Pete Smith <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed)>...
> In article <x5h6qfit8txa.1stwjfe1hhl9z$.(E-Mail Removed)>,
> (E-Mail Removed) says...
> > On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 17:23:51 -0000, Pete Smith wrote:
> >
> > > (E-Mail Removed) says...
> > >> As I have mentioned before here my exchange is due to be enabled the end of
> > >> Jan.
> > >> I recently had a telephone fault, and chatting to the BT engineer who fixed
> > >> it he said that it is possible that it may not work (distance question).
> > >> So is there anyway that I can test that it is Ok before I purchase a modem?
> > >> I work out that "free modems" are rather more expensive in the longer term
> > >> than supplying your own.
> > >
> > > You could just wait :-)
> > >
> > > Have the line installed.
> > >
> > > If it works, go out and buy one. If it doesn't - no problem!
> > >
> > > HTH
> > >
> > > Pete.
> >
> > Ok, so how do I get the line installed? It is then I assume tested. I
> > assume that I will have to pay for this, will that mean that I will not
> > have to pay my provider again?
>
> I went from HH to ADSL, so I'm not 100% sure of how the process goes, but I
> would personally assume that if you ordered ADSL from a company, BT would do
> what they have to do, and actually check that it's working before they sign
> it off as done. (Do they check it at all?)
>
> You'll just need to find a place that will refund your fee if it doesn't
> work properly.
>
> The other thing you could do is buy what you want from somewhere like PC
> World, and then just take it back if your installation doesn't work.
>
> Pete.
This all sounds horribly familiar! As soon as my local exchange was
upgraded, I ordered Broadband from Virgin. I took the plunge and
ordered a Speedtouch ADSL modem in advance.
I was on Home Highway, so I had a call from BT on the arranged date
saying they were about to disconnect my HH and would be at my house in
20 mins after they had set up the ADSL line at the exchange. They
turned up, and then proceeded to test the ADSL link. Everything worked
OK (i.e. their modem synced up, their router worked etc.) but the test
equipment showed that the line noise was above the allowable limit.
The BT installer said he wasn't allowed to leave me with Broadband as
this test had failed (he tried it twice to make sure).
Virgin subsequently spoke to BT and they confirmed that I couldn't
have Broadband.
I can't see any way that the line could be tested properly before the
Broadband connection is made at the exchange.
So the original question is a very valid one - should you buy a modem
before Broadband is installed? In my experience - the answer is NO.
(Anyone want an unused Speedtouch modem?)
Pete