BE activation scheduled for today

https://www.bethere.co.uk/web/beportal/halfprice

The BE '*box ' arrived yesterday. I've opened it up and prepared the
contents for use. Another 2m Cat5 cable to add to the collection !

I'm running one last test at BBMax at 12:00 exactly to test speed with
IDNet and we'll see how BE performs.
http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/

Download Speed: 5556 kbps (694.5 KB/sec ) Upload Speed: 366 kbps (45.8
KB/sec )

Link to result:
http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/res...8474&v=8709837


Graham

"Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote in message
news:016bf1df$0$23681$(E-Mail Removed)...
> https://www.bethere.co.uk/web/beportal/halfprice
>
> The BE '*box ' arrived yesterday. I've opened it up and prepared the
> contents for use. Another 2m Cat5 cable to add to the collection !
>

Keep the cable etc. with Be you are only loaned the equipment it is not
yours and as to be returned if you finish with them, or the charge.

When does your Be BB start?
I thought it started day after receipt of box and mid morning 'ish.
Regards
David

David wrote:
> "Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote
>
>> https://www.bethere.co.uk/web/beportal/halfprice
>>
>> The BE '*box ' arrived yesterday. I've opened it up and prepared the
>> contents for use. Another 2m Cat5 cable to add to the collection !
>>
>
> Keep the cable etc. with Be you are only loaned the equipment it is not
> yours and as to be returned if you finish with them, or the charge.
>
> When does your Be BB start?
> I thought it started day after receipt of box and mid morning 'ish.

Seems the 'jumper' just got pulled on the phone line @ 15:32 just as I
was about to reply to your post and interrupted a phone call. Ah yes,
the router's blinking loss of connection too. I didn't think you'd lose
the phone I have to say !

Ah, someone's running some tests on the line. I picked up the handset to
see if dialtone was present and could hear the prerecorded voice
associated with line tests. Pressed a few digits, probably annoying the
engineer running the tests ! OK, the lime monitor's on now and the phone
seems to be operational again @ 15:41. Yup, I can make a call now.

Now let's look at my old router diagnostics.

Interesting. Although merely an ADSL router, it's making a valiant
attempt to work with ADSL2+. Indeed it has a valid connection but
obviously IDNet's password won't connect to BE. Attenuations are the
same but the downstream SNR margin has increased to ~ 25dB when it was
previously ~ 9 dB and the sync rate has dropped from the usual ~ 7000
kbps to 3520 kbps. OTOH the upstream sync speed has increased to 896
kbps from somewhere around 375 kbps.

I suspect if I entered my BE user name and password I might get a valid
session even on the old hardware ! Oh - BE tell me they don't that form
of authentication though, they say it's IP based authentication, so I'm
plugging in the DG585 ( BEbox ) now. Tech support says it should be
setup free ( and they were right ). Not sure what the CD-ROM's for !

Power ON ( switch on the back ). Power light illuminated. Some flashing
LEDs as it negotiates. Steady LEDs now on Power, Ethernet, Broadband and
Internet but not Wireless. I expect that needs setting up for security
reasons.

YES ! It's now connected and loading webpages. About as hassle free as
it gets.

Time for http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/ @ approx 16:00

Download Speed: 5927 kbps (740.9 KB/sec ) Upload Speed: 594 kbps (74.3
KB/sec )

Link to result:
http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/res...3632&v=8711707

Let's log into the router on its IP address 192.168.1.254

OK, looks good.

Bandwidth Down reported as 14,510 kbps so they were pretty accurate with
their 15M 'guess'

Bandwidth Up reported as 1,325 kbps

Looks like the wireless is enabled but I'd need to use a wireless device
before the LED lights. I'll do that later. Generally looks like a doddle
to configure.

OK, testing @ thinkbroadband.com

Speed Test Results
Date 15/12/09 16:25:10
Speed Down 12153.58 Kbps ( 11.9 Mbps )
Speed Up 1104.44 Kbps ( 1.1 Mbps )
Port 8095
Server speedtest1.thinkbroadband.com

Link:
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedt...044727374.html

Looks VERY good indeed. Now for some real world use.

So, to anyone interested, that's how you connect to BE. Including all my
diagnostic tests due to curiosity it took only about 50 mins.

Graham

"Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote in message
news:016d7b10$0$25863$(E-Mail Removed)...
> David wrote:

> Server speedtest1.thinkbroadband.com
>

Can you speed test with the site you used before please?
Also try www.speedtest.net/
I find Think Broadband give about 10% less than the other Testers.
I'm happy with Be.
You can go to your Account page and change settings that effect your speed
to suit your usage requirements.
If any problems join their Forum some good people there, a section on using
other routers there too.
Regards
David

David wrote:
> "Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote
>> David wrote:
>
>> Server speedtest1.thinkbroadband.com
>
> Can you speed test with the site you used before please?

OK, back to BBMax.

Download Speed: 8617 kbps (1077.1 KB/sec ) Upload Speed: 482 kbps
(60.3 KB/sec )

Link to result:
http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/res...0458&v=8716197

Clearly faster at this time due to lack of congestion on the 'net.

> Also try www.speedtest.net/

I did earlier and it was miserable. It always has given miserable
results. Depends on the servers you choose of course. What servers do
you test with ?


> I find Think Broadband give about 10% less than the other Testers.

I used to find that but not now. Similar results once more ...

Speed Test Results
Date 15/12/09 23:46:23
Speed Down 12046.59 Kbps ( 11.8 Mbps )
Speed Up 1104.87 Kbps ( 1.1 Mbps )
Port 8095
Server speedtest1.thinkbroadband.com

Link:
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedt...342231792.html

I suppose someone forgot they were selling an 8Mbps service !


> I'm happy with Be.

I think I will Be too <groan>.

http://www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk gives 9120/978 kbps btw.


> You can go to your Account page and change settings that effect your
> speed to suit your usage requirements.
> If any problems join their Forum some good people there, a section on
> using other routers there too.

I have other fish to fry right now. ;~)

Graham

"Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote in message news:016bf1df$0$23681$(E-Mail Removed)...
> https://www.bethere.co.uk/web/beportal/halfprice
>
> The BE '*box ' arrived yesterday. I've opened it up and prepared the contents for use. Another 2m Cat5 cable to add to the
> collection !
>
> I'm running one last test at BBMax at 12:00 exactly to test speed with IDNet and we'll see how BE performs.
> http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/
>
> Download Speed: 5556 kbps (694.5 KB/sec ) Upload Speed: 366 kbps (45.8 KB/sec )
>
> Link to result: http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/res...8474&v=8709837


here is my BE results
http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/res...8355&v=8715938
Mind you I have probebly not much more than 400 meters of cable between
my router and the DSLAM.
I am not using the supplied BeBoc, I am using a Netgear DG834PN which is currently
synched at 20434 / 1282

I am having some DNS and SMTP issues I will try to explain.
If I set the router to get the DNS by DHCP is reports 87.194.255.0 and
everything is fine for some hours then it stops resolving URLs
Rebooting the router fixes it.
Manually putting the Open DNS adresses works indefinatly accept
for one thing, it wont resolve the BE SMTP server smtp1.be.co.uk.

Now here is the part that I can't get my head round. It won't connect
to the SMTP even if I point directly at its IP adress 87.194.255.156,
but as soon as I change the DNS tothe BE ones it finds the SMTP
server.
--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

Graham. wrote:
> "Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote in message news:016bf1df$0$23681$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> https://www.bethere.co.uk/web/beportal/halfprice
>>
>> The BE '*box ' arrived yesterday. I've opened it up and prepared the contents for use. Another 2m Cat5 cable to add to the
>> collection !
>>
>> I'm running one last test at BBMax at 12:00 exactly to test speed with IDNet and we'll see how BE performs.
>> http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/
>>
>> Download Speed: 5556 kbps (694.5 KB/sec ) Upload Speed: 366 kbps (45.8 KB/sec )
>>
>> Link to result: http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/res...8474&v=8709837
>
>
> here is my BE results
> http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/res...8355&v=8715938
> Mind you I have probebly not much more than 400 meters of cable between
> my router and the DSLAM.
> I am not using the supplied BeBoc, I am using a Netgear DG834PN which is currently
> synched at 20434 / 1282
>
> I am having some DNS and SMTP issues I will try to explain.
> If I set the router to get the DNS by DHCP is reports 87.194.255.0 and
> everything is fine for some hours then it stops resolving URLs
> Rebooting the router fixes it.
> Manually putting the Open DNS adresses works indefinatly accept
> for one thing, it wont resolve the BE SMTP server smtp1.be.co.uk.
>
> Now here is the part that I can't get my head round. It won't connect
> to the SMTP even if I point directly at its IP adress 87.194.255.156,

telnet 87.194.255.156 25
Trying 87.194.255.156...
Connected to 87.194.255.156.
Escape character is '^]'.
220 april.london.02.net ESMTP Service ready
quit
221 april.london.02.net QUIT
Connection closed by foreign host.

So the server is there all right.

> but as soon as I change the DNS tothe BE ones it finds the SMTP
> server.

What is the Name of the SMTP server?

"Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote in message
news:002dda61$0$22811$(E-Mail Removed)...
> David wrote:
>> "Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote
>>> David wrote:
>>
>>> Server speedtest1.thinkbroadband.com
>>
>> Can you speed test with the site you used before please?
>
> OK, back to BBMax.
>
> Download Speed: 8617 kbps (1077.1 KB/sec ) Upload Speed: 482 kbps
> (60.3 KB/sec )
>
> Link to result:
> http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/res...0458&v=8716197
>
> Clearly faster at this time due to lack of congestion on the 'net.
>
>> Also try www.speedtest.net/
>
> I did earlier and it was miserable. It always has given miserable
> results. Depends on the servers you choose of course. What servers do
> you test with ?
>
>
>> I find Think Broadband give about 10% less than the other Testers.
>
> I used to find that but not now. Similar results once more ...
>
> Speed Test Results
> Date 15/12/09 23:46:23
> Speed Down 12046.59 Kbps ( 11.8 Mbps )
> Speed Up 1104.87 Kbps ( 1.1 Mbps )
> Port 8095
> Server speedtest1.thinkbroadband.com
>
> Link:
> http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedt...342231792.html
>
> I suppose someone forgot they were selling an 8Mbps service !
>
>
You are doing very well then.
Would suggest you check your Account page just to make sure you getting
charged what you think you should be.
Your results similar to mine.
As regards which server to use from the various ones, I tend to use the
London one or the one the PING test selects as best for its test, Milton
Keynes.
Regards
David

In article <002dda61$0$22811$(E-Mail Removed)>, Eeyore
<(E-Mail Removed) m> writes
>
>I suppose someone forgot they were selling an 8Mbps service !
>
Did you sign up to the 8Mbit value service? IME, the service starts at
full speed then they reduce the d/l speed to 8Mbit after 24hrs or so,
upload speed remains at full speed which is handy.
--
fred
BBC3, ITV2/3/4, channels going to the DOGs

Graham. wrote:
> "Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote in message news:016bf1df$0$23681$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> https://www.bethere.co.uk/web/beportal/halfprice
>>
>> The BE '*box ' arrived yesterday. I've opened it up and prepared the contents for use. Another 2m Cat5 cable to add to the
>> collection !
>>
>> I'm running one last test at BBMax at 12:00 exactly to test speed with IDNet and we'll see how BE performs.
>> http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/
>>
>> Download Speed: 5556 kbps (694.5 KB/sec ) Upload Speed: 366 kbps (45.8 KB/sec )
>>
>> Link to result: http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/res...8474&v=8709837
>
>
> here is my BE results
> http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/res...8355&v=8715938
> Mind you I have probebly not much more than 400 meters of cable between
> my router and the DSLAM.
> I am not using the supplied BeBoc, I am using a Netgear DG834PN which is currently
> synched at 20434 / 1282
>
> I am having some DNS and SMTP issues I will try to explain.
> If I set the router to get the DNS by DHCP is reports 87.194.255.0 and
> everything is fine for some hours then it stops resolving URLs
> Rebooting the router fixes it.
> Manually putting the Open DNS adresses works indefinatly accept
> for one thing, it wont resolve the BE SMTP server smtp1.be.co.uk.
>
> Now here is the part that I can't get my head round. It won't connect
> to the SMTP even if I point directly at its IP adress 87.194.255.156,
> but as soon as I change the DNS tothe BE ones it finds the SMTP
> server.

Yes, I've had a problem sending mail too. I haven't used any ISP's
server recently but the one administered by my brother-in-law that
covers all my domains.

I'll have to check up on what's going on there. BE did include a note
about outgoing mail having to be routed through their own SMTP server
which sounds like they're using it to filter spam.

Otherwise the whole thing worked 'out of the box' just fine. I reckon I
may get a slightly faster sync if I re-instate the RF3 filter that the
builders 'lost' when re-furbing the place ! :-(

Plus I intend to upgrade the master socket to get rid of the bell wire
unbalance effect ( inductor placed in series ) with the latest NTE5.
Won't be much of an issue at present since I haven't wired any
extensions but there is a fax machine sharing the socket on a doubler.
In due course I'm going to install a little PABX to handle both my BT
and NTL lines.

Just ran another speed test at BBMax a few mins back, almost on the dot
of 6 p.m.

Download Speed: 10815 kbps (1351.9 KB/sec ) Upload Speed: 1056 kbps
(132 KB/sec )

Link to result:
http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/res...6277&v=8721645

and now thinkbroadband.com @18:09

Speed Test Results
Date 16/12/09 18:09:32
Speed Down 11813.03 Kbps ( 11.5 Mbps )
Speed Up 1103.88 Kbps ( 1.1 Mbps )
Port 8095
Server speedtest1.thinkbroadband.com

Link:
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedt...951110596.html

Very similar.

And all for £ 6.75 p.c.m. ! With a 4 port router and WAP bundled.

General browsing doesn't seem *that* much faster than before ( but then
IDNet aren't exactly 'slow' either ) suggesting that browsing speeds are
'route' or 'destination server' bound. It's nice to know the problem's
not at my end though. :-)

Generally a pleased bunny here.


Graham ( the other one )