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.

BROADBAND SPEED ONLY 1Mbps!!?

I've just switched my line from Virgin to BT today. Now that my phone is in I checked to see that i could start getting Broadband Installed. I went to the BT ADSL checker to see my line was now available and I get this message

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 1Mbps. However due to the length of your line the 1Mbps service may require an engineer visit who will, where possible, supply the broadband service.


Our initial test on your line indicates that your line may not support a reliable ADSL Max broadband service, with current technology. However, an order for 250Kbps broadband speed will still be accepted, but an engineer may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the service.

Our initial test on your line indicates that your line may not support a reliable ADSL2+ broadband service, with current technology. However, an order for 250Kbps broadband speed will still be accepted, but an engineer may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the service.

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.

Thank you for your interest.

!!!!!!!!? Why IS 1Mbps MY max speed? I'm a stones throw away from my exchange.
«13

Comments

  • Lokolo
    Lokolo Posts: 20,861 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Poor lines, not near the exchange. Welcome to BT.

    When you say a stone throw away, how far do you actually mean?

    I just don't understand people that go to BT lines for internet.
  • Patrick20
    Patrick20 Posts: 754 Forumite
    Its 2.9 Miles by road on google maps but these are quite windy roads. In a straight line its less than 2 miles

    And I never had a choice Virgin wasnt playing ball.
  • Lokolo
    Lokolo Posts: 20,861 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Patrick20 wrote: »
    Its 2.9 Miles by road on google maps but these are quite windy roads. In a straight line its less than 2 miles

    Yes, anything 2 miles or more means bad lines and therefore limited service.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,224 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    As it was only done today then if you have brought your number across from Virgin the BTs records for that number may well be from before the number was initially transferred to Virgin and don't reflect the current situation. The initial test is a check of the current info held on the line and probably not a physical test of the line.

    Give it a few days and try the checker again.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • System
    System Posts: 178,224 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Patrick20 wrote: »
    Its 2.9 Miles by road on google maps but these are quite windy roads. In a straight line its less than 2 miles

    And I never had a choice Virgin wasnt playing ball.

    Quite windy roads - rural?, overhead cables?
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Patrick20
    Patrick20 Posts: 754 Forumite
    edited 4 December 2009 at 3:05PM
    Lokolo, its not more than 2 miles though. The Lines all pass through the fields in my area. They don't follow the roads so it is less than 2 miles.

    !!!!!! I didnt bring my number from virgin i just got a new one.

    yes there is overhead cables, i live in a small village about 2 miles from Airdrie(WSAIR IS THE EXCHANGE)
  • System
    System Posts: 178,224 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    2 miles of overhead lines will not give you a good speed at all.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Lokolo
    Lokolo Posts: 20,861 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Patrick20 wrote: »
    Lokolo, its not more than 2 miles though. The Lines all pass through the fields in my area. They don't follow the roads so it is less than 2 miles.

    !!!!!! I didnt bring my number from virgin i just got a new one.

    I am not saying at exactly 2 miles the lines suddenly get bad. The further the distance from the exchange the less data that can be sent at such high speeds. 2 miles is usually the given that it's not worth doing.

    It might be better when ADSL2 is added onto your exchnage.

    Other than that, shouldn't have got rid of cable ;)
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,128 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 4 December 2009 at 3:13PM
    Might have made more sense to check your ADSL line speed potential before cancelling Virgin...the postcode checkers should give some idea. 2.9m is not a stone's throw
    Can you clarify if you are (were) on Virgin Media cable service or Virgin National? If the former, you need a BT line installing to get any ADSL service. If the latter, your Virgin and BT ADSL services are coming over the same line, so the speed may not be much different.
    I advise you look for any LLU services available on your exchange, in particular any ADSL2+ services, these might help your speed.
    www.samknows.com

    Edit: O2/Be are available on LLU/ADSL2+ on the Airdrie exchange, see what the estimated speed is for your number (remember that the BT checker may not yet recognise your number if the line install has only just taken place). you'll get a far better price and service with an O2 LLU service than anything BT can offer.
    https://www.o2broadband.o2.co.uk/getBroadband.do
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • Patrick20
    Patrick20 Posts: 754 Forumite
    edited 4 December 2009 at 3:18PM
    O2 Are LLU and they are available at my exchange. Thats who I was planning on getting. What will that mean exactly to speeds?

    EDIT: the o2 Line checker said BT couldnt tell them my distance from the exchange so would be unable to give an accurate estimate.

    Do you thing thats good or bad news? Maybe BT havent finished updating their information so I'm prematurely panicking?
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.2K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.6K Life & Family
  • 254K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.