Les H

Does any body know the maximum distance you can be from your exchange to recieve ADSL broadband. We have just signed up with Tesco for their 512K service and it aint working at all. 10 days down the line they still havn't got an engineer out to test the line from this end. They just say that BT carried out the tests before and after activation and all was OK, meanwhile I'm paying for a service that I'm not getting.

We had a BT engineer out today to fix an unrelated problem with the phoneline but he would not look at the bradband side of things at all. He said that request must come from Tesco and no one else. He did tell us we are 8.09 KM from the exchange though and seemed highly dubious as to whether we could get the service over that distance. All in all I am very unimpressed with Tesco's Support.

Any Ideas

jowl

I always thought it was a maximum of 6km from the exchange.

I could be wrong tho!

Les H

The BT guy reckons it used to be 5KM but things have improved over the last 6 months. He didn't know by how much though.

Nicks VR4

I think its this
512Kb/s maximum distance: 6.5Km
1& 2Mb/s maximum distance: 3.5Km

go here enter details check the one it states it ok gives you more details

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/checker2.php

Mark Miwurdz

You have my sympathies. Been there and done it (not with Tesco though).

Tesco should only have accepted your order having already established that you can physically get broadband. This means thye should have run a test and then put in an order with BT Wholesale (their customer). That's the good news.

Success rates seem to depend on which ISP you're with and how hard they're prepared to shout on your behalf. You get what you pay for and I'd be inclined to sign up with an outfit who do this for a living (as opposed to a greengrocers - albeit a very capable one).

Cheers
Kav

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Look on the BT broadband site, they have a checker to see if your line is able to take broadband, just put your telephone number in and presto

Tony

Les H

I have used the checker on the BT site and it comes back with this when I enter my telephone number

"Our initial test on your line indicates that you may be able to have Broadband from BT with speeds up to 512Kb, which is up to 10 times faster than dial-up. At the moment, your telephone line is unable to support our 2Mb speed broadband package. Also, due to the length of your line, an engineer visit may be required to set up your broadband service."

When I enter my postcode they say this

"We're sorry, but Broadband from BT is not yet available in your area.
We are always exploring new technologies and it may be possible to provide you with Broadband from BT in the future."

Whats so annoying is that we are not in the middle of nowhere, houses within a few hundred yards of us are on a different exchange and have no problems.

We only moved in a month ago and had broadband through NTHELL for 2 years at our old place so dial up is certainly taking some getting used to againbut the thing thats really bugging me is Tesco's complete inability to get a BT engineeer round so that we can reach a conclusion

Mark Miwurdz

Hi Les

I'd deliver Tesco an ultimatum and if they don't come up with the goodies then cut your losses and go with someone else. You'll pay a couple of quid a month extra but at least you'll have a service supported by someone who 'gets it'.

Cheers
Kav

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Les,

YHPM

Tony

jowl

I'd get arsey with Tesco...they should have performed a thorough check first.

As for the number / postcode BB checker - phone number is more accurate.

jowl

Great Link - cheers!

Appears I'm only 1km from my exchange. So if/when they upgrade it to an 8mb exchange, I should stand a good chance of getting that speed!

Les H

Thanks for the input Guys, we finally got a BT engineer out today who confirmed my worst fears that we are too far from the exchange. Apparently its a weird set up around here and we should actually be on our local exchange but we are not. I don't know if BT can change anything but I'm certainly going have a go.

jowl

I believe they can 're-root' your line.....but are unlikely to do that unless you're actually signed up with Vt as your ISP