BT exchange distance...

krato · 07-10-2007, 16:42

I'm fed up of Virgins traffic shaping, when it was NTL my download speed use to be around 550kbs since Virgin took over and implemented traffic shaping 50% of the time my downloads drop to 200-250kbs, and I think its disgusting seeing as I pay OTT for a "2mb" connection when its suppose to be 5, or 4, or whatever it is now...

I was looking at going back to BT seeing as my bills been going up month after month, and joining BE for my internet as I hear nothing but great reviews from people who are with them. I checked my straight line distance from my BT exchange and it comes in at 3.8km, which is pretty far so there’s no way I would get full 24mb, but could it be possible that I get faster speeds than I currently do with virgin? I would call BE and ask them but I’m guessing they would just say my speed would be fine to grab me as a customer. Is there any other way of checking what kind of speeds I would get without it being a biased answer? It would mean reconnecting my BT line, cancelling virgin, and changing internet provider, so it isn't something I want to jump into without doing a bit of research.

Someone said BE would probably put me on the 8mb service as 24mb would be useless to me due to the distance, but that comes with a 12month contract... which I’m not willing to go with, because if I get slow speeds then I'm pretty much doomed...

Should I stay with Virgin or go back to BT?

Quote:

BT ADSL checker:

Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband service that provides a line rate up to 1Mbps. However due to the length of your line the 1Mbps service may require an engineer visit who will, where possible, supply the broadband service.

Our test also indicates that your line should be able to support a potential ADSL Max broadband line rate of 2.5Mbps or greater.

The actual ADSL Max line rate supportable will be determined during the first 10 days of use, after which time the highest stable rate possible will be set.

If you decide to place an order, a further test will be performed to confirm if your line is suitable for the service you wish to purchase.

Quote:

Exchange info

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/ex...hp?ecode=MRCHE

ADSL is available in your area

Your exchange is also enabled for ADSL Max services

According to BT Wholesale, your line should be able to support a 2.5Mbps or greater ADSL connection via ADSL Max.

Standard ADSL RAG results:

You cannot receive 2Mbps ADSL

You may be able to receive 1Mbps ADSL

You can receive 512Kbps ADSL

You can receive 256Kbps ADSL

Nikesh · 07-10-2007, 16:44

From the info, I would say VM is probably better for you, but it is hard to tell without actually having both connections.

krato · 07-10-2007, 16:51

There has to be a way to check what speeds you would get surely? I don't want to go through all the swapping about to find out I get slower speeds on ADSL than I currently do with VM...

**Stuart C** · 07-10-2007, 17:00

None that I know of.. BT even changed the system that enabled you to get a fairly accurate estimate of line distance.

Basically, unless your exchange has been upgraded (within the last couple of years), they have a number you can dial to get the system to phone you back with an estimate of line distance (which can be considerably longer than the straight line distance to the exchange).

The new system is on a different number and, so I am told, requires a PIN.

krato · 07-10-2007, 17:06

Even then it would mean connecting to BT to ring it

I guess I'll just have to stick with VM.. thanks for your replies

**Stuart C** · 07-10-2007, 17:10

Unforetunately, all DSL (including ADSL) services are dependant on both line length and line quality. So, unless you actually have a line they can test, any company will only be able to provide an estimate.

One thing you can do is ask any neighbours who have ADSL what kind of speeds they get.

dragon · 07-10-2007, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

None that I know of.. BT even changed the system that enabled you to get a fairly accurate estimate of line distance.

Basically, unless your exchange has been upgraded (within the last couple of years), they have a number you can dial to get the system to phone you back with an estimate of line distance (which can be considerably longer than the straight line distance to the exchange).

The new system is on a different number and, so I am told, requires a PIN.

Because of all the people ringing line test clogging it up probably.

I think now only openreach engineers can get access to it

krato · 07-10-2007, 17:35

My friends with BT, 8mb... and he gets around 300KBs downloads but he lives a couple of streets away.. if I was to go off that then I guess I'd be best with VM, though thats just ADSL... would ADSL2+ be any better? If i'd be getting 800KBs+ speeds then I'd be happy, but anything under that and theres no point... although it does really get on my nerves when my speed drop to 200-250KBs :/

**Stuart C** · 07-10-2007, 17:47

ADSL2+ would be better, but you may find that Be will refuse to install. I believe that if your line distance is greater than 5km, they refuse to install.

krato · 07-10-2007, 17:49

is that 5km straight line distance? as I'm 3.6, they say 5.5km I guess I'll call them tomorrow and see what they say, but the estimate speed they give me, is it prety much pointless?

dragon · 07-10-2007, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

ADSL2+ would be better, but you may find that Be will refuse to install. I believe that if your line distance is greater than 5km, they refuse to install.

No not always

I actually got better speeds on my Nans talktalk line by forcing the modem to use ADSL rather than ADSL2+ or RE-ADSL2

So yes ADSL2+ is better on decent lines but on poor lines the older G.DMT standard sometimes works better.

slowcoach · 07-10-2007, 23:53

You may have another alternative sooner or later with Freedom4 Wi-Max, it is being rolled out in parts of Manchester.
Pricing is stated to be competitive, with guaranteed speeds starting at 2Meg symmetrical up to a max of 8Meg symmetrical with 10Meg possible but not guaranteed. A radius around the city centre is the first phase then phase 2 covering West Manchester almost as far as Liverpool then finally the third phase will cover East Manchester as far as the Pennines.
See the freedom4.com link at the end of the article.

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/macuser/news/...broadband.html

Chrysalis · 08-10-2007, 02:47

3.8km straight line + checker giving u red on 2mb fixed very bad signs.

BE I am almost certian will simply reject your order, if you use ofcoms 1.4 straight to proper line distance averaging then your actual line distance would work out at 5.3km. Depending on quality of the line your attenuation will probably be between about 55db and 70db assuming the line length is 5.3km. I would expect a optimistic estimate for your line on a rate adaptive adsl1 service would be about 3meg and it may well be a lot worse so I would defenitly stay with cable.