BT estimator has changed!

CurlyWhirly · 9 Sep 2006 at 00:02

I have just recently noticed that when I type my number into http://www.samknows.com/broadband/ I get this:

I also get a similar result when I go to http://www.prodigynet.co.uk/menu.php?page=support/adsllinecheck

Also when I use the 'official' BT estimator http://www.btwholesale.com/get_broadband/index.html I get the same story.

What I think is happening is that BT are updating the 'estimators' based on feedback from people on Max connections?

I only noticed this a few hours ago as before this change I used to have green for 512 Kb, amber (possible engineer visit to deliver the service) for 1 Mb and red for 2 Mb.

Also I used to be told that 3 Mb (or higher) might be available on Max and now it's 4 Mb (or higher) which is right if you include overheads as I am syncing at just over 4 Mb on a 3.5 Mb BRAS profile.

Has anyone else noticed this :confused:

Magsy · 9 Sep 2006 at 01:36

Heh, just checked mine and it is very much like yours.

I used to be green for 512, amber for 1mb and red for 2mb. I did have a 1mb service previously and now I have a 4500kbps sync on max.

The checkers now show green for 512,1mb and 2mb, they estimate 3mb on max.

Duke · 9 Sep 2006 at 07:50

5.5Mbps here (1.35km estimated). Think I'll keep BY for now

Locky · 9 Sep 2006 at 09:13

6mbs here cometimes near to 7mbs not bad for 57 att

According to BT Wholesale, your line should be able to support a 3Mbps or greater ADSL connection via ADSL Max.

Standard ADSL RAG results:
You cannot receive 2Mbps ADSL
You may be able to receive 1Mbps ADSL
You can receive 512Kbps ADSL
You can receive 256Kbps ADSL
You are approximately 2.22km from the exchange (straight line distance).

dirtydog · 9 Sep 2006 at 09:24

For me it still says I cannot receive 1Mb ADSL (red) - yet I was recently on fixed 1Mb perfectly. It is overly conservative.

barrymacp · 9 Sep 2006 at 13:02

Yeh well i noticed this to as i was on 2.5mb but when i checked it said i could only get 1mb, but recently i think bt lines have been upgraded as now it says 2mb when i check so im gonna apply for an update and hope to get rougly 4mb

chris06 · 9 Sep 2006 at 13:08

Eh I'm confused now :confused:

Last time I checked on samknowes it said i could get 512k but red for everything else.

Now it says:-

According to BT Wholesale, your line should be able to support a 0.3Mbps or greater ADSL connection via ADSL Max.

Standard ADSL RAG results:
[BT ADSL Code: REREGEC] You cannot receive 2Mbps ADSL
[BT ADSL Code: REREGEC] You cannot receive 1Mbps ADSL
[BT ADSL Code: REREGEC] You cannot receive 512Kbps ADSL
[BT ADSL Code: REREGEC] You cannot receive 256Kbps ADSL,
despite a visit from a BT engineer

Yet I am on a perfectly stable 512k connection? How can this be?

It also says that I can get 0.3mbps on via adsl max which it didn't before. Is that usually accurate because I am wanting to change isp's soon.

Also, If I do change isps does this mean that they will only be able to put me on max rather than a fixed 512k like i'm on now?

Thanks

EDIT: On bt's website it says this:

Your exchange has broadband.

However, despite an engineer's visit to your premises it has been proved not possible for your telephone line to support broadband service. Please accept our apologies. We are continuing to look for alternative technology solutions and this site will be updated with developments as they happen.

How can they say this when BB is already activated and working?

barrymacp · 9 Sep 2006 at 13:12

Hmm strage im hoping to get atleast 4mb from bt on monday

Downstream Margin: 6 db
Upstream Margin: 11 db
Downstream Line Attenuation: 60
Upstream Line Attenuation: 31
Theres my db in stuff im on 2.5mb

CurlyWhirly · 9 Sep 2006 at 14:17

TiZoR said:
6mbs here cometimes near to 7mbs not bad for 57 att

You are approximately 2.22km from the exchange (straight line distance).

I'm 2.86 km from the exchange (straight line distance, 54 dB attenuation) and I can't sync that high :eek:

dirtydog said:
For me it still says I cannot receive 1Mb ADSL (red) - yet I was recently on fixed 1Mb perfectly. It is overly conservative.

Yes in some cases it appears to be.

barrymacp said:
Hmm strange im hoping to get atleast 4mb from bt on monday

Downstream Margin: 6 db
Upstream Margin: 11 db
Downstream Line Attenuation: 60
Upstream Line Attenuation: 31
Theres my db in stuff im on 2.5mb

Your attenuation is rather high and you haven't got any spare SNR so I doubt if you would get 4 Mb

tolien · 9 Sep 2006 at 14:30

barrymacp said:
i think bt lines have been upgraded

They haven't. As Curlywhirly says, you aren't going to get any more than you've got.

The checker updates every now and again, presumably based on what you're getting just now (it used to not be abnormal for the checker to update when you ordered a regrade) - though if your attenuation's >43dB, it shouldn't be saying you're good for 2Mbps...

CurlyWhirly · 9 Sep 2006 at 14:39

tolien said:
though if your attenuation's >43dB, it shouldn't be saying you're good for 2Mbps...

Just what I thought.

I have no interest in putting an order in for a 2 Mb fixed service now as I achieve a faster speed on Max, but I just wonder if the order would go through?

Also with ISP's like AOL who go by BT's estimator when you apply to go on to Max, with my line stats now showing green for 2 Mb, I wonder if AOL would accept me on Max where they refused before :confused:

p.s. I've no intention of going back to AOL as I am just curious.

dirtydog · 9 Sep 2006 at 14:50

barrymacp said:
Hmm strage im hoping to get atleast 4mb from bt on monday

Downstream Margin: 6 db
Upstream Margin: 11 db
Downstream Line Attenuation: 60
Upstream Line Attenuation: 31
Theres my db in stuff im on 2.5mb

Sorry mate you're really not gonna get 4Mb with those stats. 1Mb is more realistic, despite your 2.5Mb sync rate.

Hyper · 9 Sep 2006 at 15:34

Its strange, I live 2km away from my exchange and was estimated at 4mb/s but now I am on a 7mb line and estimated at 7.5mb :eek:

sja360 · 9 Sep 2006 at 15:38

Hyper said:
Its strange, I live 2km away from my exchange and was estimated at 4mb/s but now I am on a 7mb line and estimated at 7.5mb

yea my estimated was 3.5mbp at the adslmax launch and now its 6mbp lol!
ofcourse it aint always running at 6mbp but meh its better than the 3.5 they quoted

barrymacp · 9 Sep 2006 at 22:48

dirtydog said:
Sorry mate you're really not gonna get 4Mb with those stats. 1Mb is more realistic, despite your 2.5Mb sync rate.

Considering im downloading at 240-280kb

barnettgs · 9 Sep 2006 at 22:56

Hmm, here's my DSL status below, I don't know how you read but here it is:

Downstream Margin: 9 db
Upstream Margin: 22 db
Downstream Line Attenuation: 56
Upstream Line Attenuation: 31

What does it tell you? I'm on 1mb line and about 2 miles from exchange (straightline) or 2.5 miles on road.

BT site says I could get up to 2.5 Max - is that possible and how to get Max?

ste_bla · 9 Sep 2006 at 23:02

Cool I've gone from No 1 mb to a "maybe"

Hmm now try 1mb or stay on my unlimited and no FUP, stable connection hmm

dirtydog · 10 Sep 2006 at 08:05

barrymacp said:
Considering im downloading at 240-280kb

Is your line stable in the evening and at night?

I could get 2.5Mbps speeds during the day but at night my stats drop unfortunately. My stats are a little better than yours as well, my line attenuation is 56.0 dB. My SNR margin and sync speed are lower at night.

Jabbs · 10 Sep 2006 at 09:20

Mines dropped badly i hope thats not proper, gone from 5mbs or above too 1.5mbs+ although am sync at 3 meg and have been since max went live 24/7 never drops.

What i don't understand how can they suddenly decide you can't run this speed although i was on 2 meg for 8-9 months before i went on max.

LoadsaMoney · 10 Sep 2006 at 23:46

All changed here to, used to be 250k - 500k Green, 1000k - 2000k Amber, and 4,5mb MAX or greater.

Downstairs line used to be 250k - 500k Green, 1000k - 2000k Amber, and 2mb MAX or greater.

Now it says green for all and my upstairs line is saying 6.5mb MAX or Greater, and the downstairs one is now saying 6mb MAX or greater.

Thats on SamKnows and also on the Prodigy networks checker, my mate says theres a lot of exchange work going on over here like, so im gona upgrade to 2mb tomorrow from 1mb, gona stay away from MAX at the minute, hearing about loads of disconnections, my mate said he was on it and was getting disconnected all the time so he got off it.

Ive never checked any of them for months now either, can't hurt to try i suppose, ill only get put on hold while they run the test on me line see if i can get 2mb, so they'll say yay or nay.