Two questions, one about Infinity, the other about a router

[Ixel]

Hi,

I come from the residential forum so normally spend my time there asking any questions, anyway, I would like to know whether (as an individual that is) if I wanted to I could signup to the business package of Infinity if I wanted to be able to obtain a static IP, or whether I'd have to be a registered business before I could?

Secondly, though not completely relevant to BT Infinity or BT Broadband itself, if anyone here uses a Cisco 887VA or 800 series router which works via the POTS, I was wondering if the WAN port is actually an RJ45 like the manual on the Cisco US site states, or whether it's RJ11? I understand most people probably won't be able to answer this question, but if someone does know then I welcome their input! If it's RJ45 then I'll just buy an RJ45 to RJ11 cable.

Many thanks.

[kuerten]

I don't think you need to have a business package to have a static IP. Those are just leased an just ask if there's one available for you from sales.

Usually for WAN ports, ISPs use "serial" ports. RJ45 are just usually used in LAN environments. For sure RJ11 is not used here since those are for telephone cables. 

[Ixel]

Thanks for the reply.

I was under the impression, and thought I remembered reading somewhere, that residential customers of BT Infinity are only entitled to a dynamic IP address, however I will ask about this when I signup to Infinity (just waiting for the fibre cabinet to go live, as it's now installed).

As for the RJ45-RJ11 issue, I will have to hope that the manual I read is wrong, and that it is RJ11 as most standard routers normally are. Failing that Cisco do sell the cable which converts from RJ45 to RJ11, so all isn't lost, just I find it strange that the router would mention RJ45 for the WAN port when it also states that it supports ADSL2+ and VDSL2 technologies.

[popcornuk · Accepted solution]

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@Ixel wrote:

Thanks for the reply.

I was under the impression, and thought I remembered reading somewhere, that residential customers of BT Infinity are only entitled to a dynamic IP address, however I will ask about this when I signup to Infinity (just waiting for the fibre cabinet to go live, as it's now installed).

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Correct. You have to have a BT Business broadband connection to be able to order a static IP address. It's not available to residential customers. Residential customers all connect with the same username and are assigned a dynamic IP. To have a static you need to have a individual btclick network username which is only available on the business platform.

What do you need the static IP for? You could always use dyncamic DNS instead (although bt won't help you on this matter as it's not supported). 

[Ixel]

Thought so. I would like a static IP for several reasons, but the biggest reason being I can host a small TF2 gameserver and/or website from home with the upload from the estimation I got.

So that leaves me with the unknown answer, would BT allow me to signup to a business version of Infinity even though I'm an individual?

[popcornuk]

Yeah of course. I know a few people who have setup business BB for their parents/family purely because the tech support is based in the UK. You will also need to convert your BT landline to business too.

Make sure that when you speak to sales you ask for a single IP. They will tell you that it's the same price as 5 static IP's but that's used for a totally different setup. A single IP will do you just fine.

Just an added note as someone who's hosted their own server before. Wouldn't you and your mates be better off paying for a dedicated server instead of having to convert your line? I done it before with COD4 and saved us the hassle of having one of us hosting the game!

[Ixel]

I see. And I already have a dedicated server currently in France, but I thought I'd make some use of the spare upload I'd have, and not to mention host something such as a gameserver which is local to me.

As the Infinity package would be business and you mention I also need to change my phone itself to business I better check and compare the pricing of that too, if it turns out too expensive it may very well outweigh the cost of a dedicated server for the equivalent price, in which case I would most likely stick to a dynamic IP on the residential package.

Of course, there's always an alternative though not so ideal for gameservers perhaps (due to extra latency), a paid-for VPN service which offers a static IP and allows inbound traffic. Obviously that's a route I would have to be sure of before I did that.

Anyway, thanks for the extra info.