Getting a 2nd line

[Colasanto]

Hi all

Been speaking with the mother quite a bit about this, whole family is getting really peeved at step dads controlling over the broadband. He pays for it so i dont argue back as it's only fair that he does as he wants... He has BT Business Broadband with the BT Business Hub. It has really bad connectivity and the inbuilt QoS is seriously peeing me off, If I download from steam... it marks my PC as the priority and cuts internet from everyone else. So I don't download from steam while people are in... which is annoying but i have to live with it as i dont pay the bill.

Recently he has connected the broadband up to our CCTV system and the uplink from our crappy line is totally murdering our net. So my mother has asked me if i want to split the cost and get a 2nd line that just me, her and my lil bro will use. No problem, but who do i pick? We want broadband only.

We're in a non cable area. Virgin says we can take 2.5mbps on ADSL. Now when i do a speed test. I get 5-8mbps. So wtf is going on there? Will i notice a huge decrease in speed if i get a 2nd line? Also whats the install costs of this 2nd line?

Last thing, recommend me a router? Willing to spend stupid amounts as it will sit in my room and i can then configure it. £200 seem good?

 

[Colasanto]

£130 for BT to install the line. In reality they'll just connect up a spare pair from the same cable that enters the house and fit a second master socket parallel to his one. They won't affect each other.

Don't spend stupid money on a modem. Usually the cheap modems with custom firmware (i.e. DG834V4 with DGTeam firmware) can be just an configurable and stable.

As for speed estimates.. take them as they are "estimate". I was estimated at 3Mbit and sync at over double with a max sync of 7500kbps. I'm with Sky LLU and have found them great. Check on www.samknows.com, to see who's available in your area

I've only ever had experience with the older BT business hubs (2wire 2700HG-V's) and they've always synced at 200kbps above any other router, they just aren't as configurable beyond the usual port forwarding etc.

Is it possible to get broadband only and pay for non phone line then? If both lines are running from the same cable... how can they both peak at highest possible speeds. Say if i avg 700kb/s. Both lines would be able to download 700kb/s without any issue?

Is it possible for BT to make my socket in my room the master for this new line?

I think the BT Business hubs are really crap, such bad routers

 

[Colasanto]

Surely the answer here isn't to get a second phone line it is to asit down as a family and discuss what is best for you all as you all share the house and everything that comes with it. Your situation sounds very strange surely your mum can speak to her husband and bettween them they can agree a resolution that suits the whole of their family?

It's been tried and done before.. When i was 15-16 and more full on. I used to argue about what needs to be done regarding the internet with him. Now 20, I don't bother and let him get on with it.

My situation is very strange, but the only way for me to better this is to get our own line.

This is what i'm currently getting:

The ping for me is too high... when we used the BT Home hub... my ping was 20-40. Now using this crappy wireless g router... it's shot up

Plus every one else is getting fed up with him regarding the internet. One day his net wasn't working on his mac. Worked for everyone else but he goes around blaming people for stuff.

Lol it's mad I know, but it's the only thing that sets everything apart and I just wanna deal with it by getting our own line and then any arguing can stop. Perfect happy family, not...

No, you'd have to pay line rental for the second line too. Circa £12 a month.

Yes, each pair of cables will be able to support the max speed. They are twisted pair which reduces the chance of interference.

BT could relocate the master socket to your room, but it would involve a trailing extensiom cable and may reduce speed dependant on the location. e.g. a new socket that's routed 50m across the house, up walls, across ceilings etc will be less likely to achieve the same sync speed.

If I were you I'd look at trying to replace his router with a decent model (such as I recommended), and offer to configure it to reduce the hassle, if he doesn't want to get involved / isn't technical.

Hm, really? Virgin national service do a broadband only option? £12 a month for nothing is annoyingly bad...

In regards to the extension... it's either that or continue to use wireless. The current master socket is located by the front door. My room socket is literally 5m or less above it.

 

[Colasanto]

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/WMBUR

Thats my exchange. As for close range neighbours, no nearest one has 2bar signal. Not going to work.

LLU Be* seems to be available... whats the difference with them then?

Won't be possible to 'bond' them (wouldnt know how to do it anyway). Anything is better than what i have now.

 

[Colasanto]

Be* bond the lines at their end and give you a special modem. You essentially get double the download and upstream but it costs more.

Just looked into this... looks great and I'd be willing to pay the full whack tbh. But you need an extra landline number? So £18 for line rental and £66 for the broadband? Much as i'd love too... seems very un-practical.

This is what i've come up with:

 

[Colasanto]

Ah sigh of relief... never hit quite that much myself. Although due to a format I've done 200gb in roughly a week. Mostly overnight downloads.

Really looking forward to getting Be. I take it the current BT line im on isn't LLU? It's quite pathetic

Thanks for the advice on the router. Is billion a good make? Never heard of them before... price seems good and seems to offer an all in one solution so will consider that Thank you.

 

[Colasanto]

It should be LLU as far as I'm aware. 5-8 meg isn't something to sniff at. I've found bt business lines to be rather conservative to preserve line stability.

Billion is a good brand from what I've seen. They are more prosumer than consumer but everyone I've recommended and/or setup their products to have commented on how the boxes just get on and do the job.

The thing is, the current business line is paid for and done by my step dad who is not willing to change routers or do anything. He wants the CCTV system uplinking constantly. He pays for it, so who am I to lay down the law? I'm not.

So thats why I am having to get my own line. I'm a heavy downloader and gamer... I don't think business lines suit my needs. BE Pro looks amazing. That tied in with a nice router and switching from wireless to ethernet sounds so much better and is no doubt worth the £400 a year i'll spend for the net.