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Distance from exchange (Should i be concerned)?

Hi there, hope someone can help...

Okay, i have just moved into a new flat and i would like a cheap, 2mbps broadband service (but i would like to get the best 2mbps speeds for my money). The problem is i don't know whether to go with cable or via a bt exchange. Basically i live 1.2 km from my nearest exchange, now i don't know if this is good or bad in terms of the speeds i'm likely to get if i go down the exchange (telephone line) route. Does anyone know a distance at which you shouldn't use adsl (exchange)?

Kind regards,
Nick.
«1

Comments

  • Graham1
    Graham1 Posts: 445 Forumite
    If one of your neighbours is willing to tell you their phone number you could put it into the BT Wholesale availability checker and see what predicted speed figure it comes up with.

    http://www.btwholesale.com/getbroadband

    Limit tends to be around 6.5 Km (wire length) for a 0.5 Mbps service.
  • dekh
    dekh Posts: 237 Forumite
    One of my clients is 9.4 km from the nearest exchange, they get 1.2mb it was only with the last exchange upgroad that they could get broadband at all!

    Nothing wrong with 1.4 km :)

    Put your tel no into BT's checker : http://www.adslchecker.bt.com/pls/adsl/adslchecker.welcome
    :think:
  • Hello

    I have done the test via BT(I have an aol connection). I am getting results from my phone line saying that my exchange is capable of up to 2mbps but my line is capable of ADSL speeds of between 6 and 8mbps.

    This is confusing to me. Does this mean that AOL are correct in telling me that they are giving me a speed of up to 6mb and that it is my exchange that is preventing me from receiving it?

    Thanks
  • sinbin_72
    you'll have to be a bit more specific. the speedtest that you did, was it the one which takes an age to complete here? this is pretty much the only one which means anything.
    the test should give a few different figures (i'd run it myself to check, but life's too short)
    the figures should be, connection speed, ip profile and actual throughput. run the test and post the results, because your post doesn't make a lot of sense to me, perhaps starting a new thread rather than hijacking an unrelated one may also help.
    as a general rule (real figures could be supplied if necessary) your connection speed (downstream) should be a little higher than your ip profile, and your throughput slightly lower again. if your connection speed is ~6000kbps and the profile 2000kbps/ throughput <2000kbps then you are either on a fixed rate product( i'm not sure a profile would be shown), or something is wrong.
    Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant.
  • Thanks for your help. I should not have asked the question in this thread. Please ignore.
  • did you do the test? what are the results? you're here now, may as well continue and get it resolved.
    Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant.
  • tonyhague wrote: »
    did you do the test? what are the results? you're here now, may as well continue and get it resolved.

    I am not able to perfrom the test for some reason. The site always comes back as busy. I have tried to use this test before and always get the same message. I have closed all my other programs but still get the same message.
  • busy is quite normal, keep trying (different times of day may help)
    Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant.
  • kr15snw
    kr15snw Posts: 2,264 Forumite
    Wondering if anyone could help me, just done the BT speed test and here are my results:

    463 kilo bits per second (Kbps), your service bandwidth will have been quoted to you in kilo bits per second.

    BT would regard the speed ranges shown below as normal service:
    For 250kbps End Users speeds between 50 - 250kbps. For 500kbps End Users speeds between 100 - 500kbps. For 1000kbps End Users speeds between 200 - 1000kbps. For 2000kbps End Users speeds between 400 - 2000kbps.

    This doesnt mean much to me, but to sum up..

    Our internet connection is so slow its scary. I cannot send emails via thunderbird due to the connection being so bad (have had this confirmed by my domain name people). Boyfriend cannot access his internet banking as it keeps saying there are communication errors. But the second we take the laptop to my parents it all works fine!

    Were looking to move, but dont know what we can get where we are and dont want to pay to find out that we just cant get it here!

    Any suggestions?
    Green and White Barmy Army!
  • post your router's stats, get them here
    important bits, connection speed, downstream attenuation, and SNR
    quite possible you are on a very ling line, and thats the best you can hope for (i have friends on the norfolk coast with similar results).

    the checker here should give a reasonable indication of what you should expect.
    just realised i'm having this conversation over 2 threads, oh well. i would seriously consider dumping aol @ £17/month, or negotiating a large discount at your speeds, put the money saved towards the wedding.
    Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant.
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