BT Broadband Checker

[Rheghead]

I have checked my line on the BT Broadband checker and it says I can get 7.5MB/sec!!:confused :Razz


Broadband checker results
For Telephone Number ***** ******* exchange REAY

We've just tested your line and can confirm your line supports the UK's most complete broadband package, BT Total Broadband and we can confirm that you will be able to reach a maximum download speed of 7.5 (Megabits per second).

Download speeds are dependent on a number of factors such as the distance between your telephone exchange to your house or how many people are using broadband at the same time. BT Total Broadband will always give you the maximum download speed available to your line based on these factors.


Does anyone think that is a bit optimistic for a wee village? And are there alternative checkers out there? Anyone know where the exchange is in Reay? Sorry for all the questions. Ta.

[NickInTheNorth]

Hi Rheghead

It would appear that it should be capable of speeds of upto 8mb

samknows is always worth checking for that sort of info, here is the page for Reay.

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/NSREY (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/NSREY)

However as always the line length to the exchange is the critical factor is the actual speed achieved, and also the quality of the copper line to your house.

[Rheghead]

Thanks Nick, the exchange couldn't get much further but I was just checking that I'm paying for an appropriate bb package. I had the feeling that my ISP was taking more money off me than what they could deliver. Thanks again, handy website.

[Spacemonkey]

I live in Reay and carried out this check prior to getting broadband from Tiscali.

The report told me my BT line was capable of up to 8 MBits/second.

In practice the best connection I have ever got was slightly less than 5 MBits/second and this was about 3 am.

From about 1530 to 2230 this connection speed plummets to around 300 kBits/second (yes, that is kilo Bits) I got better speeds from my old dial up connection.

I am told that this is due to "contention". in other words too many people in Reay are trying to access the internet at the same time and the phone lines can't cope.

If anyone else in Reay is with a different ISP and gets better connection speed at these times, please let me know so I can go back to Tiscali and argue with them.

By the way, because they only promise speed UP TOO 8 Mb, they apparently have done nothing wrong.

[NickInTheNorth]

I live in Reay and carried out this check prior to getting broadband from Tiscali.

The report told me my BT line was capable of up to 8 MBits/second.

In practice the best connection I have ever got was slightly less than 5 MBits/second and this was about 3 am.

From about 1530 to 2230 this connection speed plummets to around 300 kBits/second (yes, that is kilo Bits) I got better speeds from my old dial up connection.

I am told that this is due to "contention". in other words too many people in Reay are trying to access the internet at the same time and the phone lines can't cope.

If anyone else in Reay is with a different ISP and gets better connection speed at these times, please let me know so I can go back to Tiscali and argue with them.

By the way, because they only promise speed UP TOO 8 Mb, they apparently have done nothing wrong.

I suspect that the contention ratio causing you problems is the Tiscali contention ratio, rather than any part of the BT adsl network. Tiscali are notorious for selling to the maximum number that their fatpipes can handle, and as a result the customer receives a pretty bad service. That is why they are cheap!

And yes, despite selling an upto 8mb service they are not breaking any rules if your only getting a few hundred kbit!

[Kevin Milkins]

I have just moved to BT from AOL because I was getting ripped to bits by AOL .The guy from BT said he checked my line and it was 7.5 kbps. I checked it with speedtest.net and it was 5.4 so who do you believe? I have to say though I am getting much faster speeds than I used to with AOL and getting more for my money with total broadband.Good luck

[Metalattakk]

If anyone else in Reay is with a different ISP and gets better connection speed at these times, please let me know so I can go back to Tiscali and argue with them.

Argue all you like, they've got you by the short and curlies.

My advice would be to migrate ASAP. It doesn't really matter who you migrate to, they'll all be better than Tiscali. Except Orange.

Keep in mind it'll cost you the remainder of your contract to migrate away from your current ISP.

Look here for guidance on who to migrate to:
http://www.dslzoneuk.net/isp_ratings.php

[Kevin Milkins]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/251306496.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

I have just done a speed test and its under 2000kbps and yet much faster than AOL

[NickInTheNorth]

as always the maximum theoretical speed may well differ from your actual recorded speed. However I have found that BT broadband is in general a very good service.

Not for nothing is AOL also known as AOheLl :D

To get a true measue of the speed of your connection you need to measure the throughput at several different times of day over a few weeks. You'll probably find that the speed varies enormously over the period.

Additionally the equipment you have connected can make a difference as can the interface (USB, Ethernet, Wireless).

[Rheghead]

I've just done mine now. I suppose I should be happy?:confused

http://www.speedtest.net/result/251309448.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

[NickInTheNorth]

I'm reasonable happy, especially as there's 2 users using the broadband just now:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/251311017.png (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.speedtest.net)

[Tighsonas4]

SPEED TEST
only speed i can go by is the speed it shows when i come on and its never the same at the moment its 1952 kbps. its been much faster this last while tony

[Sapphire2803]

Count yourselves lucky ;)

http://www.speedtest.net/result/251335381.png (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.speedtest.net)

[Rheghead]

Count yourselves lucky ;)

http://www.speedtest.net/result/251335381.png (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.speedtest.net)

I hope you're only paying for what your getting?

[NickInTheNorth]

Which exchange is that? Keiss?

That is only 512kb so 469kb aint bad

[Sapphire2803]

I'm paying for 'up to' 8mb :roll:
Still, when Keiss exchange gets upgraded (any day now) I'm expecting about 2mb, so at least it's an improvement. You never know it might surprise me and go even faster. :D

[Rheghead]

I suppose Reay gets a good service because of Dounreay, comparing with wee villages out east? We should be thankful then.

[Sapphire2803]

Which exchange is that? Keiss?

That is only 512kb so 469kb aint bad

To be fair, there were 3 pc's on the go when I did that :)

[bobbyjoeufb]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/251338367.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

I have complained to BT several times about my speed and they keep saying there is nothing wrong!

Funny enough seams only be slow between 1600 - 2300, after that I do notice a big difference.

I used to live round the corner about 250 metres away and was with another ISP and never had any problems with Bb speed.

[NickInTheNorth]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/251338367.png (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.speedtest.net)

I have complained to BT several times about my speed and they keep saying there is nothing wrong!

Funny enough seams only be slow between 1600 - 2300, after that I do notice a big difference.

I used to live round the corner about 250 metres away and was with another ISP and never had any problems with Bb speed.

I'd be interested to see a test on either Maidenhead or London, Dublin is often much slower. What ISP are you with? Where in Thurso do you live?

[bobbyjoeufb]

I'd be interested to see a test on either Maidenhead or London, Dublin is often much slower. What ISP are you with? Where in Thurso do you live?

I am in springpark area of Thurso and with BT Broadband upto 8Mb!



http://www.speedtest.net/result/251344165.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

http://www.speedtest.net/result/251344854.png (http://www.speedtest.net)


I have rebooted the router and pc, and only have caithness.org open, I will try to run it again tomorrow morning before I go to work.

[Metalattakk]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/251348290.png (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://www.speedtest.net)

Not too shabby, but it'll drop at about 10pm tonight to around 2MB then back up again around midnight.

The good thing about Entanet is they are not scared to show you how busy their central pipes are: http://noc.enta.net/

You can even find out which pipe you are connected to, and swap to a less busy one. ;)

[Spacemonkey]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/251355055.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

So much for Tiscali's ADSL Max up to 8 MB/s.

Time to move methinks.

[bobbyjoeufb]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/251500758.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

This morning at 0530, still a bit low for 8Mb Broadband!

[calish6]

I'm on entanet now and this is what I got @ 6.45am. it is usually about 2-3 in the evenings.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/251512495.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

[Tristan]

A lot of the slower speeds are happening during peak times when a lot of ISPs throttle back their service under their "fair usage policy"

[Loch not Lock]

Excuse my ignorance but how do I check the speed I am getting.
Thank you.:confused