Are all ISPs speed the same

higgers07

Hi All

My contract with AOL is due to end soon. I pay peanuts (£19 for line rental, anytime calls, calls abroad and unlimited internet). Internet speed is 'up to 10mb' but I only receive 2.5mb. Sometimes it has been as low as 0.7mb. We use the internet a lot as my sons have xbox and PS3 and we subscribe to Netflix (though we don't use it that often). Quite a few times we have had to reset the router as, for example, my son's on-line game will crash part way through and, of course, I get it in the neck because I'm the one that signed uop with AOL!! This is cheesing me off.


To improve matters, I'm thinking of getting fibre. But to try and keep costs down, wondered if other ISPs (like 02, BT etc) might have a more reliable service (non-fibre) than AOL. If they will be using the same line as AOL do, and the signal will come from the same exchange, why would they be able to provide better speeds/reliability than AOL?

Most ISPs quote 'upto' speeds (as do AOL), but don't guarantee a minimum. I don't want to sign up to another provider (who offers upto, say 16mb) to find they only end up providing 2.5mb. I've paid for AOL to come out and test the line/my set up etc to improve the service so believe 2.5mb is the max they can possibly offer (which is why I am looking elsewhere).

Is it worth talking to other ISPs about their non-fibre options or do you think they can only match AOL's?

Cheers

macman

You will be on the same local loop regardless of provider (unless you switch to a fibre product). No ISP will give you are guaranteed speed, as there are too many variables beyond their control. If the speed drops in the evening then it's probably a contention issue. Are you testing from the BT socket using ethernet? If so, post your router stats.
Are you on a TalkTalk LLU service?

higgers07

macman wrote: »

You will be on the same local loop regardless of provider (unless you switch to a fibre product). No ISP will give you are guaranteed speed, as there are too many variables beyond their control. If the speed drops in the evening then it's probably a contention issue. Are you testing from the BT socket using ethernet? If so, post your router stats.
Are you on a TalkTalk LLU service?

Hi. Thanks for the reply. My speed is pretty constant (2.5mb in evening and midday - just tested it now 12.50pm). I've tested using ethernet at the main socket. I pay AOL, but it was a Talk Talk engineer that came out to 'fix' my slow speed, but I don't know if I am on a TalkTalk LLU (assume I am?).

I may just go straight to fibre but will shop around. THanks for taking time to reply.

Ian

macman

AOL has been owned by TT for about 4 years now, it's a wholly owned brand-nothing to do with AOL Inc anymore.
Post your router stats:
http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/frogstats.php#34
But if your line will only support a certain speed, and that's what you are getting, then changing ISP will not help. Only a switch to fibre will.