Why are we being forced to pay for a service the ISP's can't provide?

kwikbreaks

si1verf0x wrote: »

That's what is annoy me. Years ago, all of the ISP's had different tiered for the download speed you could achieve. But not any more.

That's because when ADSL first started out BTw were selling fixed speed services - 512kbps 1Mbps and 2Mbps - at different prices. When they introduced ADSL the (then) upto 8Mbps service appeared. That pretty much superceeded the old fixed speed services altough they may still be available. The snag is the speed ratings were very conservative and a line only capable of 3.5Mbps on ADSL2+ would probably only qulaify for 1Mbps fixed. It might be more expensive too.

As I said in post #8 - the cost of providing 17Mbps is virtually no more than the cost to provide 512kbps.

System

si1verf0x wrote: »

Years ago, all of the ISP's had different tiered for the download speed you could achieve. But not any more.

That is because the BT products that the ISPs used had different speeds - 512k, 1M, 2M etc.

Now you only have ADSL Max which can be up to 8M for ADSL1 or 24M for ADSL2+ depending on your exchange capabilities. The speed that you achieve is still highly dependent on both distance from the exchange and quality of the line from the exchange.

Fibre (VDSL) if available, removes a lot of the dependencies

si1verf0x

!!!!!! wrote: »

That is because the BT products that the ISPs used had different speeds - 512k, 1M, 2M etc.

Now you only have ADSL Max which can be up to 8M for ADSL1 or 24M for ADSL2+ depending on your exchange capabilities. The speed that you achieve is still highly dependent on both distance from the exchange and quality of the line from the exchange.

Fibre (VDSL) if available, removes a lot of the dependencies

That's the other thing I don't understand. I only live 2 miles away from the exchange. So in theory, I should get a lot better speeds than what is quoted. They must have laid some v old cables for the amount it drops over 2miles.

duchy

si1verf0x wrote: »

As much as I hate too, I have to go with an ISP. As I live & work away from my family. And it's the best way to speak/view (skype) with my family.

Your correct, all ISP's quote "upto" speeds, but the average UK DownLoad (DL) speed is 17.3mbs

Bonding 2 lines will cost a bomb. So that's out if the equation. So us moving. I've just moved in a week ago & I'm in a 12 month contract.

Hens, why I can't to fibre broadband, as all fibre packages are 18 month contracts.

I seriously doubt the average is 17.3 -maybe if you include fibre it is but not for adsl.
Virgin do a 9 month student contract- No idea if you have to prove you are a student or not-May be worth looking at
Sky's super fast fibre (70 meg not 40 meg so bit more expensive) is 12 month contract - was reduced from 18 to 12 last month. Their standard fibre is still 18 months though.

Not sure where the fowl come into it- did you mean hence ?

duchy

si1verf0x wrote: »

That's the other thing I don't understand. I only live 2 miles away from the exchange. So in theory, I should get a lot better speeds than what is quoted. They must have laid some v old cables for the amount it drops over 2miles.

It's not the cable-it's the equipment in the exchange- Yours obviously hasn't been upgraded yet. OR are getting around to them all eventually but taking their sweet time.

When I moved house last my friends laughed at me as I wouldn't put an offer in on what seemed an ideal house until I'd checked the BB speed availability. When they moved house 12 months later -and ended up on a similar exchange to yours-they understood why I'd done it.

si1verf0x

duchy wrote: »

I seriously doubt the average is 17.3 -maybe if you include fibre it is but not for adsl.
Virgin do a 9 month student contract- No idea if you have to prove you are a student or not-May be worth looking at
Sky's super fast fibre (70 meg not 40 meg) is 12 month contract - was reduced from 18 to 12 last month.

Not sure where the fowl come into it- did you mean hence ?

I'm guessing virgin will require some kind of proof ie student card etc.

When I asked sky the other day "do you do 12month fibre contracts?" They said that "they only do 18month fibre contracts". I think I'll give them another calls to see if they do, do a 12month contract.

Yeah I did mean hence…it was my fat fingers trying to type on my phone lol

keith1950

I live only 1 mile from a main exchange and only get 3.5 Meg.

I wish I could get fibre but its not available in my area at the moment.

On the other hand it would appear that you can get fibre but you are throwing in the obstacle of it being an 18 month contract.

You can't blame them for your personal circumstances.

si1verf0x

keith1950 wrote: »

I live only 1 mile from a main exchange and only get 3.5 Meg.

I wish I could get fibre but its not available in my area at the moment.

On the other hand it would appear that you can get fibre but you are throwing in the obstacle of it being an 18 month contract.

You can't blame them for your personal circumstances.

I'm only going to in the flat for 12months. So I'm not going to pay for 6months & not use it or pay a huge disconnection fee either.

But that's not my issue. I accept they only do 18month contracts. My issue is, I'll be paying for (the magic word) "upto" 17mbs but they can only supply me with 3mbs. That's my issue. They are fleecing us all with this legal scam.

Put it this way, if you could only visit your local petrol station & you put in £20 of fuel into your car…only to be told, you can only actually put in £5 worth but still got charged the £20. I'm sure everyone will complain. But for the garage owner to turn around & say "sorry sir/madam, it's the size of the hose & there is nothing they or you can do about it!" I'm sure people will be in uproar about it.

So what's the difference here???

duchy

Definitely give them a call as it has changed but only for the super fibre not standard fibre or standard BB

System

si1verf0x wrote: »

Put it this way, if you could only visit your local petrol station & you put in £20 of fuel into your car…only to be told, you can only actually put in £5 worth but still got charged the £20. I'm sure everyone will complain. But for the garage owner to turn around & say "sorry sir/madam, it's the size of the hose & there is nothing they or you can do about it!" I'm sure people will be in uproar about it.

Using a garage and petrol, a better analogy is that the garage say you can get upto 75 MPG with their fuel but you only manage 30MPG.