Broadband access explained please

ComplexP

Perhaps with the Olympics coming up and the eyes of the world on the UK the politicians might start putting pressure on to bring the average up a bit...?

The only way they're gonna do that effectively is by dealing with the poor saps on the edges.

We can hope.

downshifter

ComplexP wrote: »

Perhaps with the Olympics coming up and the eyes of the world on the UK the politicians might start putting pressure on to bring the average up a bit...?

The only way they're gonna do that effectively is by dealing with the poor saps on the edges.

We can hope.

As a 'poor sap on the edge' who would I lobby to do something about this? My MP? Some other organisation? I feel a touch of militancy coming on.

If I could get half decent mobile phone speeds I'd be happy to continue using the dongle, but as its speed isn't any good either, I feel very much left out.

ComplexP

That's a very good question. I think you would need to get enough support from your area to convince BT it is finacially in their interests. Not sure what your MP could do

Apparently this is the list of places that should be upgraded by Summer 2010...

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/4123-openreach-announce-63-exchanges-for-fibre-upgrades.html
Mine is actually on there but I wouldn't get the Infinity package because it is BT and I hate them. If Be, O2 or Plusnet launch their own FTTC services I shall definately be interested...

kwikbreaks

I think Brown (or at least one of his multitudinous quango bods) was spouting something about ensuring everybody could get 2Mbps in some unfeasibly short timescale a few months back. Mind you he also promised an end to boom and bust and will no doubt be promising anything he thinks might buy a vote soon.

You could try lobbying your MP but they will all be rather preoccupied with other matters very soon and the number of ADSL Not-Spots is very small these days - unfortunately for you you live in one.

downshifter

Oh no!! I've just done a quick check on the Samknows broadband checker and it says that:

The quality or length of your phone line prohibits you from receiving ADSL of any speed.

The following services are available in your location:
BT Wholesale ADSL
BT Wholesale ADSL Max

Now this confuses me even more, how can it say that I can't get ADSL but goes on to say that those 2 ADSL services are available?

DS

ComplexP

I think that means that your exchange can provide ADSL and ADSL Max but the length of your line means that it is not recommended.

Of course that's a matter of opinion and it's all relative. If 0.25MBits is a vast improvement on what you already have then it's worth doing. But most people would not accept a speed as low as that.

macman

Rather depends how much you are paying at present and how much you can get a service for. 0.25Mbps is still 5 times faster than the max you could ever get on dial up, and faster than the dongle.
If it's cheaper and faster then it's worth it, you can do a lot more even with that slow speed.
Your exchange distance is obviously marginal, but go back to samknows and see which LLU providers you can get on your exchange (exchange search, then look under LLU Operator Presence). These will be the cheapest deals. Then use the ISP's own number checkers to see what they say. You might look at 02 (if available LLU), if not try Plusnet. Avoid Orange at all costs.

downshifter

macman wrote: »

Rather depends how much you are paying at present and how much you can get a service for. 0.25Mbps is still 5 times faster than the max you could ever get on dial up, and faster than the dongle.
If it's cheaper and faster then it's worth it, you can do a lot more even with that slow speed.
Your exchange distance is obviously marginal, but go back to samknows and see which LLU providers you can get on your exchange (exchange search, then look under LLU Operator Presence). These will be the cheapest deals. Then use the ISP's own number checkers to see what they say. You might look at 02 (if available LLU), if not try Plusnet. Avoid Orange at all costs.

Thanks. I'm paying £15 a month at the moment for the mobile service from Orange. Seems as though BT is the only way to go then.

Unfortunately there are no LLUs available.

Thanks to everyone for guiding me through this, it's been really helpful

macman

downshifter wrote: »

Thanks. I'm paying £15 a month at the moment for the mobile service from Orange. Seems as though BT is the only way to go then.

Unfortunately there are no LLUs available.

Thanks to everyone for guiding me through this, it's been really helpful

If no LLU providers are available, then you can use any ISP that uses BT's Wholesale service-which is almost all of them. Any non-LLU ISP is still using BT Wholesale's line and equipment, so if BT can give you that speed, so should they be able to. So why do you say that BT is the only way to go? For example, Plusnet is available for £11.99 on a Market 1 exchange, first 3 months at £5.99 and Quidco cashback available. BT is among the most expensive options.

downshifter

macman wrote: »

If no LLU providers are available, then you can use any ISP that uses BT's Wholesale service-which is almost all of them. Any non-LLU ISP is still using BT Wholesale's line and equipment, so if BT can give you that speed, so should they be able to. So why do you say that BT is the only way to go? For example, Plusnet is available for £11.99 on a Market 1 exchange, first 3 months at £5.99 and Quidco cashback available. BT is among the most expensive options.

Sorry, I misunderstood the website. Where it says that BT is the sole provider of bb services I thought that meant that BT was the sole provider of bb services. I thought all other providers were LLUs and therefore not available. Hartington if anyone would like to check I've got this right, though I'm around 5 miles away from the exchange and much nearer another exchange. I'm wondering if there's any way of linking to that much nearer exchange.

I think I may be losing the will with this, despite all you wonderful helpful people!! Though I'm beginning to understand better - why is it so complicated?

Thanks yet again