BT broadband website line check for ADSL

In a recent thread Sunil Sood said to Bartek :
>"What does http://www.bt.com/broadband/ say for your number?"

There is quite a long pause between the popup window appearing
and the information being printed on-screen which makes me wonder
if it is actaully performing a test on my line (doubtful since I am
still connected !) or is it just taking a long time to look up the
database on my exchange and the data on the length of my line ?

It told me:
Good news - Your exchange has broadband ADSL. Although the length of
the telephone line between you and the exchange is quite long, you may
be able to receive broadband ADSL.
Our initial test on your line suggests that you may be able to have a
broadband ADSL service that provides up to 512Kbps download speed, but
the upstream bandwidth will vary according to the length of your
telephone line. It will not be possible to provide the 1Mbps or 2Mbps
broadband ADSL services.
/quote

>" Our initial test on your line" < ????
Is that a 'stock reply' or have they at some stage already tested
my line ?
I wonder what they mean by "quite long" !

"Corncrake" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> In a recent thread Sunil Sood said to Bartek :
> >"What does http://www.bt.com/broadband/ say for your number?"
>
> There is quite a long pause between the popup window appearing
> and the information being printed on-screen which makes me wonder
> if it is actaully performing a test on my line (doubtful since I am
> still connected !) or is it just taking a long time to look up the
> database on my exchange and the data on the length of my line ?

It is looking up your records in its database.

> It told me:
> Good news - Your exchange has broadband ADSL. Although the length of
> the telephone line between you and the exchange is quite long, you may
> be able to receive broadband ADSL.
> Our initial test on your line suggests that you may be able to have a
> broadband ADSL service that provides up to 512Kbps download speed, but
> the upstream bandwidth will vary according to the length of your
> telephone line. It will not be possible to provide the 1Mbps or 2Mbps
> broadband ADSL services.
> /quote
>
> >" Our initial test on your line" < ????
> Is that a 'stock reply' or have they at some stage already tested
> my line ?

The checker "result" is guesswork based on BT's paper/planning records and
other peoples results. A proper test for your line is only carried out when
an order for ADSL is placed.

Generally the checkers are considered "conservative" but not always - so if
you wanted a 1Mbps or 2Mbps service apply and see what happens - if you then
fail the test apply for 512K. (currently the line test for the 1Mbps or
2Mbps services are identical - if you can get one you can get the other)

Even where a line test has previously been carried out the checkers are not
aways accurate..

For instance, I have a *working* 2MB line here but the line checker now says
"It will not be possible to provide the 1Mbps or 2Mbps broadband ADSL
services" on that number - this has changed in the last month or so..
*since* the service was installed - before it said ""can get 2MB"

I also used to have a 512K service on another line and the checker changed
while I had it from "can get 2MB" to "line is too long to provide anything"
to " cannot provide 1Mbs or 2 Mbs services" and now back to "can get 2MB" -
all while the 512K service was connected...

> I wonder what they mean by "quite long" !

Easier to explain "line may be to long" from the exchange than "line quality
is not good enough" to most people.

Regards
Sunil

Thanks for your interesting reply,
(snip a bit)
>you wanted a 1Mbps or 2Mbps service apply and see what happens - if you then
>fail the test apply for 512K.

512 will be enough for me I think. The main attraction of ADSL
(at the moment !) will be the free-ing up of the phone line and
consequent lessening of the domestic grief :-)) especially as
there are now some ISPs offering it at not a great deal more
than wot I am paying for 56k

>> I wonder what they mean by "quite long" !
>
>Easier to explain "line may be to long" from the exchange than "line quality
>is not good enough" to most people.

Ah yes. I think I would have been happier if it had said something
like " a distance of x.y km from our exchange is quite long"
but then I suppose they would have to explain crows flying and
cables burrowing. So, yes, point taken.

I have one remaining small doubt about it all, involving intermittent
noise on the line, but I'll post another thread about that later.