 months ago. It's poo down here because of noise margin reductions which affect how it works. Very very dissapointing & my 50Mb as sig is now 40Mb with MORE than double ping times.....

Really hope you have a fab experience with it. It should be like lightning if BT didn't dick with noise margins. :eyebrow:

[Demon Cleaner]

I should have it already by now, as the works in my area should be finished by January this year. Sadly this winter was quite hard, and they couldn't work, and as they then also started in another area, the works in my area are only continuing in August. So I doubt that I will have fibre connection this year. At least the cable is already in the house, not that it would help, but already good to know.

[Harrison]

That's annoying DC. I thought you had fibre months ago.

@Kin. Fingers crossed it will be. I don't think that many people in my immediate area will be upgrading to it as it's a fairly rural village on the edge of Chichester, but the Fibre cabinet is right at the end of my road, so should be good. I was tempted to get Infinity Business, but the price difference for the same speed, and the contention and priority features shouldn't really be an issue here. But I can always upgrade later.

[DonAmiga]

They have just put the new infinity cabinets in my area a couple of weeks ago so shouldn't be much longer? I read online that you want your house to be within 500 meters of the cabinet or the speed can drop, my house is 360 paces (checked twice :) ) Also read that the more people in your area that sign up can reduce the speed.

[Kin Hell]

@ Harrison

Yeah, I'm considering moving to Business to see if it behaves better. Still banging it out with the Ombudsman atm.

@ DonA

It's about time. You've had a really cr4p time up there from what you've said in the past. That's brilliant news to hear for you fella. Nice one! :thumbs:

[Submeg]

It's not even installed here in Aus....

[Harrison]

I thought some areas of Aus already had some forms of fibre broadband, but not FTTC. I remember reading they are planning a near complete rollout of FTTP in the next 9 years. A long time for some to wait though!

FTTP will be better in the end though once you have it because that is Fibre to the Premises, so you have a directly connection to the fibre connection from the router, allowing even faster 300Mbit+ speeds, and some placed with it such as Finland are already trialling 1Gbit broadband! Our fibre is FTTC, which means Fibre to the Cabinet. BT have been installing new cabinets next to their existing copper wire cabinets at the end of each street. These new cabinets root the fibre cables from the exchange, but the last bit from the new cabinets to each house utilises the existing copper wires. It allows such high speeds as 76Mbit though because it is a really short distance of only a few hundred meters at most from the fibre to the house, and is a much cheaper way to install and get faster broadband to most houses.

[Harrison]

Infinity successfully installed today.

923

I'm happy with that. ;)

The engineer said it was one of the fastest connections he has seen in this area.. with some others he's connected only getting half that speed.

Time to do some downloading!

[Stephen Coates]

Nice. Well done Harrison :)

[Harrison]

I've been testing out some real world download/upload tests using Steam, Usenet and uTorrent as the benchmarks are never a true test of the real bandwidth you get, but I'm surprised to find it is pretty close.

924

I just downloaded a smallish game on Steam (one that has been in my Steam account for some time and not installed). The game was 583.5MB in size and took 1 minute 4 seconds to download at a speed of 9.1MB/s. Now that is impressive. http://www.amibay.com/images/smilies/smile.gif The same download on my old ADSL would have taken over 16 minutes.

So for a 4.7GB game, which is fairly common on Steam these days, it would take just 8 minutes 49 seconds. And the old ADSL would have taken 2 hours and 11 minutes. Now that an amazing speed increase.

[DonAmiga]

I see bt have brought out a new hub 4, what one are you using ?

[Harrison]

The Hub 4 at the moment. Compared to the older Hub 3 it adds dual band wi-fi, with airwave analysis (it constantly checks the wi-fi frequencies for wireless traffic and switches channels to improve reception). It's also been given 1 gigabit ethernet port, which I'm using to connect to a gigabit switch, and then to my systems.

I'm leaving the Hub 4 connected for at least 10 days, so the exchange can build a good profile and settle the line speed, then I am considering switching back to my Billion 7800n router. Mainly because the Hub 4 has very limited features, and the Billion has pretty much every feature you could think of.

[DonAmiga]

Is this the one you have?http://www.amazon.co.uk/Billion-BiPAC-7800N-Broadband-Wireless-N/dp/B002TOKGL8/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1369409172&sr=1-1&keywords=billion+7800n+router I'm thinking of changing my bt hub 3 seem like it drops out a lot and needs a restart. I've just been reading the reviews on your billion and people are saying the same and noticed a big improvement changing to the billion! I take it that its suitable for infinity ;)

Cheers

[Harrison]

Yes that is the one. Brilliant router. It has a ADSL+ modem, but also a cable wan port, so can be used for all broadband services, including Infinity.

When I purchased it last year I instantly got a big speed increase in my adsl broadband, and I've read the same for Infinity customers.

Just be prepared for how large it is, as the unit is huge, and isn't aesthetically pleasing. But it has 3 WiFi antennas and dual band, so has great wireless coverage and range. Quite expensive but worth it.
The one thing I can say about the hub 4 is how nice it looks, with the glowing blue status light.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

[DonAmiga]

Thanks for the feedback;) as its quite a bit of money just want to make sure what's the best route to go, hopefully I'll be getting the infinity soon. Looks don't bother me as it sits high up on top of a unit but if the hub4 preforms well or as good as the billion then maybe I should wait and just get that for free!

[Harrison]

You will get the Hub 4 when you sign up for Infinity anyway, so it's worth giving it a try first, and if you are happy then no need to upgrade to another router.

I've read people had issues with the Hub 3 disconnecting or needing to be rebooted. I will post my findings about the Hub 4 once I've been running it a week. So far, since the install on Wednesday it has been stable and worked perfectly, and my bandwidth is still 74Mb/s down and 16Mb/s up. And the ping rate is still 7ms which is great for online gaming.

[Kin Hell]

Infinity successfully installed today.

923

I'm happy with that. ;)

The engineer said it was one of the fastest connections he has seen in this area.. with some others he's connected only getting half that speed.

Time to do some downloading!

Very nice indeed Dave. As a matter of interest, how far from the Fibre Cabinet is your house?

Also, don't be tempted to re-boot Fibre Router inside of 10 to 14 days. Stick to your idea on post #14. DLM will think you have a problem & decrease your speeds & could increase your ping times. ;)

9.1Mb/Sec is great & that ping time is to die for. :shades:

[Harrison]

How far from the Fibre Cabinet is your house?

The cabinet is just at the end of my road. The distance if following the road around would be about 280m, however if a more direct route it could be as short as 110m.

[Kin Hell]

Nice again. I have about 700m to the fibre Cabinet. About a week ago, another friend jumped on & he is unfortunate having 1400m of copper to deal with before he can get to fibre in his neck of the woods. If his wires went the other way, he'd only have 500m of copper wire. He's looking @ getting his wires bounced of a neighbour's house as there are no more poles nearer him in the other direction. Consequently, he only gets 28Mb down, but he use to get 19Mb on ADSL. Here lie some of the caveats of this new VDSL service & when you take away noise margin Values, the even higher Frequency of VDSL falls flat on it's face leaving you with a service that does not function as it should. Play games like never before..... Ur having a laugh BT. :lol:

[Harrison]

Look at that ping time! ;)

925

[Kin Hell]

Look at that ping time! ;)

925

Stfu ffs.... Git. :p :lol:

[DonAmiga]

Harrison

How you getting on with the hub-4 or have you switched back to the billion?

I'm still waiting on infinity:(

Cheers:)

[Harrison]

I'm actually still using the Hub 4 at the moment as it has been performing perfectly and the wifi coverage seems good all over the house and even down the garden.

I'm still tempted to switch back to the Billion at some point for the extra features, but I think it would mean losing the BT free Wi-Fi coverage when out feature as you have to be sharing your connection for other BT users to utilise when in range to qualify for using it elsewhere yourself.

[DonAmiga]

Thanks, I also use the free wifi when out and about which is a great feature to have ;)

[Kin Hell]

I'm actually still using the Hub 4 at the moment as it has been performing perfectly and the wifi coverage seems good all over the house and even down the garden.

I'm still tempted to switch back to the Billion at some point for the extra features, but I think it would mean losing the BT free Wi-Fi coverage when out feature as you have to be sharing your connection for other BT users to utilise when in range to qualify for using it elsewhere yourself.

You mean BTPhon or whatever they call it. An un-secure network meaning anyone can access your service if in range......

[DonAmiga]

You mean BTPhon or whatever they call it. An un-secure network meaning anyone can access your service if in range......

You've got to sign in with your bt account to be able to use it ;)

[Harrison]

It's not insecure. It works by providing a completely separate ring fenced connection for the general public which shows up as its own WiFi router. If someone tries to connect to it then it will only load a BT connection page that allows BT customers to log into their account to use the connection to access the internet, or if you don't have an account purchase access from BT. It also restricts users to utilising a maximum of 512Kb of your bandwidth, so hardly noticeable.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

[Kin Hell]

It's not insecure. It works by providing a completely separate ring fenced connection for the general public which shows up as its own WiFi router. If someone tries to connect to it then it will only load a BT connection page that allows BT customers to log into their account to use the connection to access the internet, or if you don't have an account purchase access from BT. It also restricts users to utilising a maximum of 512Kb of your bandwidth, so hardly noticeable.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

It's still a shared port you have no control over & I don't like that. Especially when BT are stealing my noise margins through lack of Provision on BT Wholesales part. Bloody cheeky tbh. :nuts:

[Harrison]

You can easily switch the whole feature off if you don't want it used via a single toggle in the router's settings, so not all bad... although obviously you also disable your access to the same network when out and about.

[DonAmiga]

I had a quick look on e-bay and see you can bid on unopened BT hub 4 so thought I'd have a bid which I won fairly cheap :) As the last time I tried to get a free upgrade hub from BT, would only give one out if yours is broken and infinity doesn't seem to be coming here till next March. Hoping to have some improvement as lately there seems to be lots of wifi signals in my area and I see the hub 4 has 5GHz signal.

[Kin Hell]

I had a quick look on e-bay and see you can bid on unopened BT hub 4 so thought I'd have a bid which I won fairly cheap :) As the last time I tried to get a free upgrade hub from BT, would only give one out if yours is broken and infinity doesn't seem to be coming here till next March. Hoping to have some improvement as lately there seems to be lots of wifi signals in my area and I see the hub 4 has 5GHz signal.

Our iPad Gen4 is dropping out of service sometimes so I might try & blag a free Hub4 from the tight gits..... :dry:

[Harrison]

The Hub4 uses switching WiFi frequencies and constantly scans for the best signal, so is probably a good upgrade if you are having wireless issues.

However, it's an Apple device mate! You have to expect these things. ;)

[Kin Hell]

The Hub4 uses switching WiFi frequencies and constantly scans for the best signal, so is probably a good upgrade if you are having wireless issues.

However, it's an Apple device mate! You have to expect these things. ;)

Yeah, but SkyGo never drops out. ....Is probably the App used at the time but f'k em, I'm still going to try & blag one.... :lol:

[Harrison]

Is worth a shot. You also get a Gigabit port for connecting up a switch too so that is useful.

[Kin Hell]

The BT Hub 3 also has a Gigabit port too. :)

[Harrison]

Really? That isn't what it said in the Hub 4 announcement.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

[Kin Hell]

3 of the 4 ports are 100Mbit & the fourth is Gigabit. Also, I can't get my Netgear Switch to see the internet unless I use the Gigabit port on the Hub3.

Had mine since June last year. Maybe a different version of Hub3 but it's BT & I really don't care. :eyebrow: :lol:

[Harrison]

That is very strange. In theory the ports on a broadband router are literally just a standard router, routing the data to every point at once, so a switch should work with any of them in the same way. Saying that, I only use the Gigabit port on my Hub 4, connected to a Zyxel Gigabit switch.

[Harrison]

Had Infinity 2 installed today at the rented cottage and this will really please Kin.

955

Still have a nice low ping! ;)

Download speed is a bit lower than at my other house, but not by much. And this is in rural West Sussex/Bosham down a country lane, surrounded by fields, with overhead phone lines connecting to the house at the top. I really wasn't expecting as good bandwidth. However I think the fibre cabinet must only be at the end of the lane on the main Emsworth to Chichester road, so only about a 1/4 mile at most. :sly:

I did have a bit of hassle with the engineer today though:

He arrived nice and early, just after 8am, which I prefer as you are not waiting all morning and wasting time. But, he wasn't an Open Reach engineer... a sub contractor! The Master Socket is strangely in the front bedroom window (because the phone-line enters the cottage from overhead at the front), but the room I'm using for my office is right at the back of the cottage in the newer extension. I explained to him that I needed the data line extension put though into that room. He instantly said he couldn't do it because he was only contracted to connect the FTTC and not run cables within the house (BS as a contractor did so at my own house last year, running a data (ethernet) cable from the master socket upstairs and into the office).

So anyway, he fitted the new filter to the master socket, then proceeded to test the line (but tried using our old number from our house and didn't know the new number that activated that morning). So after clearing that up be then went off to connect it up at the street cabinet. He came back and looked at my Hub 4 and asked where the black DSL cable was. I was a bit confued by that as I know it isn't needed, but said it was probably in its box back at the other house. So he took the cable from the fibre modem and plugged that into the router's DSL port.. Oh dear! I had to explain to him that it needed the Open Reach modem connected to the router's WAN port. He thought it was a Hub 5 with built in modem combined. Bloody Contractors!!! He was very reluctant to give me the new modem he had (I left the existing one back at the other house as BT tell you too, so I now have 2 and can now hack one to unlock it! ;)

So he got the Infinity working and left. This meant we could use the WiFi but I didn't have it connected to the office or my computers. So I decided it had to either be powerline adapters or run an ethernet cable. I ruled out Powerline adapters because they are expensive, but also because the cottage is running a strange electrical setup with 2 consumer electric trip panels with one managing the older part and the other the newer extension, so I don't think they would work anyway. So instead I went to Novatech and grabbed 20M of Cat 6 cable and ran it from the modem in the front bedroom, through the cottage and into the office, and connected the Hub 4 to the other end. Works perfectly. :)

I did however encounter a WiFi issue, because the cottage has thick walls, is also quite spread out. The Hub 4's WiFi signal was really weak downstairs in the front room, probably due to the chimney blocking some of it, so I have utilised my Billion 7800N router. I disabled the ADSL modem in it by switching it into EWAN mode. Then switched off its DHCP server and set the router to a static IP on the Hub 4's range. Connected it up to the main network's switch and it works perfectly as a WiFi access point, and it has a much better signal than the Hub 4's, so it's all sorted. A bit of a complex home network, but it works well.

[Kin Hell]

Yeah H. It'd be nice to see your line STATS. :thumbs:

[Ivanhoe]

957

:D

[Demon Cleaner]

Finally I got my fibre activated and installed this morning. It works fine, I took the smallest one, which is almost the same price than the one I had before, and it has 100Mb download and 50Mb upload, which is by far enough for me.

[Harrison]

Nice speed. Is the fibre to home? Or to the cabinet?

[Demon Cleaner]

Don't get what you really mean?

The fibre is at my home place, not at work, if that's what you asked?

[Harrison]

There are 2 types of fibre broadband you can get to a house. FTTC and FTTP.

Fibre to the cabinet runs the fibre cable to the nearest telephone exchange cabinet in your road, then the remaining distance from the cabinet to your house used existing copper phone cable. This is chapter because they only need to contact the phone exchange to each street cabinet, and not all the way to each house. This is the type we mostly have in the UK, which I have called BT Infinity.

The other more expensive type is called Fibre to the Premises, where the fibre connection is run right to your house and directly connected.

[Demon Cleaner]

The other more expensive type is called Fibre to the Premises, where the fibre connection is run right to your house and directly connected.
That's what I have now, still used copper before, but now it's connected straight away to the fibre that comes into the house.

[Harrison]

Nice. Very rare to get fibre directly to the house in the UK.

What is the Max bandwidth you could of had?

In the UK I think it's about 300 Mbits for the lucky few. However BT have just announced they will start trialling a new technology using fibre to the cabinet, which in theory will provide between 500 Mbits and 1 Gbit! Now that would be something and could roll out within the next 2 years.

[Demon Cleaner]

Maximum is 1000Mb down and 500Mb up. I don't know about the UK, but I think the prices are quite steep here in Luxembourg compared to ANY other country, we are definitely too small.

Check out the prices here, comparison between the 4 available options: http://www.post.lu/en/particuliers/internet/luxfibre#panel2

For 15€ a month more, I could have the next one, but I think for what I need, this is fast enough. I almost download nothing at home, and the 50Mb upload will probably never be fully used.

[Harrison]

UK prices can be expensive. I've got mine with British Telecom (BT) on their Infinity 2 fibre connection. The other issue is that with Fibre (FTTC) you also are required to take out your line rental and phone call plans with the same company as the Internet connection.

Line rental is normally about £16.99 a month, plus £26 for fibre.. So that is £42.99. Then you have addons for phone calls, such as all inclusive calls for £7 per month. So it quickly adds up.

[Stephen Coates]

I've just been informed by my Mother that she is getting fibre internet next week, and they are sending an engineer and a router.

I do not want my mother or any 'engineer' messing with my networking hardware up here, so, should I just unplug my ADSL2+ modem on Monday, lock myself in here with a coffee, let them get on with it, and pray they don't want any free technical support?

[Harrison]

The engineer will just need to replace the BT Master Socket with an Openreach Fibre plate which will include a normal phone socket and a data socket. He will then need to go to the local FTTC cabinet and connect your house to that cabinet, then activate the connection with the exchange. Then finally come back to the house and plug the modem/router into the data socket and check the connection is up and running.

Normally they will ask for a laptop or computer to be connected directly to the new router so they can check the connection is working. The first time I had it activated the engineer wanted me to run the BT line speed test from their website and that was all. Subsequent visits when I moved my BT infinity with me they never asked. They just made sure their test equipment reported the connection was good and that the router light turned blue.

Remember however that if you want to connect to the router you will need to directly via ethernet or wifi. You cannot use a phone line extension to relocate the router elsewhere in the house, as you could with ADSL. You no longer use ADSL filters. Only the BT master socket can be used to connect the modem/router and any other phone lone extensions in the house will just work as a phone line, not for the internet. The engineer should offer the option to relocate the data connection elsewhere in the house if wanted. I had this done in my house so my router is located upstairs in my office. They run a data cable (basically a very thin ethernet cable) from the bt master switch to your new location (within 30 metres) and the cable just ends with a connector for the router (not a new socket). Mine runs along the skirting, up the stairs and they drilled a hole though the wall into the office.

Some engineers can be difficult and try to refuse to run a data cable, but luckily my house doesn't have an electric socket anywhere near the BT master socket, so the engineer was forced to locate the data connection elsewhere where there was one. In contrast, when I moved into the rented cottage last year (when we flooded) the engineer whom installed it there refused to run a data cable because he thought it would be too difficult and I guessed because there was a plug socket right by the BT master socket, so his job was easy and done in about 15 minutes. But it wasn't so great for me because the Master Socket in that cottage was in the master bedroom window at the opposite end of the house to my office, so I had to buy 30 metres of ethernet cable to run the length of the house to relocate the router. Annoying, but it worked OK.

[Stephen Coates]

Thanks harrison. I expect I can just leave them to do as they please with the master socket, and I'll just unplug my ADSL2+ modem. I expect my Mother will want her hardware downstairs near the master socket.

Do you know what kind of equipment ISPs tend to supply? My Mum just said that they are 'sending a new router out'. Of course, knowing my Mum, 'router' could mean anything, and I don't what what ISP she has gone with. Just asking out of curiosity really. I'd rather not get involved as I've been pondering moving house myself.

[Harrison]

If it's BT then it will be their BT Home Hub 5. This is what I'm using and it is quite good. Stable connection and fairly strong dual channel WiFi. Only downside is limited advanced settings to really mess around compared with my old Billion router.

Sky supply their own router, which I've heard is quite rubbish, has horrible wifi and drops the connection more than most.

For me though, Infinity has been really stable and nothing like ADSL. You don't constantly get line drops or the need to reboot the router, as is common for ADSL.

[Stephen Coates]

I just checked the current Plusnet account, and it looks like she is sticking with them... on a new 24 month contract.

I will report back with details on what happens.

[Stephen Coates]

Well, the ADSL got turned off yesterday morning, so I've been using the good old dial up modem (56k).

The BT 'Engineer' came yesterday and put a new master socket in, 2 metres away from the current one. My extention socket was wired in to the old master socket, so this morning, I had to run a wire from the new master socket back to the old one to get it connected. He also put in an Openreach modem.

No idea what my Mother is planning to connect to said Openreach modem. I tried connecting a PC to it, with the PC doing the PPPoE, but it didn't work. I tried to log into the Plusnet website and it failed, so I think she has changed the password.

Looks like I might be stuck on dialup for a while.

[Kin Hell]

<snip>
Looks like I might be stuck on dialup for a while.

In this day & age?

When the ADSL was turned off yesterday, your new Fibre service should have gone live. I hope BT are compensating you for this?

[Harrison]

This may sound like an obvious question, but do you actually talk to your mother? Actually asking her about the new connection might give you the answer much faster than guessing!

Why did bt need to install a new master socket at a new location? Normally they just replace the existing socket. For a new location it would normally mean installing a new phone line.

When you say openreach modem, do you mean a square white box with openreach written in large writing on the top? If so that is just a fibre modem and it's ethernet port needs connecting to a router. If it hasn't then maybe the router hasn't arrived yet. Any cable router works, but you would need the connection settings. Again why not ask her?

It does seem strange if it is a modem because in bt's case they ditched the separate modems and built it all in to one with the launch of their hub 5. It was annoying have 2 boxes and therefore 2 plugs.

[Stephen Coates]

I prefer not to talk to her about matters relating to technology. I won't go into detail here, but at the moment, there are several things I don't particularly want to get involved with.

No idea why they needed to put a new master socket in, but they did. Anyway, both the old master socket and my extension socket are now reconnected.

I am referring to the Openreach modem as you describe harrison. Not sure why they bother TBH, but they did. There was a missed parcel in todays post so I'm guessing that might be whatever Plusnet sent her. We'll have to wait and see...

[Kin Hell]

Hmmm. PlusNet is part of BT..... :eyebrow:

[Harrison]

Indeed they are, but did they supply their own routers?

[Kin Hell]

I expect they would. I'm sure Home Hub 5 is just for BT customers.

Still doesn't excuse the fact the Fibre service should have gone live the day the ADSL service terminated. :thumbsdown2:

[Harrison]

Maybe it did and his mum has it installed somewhere secret! ;)

[Kin Hell]

Maybe Tampon ads are still assigned to Channel 4 only. :rolleyes:

[Stephen Coates]

Well, my Mum set up the Plusnet supplied router (which looks like a regular ADSL Modem/Router).

It has wireless, with encryption, probably WPA2, because my WEP card won't connect to it.

So, I have managed to progress from dialup to sitting on the floor in the living room (where my mum's router is), with a Windows 95 laptop and an Ethernet card.

What kind of hardware will I need in order to link her (wireless) downstairs network to my (wired) upstairs network? Presumably I can just do it with some sort of access point? Bearing in mind that I cannot run an Ethernet cable anywhere.

If you are wondering why I don't just offer to set everything up for her and have it work perfectly, its because I don't want the responsibility when her (or someone elses) equipment doesn't work. I'm sick to death of the whole 'lets blame Stephen' thing. Hence I choose to have no involvement here.

- - - Updated - - -

OK, so since it is night time, and no one is awake to complain, I decided to plug my PC in using a long Ethernet cable running downstairs, and here is the speed test:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/4381633599.png.

Not bad :).

- - - Updated - - -

Another update. I turned off the encryption so I can access the network using an old WaveLAN card, and have used an old Windows 2000 laptop with the WaveLAN card, and an Ethernet card as a makeshift router to get internet access into my wired network.

Using this crude setup, I get the following speed:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/4382611530.png

Still much better than dialup :D.

[Puni/Void]

I use a wireless adapter that I plugged into the electrical socket. It was very easy to install and took only a couple of minutes to get working. My AmigaOS 4 machine is hooked up to this device with an ethernet cable, as well as my PC. It is fast and reliable, and not expensive at all. I recommend this solution for you.

[Harrison]

Wireless repeaters work ok. I used one at our rented cottage to get a wifi signal to the other end of the building. But they do tend to drop the connection fairly often. I would instead highly recommend using ethernet power adapters, where you plug one in a wall socket by the router, and another in your room. Then run an ethernet cable from the router to the adapter, and one from the adapter in your room to a switch. Works very well for me. I use one in the living room connected to a switch to connect up my tv, sky box, ps3 and Xbox. Get fairly fast speeds that are not much slower than directly wired ethernet. And not too expensive either. About £30 for a pair of 500mbps ones. Don't get cheaper 300mbps ones.

[Stephen Coates]

Someone on another forum offered me a spare Linksys WRT-54GL pre loaded with DD-WRT, so I will give that a go. I'll probably upgrade to something faster in due course, but this should be more than good enough in the mean time.

[Stephen Coates]

I got the WRT-54G with DD-WRT software earlier this week, and set it up as a wireless client, so it is basically acting as a router between my network and my mother's network.

Here is the internet speed:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/4414302666.png

Not bad. I guess I might be able to improve it a bit if I position the antennae better.

[Harrison]

I did that initially at our rented cottage last year using a Billion 7800N router in bridge mode, so in effect it creates a second bridged network. The downside of this kind of setup to that it is seen as 2 separate LANs and Wi-Fi gear can get a bit confused moving between the 2 zones. I didn't find it very fast or that reliable so purchased the power lan adapters. So much easier and at the time I was getting about 55Mb/s directly at the router via ethernet, and only just under that using the power supply lan adapters. I highly recommend you get a couple if you see them on offer. It makes a huge difference.

[Kin Hell]

I did that initially at our rented cottage last year using a Billion 7800N router in bridge mode, so in effect it creates a second bridged network. The downside of this kind of setup to that it is seen as 2 separate LANs and Wi-Fi gear can get a bit confused moving between the 2 zones. I didn't find it very fast or that reliable so purchased the power lan adapters. So much easier and at the time I was getting about 55Mb/s directly at the router via ethernet, and only just under that using the power supply lan adapters. I highly recommend you get a couple if you see them on offer. It makes a huge difference.

As an average, (file-size depending) 55Mb/sec is about as good as you get in real terms on a hard wired Gigabit Network Harrison. That's not to shabby at all for wireless, aside from the increase in Latency & the polling of course. ;)