We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.
Reduction in broadband speed from the exchange??? :(

grim_fandango
Posts: 6 Forumite
Hi, I have been looking for broadband for a week or so, hoping to change from tiscali due to low speeds which they said they would fix...
I had decided on plusnet. and just about to sign up, but the best speed the can offer me is now only 2mb! but a few days previous it said I could get 5mb?? (as did all the other suppliers, which have also changed to 2mb??) I used to get a 5mb connection, so i emailed them, they said:
"The speed you should recieve will be around 2mb, this may have changed at the exchange for a number of reasons, 1 may be the amount of people taking broadfban in your order, but the estimate given when ordering your broadband is the most accurate speed you should expect to recieve."
If this is true is there anything I can do about this?
I had decided on plusnet. and just about to sign up, but the best speed the can offer me is now only 2mb! but a few days previous it said I could get 5mb?? (as did all the other suppliers, which have also changed to 2mb??) I used to get a 5mb connection, so i emailed them, they said:
"The speed you should recieve will be around 2mb, this may have changed at the exchange for a number of reasons, 1 may be the amount of people taking broadfban in your order, but the estimate given when ordering your broadband is the most accurate speed you should expect to recieve."
If this is true is there anything I can do about this?
0
Comments
-
My o2 home access goes down to 0.3mb in the evening now.0
-
What speed does the BT checker say you can get? Plusnet is not an LLU service, so it will be using the BT network.
http://www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/ADSLChecker.TelephoneNumberOutput
What are the LLU options on your exchange?
https://www.samknows.com, then exchange search.No free lunch, and no free laptop0 -
Hi thanks for the replys
no LLU options at my exchange, this is what the BT checker said:
Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband service that provides a fixed line rate up to 2Mbps.Our test also indicates that your line currently supports a potential ADSL Max broadband line rate of 2Mbps or greater.
The actual stable line rate supportable will be determined during the first 10 days of use. This rate may change over time, to ensure line stability is maintained.
If you decide to place an order, a further test will be performed to confirm if your line is suitable for the service you wish to purchase.
I'm just confused, a couple of days ago it said on the various websites when I did the phoneline check I could get 5mb speed and now it says just 2mb on the same websites?0 -
Does seem strange, but the figures you are getting now are at least consistent. The speed you get with Plusnet should not be appreciably different to Tiscali, as they are both non LLU, so running over exactly the same BT network. With no LLU services on your exchange, the same will apply with any other provider.No free lunch, and no free laptop0
-
So this could be why I've had a drop in speed lately? BT (who I assume are in charge of the exchange?) can just cut your speed down just like that? and theres nothing you can do about it?0
-
The service BT offer (be it through Tiscali or another non-LLU provider) is up to 8MB. 2MB is still well above the official definition of broadband, which I think is 0.5MB?
Still curious as to why your speed should have dropped though-have your neighbours had the same thing? Try putting a nearby number into the BT checker and see what speed that suggests.
Can you also retest your own speed using:
https://www.speedtest.net
Not sure what site you were using before.No free lunch, and no free laptop0 -
I'm non LLU, so it's BT for me as well. There was a "traffic management" set up to run in October, service has been dire since.
http://broadband.o2.co.uk/home/traffic.jsp
I don't use peer to peer, but everything else is slower, and iplayer is unwatchable.0 -
Hi thanks for all the help
this is what my parents house which is next door says:
Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband service that provides a fixed line rate up to 2Mbps.Our test also indicates that your line currently supports a potential ADSL Max broadband line rate of 5.5Mbps or greater.
which is strange as they seem as though they could get 5.5mb but I cant here and I've had that speed at both propeties in the past?
I've been using speedtest.net a lot in the past few weeks (because of slow internet) and mostly get about 1mb0 -
grim_fandango wrote: »So this could be why I've had a drop in speed lately? BT (who I assume are in charge of the exchange?) can just cut your speed down just like that? and theres nothing you can do about it?
There are physical reasons why you can't get the headline speed but after that comes the situation where your download is significantly less than the sync you do get could support. The reason for that issue is entirely down to the ISP not paying BTw for sufficient capacity. Very infrequently there may be an issue with the backhaul from an exchange but that is usually fixed very quickly and does not impact every user on the exchange - only those on the Virtual Pipe which has insufficient capacity.0 -
I'm with Tiscali. When I log on I get 1.3mbps which reduces to 640kbps after a couple of minutes. Quite often, as is the case at the moment, it drops down to 64kbps, which I believe is dial up speed. Several times per week it will cut off altogether for hours at a time.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 348.3K Banking & Borrowing
- 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 452.4K Spending & Discounts
- 240.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 617.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 175.7K Life & Family
- 254.1K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards