£17/month = 360kbps ffs
Discussion
That'd seem like a bargain a few years back. 
Do your neighbours all get similar speeds? Try and narrow down the cause first, there's no point going through the hassle of switching ISPs only to find it's actually the dodgy wiring to your house/in your house/from your exchange that's restricting your bandwidth.
If it's not something your can improve (ISP or house wiring) what's the 3G coverage like in your area?
Do your neighbours all get similar speeds? Try and narrow down the cause first, there's no point going through the hassle of switching ISPs only to find it's actually the dodgy wiring to your house/in your house/from your exchange that's restricting your bandwidth.
If it's not something your can improve (ISP or house wiring) what's the 3G coverage like in your area?
I was the same. I switched from one ISP to current one last Aug. Speed went down from 1.7Mbps to 1.2 - even though the new company were offering up to 8Mbps (but predicted 6 where we live). This then dropped more recently to 0.5Mbps.
All I've done since Aug is plug a new router into the same wiring.
Then last weekend I had to move the PC to another room while we decorate the office. Also stripped out all the wiring to the router that had been there for years and plugged the router straight into the phone socket via the filter. Suddenly I'm getting 6Mbps!
Turns out muggins here plugged a 5 meter phone extension line for the router into the phone jack (obviously) of the adsl filter, then another adaptor on the other end for the router to plug into to
I've not had the courage to call their helpdesk yet to apologise for being a rude git.
All I've done since Aug is plug a new router into the same wiring.
Then last weekend I had to move the PC to another room while we decorate the office. Also stripped out all the wiring to the router that had been there for years and plugged the router straight into the phone socket via the filter. Suddenly I'm getting 6Mbps!
Turns out muggins here plugged a 5 meter phone extension line for the router into the phone jack (obviously) of the adsl filter, then another adaptor on the other end for the router to plug into to
I've not had the courage to call their helpdesk yet to apologise for being a rude git.
First step is plugging your router straight into the master socket. That is, taking the cover off the main telephone point in the house and plugging the filter straight into the BT line behind. This will disable all the extensions in your house, but it will tell you if the wiring inside your house is the problem. If so, the problem is yours - no telco will touch it.
Also, if the modem is constantly trying to find a higher line speed but connecting and disconnecting quite a lot (or you are making it do this - i.e. rebooting it to see if the line goes any faster), then the exchange will think there is a fault on the line and set the BRAS (I can't remember what this means) to a very low line speed. If it has done this, then you will need an exchange engineer to reset it.
I have gone though all this twice with BT (and it's all BT at the end of the day) and have now realised that the only way to get action is to have tested the two points above before taking it to the telco - otherwise you get stuck in scripted hell.
Also, if the modem is constantly trying to find a higher line speed but connecting and disconnecting quite a lot (or you are making it do this - i.e. rebooting it to see if the line goes any faster), then the exchange will think there is a fault on the line and set the BRAS (I can't remember what this means) to a very low line speed. If it has done this, then you will need an exchange engineer to reset it.
I have gone though all this twice with BT (and it's all BT at the end of the day) and have now realised that the only way to get action is to have tested the two points above before taking it to the telco - otherwise you get stuck in scripted hell.
Edited by dxg on Thursday 25th February 14:55
dxg said:
First step is plugging your router straight into the master socket. That is, taking the cover off the main telephone point in the house and plugging the filter straight into the BT line behind. This will disable all the extensions in your house, but it will tell you if the wiring inside your house is the problem. If so, the problem is yours - no telco will touch it.
Yes I've already done that. Unfortunately no cable BB (Virgin) available in the area, its through the phone line only. Goddam backwater 
I've just done a speedtest as I'm at home today and it's not so bad - 1.9Mb and a ping varying between 28-40ms. I think it's just in the evenings and the nature of everyone in the street hanging off the same exchange is the reason it's so bad. I've been through all the scripted stuff when we first set it up to try to get to the root of the crap performance - but it seems its just a case of suck it up in the evenings.
Thing is - £17 is quite high to be paying for this gash performance - I'd rather go with someone cheaper if I have to put p with ADSL. Are ISPs all the same? Will it matter if I go to someone else if the basic fundamentals (ie ADSL) remain the same?
Interesting this. The UK seems to struggle with internet speeds. I used to live right next to an exchange and still only managed 1Mbps.
Mobile networks seem oversubscribed also. The 3G data rates are piss-poor (they're crap in Paris too), and I actually don't know anyone who can get any more than 4Mbps unless it's a business line.
It's pretty poor for one of the most advanced nations in the world!!
Mobile networks seem oversubscribed also. The 3G data rates are piss-poor (they're crap in Paris too), and I actually don't know anyone who can get any more than 4Mbps unless it's a business line.
It's pretty poor for one of the most advanced nations in the world!!
Thats about the speed I'm getting at my housemates place.
BT Service, we used to have 512kb, got the upgrade to the homehub and now we're down to around 360kb up and down. Compared to the Sky service over at swmbos place thats getting a reliable 12mb down and 1mb up.
I keep asking him to complain to BT about the quality of the service, but as he's often out of the country and only occasionally uses it, he hasn't bothered.
Bloody irritating.
BT Service, we used to have 512kb, got the upgrade to the homehub and now we're down to around 360kb up and down. Compared to the Sky service over at swmbos place thats getting a reliable 12mb down and 1mb up.
I keep asking him to complain to BT about the quality of the service, but as he's often out of the country and only occasionally uses it, he hasn't bothered.
Bloody irritating.
...Mole... said:
Podie said:
I went LLU... now cruising at 6Meg, rather than 2...
This is what i did as well. Got 40Kbps on Sky Connect if i was lucky, unfortunately Orange are the only LLU service in my area. It is still an improvement though I get at least 4Mbps.hornetrider said:
Are ISPs all the same? Will it matter if I go to someone else if the basic fundamentals (ie ADSL) remain the same?
Pop your phone number in Sam Knows Exchange Checker and see if LLU ADSL2 suppliers are an option. If (like myself) you only have plain vanilla 'upto' 8meg ADSL available at the exchange I would recommend an ISP such as http://www.idnet.net/ - usage dependant of course.
RoadRailer said:
hornetrider said:
Are ISPs all the same? Will it matter if I go to someone else if the basic fundamentals (ie ADSL) remain the same?
Pop your phone number in Sam Knows Exchange Checker and see if LLU ADSL2 suppliers are an option. If (like myself) you only have plain vanilla 'upto' 8meg ADSL available at the exchange I would recommend an ISP such as http://www.idnet.net/ - usage dependant of course.
Broadband availability overview
ADSL: Yes
SDSL: No
LLU services: Yes
Cable: No
Wireless: No
LLU operator presence
AOL: Enabled
O2 / Be: Enabled
C&W / Bulldog: Not available
Edge Telecom: Not available
Entanet: Not available
Lumison: Not available
NewNet: Not available
Node4: Not available
Orange: Enabled as of 20/01/2010
Pipex: Not available
Sky / Easynet: Not available
Smallworld: Not available
TalkTalk (CPW): Enabled
Tiscali: Enabled as of 07/03/2008
Tiscali TV: Not available
WB Internet: Not available
Zen Internet: Not available
hornetrider said:
RoadRailer said:
hornetrider said:
Are ISPs all the same? Will it matter if I go to someone else if the basic fundamentals (ie ADSL) remain the same?
Pop your phone number in Sam Knows Exchange Checker and see if LLU ADSL2 suppliers are an option. If (like myself) you only have plain vanilla 'upto' 8meg ADSL available at the exchange I would recommend an ISP such as http://www.idnet.net/ - usage dependant of course.
Broadband availability overview
ADSL: Yes
SDSL: No
LLU services: Yes
Cable: No
Wireless: No
LLU operator presence
AOL: Enabled
O2 / Be: Enabled
C&W / Bulldog: Not available
Edge Telecom: Not available
Entanet: Not available
Lumison: Not available
NewNet: Not available
Node4: Not available
Orange: Enabled as of 20/01/2010
Pipex: Not available
Sky / Easynet: Not available
Smallworld: Not available
TalkTalk (CPW): Enabled
Tiscali: Enabled as of 07/03/2008
Tiscali TV: Not available
WB Internet: Not available
Zen Internet: Not available
I'd say o2/be would be your best bet.
beanbag said:
Interesting this. The UK seems to struggle with internet speeds. I used to live right next to an exchange and still only managed 1Mbps.
I guess we're paying the price for being way ahead of the game in terms of our copper infrastructure, most phone lines were fitted 50 years ago, even on new builds it's only been 8 years or so that data has been a consideration for new installs.As people are starting to discover it's not usually about the local loop, or even the last mile, it's the last foot or so of copper into the house that usually stuffs ADSL speed. Wires were just twisted, crimped, bent through very small radiuses on their way to the master socket with complete disregard for the integrity of the copper, it just wasn't a consideration.
Often as long as you're not miles from the exchange it can be worth ordering a new line for £100, get your number transferred to the new line, get ADSL on the new line then cancel the original one.
Right, just thought I'd update this thread as BE was installed as of this week. Well, the difference IS night and day, it's so much faster!
Broadband speed test shows 6.4 Meg d/l and .95 u/l. OK it's not Virgin levels of 20 meg but for ADSL I'm well chuffed!
Thanks again to everyone who helped out, my online life is now better!
Broadband speed test shows 6.4 Meg d/l and .95 u/l. OK it's not Virgin levels of 20 meg but for ADSL I'm well chuffed!
Thanks again to everyone who helped out, my online life is now better!
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