Why "up to 17Mbs"?

Si_Clist

I'm trying to find a cheaper way of getting a landline and broadband than to keep on paying BT, but I'm struggling. That's mainly because our average monthly usage is close to 40Gb, and we're consistently getting download speeds of 27Mbs.

Most of the deals I've looked at offer "up to 17Mbs", so how's that work, given that whoever I go with, it's still the same line coming in? If I switch to another provider, do BT get their revenge by throttling the line back to a max of 17Mbs, or what?

JJ_Egan

27 will be fibre up to 17 is non fibre connection .
Non fibre ADSL arrives via the old BT street cable as opposed to the newly laid fibre optic .

Si_Clist

Ah. So we're getting 27 because it's fibre up to the box down the road, then copper for the last quarter mile? And I'm looking at the wrong packages if they're "up to 17Mbs"?

nidO

Yes.

"Upto 17/18mbit" and "Upto 24mbit" (less common) are pure ADSL services - If you're receiving a 27mbit service you'll currently be on an "upto 38/40mbit" or "upto 76/80mbit" service which is fibre.

Si_Clist

Cheers for that, nidO. I've now established that we are indeed on FTTC.

We only actually use the internet for email, surfing the web, sometimes watching streaming videos on YouTube (not in HD), downloading songs and listening to internet radio. According to the guy at TalkTalk to whom I've just been speaking, we don't need anything like the 27Mbs we're currently getting for that, and would be perfectly OK on their basic "Simply Broadband" package which gives far lower download speeds.

Might he be right?

HappyMJ

Si_Clist wrote: »

Cheers for that, nidO. I've now established that we are indeed on FTTC.

We only actually use the internet for email, surfing the web, sometimes watching streaming videos on YouTube (not in HD), downloading songs and listening to internet radio. According to the guy at TalkTalk to whom I've just been speaking, we don't need anything like the 27Mbs we're currently getting for that, and would be perfectly OK on their basic "Simply Broadband" package which gives far lower download speeds.

Might he be right?

Yes the advisor is correct. I have TalkTalk simplybroadband ADSL and get speeds of 1Mbps upload and 16Mbps download and can very easily stream full 1080p HDTV with no buffering on the TV. I can even do many things on the laptop at the same time and still get very good speeds.

Fibre is useful if you are downloading a lot and you want it quickly (none of what you describe you do requires this), uploading and require the 20Mbps upload speed or have lots of different devices all competing for the same line speed. Fibre is also useful if your ADSL speeds are very low such as 2Mbps or less download but your estimated line speed looks very good so save your money and get ADSL.

enfield_freddy

now re run your address thru a few more websites , some will actually check your line and give you a true ADSL expected figure , not an "upto"


unless you live next door to the exchange and they have just replaced the 70 yr old wiring to your local box , and run a new cable to your house , you will not see that figure


I am about 2 miles from the exchange , and the best available via ADSL is about 4.5meg

Si_Clist

Cheers gents.

I reckon he said we'd get up to 5.9Mbs here with their ADSL, so I guess I just need convincing that that's fast enough to avoid internet radio and non-HD streaming videos buffering ...

MataNui

Si_Clist wrote: »

Cheers gents.

I reckon he said we'd get up to 5.9Mbs here with their ADSL, so I guess I just need convincing that that's fast enough to avoid internet radio and non-HD streaming videos buffering ...

2.5 is fast enough not to get buffering on SD content (providing nobody else in the house is online at the same time). You should be fine with 5.9.

iniltous

You see lots of posts from people who would give thier eye teeth for FTTC , but if you want to 'down grade' to regular Broadband you should be able to get an estimate for what your line will deliver, on an upto 17/24 Mb service, it's likely that what you want from broadband doesn't need FTTC but if you are outside any minimum term, a threat to leave your current provider may result in them discounting FTTC to not much more that regular broadband anyway

Si_Clist

Now sorted We're sticking with fibre, but switching to Plusnet.