When is superfast fibre not all that fast

Gwladys

Dear All, in August 2022 I entered a 2 year contract with BT for Halo 3 superfast broadband. The speed to my router is around 135, as per the contract. However, my devices (laptop, tablet and phone) can only receive upto a maximum of 50 mbps. Thus I am paying £30+ per month for speeds it is impossible for me to achieve. I informed BT several times at the start of the contract that there was a problem with speeds - all emails ignored. At no time during taking out the contract or in the terms and conditions was it ever mentioned or a warning given that your devices may be incompatible with the broadband. Do you know if this could apply to you? If so what have you done about it? My first thought is that they have sold me a system that is not fit for purpose but BT have come back stating that their system is working as it should, there is no fault and I can continue paying them an exorbitant amount over the next 18 months for a system I cannot use. Doesn't seem fair? 

molerat

Have you plugged the laptop directly in to the router with a cable ?  I suspect the problem is the wifi.  The other day I was in my son's house and did a speed check on my phone.  I got 22 down and 25 up in his kitchen but 173 down and 60 up in his lounge.

[Deleted User]

I have an unpopular opinion on these forums about broadband, but basically it boils down to skipping the ISP provided "free" kit and sorting your own out. The problem is it requires a bit of upfront investment in decent hardware but after that you can reject all the ISP kit and run the internet and wifi and your own terms and get great performance.

4 years ago I spent £300 on my own router / wifi and never looked back. I'm now on 1 gig up/down broadband with BRSK and I can still get wifi through all the house at anything from 600mbps to around 200 Mbps in the gardens. 

It has now worked out as an extra £6 per month over 4 years from buying that kit, combined with BRSK £22.50 per month (for 12 mth then £45) for 1 gig internet, I am way ahead of anybody chasing the cheapest broadband deal on this forum in terms of the quality of my internet connection and wifi across the house.

Do yourself a favour and break away from the marketing hype and buy your own kit and get  an alt fibre to prem broadband provider. 

Gwladys

Hard wiring with some yellow ethernet cable raised the speed to over 50mbps (52). Not sure I've got the technical ability to move away from the main suppliers and go it alone. 

Tiexen

Gwladys said:

Hard wiring with some yellow ethernet cable raised the speed to over 50mbps (52). Not sure I've got the technical ability to move away from the main suppliers and go it alone. 

Use more than 1 speed test site you'll get lots of different numbers this is mine:

Ookla: 512

Fast: 880

SpeedChecker: 364

highspeedinternet: 436

Virgin Media: 499

oldernonethewiser

Gwladys said:

Hard wiring with some yellow ethernet cable raised the speed to over 50mbps (52). Not sure I've got the technical ability to move away from the main suppliers and go it alone. 

If that is from the laptop straight into router then something is definitely not right.

If all your emails to BT have been ignored have to tried to escalate matters?

As an aside the router I have, not BT, is rubbish but I bought a TP Deco mesh system and get my full speeds with no problem thoughout my property. 

littleboo

Broadband speeds are to the router, it sounds from the op that the speed to the router is as expected.

victor2

Gwladys said:

Hard wiring with some yellow ethernet cable raised the speed to over 50mbps (52). Not sure I've got the technical ability to move away from the main suppliers and go it alone. 

Disable the WiFi and connect by cable to be sure it is actually using the cable connection before testing. Many laptops have a button on them to switch on/off the WiFi. If you state the make and model you have, someone may be able to tell you how. Otherwise, you do it in the operating system, which again someone will be able to help you with if you tell us what yours is.

Edit. Do BT give a minimum speed guarantee with your contract?

Gwladys

It's a Toshiba Satellite - so quite old. The BT technician got me to find out what operating card the machine has and confirmed that it will not accept any more than 50+ mbps no matter what you door how you wire it. BT give a 100mbps guarantee with the contract - around 135mbps are coming in to the router but my devices are totally unable to receive such speeds. So as far as BT are concerned they are fulfilling the terms of the contract - I just can't use what I am paying for.

Gwladys

What annoys me with this is that BT are happy to sell you the fast speeds and are not interested in whether you can actually use it or not. They give no warnings or advice about whether their system may or may not be suitable for your devices - they just take your money and say "tough".

Gwladys

I have now escalated the case upto the Ombudsman - will keep you informed.
P.s. tried three different speed test sites for the laptop - all came out between 33 and 47.