Telephone exchange in Cowley, Oxford

Dreadhead

Dreadhead

Dreadhead

Associate
Joined
1 Apr 2009
Posts
429
Hi there,

Does anyone from the Oxford area know where the telephone exchange in Cowley is located? I have searched around on the net, however BT likes to keep this knowledge under their hats.

Reason I ask is becasue I am moving shortly to a new flat up that way, and have been looking at various ISP options.
I currently use VM, however would really like some more in the way of upload speed to host some game servers, I am particularly interested in be's pro package with 2.5 upload.
I have been to their webpage and input the post code of the new property, however they then prompt for a BT landline number. As far as I am aware the landline is not active, so I have no way of checking what sort of speeds I should be able to get in the new location.

Many Thanks
 
Thank you both for the links.

SamKnows reports the postcode as supporting 8Mbps, and Kitz estimates 6.5mbps.
Even if these results are conservative, they are a long way from the 24Mbps that Be's Ultimate package offers.

Looks like I may stick with VM and have that service transfered.

Thanks for the help.
 
I get double what samknows and kitz estimates. Providing your line is good I think you would get as high as 18mb.

Not sure about BE, but you can have a free trial with O2.
 
Ah yes, looking on Kitz again, the following information is displayed for the excange:

Exchange: Cowley. BT Code: SMCO
Location: St Lukes Road, OX4 3JF
Distance:- Direct: 566 metres
(appx)* By Road: 644 metres
Status
ADSL enabled : June 30, 2001
DSL Max enabled: March 31, 2006
SDSL enabled : Enabled
21CN due : (PSTN) Phone No Required
21CN WBC (Broadband) Enabled 31.05.09
Broadband Access Market Broadband Access† Market 3


Am i correct in thinking that 21CN WBC will allow ADSL2+ speeds on the BT lines?
I assume that the close proximation to the exchange should up my chances of getting the high speeds.

I just got off the phone from Be who say that without a phone number they can not estimate the speed of service.

One other factor regarding the new flat is that it is based in a 60's built block of flats.
Assuming that the copper wiring is the original wiring, would this have a detrimental effect on potential speeds?
 
Dreadhead said:
Am i correct in thinking that 21CN WBC will allow ADSL2+ speeds on the BT lines?
I assume that the close proximation to the exchange should up my chances of getting the high speeds.

I just got off the phone from Be who say that without a phone number they can not estimate the speed of service.

One other factor regarding the new flat is that it is based in a 60's built block of flats.
Assuming that the copper wiring is the original wiring, would this have a detrimental effect on potential speeds?
Click to expand...

If Be is in the area, chances are you're in an ADSL2+ enabled area anyway and don't need to worry about BTw's 21CN rollout.

Also, chances are if the copper wiring is still the original wiring it'll have a big effect on the speeds you get unless you have everything plugged into the master socket. There might not even be a test socket, so if you're willing to spend a bit more you could see about getting an NTE5 socket fitted when you're getting your line activated in order to get the best speeds available.
 
So is the 21CN network seperate to the LLU networks that these 3rd parties install in the exchanges?

Also pennywise, assuming I am using the master socket and no extension wire, could I expect any degredation of quality from old lines that run through the building between the master socket and the cabinet, or will these be standardised and upto the task?
 
Yes, 21CN is all about BT Wholesale.
Any "degredation of quality" will be unmeasurable until you have the service. In some cases, thicker gauge cable was used which would be better than new.
 
Brilliant, thanks for the info.

I have been in touch with the estate agent, who has given me the number attributed to the line even though this was disconnected a few weeks ago.
I gave this number to Be who say that the line is capable of 19 Mbps.

Looks like I will be able to get my 2.5Mbps upload after all :-D

Finally I can escape VM's flakey service!
 
Nice.

They quoted me 8mb but I got much more, they we're shocked when I asked them to turn the SNR down so I could get more speed, they still did anyway.
 
Right, I called BT to have the line in the new property reconnected, which should be done by Wednesday.

I was slightly troubled by the following line in the small print of the BT terms and conditions:

"Unlimited Weekend Plan. Only £11.25 a month line rental with Direct Debit and paper-free billing, for new and existing residential customers making at least one chargeable call a month with BT. No minimum term, unless you order a new phone line or switch your phone line to BT from another provider, where a 12 month minimum term applies to line rental."

I will not even have a telephone connected to this line as I use VOIP. The lady on the telephone said that I would not have to make a chargeable call and that the text on the website was wrong.

Do I have any sort of protection should BT rescind on that promise and charge me for not having made any chargeable calls?
I suppose that because I called up to book the service I would be legally covered by the terms of the verbal contract rather than what is written on the website.
 
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