BT reduced possible line speed

Shrimply

Hi, We've been with orange broadband for over 2 years, we've had ups and downs. Like last summer we had ridiculously low speeds for a while but they picked up again. Overall its not been too much of a problem. We live in an area with no LLUs so the £19.99 we pay Orange for unlimited usage isn't really beaten by any other companies.

When we signed up for Orange hey reckoned we could get 5mbps, BTs estimate was lower at around 3mbps.

However, speeds have been slow constantly for some time and recently I've decided to try and see what other companies were offering. But speed estimates were coming back low, very low. Previously companies would give us speed estimates of 2-4mps. The fastest I've found just now is 0.5mps with o2 home access.

Using BTs own line test they suggest 0.256mbps.

Is there anything I can do about this, clearly Orange aren't providing the service the promised but for once it isn't there fault. With BT constantly going on about how they're improving broadband speeds everywhere I am really rather annoyed that they've somehow reduced our line quality so that broadband along it is painfully slow.

Any advice, I'm guessing there's not much we can do or anyone to complain to.

To prove I'm not going made

From Orange


And BTs test now

macman

Tiscali is shown as available LLU on Galashiels-it's a Market 2 exchange.
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/ESGAL
Since Tiscali is no longer available for new customers, have you tried checking your number on the TalkTalk site?
Your main problem is distance from the exchange, which will not alter by using another ISP. Don't opt for O2 Access, as it's a dire product.
Do you actually need unlimited? As there are other non-LLU products which are better than Orange, but not many who offer unlimited.
How about Plusnet Premium (80GB) at the same price as Orange?
Are you getting the best speed you can on your existing line in terms of your filters, internal wiring, wireless set up etc?

Shrimply

:embarasse I have a confession to make.

A while ago, not long after the speed problems started I was fiddling about with the router settings (not knowing very much). And switched the broadcast channel to 4. At the time it made no difference good or bad, . However, playing about again yesterday i switched channels again, and the speed shot back up to 2mbps. So I presume by some weird coincidence something around here gets in the way of channel 4.

So it seems BT haven't done anything to the line quality, its just their checker is wrong. I can see that being a problem if we ever switch services because companies aren't going to be able to predict the true speed they can provide because the information on BTs system appears to be wrong.

We've had problems with talktalk in the past, finding them to be truly unhelpful. I did try to go on to their site to check what they could offer but they don't seem to offer broadband individually and for some reason won't let you check what speed they can give you without you agreeing to them phoning you up to "discuss" your options. Bizarre marketing strategy if you ask me.

I think for the moment we'll probably just stick with Orange, unless they become really bad, or a much better offer comes up. To be honest we probably don't need unlimited the 80GB cap from Plusnet is probably safe. But the 40GB most companies offer could be pushing it we regularly use the BBC iplayer channel on the Wii and there is plenty of internet usage and particulary other catchup sites, you tube etc.

As for optimising the speed we do get, probably not to the full extent but when the proper speed is provided we do OK. If I'm getting 2mbs on wireless devices then I'm happy.

Thanks for the help, and sorry for being a tiny bit of an idiot.

macman

What has probably happened is that your router was running on the same channel as a neighbour's, which will cause interference. Channels 2,6 and 11 are worth trying as alternatives to the default.
To get a better indication of actual line speed, retest using an ethernet cable instead of wireless, plugged into the BT test socket behind your master socket facplate. This will eliminate all the internal wiring as a source of the problem.
If you want TalkTalk LLU you will have to take the full Essentials package at £6.99 (plus a 'Boost' to increase the 40 GB limit).
None of the non-LLU providers are going to offer you a better price on an unlimited or 80GB package, your only real option to save money is to go LLU.

Shrimply

Thanks, BT seems to be having some system confusion over our line



I can only hope they get it right eventually

I've found freedom2surf as a possible alternative to Orange, not done much research yet but they offer unlimited downloads for £16.99. They appear to have something to do with Tiscali and are offering a predicted speed of 5.1mb/s. So that might be an option.

~Chameleon~

macman wrote: »

None of the non-LLU providers are going to offer you a better price on an unlimited or 80GB package, your only real option to save money is to go LLU.

Not necessarily true!

Have a look at http://adsl24.co.uk/

macman

F2S are Pipex are Opal (TT Business division) are Tiscali are TalkTalk. All the same. You might just as well take TalkTalk Essentials with the 80GB boost and save yourself £10+pm.
There is no ADSL2+ on your exchange, and TT are the only LLU provider. However if the distance from the exchange is the problem, it's most unlikely you'll get much improvement on your current speeds-and certainly not 250% more.
Suggest you use the exchange mapping facility on samknows and see what speed that comes up with.
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/mapping/mapping.php
If it's more than 2Mbps, then you need to check all the other internal factors that may be affecting your speed.

macman

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Not necessarily true!

Have a look at http://adsl24.co.uk/

I did.
On the Galashiels exchange, the 'Home 90' (90GB tariff) is £39.20 a month. How is that going to save the OP money?

Shrimply

Well, the reason for avoiding talk talk, is that we'd rather keep the line rental and calls with BT.

Mapping facility doesn't work as we are outside the town, but houses about 1km away are getting 6mb/s.

Today the internet speed has been fast, I was getting 4.5mb/s on a wireless connection. So BTs prediction that we can only get 1mb/s is nonsensical.

Thanks for all the help, things will probably get left as they are, for the small saving we would make it just doesn't seem worth the hassle while we are getting a good speed.

~Chameleon~

macman wrote: »

I did.
On the Galashiels exchange, the 'Home 90' (90GB tariff) is £39.20 a month. How is that going to save the OP money?

I doubt very much the OP would need the 90GB tariff, not forgetting that off-peak hours are completely unlimited.

The Home 30 package, which is slightly cheaper than Orange, should be ample for what the OP has said he uses the internet for. We as a family use iplayer, youtube and live streaming tv daily, as well as downloading movies/music from itunes and have yet to go over 30GB a month peak time usage.

I was merely offering it as an alternative as there is no throttling or traffic shaping like some of the major ISPs use, as well as a monthly contract so you're not tied in for 12/18mths if you're not happy.

macman

But the OP already said in post 3 that they don't think the standard 40GB on TT Essentials would be enough? Without going to 90GB, the Home 60 would be the only one suitable-and that's more than Orange.
The point I was trying to make is that BT's wholesale pricing makes it impossible for prices to vary much on non-LLU services.