How do I check what fastest speed broadband service I can have?

BargainHunter_2

Any advice how I go about this. I have a new built home 2 yrs old and a BT phone line. no cable access so they are a no go.
Any advice on checking line speed for broadband? and any advice re Martin's Madasafish 12 month new customer contract(from his latest article)- am I right in that they will give me a modem and connection fee but I am tied in for 12 months?
Thanks - this is all new to me so apologies if the questions seem a bit basic!

mr_fishbulb

Put your number into the Can I Get Broadband? box here:

http://www.bt.com/broadband/

mk-donald

I also like this website which as well as estimating speed additionally shows you which alternatives to using BT's wholesale ADSL services on your exchange - ie LLU Local Loop Unbundling and Cable in your region

http://www.dslzoneuk.net/checker.php

mhendo

The DSLzone checker only seems to report back Bulldog & EasyNet for LLU services.

If anyone is interested in LLU ISP's then they're better off checking directly with the ISP's (for the most up to date information, and there doesn't seem to be a resource anywhere that has information on all LLU provider's exchanges):-
LLU ADSL2+ Ready (up to 24Mbps)
UKonline Checker (or exchange list)
freedom2surf Checker (or exchange list)
Be* Checker

LLU ADSL Ready (up to 8Mbps)
Bulldog Checker
homechoice Checker
wanadoo Exchange List
Zen Checker (or exchange list)

Cable Broadband (up to 10Mbps)
Telewest Cable Internet
ntl: Cable Internet

Mr_Skint_2

Dont ever trust those checkers they are rubbish, I mean really out of date..

mhendo

How can the ISP's own checkers be "really out of date"? Its the most up to date info you're going to be able to get.

Ally

mhendo wrote:

How can the ISP's own checkers be "really out of date"? Its the most up to date info you're going to be able to get.

I used Skints advice earlier ..... NTL checker said NO ... NTL SA's said YES ....

better to call and check too;)

mhendo

Well, I've never called a provider and their sales staff have said something different to their own online checker does.

Only exception to that was cable years ago - cable installed in whole street, so call up to subscribe and say they don't service our house (despite the green cabinet being right at the end of our drive-way - turns out they left three houses out, and weren't willing to cable it without charging us something stupid like £2500 to dig a channel for the cabling (all of 15ft).

gary38uk

best checker out there is.
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/checker2.php

mhendo

gary38uk wrote:

best checker out there is.
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/checker2.php

Hardly the best, as it doesn't check all LLU providers, it has been way out of date for months, and it shows EasyNet LLU exchanges which doesn't necessarily mean UKonline or f2s are offering it there. You can't beat going directly to the ISP's own checker.

peter_the_piper

Even this checker is useless. According to it I cannot get 2meg and only maybe 1meg. I'm writing this on 2meg at the moment. The strange thing is it says my next door neighbour can get them all, very strange as we both come off the same pole and my line is the shorter.