In November 2011, there was what seemed to be a theft of the trunk phone lines that served most of the village where I live. So for nearly a week we didn't have a phone line or internet access (seeing that there is no VirginMedia cable, not many people did). Thankfully I had internet at work, and the Vodafone cell in the village was OK, so mobiles worked (although that's not good when you're on PAYG, and have a landline calls deal). I looked at getting BT Infinity, since those lucky enough to already have that service weren't cut off (just phone). It was available! However I ran everything off my ADSL connection, so to go to FTTC meant  I needed to sort at a minimum, Email as we'd lose the static IP address. So I delayed ordering Infinity from BT...

When the time came that I was ready to order it, it was no longer available. Hmmm, that's odd we thought, and I joined the BT forums to ask why that might happen. I didn't get a complete response, but did find that the next week Infinity would be available! That would be fine. So the day came and I Ordered it. It said I needed a MAC code from my existing ADSL provider (whose FAQ says I don't need one for Infinity). That meant a delay of about 42 hours while I got it, and submitted it to BT. Half an hour later there was a call from BT saying Infinity just wasn't available to me. Huh? I've ordered it!

To add insult to injury, the ADSL line that 4 years ago was happy at 2Mbps is today struggling to match 640kbps. I'm sure some of it's down to changeable atmospheric conditions, but mostly down to things being moved around and degrading the connection. Now we're a long way from the exchange, so are never going to have a fantastic connection (hence wanting Infinity). Then there was an Open Reach engineer visiting my neighbour whose ADSL is also slow. They claimed that it improved when we switched off our electricity at the supply (fuse box). So what had we changed in the last few weeks? Nothing of any consequence (battery clocks, rechargeable toothbrush, toys at Christmas). And when the test was done laptop was still on, as was ADSL router and server (thanks to UPSes). So I've spent the past few days wondering how the connection might be degragded by something else in our house. I have run out of ideas, and look forward to a possible BT engineer visit finding the same thing - that our connection is crap too, so it's not us causing EMI...

And to square the insult, there are 2 houses in the close that have Infinifty! So how can it not be available? I can see BT wanting to give priority to long serving BT customers, but surely they'd like to get some more customers back to BT - which I'm willing to do for Infinity, but only for Infinity...

Unless I sign up for BT Broadband (I have a MAC that will expire soon, so it's not as much hassle as it might have been), and get free unlimited FON wireless access. Hmmm, wont those Infinity enabled neighbours have to share their 27Mbps with me? And would I then get priority for Infinity?