How can I check whether I can get 1MB broadband?

I currently have ClaraNet's 512KB broadband service. The connection is very
stable and I have had no outages in over six months. I use an ethernet
router to connect and stay connected 24/7. I am interested in going for a
1Mb or even 2Mb service but when I use the BT availability checker, I get
the following equivocal message:

For Telephone Number XXXXXX on Exchange XXXXX
Your exchange has ADSL broadband. Although the length of the telephone line
between you and the exchange is quite long, you may be able to receive ADSL
broadband.

Our initial test on your line suggests that you may be able to have an ADSL
broadband service that provides up to 2Mbps download speed.

Obviously I know I can get 512Kb boadband A-OK but I am concerned that I may
not be able to get higher speeds or they may be unreliable. Is the only way
to be sure to sign up to another ISP (Clara doesn't offer a competitive 1Mb
service) and see if it works? I just don't want to commit myself if there's
no chance of its working.

Cheers,

Harry The Horse wrote:

> I currently have ClaraNet's 512KB broadband service. The connection is very
> stable and I have had no outages in over six months. I use an ethernet
> router to connect and stay connected 24/7. I am interested in going for a
> 1Mb or even 2Mb service but when I use the BT availability checker, I get
> the following equivocal message:
>
> For Telephone Number XXXXXX on Exchange XXXXX
> Your exchange has ADSL broadband. Although the length of the telephone line
> between you and the exchange is quite long, you may be able to receive ADSL
> broadband.
>
> Our initial test on your line suggests that you may be able to have an ADSL
> broadband service that provides up to 2Mbps download speed.
>
> Obviously I know I can get 512Kb boadband A-OK but I am concerned that I may
> not be able to get higher speeds or they may be unreliable. Is the only way
> to be sure to sign up to another ISP (Clara doesn't offer a competitive 1Mb
> service) and see if it works? I just don't want to commit myself if there's
> no chance of its working.
>

This checker gives more info -
http://www.vispa.net/bbcheck-beta.ph...YOURNUMBERHERE

"Harry The Horse" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I currently have ClaraNet's 512KB broadband service. The connection is
very
> stable and I have had no outages in over six months. I use an ethernet
> router to connect and stay connected 24/7. I am interested in going for a
> 1Mb or even 2Mb service but when I use the BT availability checker, I get
> the following equivocal message:
>
> For Telephone Number XXXXXX on Exchange XXXXX
> Your exchange has ADSL broadband. Although the length of the telephone
line
> between you and the exchange is quite long, you may be able to receive
ADSL
> broadband.
>
> Our initial test on your line suggests that you may be able to have an
ADSL
> broadband service that provides up to 2Mbps download speed.
>
> Obviously I know I can get 512Kb boadband A-OK but I am concerned that I
may
> not be able to get higher speeds or they may be unreliable. Is the only
way
> to be sure to sign up to another ISP (Clara doesn't offer a competitive
1Mb
> service) and see if it works? I just don't want to commit myself if
there's
> no chance of its working.
>
> Cheers,

I think in general the line attentuation limit for 1mb and 2mb services is
45db... or 41db if you already have a 512k product on the line. Check your
router to see if it gives you these line attentuation stats.

However, even if you're within the db limits, there's no guarantee that your
router's readings are the same as BT's. The line checker says you can get
the service but then that's no guarantee either !

Only way forward is to order it and see what happens. If you can't get it,
nothing happens - you stay on the exisitng product and don't pay anything.

Not sure what happens if you migrate from one ISP to another and upgrade at
the same time though. I would hope they prospective ISP would tell you and
let you decide if you want to contiune the migration.

"Harry The Horse" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I currently have ClaraNet's 512KB broadband service. The connection is
very
> stable and I have had no outages in over six months. I use an ethernet
> router to connect and stay connected 24/7. I am interested in going for a
> 1Mb or even 2Mb service but when I use the BT availability checker, I get
> the following equivocal message:
>
> For Telephone Number XXXXXX on Exchange XXXXX
> Your exchange has ADSL broadband. Although the length of the telephone
line
> between you and the exchange is quite long, you may be able to receive
ADSL
> broadband.
>
> Our initial test on your line suggests that you may be able to have an
ADSL
> broadband service that provides up to 2Mbps download speed.
>
> Obviously I know I can get 512Kb boadband A-OK but I am concerned that I
may
> not be able to get higher speeds or they may be unreliable. Is the only
way
> to be sure to sign up to another ISP (Clara doesn't offer a competitive
1Mb
> service) and see if it works? I just don't want to commit myself if
there's
> no chance of its working.
>

I face EXACTLY the same dilemma, again with Clara.

Try the BT Broadband Contact Centre on 0800 800060; they will check your
line. (I had to claim to be open to the possibility of going to BT as an
ISP...) They do say that they only do a check for BT as an ISP, but it's
free, and it may give you a better idea than the web-site message.

They also told me that you normally have to be within 3.5 km of your local
exchange to get 1Mbps; I found out I was actually within about 2 km - my
exchange was among those listed on
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../5/bt-loc.html

I know none of this actually guarantees anything, but if there's nothing
ironclad, it may help.

On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 17:00:37 -0000, "Harry The Horse"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I just don't want to commit myself if there's
>no chance of its working.

does your hardware tell you the current line attenuation ?

Phil

"Phil Thompson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 17:00:37 -0000, "Harry The Horse"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> > I just don't want to commit myself if there's
> >no chance of its working.
>
> does your hardware tell you the current line attenuation ?
>
> Phil

I'm in the same situation. Mine tells me

noise margin: down: 37.5 up: 29.0
attenuation: down: 34.0 up: 31.5

What does that signify? (And thanks, in advance, for any reply)

F F Skitty <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> "Phil Thompson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 17:00:37 -0000, "Harry The Horse"
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>> > I just don't want to commit myself if there's
>> >no chance of its working.
>>
>> does your hardware tell you the current line attenuation ?
>>
>> Phil
>
> I'm in the same situation. Mine tells me
>
> noise margin: down: 37.5 up: 29.0
> attenuation: down: 34.0 up: 31.5
>
> What does that signify? (And thanks, in advance, for any reply)

It means that you can probably get 1Mb, if it's accurate.

On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 19:46:26 -0000, "F F Skitty" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>attenuation: down: 34.0 up: 31.5

BT's limits are over 40 (41 without and 45 with ADSL I think) so you
should be good for 1 or 2M (the liits are the same for both)

Phil

Phil Thompson wrote:
> On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 17:00:37 -0000, "Harry The Horse"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> I just don't want to commit myself if there's
>> no chance of its working.
>
> does your hardware tell you the current line attenuation ?
>
Mine tells me:

SNR: 19.5 dB (downstream)
ATEN: 32 Db (downstream) 19 dB (upstream)

Is that good?

Cheers.

On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 23:18:36 -0000, "Harry The Horse"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>SNR: 19.5 dB (downstream)
>ATEN: 32 Db (downstream) 19 dB (upstream)
>
>Is that good?

the attenuation is good. 40 odd is the limit for 2M, 60 odd the limit
for 512k

The SNR is good too, but I'm wondering if it should be better.

Phil