What is a MAC Key?

[milly143]

I'm trying to sign up to Plus Net Broadband, moving over from BT and they have asked for my MAC Key. I have no idea what this is and can't get through on their phones. Any ideas?

[Fitzer]

The MAC is the hardware address of your network card and will consist of 6 pairs of numbers separated by hyphens. If you enter "ipconfig /all" (no quotes) in command prompt (start, programs, accessories, command prompt) then the bit you're looking for is 'physical address'

[wideboy]

Fitzer, I think you'll find that is a MAC address. What milly143 is looking for is a MAC code (or key). This is obtained from the current ISP and has to be sent to the new ISP.

See here:-

http://forums.vnunet.com/thread.jsp?forum=19&thread=59580

http://www.ndousers.com/viewtopic.php?id=1517

Milly143 - contact BT and ask for it (demand it!).

[Phantaxus]

er Yes and No Fitzer

a MAC address is the hardware address for your network card but in this case I believe it is a number that you can get from your existing ISP (BT) that Plus Net need to do the migration. You may have to put the request in writting.

Just to hijack your question does anybody know if an ISP is allowed to charge an admin fee(�15) to release your MAC Key?

[Phantaxus]

you beat me to it wideboy

[wideboy]

No sweat, Phantaxus - don't know about them charging - never had to do it (yet). Try Googling the question.

[LazyGun]

In theory they should not be able to charge for it, although I suppose they may have something buried in the fine print. In the same way that you need a Port Authorization Code (PAC) from your supplier to move your mobile phone service across to another service provider, you need a MAC code to move your broadband service from one service provider to another.

Any attempt to prevent you from obtaining your MAC code would be regarded as anti-competitive, and you would have good cause to complain to OFTEL about them.

[milly143]

Cool, thanks for your answers! If they do try to charge me for the MAC key, could I not just cancel my BT Broadband and register with Plus Net independantly? (sorry, I'm not great with all this kind of stuff).

[LazyGun]

There is certainly nothing to stop you cancelling any service you have from a supplier milly. I would imagine there would be a notice period for a straight cancellation though.
They really should not be trying to charge you for providing the Migration code though.

Downsides might be along the lines of having to pay your soon to be terminated supplier for 1 month, and having to pay your new prospective supplier for that same month though, unless you time it right....

[milly143]

Got it, quite amusing actually. BT asked why I was swapping and I said 24.99 for 1 MB was too much when I could get up to 8MB for 14.99. there was an 'oh' and awkward silence and then he just passed the code over. Very happy now. I just have to try and work out how to use Plus Nets crappy site now. :o) Thanks again!

[Fitzer]

Oops, learn something new every day! Bloomin' three letter acronyms, why couldn't they just use the full name.

[Mattk]

i was going to move to plus net but their prices seem to have increased pretty steeply.�40 for the package that was �21 going back a month or so.