Is this the fastest I can get?

Wossi · 10 Jun 2009 at 14:28

I get the keys to my new house June 26th and need to sort out the internet. I have been reliably informed that there are no cable services in the area as Barret Homes didn't make any kind of deal, way to look ahead :rolleyes:

Looking around I've got a choice out of O2 or Be*. It'll probably be O2 as they are slightly cheaper. I popped onto the samknows site to see how far from the exchange I am and it turns out that I'm 1568m away, which I guess is a straight line from the house to the exchange. It also says that the most I can expect is 5Mbps. Is this correct or is there a chance of getting higher speed?

The local exchange is LLU enabled if that makes any difference?

zetec452 · 10 Jun 2009 at 14:29

5Mbps is more than most and is hardly slow. I'd be happy with it.

Sometimes you may get a slightly lower speed but it really does depend on the local exchange and other factors.

Wossi · 10 Jun 2009 at 14:37

JonRohan said:
5Mbps is more than most and is hardly slow. I'd be happy with it.

Sometimes you may get a slightly lower speed but it really does depend on the local exchange and other factors.

The problem is, I've been spoiled by the virgin line at my old place, a rock steady 10Mbps all day everyday with no problems.

zetec452 · 10 Jun 2009 at 14:38

You lucky sod.

You'll have to stop downloading so much p***.

Wossi · 10 Jun 2009 at 14:43

JonRohan said:
You lucky sod.

You'll have to stop downloading so much p***.

Nevar!

Serisously though, I take it that speed is about the norm a small/medium town then? If so, I've got no choice but to accept it.

Now to ring BT and get an engineer to come out at the end of the month to activate the line (prays he doesn't get charged £100)

zetec452 · 10 Jun 2009 at 14:45

In my experince yes. I had 1.5mb and 2mb at my last two places. I was also charged the £100 for the "activation fee".

PiKe · 10 Jun 2009 at 14:47

IF you have a dial tone nobody needs to come around and it doesn't cost a penny.

marmalade · 10 Jun 2009 at 15:06

I'm 3.26 kils from the exchange and I can get over 7000 (with o2) so you should get that or indeed more likely better. Don't forget the upload is around 1000 on the lowest package One can always change packages
If you join by clicking thru www.quidco.com then there is a bungback

Wossi · 10 Jun 2009 at 15:17

PiKe said:
IF you have a dial tone nobody needs to come around and it doesn't cost a penny.

There will be no dial tone as it's a new house on a new estate. But the lady I spoke to at BT a week or so back said I may not have to pay the £100. Either way, I need a telephone line.

marmalade said:
I'm 3.26 kils from the exchange and I can get over 7000 (with o2) so you should get that or indeed more likely better. Don't forget the upload is around 1000 on the lowest package One can always change packages
If you join by clicking thru www.quidco.com then there is a bungback

Fingers crossed I can get better speeds then, although from what's been said, I'll be happy at 5Mbps. Oh and if I do go through O2, then of course I'll be quidco

WesleyBurns · 10 Jun 2009 at 15:20

You will get much more than 5Mbps at 1.5km on ADSL2+ (BE/O2) and even ADSL(BT etc).

Use this link. http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/max_speed_calc.php
at 1.5km approx - your attenuation will be about 22dB and thats good for 17275mbits on adsl2+ and 7150mbits on adsl (BT etc) on a good day.

StevieP · 10 Jun 2009 at 15:26

I'm in a similar position to the OP's - just about to move into a new build and I did a quick check through o2's website on the next door neighbors phone number and the max I'll get is apparently 18mb!!!

(a touch better than the 5.5mb I get through Bulldog atm!)

My question will be about the new BT line - will BT just install to the main socket or will they put me a couple of other sockets in bedrooms etc so I can have Sky multiroom etc??
I've got one of those "come back to BT" leaflets that give me free installation so I'm hoping there isnt any other charges!!

StevieP

Skidilliplop · 10 Jun 2009 at 15:38

They ought to install extensions. But it's easy to do yourself. Infact i'd usually recommend it. You can run cat5 instead of standard 3pair cable so it's multipurpose and you'll probably do a damn site neater job of it than the average BT chimp. I.e trunk it and route it aesthetically rather than take the shortest route and pin it to the skirting.

Having a new build which will be unfurnished is the ideal time to do this aswell.

Wossi · 10 Jun 2009 at 15:38

WesleyBurns said:
You will get much more than 5Mbps at 1.5km on ADSL2+ (BE/O2) and even ADSL(BT etc).

Use this link. http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/max_speed_calc.php
at 1.5km approx - your attenuation will be about 22dB and thats good for 17275mbits on adsl2+ and 7150mbits on adsl (BT etc) on a good day.

I assume that it's actually best to wait till the line is activated and go from there though? At least I'll know for sure what speed I can get.

WesleyBurns · 10 Jun 2009 at 15:40

Its all in the math on a perfect line - the rest is up to your line i.e is it noiseless etc.

But im sure you will get more than 5mbit, but 5mbit is handsome, i used to be on 1mbit for about 2 years after 10mbit.

Once your line is active, you may then order on BE/O2, they will never tell u what speed u will get, just if you can or not. It's down to the day you plug the modem in to see.

Skidilliplop · 10 Jun 2009 at 15:44

Line length is only one factor. My line is barely 2km from the exchange but it's old and thus I only get about 10meg downstream throughput on ADSL2+. Also living in london means my line runs alongside power cables, gas mains, water mains and god knows what on the way. More rural suburbian areas will have a "cleaner" route.

WesleyBurns · 10 Jun 2009 at 15:45

Rat nests

Nick1881 · 10 Jun 2009 at 17:01

If the line is good you will get way more than the 5mb they quoted, that's just to cover themselves I think.

I'm 2.5km away, think they quoted 4-5mb on sam knows, virgin said 8mb I think, on my parents line it was about 8-8.5mb and in my flat behind their house I get about 12mb as the line is newer.

orangeman2003 · 11 Jun 2009 at 02:56

also of the isps will try to tell u that u cant get more but in actual fact u can!

check ur router for noise margins and antenuation

im sure theres a site somewhere where u can add this info and they let u know what ur max rate is...

ill havwe to dig it out

Hamster · 11 Jun 2009 at 03:04

WesleyBurns said:
You will get much more than 5Mbps at 1.5km on ADSL2+ (BE/O2) and even ADSL(BT etc).

Use this link. http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/max_speed_calc.php
at 1.5km approx - your attenuation will be about 22dB and thats good for 17275mbits on adsl2+ and 7150mbits on adsl (BT etc) on a good day.

Wossi said:
I popped onto the samknows site to see how far from the exchange I am and it turns out that I'm 1568m away, which I guess is a straight line from the house to the exchange.

I'm about 450m straight line from the exchange according to Samknows but the actual line length is about 1600m.

Wossi said:
I assume that it's actually best to wait till the line is activated and go from there though? At least I'll know for sure what speed I can get.

You, sir, are a pragmatist!!