Acceptable Broadband Speed?
18 January 2009, 01:48 PM
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Acceptable Broadband Speed?
For a month or so, have noticed my connection slowing right down.
With BT Broadband.
Whilst in town today I noticed a BT Advertising Stall ..... blowing their trumpet about how wonderful they are.
So, I went over and asked them about the speed on my line - the salesman typed in a few details on the PC he had with him and it transpires that on my number the maximum speed I can reach is 0.5Mbps!!!
I was 'upgraded' to an 8Mbps connection last year!!
He did seem very shocked at that figure ...... what do you reckon?
I said that I may move to another provider, he said that it was a waste of time doing that to get a faster speed as that won't happen - is he right or should I dump BT and get something better? Is there anything better?
Should I be happy with 0.5Mbps as there is some remote tribe of pigmies in outer mongolia who still can only attach at 0.45Mbps
With BT Broadband.
Whilst in town today I noticed a BT Advertising Stall ..... blowing their trumpet about how wonderful they are.
So, I went over and asked them about the speed on my line - the salesman typed in a few details on the PC he had with him and it transpires that on my number the maximum speed I can reach is 0.5Mbps!!!
I was 'upgraded' to an 8Mbps connection last year!!
He did seem very shocked at that figure ...... what do you reckon?
I said that I may move to another provider, he said that it was a waste of time doing that to get a faster speed as that won't happen - is he right or should I dump BT and get something better? Is there anything better?
Should I be happy with 0.5Mbps as there is some remote tribe of pigmies in outer mongolia who still can only attach at 0.45Mbps
Last edited by SunnySideUp; 18 January 2009 at 01:49 PM.
18 January 2009, 01:52 PM
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if you can get virgin cable then thats the way to go as you get exactly what you pay for if not then not sure changing to anyone else will help as they all still come through the bt line,plus depends how close you are to the post but im not 100% sure on this 
18 January 2009, 01:57 PM
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18 January 2009, 01:58 PM
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I've just asked BT for my MAC Code online ........ they say, sorry that you are leaving BT we will contact you in a few days.
I didn't say I wanted to leave .... just wanted the MAC code so I could if I wanted to!!
I didn't say I wanted to leave .... just wanted the MAC code so I could if I wanted to!!
18 January 2009, 02:01 PM
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Give it a test here Pete Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test
339 kbps Download
238 kbps Upload
Is that crap?
Seems slow to me
18 January 2009, 02:05 PM
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Speed test is not that accurate but here are my results.
Trending Topics
18 January 2009, 02:08 PM
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3898 down and 392 up at the mo with a load of activity downloading already lol.
Yes, its gonna depend on whats going on with your PC at the time, how good your router is, where you are in relation to the exchange etc. Lots of variables.
Edit.. PC doing less now lol
Yes, its gonna depend on whats going on with your PC at the time, how good your router is, where you are in relation to the exchange etc. Lots of variables.
Edit.. PC doing less now lol
Last edited by Snazy; 18 January 2009 at 02:10 PM.
18 January 2009, 02:10 PM
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Yes - do you know how far you are from the exchange?
The easiest way of sorting out any problems downstream of the BT wiring is a NTE2000 faceplate on your master socket. You don't need microfilters then and your extension wiring won't affect the ADSL. The only problem is that you need your ADSL router sited by the master socket.
The easiest way of sorting out any problems downstream of the BT wiring is a NTE2000 faceplate on your master socket. You don't need microfilters then and your extension wiring won't affect the ADSL. The only problem is that you need your ADSL router sited by the master socket.
18 January 2009, 02:11 PM
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assuming you have no throttling issues with your sp, your speed depends on how far from the exchange you are, the quality of the external wiring, the quality of your internal wiring, the way your extensions are connected and time of day your are connected ( i.e. how many others are online at the same time)
i am about 1000m from exch, my extensions are filtered with SSFP (frontplate filter) and right now i am
i am about 1000m from exch, my extensions are filtered with SSFP (frontplate filter) and right now i am
18 January 2009, 02:15 PM
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PS, on the speedtest site, some of the servers are actually considerably slower than others, so run the test a few times.
London one is coming up VERY slow.
London one is coming up VERY slow.
18 January 2009, 02:36 PM
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Down 2032kbs
Up 377kbs
We are quite away from the 'box' I think we max out sometimes at 2500kbs if we are lucky.
No cable otherwise I would be on them without a second thought as was when we were living in Brum.
Sometimes you have to live with what you can get.
Up 377kbs
We are quite away from the 'box' I think we max out sometimes at 2500kbs if we are lucky.
No cable otherwise I would be on them without a second thought as was when we were living in Brum.
Sometimes you have to live with what you can get.
18 January 2009, 03:58 PM
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Try your router/modem in the master phone socket if you haven't already done so (take the face plate off).
Then see if your speed is increased.
If it does improve then there is probably internal wiring degrading the signal, or even a duff micro filter (try a new filter in the master phone socket to rule out any other filters around the house).
If the connections still crap with a new filter and router in master phone socket then it's probably down to how far you are away from the exchange.
Assuming you have a router does it have any diagnostics on it, showing the downstream noise margins? If readings are low (most ISP's say this should be a minimum of 7db) then this could indicate a crap line.
You could also try a BT iplate, we have supplied some of these recently to customers who have been on "long" lines or generally slow/unstable connections and the new iplate has improved things.
Then see if your speed is increased.
If it does improve then there is probably internal wiring degrading the signal, or even a duff micro filter (try a new filter in the master phone socket to rule out any other filters around the house).
If the connections still crap with a new filter and router in master phone socket then it's probably down to how far you are away from the exchange.
Assuming you have a router does it have any diagnostics on it, showing the downstream noise margins? If readings are low (most ISP's say this should be a minimum of 7db) then this could indicate a crap line.
You could also try a BT iplate, we have supplied some of these recently to customers who have been on "long" lines or generally slow/unstable connections and the new iplate has improved things.
18 January 2009, 04:25 PM
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Is it slow at all times? Just recently my connection speed has been really low in the evenings - sometimes as low as 500kbps. However, during the daytime it's been above 6mbps.
Presume that it's just a case of too many subscribers for the capacity of the exchange...?
Presume that it's just a case of too many subscribers for the capacity of the exchange...?
18 January 2009, 04:25 PM
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sorry, i should have been more specific. changing between 8meg service providers will give you no advantage. assuming no throttling.
18 January 2009, 04:41 PM
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I know loads of people who have moved on sub 8 meg ADSL and got increased performance
Example - had .5meg, changed from Sky to a "decent" ISP and got 3 meg
18 January 2009, 04:46 PM
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I asked the BT bloke whether the distance from the exchange would be an issue ...... he said that I live within an acceptable radius of it.
I said, "Where is it?" .... just out of interest ....... "That's confidential information" he said.
Am I being fed a barrow load of horse sh*t?
I said, "Where is it?" .... just out of interest ....... "That's confidential information" he said.
Am I being fed a barrow load of horse sh*t?
Last edited by SunnySideUp; 18 January 2009 at 04:49 PM.
18 January 2009, 04:57 PM
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Sam Knows says:-
"BT have set a target date of Q2 2009 for the switch to 21CN for your exchange"
Will this help?
Also it says:- "Market 3 - Four or more 'principal' operators provide broadband services at this exchange. Service in this area has been deregulated!"
"BT have set a target date of Q2 2009 for the switch to 21CN for your exchange"
Will this help?
Also it says:- "Market 3 - Four or more 'principal' operators provide broadband services at this exchange. Service in this area has been deregulated!"
Last edited by SunnySideUp; 18 January 2009 at 04:58 PM.
18 January 2009, 05:06 PM
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21cn will not affect speeds, it is just a modernised software driven exchange equipment.
the 4 or more principal operators means that there are operators like aol or sky with their own exchange equipment at the exchange, if they offer 8mb , then expect no difference inspeed (ignoring throttling).
the 4 or more principal operators means that there are operators like aol or sky with their own exchange equipment at the exchange, if they offer 8mb , then expect no difference inspeed (ignoring throttling).
