Internet Speed And BT

kah22

The whole question of internet speed is a vexed one indeed. All the ISP's that I've come across will tell you that you can get speeds up to 10-15-20 Mb or whatever the speed of the day happens to be.

And we all know the important phrase, as far as the ISP's are concerned is 'Up To.' There are of course no guarantees

What I'd like to know though is whether or not BT, can tell me what actual speed my line is capable of receiving. Is it capable of receiving 40Mb or 20 or just 10. Maybe it is just able to receive that 3 or 4 that everyone and his uncle seems to get.

BT own all the lines, they know how far I am from their station and what the quality of the line is, so in theory should they not be able to tell me, or is it a more complicated issue than this.

If they have the technology then is it available to we users and if so how do I go about finding that info.

Kevin

Trinitrotoluene

Yes - you can check here http://www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/ADSLChecker.Telephone

GunJack

Use Kitz's line speed calculator here:-
http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/max_speed_calc.php

enter your line attenuation and it will give you a pretty accurate potential speed for your line. Just log into your router and note your downstream attenuation to use in the calculator. It will show what speeds you are likely to achieve on the different types of bb modulation, i.e. adslMax, adsl2+, and LLU


Also, look at the graph on here:-
http://www.internode.on.net/residential/broadband/adsl/extreme/performance/

for a pretty comprehensive comparison of the modulation types.

gonzo127

the other one to check would be samknows on the broadband checker and pop in your phone number and post code and it will not only give you which services you can get but some reasonably good estimates of speed

just remember that although open reach (BT wholesale) own your line they will not know everything about it (although you are right they should know) sometimes not even the lengh if it was a old install as the old maps are not known for their accuracy.

they also can not take into account any of the other variables which can affect broadband such as environmental interference, internal household wireing, internal household interference,

forestlands

Thanks folks good info. very much appreciated :T I'm with B.T. and about to give up using a computer cos it's too slow and unreliable. Also, I fed up with being talked to, by B.T., as if I'm stupid. Duuuur!

I was up at 5.30 this morning to get on line :mad:, very early or very late is the only time I can recon on getting any speed on my computer. That is enough speed to send an email or look at a website without making tea, washing up or tidying my computer desk while waiting for a connection. This tells me that there are too many people using their computers between the exchange and myself, or, that people are getting priority over my use of the internet. Could it be that businesses are being given preference. I'm not paying for off peek use!

Would it help to get a wireles connection? Am I able to get one on a desktop computer - am I able to get one at all?

Now at the point of giving up having a computer.

A reliable computer would be great for me :j Live alone in the countryside seldom see anyone for several days at a time - talk to the animals Ordering groceries on line is great!! Keeping in touch with the family. My grandchildren have better access to the internet and they live in the middle of the desert in W.Australia!!

Feel like I could earn money on T.V.s Grumpy Old Women

Is B.T. taking the pee and adding more connections between myself and the exchange, cables can't cope, or prioritising use as they see fit?

GunJack

first off, use samknows's exchange checker as mentioned above, post back on here what services and providers are available at your exchange, then we'll be able to advise better

gonzo127

well forestlands have you poped your details into the above websites as suggested for the op, if you do and post back your details we might be able to help a bit more,

GunJack

gonzo127 wrote: »

the other one to check would be samknows on the broadband checker and pop in your phone number and post code and it will not only give you which services you can get but some reasonably good estimates of speed

just remember that although open reach (BT wholesale) own your line they will not know everything about it (although you are right they should know) sometimes not even the lengh if it was a old install as the old maps are not known for their accuracy.

they also can not take into account any of the other variables which can affect broadband such as environmental interference, internal household wireing, internal household interference,

the unreliability of bt's info is legendary....that's why it's more accurate to work from your line attenuation in the kitz calculator. For example, the bt database shows me as being able to get 3 meg, however, using my attenuation of 48dB in the calculator comes up with 4.5meg, and I actually get 4.7 Meg. Hence why it's the most accurate method of estimating

Trinitrotoluene

forestlands wrote: »

Thanks folks good info. very much appreciated :T I'm with B.T. and about to give up using a computer cos it's too slow and unreliable. Also, I fed up with being talked to, by B.T., as if I'm stupid. Duuuur!

I was up at 5.30 this morning to get on line :mad:, very early or very late is the only time I can recon on getting any speed on my computer. That is enough speed to send an email or look at a website without making tea, washing up or tidying my computer desk while waiting for a connection. This tells me that there are too many people using their computers between the exchange and myself, or, that people are getting priority over my use of the internet. Could it be that businesses are being given preference. I'm not paying for off peek use!

Would it help to get a wireles connection? Am I able to get one on a desktop computer - am I able to get one at all?

Now at the point of giving up having a computer.

A reliable computer would be great for me :j Live alone in the countryside seldom see anyone for several days at a time - talk to the animals Ordering groceries on line is great!! Keeping in touch with the family. My grandchildren have better access to the internet and they live in the middle of the desert in W.Australia!!

Feel like I could earn money on T.V.s Grumpy Old Women

Is B.T. taking the pee and adding more connections between myself and the exchange, cables can't cope, or prioritising use as they see fit?

The performance you are suggesting here suggests more of a problem than over subscription on the network. This is either a problem with your PC or your line/router/connection.

dave2

GunJack wrote: »

the unreliability of bt's info is legendary....that's why it's more accurate to work from your line attenuation in the kitz calculator. For example, the bt database shows me as being able to get 3 meg, however, using my attenuation of 48dB in the calculator comes up with 4.5meg, and I actually get 4.7 Meg. Hence why it's the most accurate method of estimating

says for me 2Mbps, actually getting 2MBps.
Kitz suggested 21240kbps; real-world actual [Ubuntu download] 2325KBps

At least one of the above is probably using the wrong initials...

pcombo

You know BT or ISP''s can have cards fitted to your line at the exchange which can have effects on broadband speeds.