ADSLPRO offers super fast internet access in conjunction with Hotchilli designed for businesses, home workers, professionals and self-employed people. Once you have experienced the speed and reliability of our broadband service you'll never want to use anything else again. Take a look at our General Frequently Asked Questions

ADSL Pro General FAQ's

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions from ADSL Pro and Hotchilli Customers.

Q: What is the minimum term for an ADSL Pro contract?
A: The minimum term for an ADSL Pro contract is 12 months.

Q: Do I still have to pay line rental on top of my subscription?
A: Yes. You have to pay BT for the rental of your telephone service and any call charges or other charges associated with it. To subscribe to ADSL Pro the customer must have a BT telephone line and account.

Q: How do I pay for ADSL Pro?
A: Invoices are raised monthly in advance and can be paid either by direct debit or credit/debit card. Annual payments are also accepted.

Q: Can I choose my activation date?
A: Yes, you can choose your activation date and with no engineer visit, there is no need to be present at your home or Business. The activation will be done on or before 6pm, on the agreed day.

Q. What is the difference between ADSL and an ordinary phone line?
A. The actual line is identical, which means you can get ADSL without digging holes in the street. All you need is a "microfilter" to separate the voice and data, and an ADSL modem or network adaptor.

Q. Will an engineer need to install it?
A. No, ADSL Pro provides "plug and play" ADSL routers/modems.

Q: Can I keep an existing telephone number?
A: Most customers will be able to keep their existing telephone number. If you use another telephone service provider you will have to have a BT line installed, however this line will still be subject to survey.

Q: What is the cost of cancelling a contract?
A: The customer will be charged for the remaining term of the minimum period as detailed in their ADSL Pro Contract. The current minimum term contract is 12 months from the date the customer is installed/activated. See also the question on What happens to my connection if I move location?

Q. Will I need new computer systems to cope?
A. No, ADSL is simply a faster, more efficient alternative to dial-up modems.

Q. How do I choose the service that is right for me?
A. There are two factors you must get right: speed and contention. Speeds range from 500kbs to 2,000kbs. 500kbs is fine for a small office using the internet for e-mail and some light surfing. If heavy traffic is expected, for example when designers are exchanging big graphics files, buy as much speed as you can afford.

Q. What is contention?
A. Data packets are sent down the wire in sequence, so when traffic is heavy they must queue up or contend for entry to the highway. Normally this is not a problem, but heavy users who cannot tolerate delay, such as operators of websites where customers may be waiting for a response, can buy lines with guaranteed speeds - at extra cost.

Q. Does having ADSL open my system to hackers?
A. Because it is always on, hackers have much more opportunity to try to break into your system, so good security is essential. This ranges from setting strong passwords to installing and maintaining effective firewalls and anti-virus software.

Q. What is wireless ADSL?
A. Wireless networks can be connected to an ADSL socket allowing users to take their laptops to meeting rooms, labs or warehouses without having to find a network socket and plug in - the laptop has a radio built in or on a PC card. So-called WiFi (technically, 802.11b) links will also be available at convenient locations in towns and cities soon, allowing subscribers to use the web and e-mail in coffee shops, station buffets, and so on.

Q: Can I have ADSL if my standard telephone line is over fibre optic cable?
A: Unfortunately, ADSL can only be provided on a standard copper telephone wire that connects your telephone to the exchange. It is not possible to convert your line to standard copper where optical fibre is used between your telephone and the exchange.

Q. Can I use a palmtop on ADSL links?
A. Anything with a browser that can surf the web, or an e-mail client, will experience a huge speed boost on ADSL. Such portable devices may not have the speed to take full advantage of this.

Q: Can I have a standard telephone line from any other telephone company?
A: You will need to have either: a BT standard line and account, billed directly by BT or a "Calls and Access line". These lines are provided by BT, but will be billed by another operator. If you are unsure whether your line is in this category or not you should contact the operator that bills you for this line.

A: Can I convert my ISDN/Home Highway to ADSL?
A: You can now arrange for your ISDN2/ISDN service to be converted back to a standard telephone line - suitable for ADSL. If the standard telephone line passes the necessary tests for ADSL installation, you will retain just one line for your voice and ADSL service. All other numbers associated with your current ISDN service will be ceased. You will need to advise us which number you wish to retain.