View Full Version : Broadband Speeds
First let me apologise for using the ‘General’ forum for airing what many might consider a technical subject. But I would like to get responses from as many orgers as possible not just the techno-orgers.
I recently checked my BT broadband speed at http://www.speedtest.net (http://www.speedtest.net/) and http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk (http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk/) and found it to be 116 Kbps which I think is awful. My local exchange is Barrack and I’m about 3.5 Kms away. Now I know all the excuses/arguments etc for slow broadband but is it really too much to ask that in view of BT’s current aggressive advertising of up to 20 Mbps we should expect speeds here to be at least 10% of that advertised?
Are there any ISPs able to provide at least 2 Mbps hereabouts?
First let me apologise for using the ‘General’ forum for airing what many might consider a technical subject. But I would like to get responses from as many orgers as possible not just the techno-orgers.
I recently checked my BT broadband speed at http://www.speedtest.net (http://www.speedtest.net/) and http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk (http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk/) and found it to be 116 Kbps which I think is awful. My local exchange is Barrack and I’m about 3.5 Kms away. Now I know all the excuses/arguments etc for slow broadband but is it really too much to ask that in view of BT’s current aggressive advertising of up to 20 Mbps we should expect speeds here to be at least 10% of that advertised?
Are there any ISPs able to provide at least 2 Mbps hereabouts?
There could be loads of different factors conrtibuting to you awful speed. The first thing to do is to connect your router/modem directly into the main incoming telephone socket and do a speed test, depending on what type of socket you have, you should be able to take the face plate off and plug directly into the 'test' socket. If your speed is still terrible then it has nothing to do with any of your in house cableing/extensions etc. This test is something that BT will get you to do when you call them, so best to do it beforehand.
If you are getting a speed that low, changing ISP is not goiing to make any difference, they still have to come through the BT Exchange in Barrock, that exchange is enabled for ADSL Max, so you shpuld be able to get a much faster speed than you are getting, I'm afraid you are just going to have to contact BT and log a fault, and good luck with that...as BT are an absolute nightmare to deal with regarding Broadband speeds.
NickInTheNorth
28-Sep-09, 13:38
Should that be Barrock?
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/NSBRK
If so your only provider is BT.
As to the 20 MB speeds, that is not something that is available in that much of the UKas yet. The maximum speed you would ever be able to see around here is 8MB. Given that you are 3.7 km from the exchange the you might well expct to get around 2 MB if all other factors are in your favour.
118 KB does sound quite slow. It would certainly be worth reporting a speed that slow to your service provider, there are plenty of things than can be done to try and improve matters. Make sure you report it as a slow speed issue if you don't they will investigate all the wrong issues and tell you that everything is OK as the line is in sync :)
Thanks for the feedback.
Gizmo - Yesterday I contacted BT’s call centre in India and they took me through the testing process. I have to applaud them for their patience. They acknowledged there was a slow speed fault and said they would report it. Another department subsequently phoned me twice yesterday to say that the report had been documented and was being progressed. BT said they would phone me this afternoon
NickInTheNorth – thanks for the info on Barrock exchange. I’m disappointed that no other ISP has got their foot in the door yet. If I could get speeds of 2 Mbps I would be well chuffed ‘cos then I could watch Doc Martin on the ITV iPlayer thingy!
at least you are getting speeds! i live in wick and loose connection nearly every night. have talked to the foreign call centers so many times i cant stand it any more!
this has been going on for quite some time and nothing has ever been done about it..
been thru all the tests and what not but still no joy!
simpsoney
28-Sep-09, 15:15
I am in THurso and that is about the speed i am getting. Looking into it just now!
wickscorrie
28-Sep-09, 15:22
tried the test and got 0.92mbs is that good for wick (according to tiscali whom we're with it should be 3.2mbs)
also with regards to the barrock case my faither is out the skitten way and struggles to get above the 116k and thats wae one of the broadband satelitte dishes, (as they couldn't get broadband through a bt cable), and he should be on alot more than that,
think its a con when you are paying for a specified rate and the provider canna provide it
Just checked on the first link and got 6.67mbps in Thurso on O2
5888Kbps on 2nd link download 320 upload.
tried the test and got 0.92mbs is that good for wick (according to tiscali whom we're with it should be 3.2mbs)
also with regards to the barrock case my faither is out the skitten way and struggles to get above the 116k and thats wae one of the broadband satelitte dishes, (as they couldn't get broadband through a bt cable), and he should be on alot more than that,
think its a con when you are paying for a specified rate and the provider canna provide it
Where about in Wick are you?, as that's a pretty poor speed, i'm in the Hillhead area and get upwards of 6mb with Freeola, as for Tiscali, i wouldn't use them if they were paying me, same goes for Virgin Media, absolutely abysmal providers.
ShelleyCowie
28-Sep-09, 15:54
me and my OH test our regualrly.
Just chekced and getting 6.24Mbp/s not too bad i guess. Usually drops below 6 at nights though.
Its grand with the both of us being trained in this kinda stuff! ;)
We do have a friend who lives down the street and has been having major problems with broadband. ISP doesnt want to know about it tho and are not doing much to help! He is also trained in this area and sends in proof that the speeds are miserable!
Metalattakk
28-Sep-09, 16:40
Should that be Barrock?
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/NSBRK
If so your only provider is BT.
No it isn't. They can sign up to almost any ADSL Max provider - they are not tied to using solely BT Broadband.
what was the link you posted before about broadband providers Mettal, I lost it when my pc died :eek:
I'm in the same boat Barrock exchange -its been running at between 39 and 60kps for weeks despite reporting it a week and more ago. 5 days ago they said it'd be fixed in 24 hrs finally just now I've got 1.1mbs. Off to youtube now!!
Metalattakk
28-Sep-09, 17:18
what was the link you posted before about broadband providers Mettal, I lost it when my pc died :eek:
Was it this one?
http://www.dslzoneuk.net/isp_ratings.php
I'm in the same boat Barrock exchange -its been running at between 39 and 60kps for weeks despite reporting it a week and more ago. 5 days ago they said it'd be fixed in 24 hrs finally just now I've got 1.1mbs. Off to youtube now!!
It makes you wonder what all these Open Reach vans do at the Barrock exchange. OH thinks they've got easy chairs, a microwave and kettle in there.
I wouldn't mind 1Mbps. Apparently we need over 600 Kbps in order to use the ITV iplayer thingy. We want to watch the new series of Doc Martin now that STV have not bothered to take it up.
NickInTheNorth
28-Sep-09, 17:31
No it isn't. They can sign up to almost any ADSL Max provider - they are not tied to using solely BT Broadband.
But whoever they sign up with it will be running across BT maintained wires. If there is a fault the ISP will blame BT and BT will blame the ISP and around and around and around you go ...
I used to be able to download at 250kbs average speed when I lived in cheshire (top speed I ever achieved was 425). I am on the same package here (10mb) and am currently downloading at 1.1kbs!!!! It is absolutely appalling!
redeyedtreefrog
28-Sep-09, 18:15
I got 1.82mb/s. Pretty bad. I'm thinking about switching to O2.
Bobinovich
28-Sep-09, 22:33
I got 1.82mb/s. Pretty bad. I'm thinking about switching to O2.
If you're in Caithness then no matter who you sign with it all comes through BT cables, so changing ISP won't make any difference. Your speed, as explained above, is related mainly to the distance you are from your local exchange - as the cable runs too, not as the crow flies! Also, is it possible you are still on one of the old 2Mbps contracts such as Tiscali had for a long time? In which case 1.82Mbps isn't bad, but you should be able to upgrade to an 8Mbps contract if you are connected to a suitable ADSLmax exchange, although this is still only UP TO 8Mbps.
I have found that, on occasion, BT can be persuaded to come along and replace some wiring with newer and it can make a substantial difference to speeds, such as raising from 256kbps up to 1.5Mbps.
However I've also seen people using badly wired telephone extensions, duff broadband filters, incorrectly setup filters, and many other abominations which can affect speeds once you've got past the main BT socket. Unfortunately if BT come to investigate your crappy speeds and find that its something which is your responsibility then they WILL charge you well over £100 for the call-out, and you still have to get it resolved.
Loch not Lock
29-Sep-09, 09:36
I am in Thurso and have just done 4 speed checks. Here are the results - AOL (myISP) 2.84
Mozilla 4.56
Int. Exp. 4.67
Safari 5.14
What is the reason for this variation??:confused
Metalattakk
29-Sep-09, 18:23
LnL,
It's not down to using different browsers. Your speed could be changing constantly due to contention on the line, or the speed test you use can be wildly inaccurate at the best of times.
It's worth noting that the only speed test BT will accept and act upon is their own www.speedtester.bt.com (http://www.speedtester.bt.com).
(Be warned that it might take close to an eternity to run this test, and you'll need your ISP login details - the same username your router requires.)
Download speedhttp://www.speedtester.bt.com/images/help.jpgachieved during the test was - 6479 Kbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speedshttp://www.speedtester.bt.com/images/help.jpg is 600-7150 Kbps.
Additional Information:
Your DSL Connection Rate :8128 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 448 Kbps(UP-STREAM)
IP Profile for your line is - 7150 Kbps
Halkirk tests at 3.52 Mps download; 0.34 upload. I thought Halkirk was only a 1 MP feed?
NickInTheNorth
29-Sep-09, 21:01
Halkirk tests at 3.52 Mps download; 0.34 upload. I thought Halkirk was only a 1 MP feed?
Halkirk is ADSL max enabled so can provide upto 8mb
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/NSHLK
redeyedtreefrog
29-Sep-09, 21:07
If you're in Caithness then no matter who you sign with it all comes through BT cables, so changing ISP won't make any difference. Your speed, as explained above, is related mainly to the distance you are from your local exchange - as the cable runs too, not as the crow flies! Also, is it possible you are still on one of the old 2Mbps contracts such as Tiscali had for a long time? In which case 1.82Mbps isn't bad, but you should be able to upgrade to an 8Mbps contract if you are connected to a suitable ADSLmax exchange, although this is still only UP TO 8Mbps.
I have found that, on occasion, BT can be persuaded to come along and replace some wiring with newer and it can make a substantial difference to speeds, such as raising from 256kbps up to 1.5Mbps.
However I've also seen people using badly wired telephone extensions, duff broadband filters, incorrectly setup filters, and many other abominations which can affect speeds once you've got past the main BT socket. Unfortunately if BT come to investigate your crappy speeds and find that its something which is your responsibility then they WILL charge you well over £100 for the call-out, and you still have to get it resolved.
Thank you, i hate Up To [evil]
It makes you wonder what all these Open Reach vans do at the Barrock exchange. OH thinks they've got easy chairs, a microwave and kettle in there.
I wouldn't mind 1Mbps. Apparently we need over 600 Kbps in order to use the ITV iplayer thingy. We want to watch the new series of Doc Martin now that STV have not bothered to take it up.
Try stopping and asking for look, you may get a cuppa too!
"Unfortunately if BT come to investigate your crappy speeds and find that its something which is your responsibility then they WILL charge you well over £100 for the call-out"
Just to clear up the above quote from Bob, it is usually Openreach engineers that come out to check your lines and it is your Internet service providers who charge you.
Try stopping and asking for look, you may get a cuppa too!
"Unfortunately if BT come to investigate your crappy speeds and find that its something which is your responsibility then they WILL charge you well over £100 for the call-out"
Just to clear up the above quote from Bob, it is usually Openreach engineers that come out to check your lines and it is your Internet service providers who charge you.
;) I'm confident any engineer won't find any problem with my wiring/Home Hub/computer. The truth of the matter is that BT's "seamless moving home package" took 14 weeks because while there was cable capacity from the Barrock exchange to Scarfskerry there wasn't sufficient capacity on the '50 pair' cable down to my house.
I don't know what Open Reach did to solve the problem but I didn't notice any major excavations or line-laying during that 14 weeks. So I am deeply suspicious.
The Barrack exchange is ADSL Max and while I am 3.5 Km away I still expect my download speed to be considerably better that 108 Kbps!
The 1.1 Mb lasted a whole day. Now back to 63kps and similar. I definitely am not anti indian but being able to understand the person at the other end would be helpful. They wanted to take me through the process again but I explained that so much of my life has been taken up with their problem that I would just like them to fix it please.
Grrrrrr
This is Barrock exchange too as far as I know.
I have noticed a significant decrease is bandwidth in the last couple of months.
We used to get 6000Kbps regularly and had no problems at all.
This morning 825kbps, line profile has been reduced to 3500kbps.
We cannot watch any streaming videos or news clips i.e. bbc etc.
I have two internet applications that used to run fine and dandy 24 hours a day if required, now require reconnection every 40 mins to an hour!
I'm off to Lithuania, at least they have decent broadband there! (is it Lithuania or Latvia?)(been orf to check and it's both!)
[evil]
I now live in Edinburgh, so my speeds are: 12.79 Mb/s download, 14.05 Mb/s upload, which I found odd because when I was in Wick the download was always a lot higher than upload, but oh well.
I now live in Edinburgh, so my speeds are: 12.79 Mb/s download, 14.05 Mb/s upload, which I found odd because when I was in Wick the download was always a lot higher than upload, but oh well.
You have things confused somehow, as far as i'm aware there is no such upload speed in the UK, and the maximum upload speed on the 24mb exchanges is 1.4mb
Do a speedtest and then post your results.
You have things confused somehow, as far as i'm aware there is no such upload speed in the UK, and the maximum upload speed on the 24mb exchanges is 1.4mb
Do a speedtest and then post your results.
I did. That is what I find confusing - unless I misread the units or something, but those were definitely the numbers. I'll do it again, and add the results here.
Image attached. Slightly slower than last time, but the upload is still almost 1 Mb/s higher than download... Also, the black rectangle in the bottom left I added to cover my IP address.
Image attached. Slightly slower than last time, but the upload is still almost 1 Mb/s higher than download... Also, the black rectangle in the bottom left I added to cover my IP address.
Mmm, perhaps some the more tech savvy Orgers can shed some light on this, as i can find not a single bit of online confirmation that an upload speed like that is available at an affordable cost, i found one ISP offering upload speeds of up to 4mb, but that cost £349 a month, and even Virgin Media with their 50mb cable broadband only offer an upload speed of 1.5mb.
I notice your ISP is a company called TopNet, but i can't find a website for them, and even details of the company are sparse, could you post the link to their hompage?
Mmm, perhaps some the more tech savvy Orgers can shed some light on this, as i can find not a single bit of online confirmation that an upload speed like that is available at an affordable cost, i found one ISP offering upload speeds of up to 4mb, but that cost £349 a month, and even Virgin Media with their 50mb cable broadband only offer an upload speed of 1.5mb.
I notice your ISP is a company called TopNet, but i can't find a website for them, and even details of the company are sparse, could you post the link to their hompage?
If you can't find it then I probably can't. It is the university internet, which I think is provided by KeyCom: http://www.keycom.co.uk/index.php?p=services&i=2 And the internet is provided with the rent, so it's not as if I'm paying a lot of money for it, so...
If you can't find it then I probably can't. It is the university internet, which I think is provided by KeyCom: http://www.keycom.co.uk/index.php?p=services&i=2 And the internet is provided with the rent, so it's not as if I'm paying a lot of money for it, so...
Ahh, it might have been advisable to say that you were not using a home broadband connection, the type of connection at the university will be completely different to a home connection.
Bobinovich
03-Oct-09, 15:06
Sounds like an SDSL connection *green with envy* [smirk]
mrs_inkstack
04-Oct-09, 22:28
First let me apologise for using the ‘General’ forum for airing what many might consider a technical subject. But I would like to get responses from as many orgers as possible not just the techno-orgers.
I recently checked my BT broadband speed at http://www.speedtest.net (http://www.speedtest.net/) and http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk (http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk/) and found it to be 116 Kbps which I think is awful. My local exchange is Barrack and I’m about 3.5 Kms away. Now I know all the excuses/arguments etc for slow broadband but is it really too much to ask that in view of BT’s current aggressive advertising of up to 20 Mbps we should expect speeds here to be at least 10% of that advertised?
Are there any ISPs able to provide at least 2 Mbps hereabouts?
Let me shake your hand Gronnuck. I too am in Barrock and was told to upgrade my current broadband speed by purchasing a BT 'Excelerator', went on the website to do so to find out that my telephone sockets are incompatable - great :roll: All I want to do is download films from BT vision and now apparently I can't do that as my broadband speed is less than 2 MB ! Apparently it states that in the small print in my contract ? But you would think that as I have my broadband, digital TV and landline with them and considering that they are resposible for upgrading the line / exchange, that it would be in their best interests to do so ? !!! Apparently not ! So, until BT decide to upgrade our current dacs system, I'm stuck with 116 Kbps broadband too - nearly as archaic as dial up !:(
Let me shake your hand Gronnuck. I too am in Barrock and was told to upgrade my current broadband speed by purchasing a BT 'Excelerator', went on the website to do so to find out that my telephone sockets are incompatable - great :roll: All I want to do is download films from BT vision and now apparently I can't do that as my broadband speed is less than 2 MB ! Apparently it states that in the small print in my contract ? But you would think that as I have my broadband, digital TV and landline with them and considering that they are resposible for upgrading the line / exchange, that it would be in their best interests to do so ? !!! Apparently not ! So, until BT decide to upgrade our current dacs system, I'm stuck with 116 Kbps broadband too - nearly as archaic as dial up !:(
You have my sympathy - when I was in Wick, my connection speed was diabo... Wait, I just need to start this 5MB song download... *Clicks start... 1 Mississippi... 2 Mississippi... 3 Mississippi... 4 Missis... Done* What was I saying?
told to upgrade my current broadband speed by purchasing a BT 'Excelerator', went on the website to do so to find out that my telephone sockets are incompatable - great :roll:
I don't know if this is the same as the advice I was peddled.
I am seriously persisted off with the backwards technology we are getting here, I used to have a suitable broadband connection in my opinion, and this served our needs. But now makes dialup look good.
Anyway yesterday I contacted BT and asked some questions, amongst a line of apologies I was told about a line accelerator! First I heard of it and I asked for more details expecting ground braking technology that would solve my depressingly slow "broadband".
They told me it would ensure my speeds would be at or around 3000kbps, wowser I thought.
And when I looked into it...... ta da .... crock of the proverbial.
Bit if an old ferrite ring jobby. A filter. It would not and cannot alter the speed on the line, it merely helps mildly post domestic termination.
The simple fact in my opinion is that BT do not have the overall capacity to supply a decent broadband speed to the majority of the users in this area of the UK.
And like any corporation they don't give a toss because it is not economically viable.
However, I get bombarded with TV ad's, mailshots, web advertising and email SPAM!!!! from them telling me I can have 20Meg broadband!
Latvia, it's the future! I'm tellin' ya.
Either that or the trebuchet for the BT Directors!
The story so far
We were visited by an Open Reach engineer on Wednesday who tested the line and said that it was only capable of attaining 512 Kbps with his modem. He was unable to measure the length of the line accurately but suggested it is 4.1 miles. He suggested I wait until he submitted his report before contacting BT Broadband.
After his visit I disconnected the new shiny black Home Hub and replaced it with the old white one.
BT Broadband contacted me on Thursday and confirmed the engineer’s report. I explained that I was not happy since Barrock is fitted for ADSL Max and so is capable of 8 Mbps. I said that I was not even getting 10% of that and argued that any other business that charged the full price and delivered less than 10% of the product would be guilty of fraud. It was then suggested that the Home Hub might be defective. So I asked for and was promised a new one in 2-3 days.
Almost immediately I noticed my Broadband speed increased to 500 Kbps (Wow). This is obviously better than the 116 Kbps I was getting a week ago but I still can’t watch Doc Martin on ITV Player! I would be happier with at least 1 Mbps. If that isn’t going to happen then Ofcom, Otelo and Trading Standards will be approached next.
If BT had been honest with me from day one I might have been in a better position to make an informed choice but to advertise “up to” speeds and then fail by such a significant margin smacks of fraud and must be challenged.
Bobinovich
04-Oct-09, 23:05
...I too am in Barrock and was told to upgrade my current broadband speed by purchasing a BT 'Excelerator', went on the website to do so to find out that my telephone sockets are incompatable...
If you unplug everything from your telephone line and simply have your router/ADSL modem with PC connected to your master socket, do you still only get 116Kbps? If so then the Accelerator shouldn't make any difference as BT tout it as something which "filters out interference from your home phone wiring to help you go faster (http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=25075&s_cid=btb_FURL_accelerator)".
... so until BT decide to upgrade our current dacs system, I'm stuck with 116 Kbps broadband too - nearly as archaic as dial up !:(
I've come across DACS boxes previously and understand they were used to convert a standard telephone line into two separate lines, effectively doubling exchange capacity, however they are absolute death to broadband.
Whenever I have been in contact with BT to insist they remove a DACS box from a line they have complied, although a lack of spare exchange lines may explain their reluctance/inability to do so here.
My dealings with BT over DACS units have only ever been successful where BT Internet or BT Business Broadband have been the ISP - if you are with any other ISP then you have to get the ISP to talk to BT on your behalf. This is a complete waste of time as one will just blame the other and vice versa. Under these circumstances I've found it's best to cancel the Broadband contract with your current ISP (citing inability to provide a decent speed) and sign up to BT which will then get them talking internally to Openreach to get the DACS box removed.
This is how I've come to the conclusion that, when getting Broadband for the first time up here, it's easier to sign up with BT first so ensuring that, should any problems arise with your line, they are sorted tout suite. Once your initial contract period is up you can then switch ISP safe in the knowledge that your line is, at least, capable of broadband.
If it's of any interest, BT Openreach will fund the first £20k of costs to remove a DACS unit (https://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/news/generalbriefings/gen02808.do) which is a fair amount of work, but obviously doesn't run to a complete exchange upgrade to add more capacity.
I think your best bet would be for those being fobbed off to write to OfTel / OfCom (or whoever they are!) and/or your MSP / MP for assistance in resolving the matter.
If BT had been honest with me from day one I might have been in a better position to make an informed choice but to advertise “up to” speeds and then fail by such a significant margin smacks of fraud and must be challenged.
Although I agree with the sentiment - they will have spent a lot of time and money making sure that they're within the law.
Bobinovich
04-Oct-09, 23:15
Ah-ha I knew I'd read it on the OfTel site at one time. This (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/oftel/consumer/advice/faqs/btfaq5.htm) states that "The Guidelines say that, where a line is fitted with a device like DACS, Oftel considers that the line is unlikely to achieve optimum performance. Therefore, where an end-user complains about slow speeds and it turns out that the line is fitted with DACS, the provider (BT/Kingston) should take all reasonable steps to provide a line without DACS, eg by removing the DACS device, or providing an unused line which isn't fitted with DACS."
and goes on...
"Oftel's view - as set out in the guidelines - is that where a customer who requires Internet access complains about a line that is fitted with DACS, all reasonable steps should be taken to provide the customer with a line without DACS. This could be done in a number of ways, eg removing the DACS device, transferring the DACS line to another user who does not require Internet access etc.
BT is required to ensure that it provides (upon reasonable request) a connection capable of supporting functional Internet access. If it fails to do this, then Oftel may need to take enforcement action against it. So, if BT refuses to do something about a customer who has complained about a line fitted with DACS, unless BT can provide very convincing reasons, Oftel may decide it is not providing functional Internet access and take enforcement action, eg impose a fine."
Hit BT Openreach with that lemon and see their face squish :lol:! It can't do any harm anyhow.
Well it has been said already and I know this:
The kit up here is BT, be it BT, Openreach, BT Business or what ever. So I have, and until a new physical network comes along, used BT.
Because if there are any issues, your on a hiding to nothing as they will, and do, argue between themselves.
But that said, I do believe we are getting ripped off.
I am not a heavy user, frequent yes, but not heavy. I don't game, I dont really use youtube, I don't watch TV online type things.
I used to watch some of the clips you get on the news sites here and there, but I cannot do that anymore.
I do use the internet/broadband for work, but again this is email and basic web-browsing in the main and some voip calls. But all well within my assumed capacity.
My (new) router is plugged into the BT socket via the supplied filter (also swapped for new), I also remove the phone as I do not use it, it get's plugged in when wifeys home!
But, the service is now pooh!
And despite what they try and tell me, I know that from the exchange to my wee housey it is a pair of good old copper wires which are spliced in a number of locations.
As is the same in most towns and cities!
Whatever is being plumbed into the exchanges up here, and maybe the capacity of the exchanges is not good enough.
I chatted with a BT Business sales gimp yesterday about broadband, I told him my woes and asked what it would take to get a service that would guarantee me 2meg.
He could not answer it.
I pushed and pushed again, he avoided the question.
I asked how much it would cost for a leased line, he could not answer me!
(leased lines have a supposed better contention ratio, i.e. it yours and no one else's)
I think it is time for a few letters to our MP's, MSP's EurowasterMP's, No 10 and the Chairmans office at BT!
[evil]
mrs_inkstack
05-Oct-09, 08:54
You have my sympathy - when I was in Wick, my connection speed was diabo... Wait, I just need to start this 5MB song download... *Clicks start... 1 Mississippi... 2 Mississippi... 3 Mississippi... 4 Missis... Done* What was I saying?
Thanks for that doll :roll: You sound nearly as bad as my boss who lives in Bettyhill and has 8Mb broadband - how does that work then ?????? :(
mrs_inkstack
05-Oct-09, 09:01
My dealings with BT over DACS units have only ever been successful where BT Internet or BT Business Broadband have been the ISP - if you are with any other ISP then you have to get the ISP to talk to BT on your behalf. This is a complete waste of time as one will just blame the other and vice versa. Under these circumstances I've found it's best to cancel the Broadband contract with your current ISP (citing inability to provide a decent speed) and sign up to BT which will then get them talking internally to Openreach to get the DACS box removed.
This is very true, i was with orange, BT advised that to upgrade my line it would cost me £1000 +, now with BT Broadband and they took the Dacs system off for free but apparently there isn't enough population out here to upgrade the line from theexchange for faster broadband speeds - they've got you by the short and curlies every way ! :(
silverfox57
05-Oct-09, 11:06
If you unplug everything from your telephone line and simply have your router/ADSL modem with PC connected to your master socket, do you still only get 116Kbps? If so then the Accelerator shouldn't make any difference as BT tout it as something which "filters out interference from your home phone wiring to help you go faster (http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=25075&s_cid=btb_FURL_accelerator)".
I've come across DACS boxes previously and understand they were used to convert a standard telephone line into two separate lines, effectively doubling exchange capacity, however they are absolute death to broadband.
Whenever I have been in contact with BT to insist they remove a DACS box from a line they have complied, although a lack of spare exchange lines may explain their reluctance/inability to do so here.
My dealings with BT over DACS units have only ever been successful where BT Internet or BT Business Broadband have been the ISP - if you are with any other ISP then you have to get the ISP to talk to BT on your behalf. This is a complete waste of time as one will just blame the other and vice versa. Under these circumstances I've found it's best to cancel the Broadband contract with your current ISP (citing inability to provide a decent speed) and sign up to BT which will then get them talking internally to Openreach to get the DACS box removed.
This is how I've come to the conclusion that, when getting Broadband for the first time up here, it's easier to sign up with BT first so ensuring that, should any problems arise with your line, they are sorted tout suite. Once your initial contract period is up you can then switch ISP safe in the knowledge that your line is, at least, capable of broadband.
If it's of any interest, BT Openreach will fund the first £20k of costs to remove a DACS unit (https://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/news/generalbriefings/gen02808.do) which is a fair amount of work, but obviously doesn't run to a complete exchange upgrade to add more capacity.
I think your best bet would be for those being fobbed off to write to OfTel / OfCom (or whoever they are!) and/or your MSP / MP for assistance in resolving the matter.
bob. maybe a silly question but how to you find out if you have
dacs box on phone line,thanks,as live about 2 miles from watten exchange,and speed is rubbish.
AfternoonDelight
05-Oct-09, 11:21
My dealings with BT over DACS units have only ever been successful where BT Internet or BT Business Broadband have been the ISP - if you are with any other ISP then you have to get the ISP to talk to BT on your behalf. This is a complete waste of time as one will just blame the other and vice versa. Under these circumstances I've found it's best to cancel the Broadband contract with your current ISP (citing inability to provide a decent speed) and sign up to BT which will then get them talking internally to Openreach to get the DACS box removed.
This is very true, i was with orange, BT advised that to upgrade my line it would cost me £1000 +, now with BT Broadband and they took the Dacs system off for free but apparently there isn't enough population out here to upgrade the line from theexchange for faster broadband speeds - they've got you by the short and curlies every way ! :(
The UK government are throwing about a proposal at the moment where they will tax broadband and use the revenue to pay for high speed connection all over the country.
Really - if they think that we believe this money will go towards the lines they must think we are buttoned up the back.
Just like speeding fines go to repairing the roads eh? ;)
Bobinovich
05-Oct-09, 13:47
bob. maybe a silly question but how to you find out if you have
dacs box on phone line,thanks,as live about 2 miles from watten exchange,and speed is rubbish.
Unfortunately I don't know if there's any way for an end-user other than tracing your line both within your house and back to the telegraph pole - if you see a box anywhere on it with DACS on then it's probable that you are connected through one. There are a number of different types which can be seen on this page (http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/shared_service.htm).
The UK government are throwing about a proposal at the moment where they will tax broadband and use the revenue to pay for high speed connection all over the country.
Really - if they think that we believe this money will go towards the lines they must think we are buttoned up the back.
Just like speeding fines go to repairing the roads eh? ;)
We should be telling the government that we already pay this tax in the form of VAT on our Telephone/Broadband charges. Not only that if we're all paying for 8 Mbps and getting less than 1 Mbps then obviously we're being overcharged as it is! [disgust]
Time we all wrote to John Thurso and told him we're not happy.;)
[QUOTE=Gronnuck;601074];) I'm confident any engineer won't find any problem with my wiring/Home Hub/computer. QUOTE]
So! was your Home Hub faulty?
Silverfox57: If you have broadband working (no matter what speed) you are not on a Dacs.
[quote=Gronnuck;601074];) I'm confident any engineer won't find any problem with my wiring/Home Hub/computer. QUOTE]
So! was your Home Hub faulty?
Silverfox57: If you have broadband working (no matter what speed) you are not on a Dacs.
The BT customer advisor suggested it might be faulty so I asked for a replacement. I've already got a white Home Hub and a new black shiny one and both have the same characteristics and receive under 500 Kbps.
I think it would be too much of a coincidence for a proven Hub to fail at the same time as a brand new one and so I'm happy to have another Hub just in case.
Judging by the recent research I've done there are a lot more people suffering slow broadband speeds than BT would care to admit.
mrs_inkstack
05-Oct-09, 21:15
We should be telling the government that we already pay this tax in the form of VAT on our Telephone/Broadband charges. Not only that if we're all paying for 8 Mbps and getting less than 1 Mbps then obviously we're being overcharged as it is! [disgust]
Time we all wrote to John Thurso and told him we're not happy.;)
I had to be taken off a dacs system a few years ago to allow us to have Broadband, persevered with the dial up as for as long as possible as BT was going to make us pay. Apparently we are on the end of the telephone line from the exchange and that's why our connection speed is so poor. Engineer told me a few years ago that it wouldn't improve untill the actual line was upgraded but BT should have informed me when I signed up for Vision facility recently of the problems if you have less than 2Mb connection and the probability that we wouldn't be able to use it. If they had done I would have stayed with SKY ! :roll:
Dynamic Sounds
07-Oct-09, 01:43
..... BT should have informed me when I signed up for Vision facility recently of the problems if you have less than 2Mb .... :roll:
Wait a mo - after working where we worked, you actually expected BT to tell you the truth, or information apart from the very basic!! Shame on you! lol [lol]
Just tested and I got:
http://www.speedtest.net/result/585330401.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
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