What are ADSL speeds like these days?

jenniewb

I get speeds anywhere from 15-18 and I'm about 10 minutes walk (I walk fast) to my local exchange. I get told any time I call and they check the speed that I'm "very close". I think it's about a quarter of a mile but it's a highly compact-residential area so although it's close, there are possibly thousands of homes to connect with that are closer to that exchange than I am. I say thousands not because I am unsure of the volume but because O don't know how many have opted for Virgin or no connection at all.


I have only noticed speed increases over the last 10-15 years, when I first signed up it was around 12-13 and that was in 2008.


I think if I were to increase the speed, my PC and phone wouldn't work that much faster as they are held back by their own mechanics rather than that of the connection.

Roland_Sausage

Browntoa wrote: »

I am near my exchange , ADSL speed under 3 meg , fibre is 76 mb

I wouldn't go back unless they used Gfast which gives up to 300mb over copper pair

Upgrade to fibre also eliminates whatever it was caused my ADSL to drop out at least 2 times a day

The speeds would suggest you are near your cabinet but reasonably far from the exchange.

Either that or something was very wrong between the exchange and cabinet.

[Deleted User]

gradwellmike wrote: »

Thanks for the link, I'd used this earlier today with my landline number. It claims I can expect up to 2.5Mb with ADSL. That is surprising, as when I had ADSL at this address a few years ago, I was getting over 10Mb!

Either your memory is faulty or things have changed as regards number of users or perhaps the route your line now takes (it's not a straight line from the exchange).

This week, when I've phoned various suppliers about their ADSL offerings, they were all playing the fear card and saying I could get 'up to' 11Mb or 18Mb, but should expect 2Mb.

I cant help but think that their aim is to peddle fibre deals (because they are more profitable) and part of that is to make ADSL appear to be inadequate (the very same product that 5 years ago we were told was some kind of spce-age improvement on the old 0.5Mb broadband)

Sorry, but that's paranoid nonsense. If they're all quoting around 2Mbps then that's what you'll get.

If anyone is using ADSL, feedback is welcome.

I moved recently and was getting around 19Mbps on Sky ADSL which dropped to 14Mbps when we moved. Given an increased usage for the household I moved to fibre and get a solid 37Mbps on NowTV fibre (you're considered a new customer despite coming from Sky) for less than I was paying for ADSL. Of course this is meaningless for yourself as all properties will get different results. You could be getting 2Mbps while your next door neighbour gets 10Mbps purely because their cable takes a different route.

Thanks but that offer has now lapsed. I was considering it last week, but I looked through their Trustpilot reviews and they were diabolical. Good luck!

The NowTV offer seems to come and go on a near weekly interval and will be back shortly. If you're relying on Trustpilot reviews (for anything) then you'll be frozen in fear of changing or purchasing anything else for the rest of your existence.



I don't think you've said who you're with right now but you need to talk to them first and see what they can offer.

You say you can't get Sky but surely whoever you're with now must be a 12 month contract minimum so you would be able to use Sky as long as you don't try and leave your present supplier early.

lee111s

Browntoa wrote: »

I am near my exchange , ADSL speed under 3 meg , fibre is 76 mb

I wouldn't go back unless they used Gfast which gives up to 300mb over copper pair

Upgrade to fibre also eliminates whatever it was caused my ADSL to drop out at least 2 times a day

You must be close to the cabinet, but quite some distance from the exchange (line length greater than 4km, probably closer to 5). Your “fibre” is still over the same copper from the cabinet to the house, just like it would be on G.Fast.

[Deleted User]

lee111s wrote: »

You must be close to the cabinet, but quite some distance from the exchange (line length greater than 4km, probably closer to 5). Your “fibre” is still over the same copper from the cabinet to the house, just like it would be on G.Fast.

Their first line says "I am near my exchange".

That doesn't mean that it's a direct line to the exchange of course as it could (quite literally ) go all around the houses before it gets there although it sounds more like a fault somewhere given the drop-outs.

gradwellmike

Sorry, but that's paranoid nonsense. If they're all quoting around 2Mbps then that's what you'll get.

I'm sure these companies are very happy that there are sufficient people out there such as yourself who will happily swallow whatever they are told, but I prefer to keep an open mind.



This morning I tried my parents phone number via the link provided and they too could expect a maximum of 2.5Mb.

Interestingly, they switched to fibre from ADSL less than a year ago. I ran several speed tests from various sites and they were getting a minimum of 12Mb via ADSL at that time.

If you're relying on Trustpilot reviews (for anything) then you'll be frozen in fear of changing or purchasing anything else for the rest of your existence.

Thankfully I do feel capable of making a judgment based only in part on reviews. However, they were particularly bad. For a company which appears to be a newcomer to the broadband market, I'm happy to let bold individuals such as yourself volunteer as guinea pigs on my behalf - thank you. I'll take a look at them again in a year or so.

You say you can't get Sky but surely whoever you're with now must be a 12 month contract minimum so you would be able to use Sky as long as you don't try and leave your present supplier early.

Wrong again, unfortunately. I said I wasn't able to take sign up as a new customer as it was less than 12 months since I left.
And that was as a TV customer, not broadband.


Apart from all that, I did find some value in your post, so thanks.

Cornucopia

If you are suspicious that the promised 2Mb may be being undersold (or conservatively estimated for the sake of setting customer expectations), then surely the answer is to try ADSL service with a provider that offers a 1 month rolling contract option. (The only issue being that 1 month options often have a higher installation cost than contract options).

Once you're satisfied that your speed is adequate, you can opt for a contract to reduce the monthly payments.

If you're not getting the necessary speed, then you can opt for fibre with them or anyone else.

gradwellmike

the answer is to try ADSL service with a provider that offers a 1 month rolling contract option.

Yes, that's certainly an option, thanks.

I had considered taking a £140 gamble and paying a lump sum for a one-year subscription (inc line rental) just to see if the ADSL speeds were similar to what I was getting in the old days.

If they are inadequate, I could just write the money off, leave and get a fibre service.

If the speeds are suitable, then I'd be happy to stick with old technology indefinitely, rather than pay a premium for flavour-of-the-month fibre with speeds I don't need.

AndyPK

If you could tell us what devices you use to connect to broadband or what you use the internet for we could help further.

So you are prepared to wright off £140. (nearly half a years fibre)
In the chance you will save £156. And then pay out £300.

I think 1 month of ASDL will be a lot more than you think, when you add in line connection @ ~£60. Not very MSE. + postage for router or whatever.

With a 12 month ASDL contact at £12, its going to go up afterwards, so you will have to move again.

Cornucopia

SSE seem to have some rolling contract options with low startup costs, though their best deals are for existing Energy customers.