Assistance in evaluating whether to switch Internet providers

angelavdavis

Hi all,

I am currently considering changing ISP from Nildram to O2. The main reason for switching is speed, however, I will reduce outgoings if I do switch. I don't want to go elsewhere as I want good customer service and neither AOL nor BT meet this requirement imho. I also have phone calls with Nildram which I am happy to move if need be. I have a few questions and would appreciate some assistance with these before I make the final decision on changing.

1) According to samknows.com, my exchange has the following suppliers have operator presence: AOL, O2/Be, C&W/Bulldog, Sky/Easynet, Talktalk

does this mean that I am likely to be able to improve my speeds switching to O2 as planned?

2) According to various sites, the max speed my exchange will give me is 10Mb download. The package I have with Nildram is up to 24mbps but I am getting nowhere near this. In fact, checking on top10broadband.co.uk, the actual speed results I am getting are as follows:

Download - 0.7Mbps, Upload 0.3Mbps

On viewing the street-stats, even Talktalk users (who are oversubscribed) are getting 3Mbps download - the only worse off are the BT users! By the way, this test result is from a wireless connection to my laptop in the ground floor lounge at the front of the house (the router is located in my office on the second floor at the back of the house).

Also, looking at the Nildram provided information relating to my exchange, the update is as follows:

"Exchange status = Amber. Your telephone line has been identified as being on a congested exchange. If you are receiving varying speeds between 400kbs - 2000kbs at different times of the day this is likely to be a result of the congestion issue. A provisional date of Dec 13, 2008 has been set for upgrading this exchange."

(Great! I guess that didn't happen!)

Actual Speeds according to Nildram: Maximum stable rate 2272Kbps, Line speed 3000Kbps, Fault threshold 2272Kbps

I knew I was never going to get the full 24Mb as its clear I can't get this from the exchange limit, but I changed plan for the higher download allowance which I was exceeding at the time. So, I am clearly getting way below what I am paying for, but am I wasting my time switching provider for any other reason than cost bearing in mind these limitations?

2) I am currently using a Belkin F5D8632-4 v1 router so am finding it difficult to provide statistics, but I have installed inSSIDer to review what channels are busiest in my area and I have switched to channel 2 which no neighbours are using. However, despite my new router, the speed I am getting according to InSSIDer is 18, as opposed to 65-54 that many of my neighbours are achieving. My signal strength is the highest (thank goodness!)

Are there any changes I can make to my router to improve things? I have taken the front off the BT sockets and checked against the guide on DSLZoneUK.net and nothing appears out of sorts.

Other points of interest: I have security enabled on my router. My usage is 7.5Gb per month, so I am not a high volume user. I was looking at switching to O2 Premium package. I may even wait until March when I can switch my calls too, but am undecided about this currently.

Thanks in advance

adj_2

Hello,
Firstly, apologies if my reply seems rather basic - I have practically no understanding of anything technical where computers and internet speed are concerned. (Much of your question is way over my head!).
Anyhow, I have recently had problems with my internet speed and was asked by my provider (O2) if I by any chance had a baby monitor on in the house. Apparently this as well as freeview boxes, microwaves etc in the vicinity of the router can have an effect.
Once I had switched the baby monitor off, the problems seemed to lessen. (My child could be crying for hours without me knowing, but I can surf the net 'til my heart's content!!)
Sorry again if this is no help whatsoever!

angelavdavis

Thanks for this adj but sadly not relevant in my case, there are none of these within 10 foot of the router! I don't have children either sadly, and even the neighbours children are over 16! Glad you fixed your problems though (not sure if you child is impressed though!!! Lol!)

adj_2

Oh well, sorry! (I WILL solve a technical problem one day.....!) Sure someone a lot more qualified and knowledgable will come along and give some good advice soon!

globalds

It might be wise to connect up using a cable rather than with Wifi.and run the same tests.
Just to find out how much the wifi is slowing things down .
If it remains the same then throw your energies at a new provider.
But a lot of what is reducing your connection may just be from the wifi side of things.

angelavdavis

Testing on the wired connection, results according to top10broadband.co.uk are as follows:

Upload 2.3 Mbps and download 0.3Mbps

So, some improvement but nowhere near the 10Mb my exchange is apparently able to provide.

I am just under 1 km away from the exchange.