BT - 8meg which isnt.. its actually 5meg :(

[Caged]

Ofcom should introduce an independent broadband speed testing service for consumers, so that they can compare advertised maximum rates against actual speed.

That wouldn't be possible, there'd always be ISPs that are more hops from the speed test site than others, so it could never be independent. Speed test sites are really only useful for willy waving.

 

[Phemo]

I don't think that generalisation is very fair at all. The basis of the watchdog case is about the morality involved on the part of the ISP when it comes to offering 'Up to 8meg' sevices to people, the majority of which will not understand what they are paying for. Yes, the way ADSL MAX is marketed is legally sound. But some may consider it immoral to sell a product which will innevitably 'mislead' 60% of its target market. It is unfair to name these people as idiots simply because they have a lesser understanding of the technology than you.

Point taken and despite my original comment I agree with you. However from BT's point of view it's easier for them to simply offer Max as a wholesale product as it just theoretically lets everyone's line sync up at the highest rate possible. That makes it easier for them and it means ISPs just have the one package to sell. The problem is, with only one package, how else can they market this? They could just sell it as "ADSL" and give a speed estimate when they place an order I suppose, but for that to happen it means ISPs need to change the way they advertise.

It should be made a requirement to educate people (in basic terms) why the majority won't get 8mbit but most people just don't care. They should make it more obvious that attainable speed will vary largely depending on location, however.

So yes, I agree with you in that I think ISPs should do more work to make people aware that they often won't get 8mbit but at the same time I blame people for not actually bothering to do any sort of reading/not caring enough until they realise they don't get 8mbit. Of course, with the vast majority of people not being technical at all it's a difficult one to approach and generalisations shouldn't be made.

 

[tolien]

connecting to the test socket in his master socket improved the situation.

Coincidence I expect. That's the problem with speedtests - they fluctuate so damned much that it's hard to know if anything's improved.

As for the whole "is selling up to 8Mbps when a portion of the users won't get even half that", you'd have to extend that to congestion/traffic shaping as well - which would pull VM into the equation.
There are so many potential variables that you'd either get horrible generalisations ("it's the internet" or "it's BT's fault"), or users would switch off - then moan later (sound familiar?). Not even Watchdog and co have managed to get any decent argument going (probably because "businesses in 'get what you pay for' non-shocker" doesn't make for a good story).

it means ISPs just have the one package to sell

Not necessarily - one of the suggestions with IPStream Max was that ISPs could cap the IP profile (or control throughput at their own end) and sell 2/4/6/8Mbps products if they wanted (Demon do this IIRC, with a 4Mbps tier). Alternatively, combined with CBC, speeds would be pushed out of the marketing in place of usage limits.

 

[kennethsross]

Are you connected to your router via wifi or ethernet?

(don't see this asked / answered elsewhere on the thread, but could have a significant impact on your actual speeds.)

 

[Si MPS]

If you sync at 8mb, you've got to take into account IP/ATM overheads etc, will take a good 10-15% off throughput.

It's a minefield, you just have to navigate it as best you can.

I always try and help educate our customers but some just don't want to know.

 

[Avalon]

The problem isn't the ISP's it's the users. We had 'unlimited' downloads and higher prices and people wanted more speed and lower prices, they got more speed and lower prices but a restricted service.

People in general don't understand they are not paying for a 1:1 connection with unlimited bandwidth at 8mbit. Even if everyone was given 8mbit you'd still have the problem that the sites they were downloading from couldn't supply data quick enough to max it out for everyone all of the time. The 'up to' system sucks but then again so does paying a few k a month per person to get rid of it.

Oh and if we do fix the ISP situation can we get rid of the 'up to' 70mph speed limit and traffic jam's as well please ? Thing is I only want to pay 1/99999999999999999999999999999th of the cost of *MY* personal lane on every single road ..... What's that ? What do you mean it has a fair use policy ? I'm not sharing it with the other road users surely ?! It's *MY* lane I paid £2 a month for all of it!