Best ADSL service/company to use (3.5km from exchange)

Hello

I have read some disappointing news on the BT website ADSL checker, it
says this:


"For Telephone Number 02392xxxxxx on Exchange PORTSMOUTH
Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line
indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband
service that provides a line rate up to 1Mbps. However due to the
length of your line the 1Mbps service may require an engineer visit
who will, where possible, supply the broadband service.


Our initial test on your line indicates that your line may not support
a reliable ADSL Max broadband service, with current technology.
However, an order for 250Kbps broadband speed will still be accepted,
but an engineer may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the
service.

Our initial test on your line indicates that your line may not support
a reliable ADSL WBC broadband service, with current technology.
However, an order for 250Kbps broadband speed will still be accepted,
but an engineer may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the
service."

This doesn't sound very promising, i have done a distance "as crow
flies" check and it says I am 3.5km from the exchange.

What service should I get?

I notice that NewNet offer ADSL2+ in Portsmouth - but will ADSL2+
really benefit me?

Am i better off getting ADSL Max, if so who with? Or a fixed service?

Ideally i don't want a 12 month contract, i want the fastest reliable
service available to me

Newnet offer 3 month contracts and LLU in portsmouth - maybe this is
the best bet?

Darren wrote:
> Hello
>
> I have read some disappointing news on the BT website ADSL checker,
> it says this:
>
>
> "For Telephone Number 02392xxxxxx on Exchange PORTSMOUTH
> Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line
> indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband
> service that provides a line rate up to 1Mbps. However due to the
> length of your line the 1Mbps service may require an engineer visit
> who will, where possible, supply the broadband service.
>
>
> Our initial test on your line indicates that your line may not
> support a reliable ADSL Max broadband service, with current
> technology. However, an order for 250Kbps broadband speed will
> still be accepted, but an engineer may need to visit who will,
> where possible, supply the service.
>
> Our initial test on your line indicates that your line may not
> support a reliable ADSL WBC broadband service, with current
> technology. However, an order for 250Kbps broadband speed will
> still be accepted, but an engineer may need to visit who will,
> where possible, supply the service."
>
> This doesn't sound very promising, i have done a distance "as crow
> flies" check and it says I am 3.5km from the exchange.
>
> What service should I get?
>
> I notice that NewNet offer ADSL2+ in Portsmouth - but will ADSL2+
> really benefit me?
>
> Am i better off getting ADSL Max, if so who with? Or a fixed
> service?
>
> Ideally i don't want a 12 month contract, i want the fastest
> reliable service available to me
>
> Newnet offer 3 month contracts and LLU in portsmouth - maybe this is
> the best bet?

doesn't matter who you go with if the network is crap, the network is crap &
there aren't anything you can do about it.

Best bet is choose the ISP which fits your bill & go with them, hoping that
they can sort out any 'snags' (don't go cheap)...

Darren wrote:
> Hello
>
> I have read some disappointing news on the BT website ADSL checker, it
> says this:
>
>

Have you tried looking at VirginMedia Cable.

>

> Ideally i don't want a 12 month contract, i want the fastest reliable
> service available to me.

Speed is governed limited by the physical line, it's resistance,
capacitance etc, and there is no way to get round this 3 or
more km..
What you need is an ISP with good UK based, preferably
free by email customer service, and cheap calls by
landline, and one month contract, Zen or IDnet are
possibles.
The higher grades of ADSL won't help, but a modem
with a long/difficult line flash might. I'm using the
UK2 line flash, as far as I can judge it just raises
the high frequency gain to try to lift what signal there
is at the high frequencies above the noise.
It improved my speed.
Then you need to make sure you local domestic
wiring isn't syphoning off the signal or picking up
noise. Fax machines, extension phones and ringers,
caller ID units don't help. Energy saving lamps,
switch mode PSU's, and various other devices
can produce noise.
Locate the modem/router next to the
incoming line and use CAT5 to carry the
ethernet, rather than use an extension phone
cable.
Sort out the filtering, I chained two filters
on the phones side, ADSL going straight
through the first, also use a filtered or premium
grade filter, or filtered NTE5 faceplate.
..

Been there done that, my line is 3.9km and subject to unpredictable noise
spikes.

As others said, there is nothing YOU or an ISP can do about the line, and BT
/ Openreach probably won't.
On the other hand the ADSL checker is often unduly pessimistic.
I would suggest that you go with www.plus.net:
a. go for the cheapest £9.99 option 1 to start with, you don want to pay a
lot for what might be 250kbps.
b. they are very good on customer service, via their website or ordinary
phone line.
c. while they are independently run, they are owned by BT, and know how to
get BT to do their job.

While ADSL2 will be of no help on any line with more then 49dB attenuation
(mine is 51dB),
some ADSL2+ capable routers work better on long / bad lines.
After trying different routers I found that BT1801HG (made in US by 2Wire)
works lot better on my line then other expensive routers (and has got a
great WiFi too). You can find one,or the later BT2700HG, on eBay at very
good prices.
Regards,
Martin
PS If you do go with PlusNet please use my ID 'wester' as a referrer and
save me few pence, thanks.

Darren wrote:
> Hello
>
> I have read some disappointing news on the BT website ADSL checker, it
> says this:
>
>
> "For Telephone Number 02392xxxxxx on Exchange PORTSMOUTH
> Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line
> indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband
> service that provides a line rate up to 1Mbps. However due to the
> length of your line the 1Mbps service may require an engineer visit
> who will, where possible, supply the broadband service.
>
>
> Our initial test on your line indicates that your line may not support
> a reliable ADSL Max broadband service, with current technology.
> However, an order for 250Kbps broadband speed will still be accepted,
> but an engineer may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the
> service.
>
> Our initial test on your line indicates that your line may not support
> a reliable ADSL WBC broadband service, with current technology.
> However, an order for 250Kbps broadband speed will still be accepted,
> but an engineer may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the
> service."
>
> This doesn't sound very promising, i have done a distance "as crow
> flies" check and it says I am 3.5km from the exchange.
>
> What service should I get?
>

Since the majorty of ISPs will use BT's DSLAM and the line,it makes sod
all difference to what PEAK speeds you will get.

> I notice that NewNet offer ADSL2+ in Portsmouth - but will ADSL2+
> really benefit me?
>
> Am i better off getting ADSL Max, if so who with? Or a fixed service?
>
Borderline. I would think you should get a bit over a meg,but a lot
depends in teh area the line goes through. If its crossing a heavy
industrial area with lots of arcs and sparks, or passing under a MW
transmitter..if you have a friendly HAM in te area yelping his kilowatts
over the AM band etc etc..


> Ideally i don't want a 12 month contract, i want the fastest reliable
> service available to me
>
> Newnet offer 3 month contracts and LLU in portsmouth - maybe this is
> the best bet?
>
You might ge a bit more with LLU: they might push the power up a bit ..
>
>

On Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:25:31 +0100, The Natural Philosopher passed an
empty day by writing:
>>
> You might ge a bit more with LLU: they might push the power up a bit ..
>>

Man, is this uk.telecom.broadband.oldwivestales?

On Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:12:26 +0100, Martin² wrote:

> Been there done that, my line is 3.9km and subject to unpredictable
> noise spikes.
>
> As others said, there is nothing YOU or an ISP can do about the line,
> and BT / Openreach probably won't.
> On the other hand the ADSL checker is often unduly pessimistic. I would
> suggest that you go with www.plus.net: a. go for the cheapest £9.99
> option 1 to start with, you don want to pay a lot for what might be
> 250kbps.
> b. they are very good on customer service, via their website or ordinary
> phone line.
> c. while they are independently run, they are owned by BT, and know how
> to get BT to do their job.
>
> While ADSL2 will be of no help on any line with more then 49dB
> attenuation (mine is 51dB),

I got a max of 2.4 Mbit/s on my 63 dB line with BT's standard ADSL. Since
moving to Be There I get up to 3.4 Mbit/s (typically 3), with a lowest-
ever figure of 2.5.

Chris

Klunk wrote:
> On Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:25:31 +0100, The Natural Philosopher passed
> an empty day by writing:
>>>
>> You might ge a bit more with LLU: they might push the power up a
>> bit ..
>>>
>
> Man, is this uk.telecom.broadband.oldwivestales?

Goes & checks............................................

Not this end it isn't

chris wrote:
> On Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:12:26 +0100, Martin² wrote:
>
>> Been there done that, my line is 3.9km and subject to unpredictable
>> noise spikes.
>>
>> As others said, there is nothing YOU or an ISP can do about the
>> line, and BT / Openreach probably won't.
>> On the other hand the ADSL checker is often unduly pessimistic. I
>> would suggest that you go with www.plus.net: a. go for the
>> cheapest £9.99 option 1 to start with, you don want to pay a lot
>> for what might be 250kbps.
>> b. they are very good on customer service, via their website or
>> ordinary phone line.
>> c. while they are independently run, they are owned by BT, and
>> know how to get BT to do their job.
>>
>> While ADSL2 will be of no help on any line with more then 49dB
>> attenuation (mine is 51dB),
>
> I got a max of 2.4 Mbit/s on my 63 dB line with BT's standard ADSL.
> Since moving to Be There I get up to 3.4 Mbit/s (typically 3), with
> a lowest- ever figure of 2.5.
>
> Chris

Funny that I was on the top SKY package (LLU) & was getting a 'stabalish'
3Mbps. As you can see I'm now with BT Internet (standard Max DSL) & am
getting a very stable 5Mbps +.

Just goes to show each individual line has to be treated on it's own merits,
we can generalise till the cows have gone home & back out again but it won't
make any difference with what actually happens when service is applied to
the line...