Broadband query...

[mattdanielc]

Hi guys

Been with plus net for 3 years now and all has been fine but my router (voyager 2091) is dying and keeps losing the connection so I have to keep turning it off and back on again.

Anyway rather than buy a new router I am considering leaving plus net for BT (I can get much more usage for a tiny bit more in price) but I am a bit worried as on BT's site it says the maximum speed I will get is 1.0 mbps.

However I'm pretty sure I get slightly more than that - indeed on plus net it says:

Telephone number:
01773******
Phone exchange:
ALFRETON
Estimated line speed:
7 - Checked on 2010-12-05 12:50:25
Current line speed:
6500

So why would BT only think I can get 1mpbs? Do you reckon it's worth the risk of leaving plus net because surely the connection will be roughly the same? Especially as the router will be more up to date...

Thanks for any advice

 

[misterdave]

Honestly your on a BT line anyway, I'd stick with plus.net and get a new modem-router.

The line speeds should not change but BT would not guarantee this, the third party suppliers always seam to offer better support.

I live a long way from my local exchange and I'm with sky and constantly get 1.8-2.2 got as high as 3 last summer but that was a random event.

2yrs ago I was with BT and never got above 1.5, and o2 gave me 2.0. at the end of the day its your choice but I'd stick with plus.net

 

[PringlesInside]

check were the nearest excahnge is to you. for all companys.

For this i dont know how to check were nearest local exchange for me is, i am still searching how to - or if anyone knows? can hel[p out ^^


I am currently with TalkTalk - i have the whole package: broadband,telephone (with free overseas call to USA and loads more countries) . My dad got this as it was cheapest.


Althought i want to switch to back to BT. I did workexperiance @ BT , doing some stuff (sorry cant say much about it, had to sign confidential agreement many times before i started :O). and i was impressed with the future technology they have to broadband

 

[alastair]

Just for information iirc Plusnet was purchased by BT a couple of years back, it is however run as a seperate company still. So it begs the question of BT Retail, why can't we have a service equal to Plusnet's/any other provider over the same copper? Contention/traffic management i guess.

For exchange info http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search

On a slightly differnet note anyone else having issue with adsl2+ being slower than adslmax?

Used to get 8meg now lucky to get 6

 

[ghostfire]

personally i would never use BT directly for internet. Had problems with them in the past plus many others i know have too.

 

[I3astards]

I work for a BT contract and I would say stay where you are. Bt's online checker is not totally accurate. It depends if you exchange (POP) has been 21CN (21 Century Network) enableed yet. They are doing, might of done, a roll out over the whole of the UK exchanges so you may be on an old exchange still.

 

[I3astards]

Also, it all comes down to contention ratio (on the line and at the ISP's fat pipe) and how far you are from the POP (Point of Presence). There is no point asking ISP's about contention ratio as they will never disclose that info. I think it is either 20:1 or sometiems upto 50:1 (the lower the ratio the better).

 

[I3astards]

@ alastair - Contention ratio is not just on the line but also at the ISP's end too. So, being on the same line but changing ISP could result in different speeds. Going from the ISP to the WWW will suffer from centention and also on your line. I hope that helps!

IF you are mega ritch then splash out for a Least line (guaranteed speeds as you a directly renting the line and it is souly yours).

 

[mattdanielc]

Hi guys

Decided to go with Be in the end. On their unlimited package it reckons I can get around 13mb...so should make a massive difference!