New House - Has BT Master Socket - How quickly can I set up broadband?

[AdHu]

Hi,

I'm moving into a new house next week at short notice and I'm looking for broadband options that are quick to set up (within a few days ideally) but I'm reading it typically takes weeks to sort out.

The house already has a BT Master Socket 5C (pictured below). I know EE uses BT infrastructure and was wondering if I'm able to buy a broadband package and router in-store and set up instantly myself? That's me assuming the long wait is typically waiting for an available appointment with an installer.

If there's no way to get broadband set up, do EE offer any stop gap options until I can get broadband sorted? EE is my mobile network too if that effects anything!

[XRaySpeX]

Do you have BB with EE at your old house? If not, with whom?

Most BB installations take about 2 weeks from ordering. Even if the necessary cabling is present it will need activating outside the home & so an OR eng. will need to be booked & attend. 

What does BT Wholesale Broadband Availability Checker > Address Checker estimate for your new addy? Post the whole table and the line above it, blanking out your phone number.

As a stopgap you could get a mobile router.

[JimM11]

@AdHu Just call EE-CS tell them what you want and listen to what they say!

[AdHu]

Hi,

Thanks a lot for the quick response, this is really helpful. Sorry I should have mentioned - I was previously with Sky Broadband. Just cancelled this as the price became extortionate and they offered me free cancellation.

But yeah apologies, I've never set up broadband in a new home so I'm a bit clueless on this!

So I was wondering if it turns out that EE does work with this socket, whether it would be a possibility to buy a router and a broadband package in-store (in person rather than ordering online), and if this could activated quicker than having a call to book installation - But you're saying an engineer would have to come at some point regardless and I can't buy a package and along with equipment and install myself?

I've posted the table below.. We can't get amazing speeds with any provider as we're quite remote and only have part fibre connection available.

Thanks again for the response.

[AdHu]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your response. That's the plan after work - I don't really know what I'm talking about though, so I thought I'd just get second opinions / a bit of info first.

Thanks

[XRaySpeX]

Thanks. That socket & the landline behind it is suitable for the only BB you can get from EE, up to 80 Meg partial Fibre FTTC (VDSL SoGEA)  but it still would need activating by OR.

Ordering BB in a retail store wouldn't be any quicker as it still involves an OR visit which is the bottleneck. Also you don't walk away from the store with a router; it is supplied by EE as part of the order & installation. I wouldn't order from a store anyway as you get no statutory 14-day cooling-off period.

[XRaySpeX]

Sensible!

[JimM11]

@AdHu You can get broadband from EE if it is indeed supported at your home, and if there is also a 4g mobile that has a good reasonable signal available then EE can also sell you the Hybrid addon to that, getting both at the same time will in theory as long as EE get the finger out allow the hybrid to supply Internet connection via the NON working EE Router until OR get and connect the service to the premises. If the previous had BB service and not cancelled walked away then different kettle off fish for that.

Until you talk to EE or try to do an online order you will not know what! Store will give you the better quicker answer but with zero support as soon as you walk out the door!

If the computer say's NO then it means NO!

[AdHu]

Hi,

Just an update on this in case anyone else has a similar situation - sorted this via EE web chat whilst I was on hold waiting for assistance over the phone (just sent over the link to this thread for ease rather than re-explaining the situation + so they could see the socket):

I've been told that as we already have the BT OpenReach socket; we don't need an engineer to come out for the install - instead, all equipment will be shipped over for myself to install and will be activated remotely.

I've been given an activation date 7 days from ordering but have been told it could be activated sooner if the equipment arrives early. Couldn't definitely say that this is speedier but it's sooner than the estimated install dates provided online!

Thank you all for the advice - and if you have an existing socket still check with EE/BT that it will work.

[XRaySpeX]

An OR eng. may not need to visit your home but he will certainly need to attend to the installation at the local cab. and/or exchange on the installation date.