Could my ADSL install still fail?

Living (I thought) on the edge of ADSL range, I used the web-based line
checker to determine which of my two lines to use for the ADSL application.
Only one passed - though both come from the same cabinet about 200 yds
away. Fair enough I thought, and applied for a 1MB line, assuming it would
drop to RADSL if the distance was too far.

Now Zen have confirmed that the line is scheduled to be activated next
Wednesday, so presumably it has been accepted by BT for activation?
However, I don't want to buy an ADSL wireless router (which is what I need
for my home LAN setup), only to find that the installation eventually
fails. So can it all still go wrong? Forgive my pessimism, but I am still
gobsmacked that I can actually get any form of ADSL whatsoever. Can I now
go ahead and buy the router, sure in the knowledge everything's hunkydory
and I'm just worrying about nothing (and *that* wouldn't be the first
time...)

Ta

Iwan

"Iwan Davies" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns9416CBC74F075iwandaviestranslutio@130.133. 1.4...
> Living (I thought) on the edge of ADSL range, I used the web-based line
> checker to determine which of my two lines to use for the ADSL
application.
> Only one passed - though both come from the same cabinet about 200 yds
> away. Fair enough I thought, and applied for a 1MB line, assuming it would
> drop to RADSL if the distance was too far.
>
> Now Zen have confirmed that the line is scheduled to be activated next
> Wednesday, so presumably it has been accepted by BT for activation?
> However, I don't want to buy an ADSL wireless router (which is what I need
> for my home LAN setup), only to find that the installation eventually
> fails. So can it all still go wrong?

Yes, BT can still reject your order - as it doesn't sound like they have
carried out the line tests yet as part of the activation process.

Just one more thing - only 512K ADSL is currently rate adaptive in the UK -
the 1 and 2MB products are not.

Therefore, if you honestly think you are on the edge of the ADSL range, you
may find you fail for 1MB but could get 512K if you reapplied.

Regards
Sunil

"Sunil Sood" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bmmqvq$njmlb$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Iwan Davies" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:Xns9416CBC74F075iwandaviestranslutio@130.133. 1.4...
> > Living (I thought) on the edge of ADSL range, I used the web-based line
> > checker to determine which of my two lines to use for the ADSL
> application.
> > Only one passed - though both come from the same cabinet about 200 yds
> > away. Fair enough I thought, and applied for a 1MB line, assuming it
would
> > drop to RADSL if the distance was too far.
> >
> > Now Zen have confirmed that the line is scheduled to be activated next
> > Wednesday, so presumably it has been accepted by BT for activation?
> > However, I don't want to buy an ADSL wireless router (which is what I
need
> > for my home LAN setup), only to find that the installation eventually
> > fails. So can it all still go wrong?
>
> Yes, BT can still reject your order - as it doesn't sound like they have
> carried out the line tests yet as part of the activation process.
>
> Just one more thing - only 512K ADSL is currently rate adaptive in the
UK -
> the 1 and 2MB products are not.
>
> Therefore, if you honestly think you are on the edge of the ADSL range,
you
> may find you fail for 1MB but could get 512K if you reapplied.
>
> Regards
> Sunil
>
>

I bought everything through my ISP ZEN. They would only deliver the modem
when the line had been tested and found OK.

"Sunil Sood" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:bmmqvq$njmlb$(E-Mail Removed):

>
> "Iwan Davies" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:Xns9416CBC74F075iwandaviestranslutio@130.133. 1.4...
>> Living (I thought) on the edge of ADSL range, I used the web-based
>> line checker to determine which of my two lines to use for the ADSL
> application.
>> Only one passed - though both come from the same cabinet about 200
>> yds away. Fair enough I thought, and applied for a 1MB line, assuming
>> it would drop to RADSL if the distance was too far.
>>
>> Now Zen have confirmed that the line is scheduled to be activated
>> next Wednesday, so presumably it has been accepted by BT for
>> activation? However, I don't want to buy an ADSL wireless router
>> (which is what I need for my home LAN setup), only to find that the
>> installation eventually fails. So can it all still go wrong?
>
> Yes, BT can still reject your order - as it doesn't sound like they
> have carried out the line tests yet as part of the activation process.
>
> Just one more thing - only 512K ADSL is currently rate adaptive in the
> UK - the 1 and 2MB products are not.
>
> Therefore, if you honestly think you are on the edge of the ADSL
> range, you may find you fail for 1MB but could get 512K if you
> reapplied.
>
> Regards
> Sunil
>
>
So I'm right to be pessimistic? Hmm. The reason I applied for 1MB was
that I assumed it would automatically be tested for RADSL in the event of
failure - is this wrong? Do I have to start the whole palaver again?
Presumably my best bet is to wait until the activation process has
completed next Wednesday before ordering my equipment.

Also, when the lines were installed last week, the engineer said that
half the houses on the new estate I live on are served by a cabinet that
has a relatively direct link straight back to the exchange, and the other
half by a cabinet that is further away from the exchange than the houses
themselves - guess which I am on... With this in mind, is there any way I
can get BT to serve my line from the other cabinet if the ADSL activation
fails?

Iwan

"Iwan Davies" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns9416E805D2A4Biwandaviestranslutio@130.133. 1.4...
> "Sunil Sood" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> news:bmmqvq$njmlb$(E-Mail Removed):
> > Yes, BT can still reject your order - as it doesn't sound like they
> > have carried out the line tests yet as part of the activation process.
> >
> > Just one more thing - only 512K ADSL is currently rate adaptive in the
> > UK - the 1 and 2MB products are not.
> >
> > Therefore, if you honestly think you are on the edge of the ADSL
> > range, you may find you fail for 1MB but could get 512K if you
> > reapplied.
>
> So I'm right to be pessimistic? Hmm. The reason I applied for 1MB was
> that I assumed it would automatically be tested for RADSL in the event of
> failure - is this wrong? Do I have to start the whole palaver again?

Yes, if you fail the test for 1MB adsl you would have to place a new order
for the 512K service. This is due to the fact that BT cannot know that
you/your ISP would be willing to accept an 512K service instead so they will
just reject the 1MB order. Also BT's contract for ADSL is technically with
the ISP not you..

With most ISP's an ADSL only takes 4/5 days I think - so any delay should
not be too long.

On the positive side - if you do qualify for 1MB, you would also qualify for
2MB - the line test limits are currently identical

> Also, when the lines were installed last week, the engineer said that
> half the houses on the new estate I live on are served by a cabinet that
> has a relatively direct link straight back to the exchange, and the other
> half by a cabinet that is further away from the exchange than the houses
> themselves - guess which I am on... With this in mind, is there any way I
> can get BT to serve my line from the other cabinet if the ADSL activation
> fails?

Hmm - perhaps, if these are "new" lines you could argue with BT that you
specifically ordered them for broadband - though it would have been better
if they had been told before the installation so they could have added a
note to your account then - though I don't know if they would change the
cabinet - that depends on the way its wired up in your area I guess - more
likely they may be willing to try another pair on your existing cabinet...

Regards
Sunil

"Sunil Sood" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:bmnaud$occ0q$(E-Mail Removed):

> Iwan Davies wrote:
>
>> Also, when the lines were installed last week, the engineer said that
>> half the houses on the new estate I live on are served by a cabinet
>> that has a relatively direct link straight back to the exchange, and
>> the other half by a cabinet that is further away from the exchange
>> than the houses themselves - guess which I am on... With this in
>> mind, is there any way I can get BT to serve my line from the other
>> cabinet if the ADSL activation fails?
>
> Hmm - perhaps, if these are "new" lines you could argue with BT that
> you specifically ordered them for broadband - though it would have
> been better if they had been told before the installation so they
> could have added a note to your account then - though I don't know if
> they would change the cabinet - that depends on the way its wired up
> in your area I guess - more likely they may be willing to try another
> pair on your existing cabinet...
>
I did actually mention when I ordered the two lines that the line that
has failed was specifically for broadband... In the event, the engineer
was unwilling/unable to find a short route either around the outside of
the house or straight up the inside of the house, and this has added
around 50 m to the termination of the second line. I gather that at the
limits of availability, even 50 m could be the difference between a pass
and fail. Or is the signal level measured at the BT Master Socket where
it enters the house?

In any event, I can't really hold BT directly responsible for the
possible lack of broadband in the area. The people who need to be put up
against the wall are the local planners who decided that a brand new
estate should be barred to access by the local cable company for 2 years
following completion of building work and who didn't stipulate that
broadband access should be included in the building plan. (Broadband
Britain? Don't make me laugh!) Even more frustrating for me is the fact
that a major utility company has its main call centre just 50 yards from
my door, a building which is, no doubt, sitting on top of a very, very
fat pipe...

Iwan

In message <Xns941754275171Biwandaviestranslutio@130.133.1.4> , Iwan
Davies <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>Even more frustrating for me is the fact
>that a major utility company has its main call centre just 50 yards from
>my door, a building which is, no doubt, sitting on top of a very, very
>fat pipe...
Yeah, but they will also need a very, very fat letterbox for the very,
very fat bill that accompanies the pipe.
>Iwan
You could always buy the wireless kit and see if there's any signal
leakage from the company in question, purely because you're interested
in the health risks of exposure to microwave radiation of course!
--
Clint

Clint Sharp <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:SGFD4tCSB+j$Ewe6
@clintsmc.demon.co.uk:

> In message <Xns941754275171Biwandaviestranslutio@130.133.1.4> , Iwan
> Davies <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>>Even more frustrating for me is the fact
>>that a major utility company has its main call centre just 50 yards from
>>my door, a building which is, no doubt, sitting on top of a very, very
>>fat pipe...
> Yeah, but they will also need a very, very fat letterbox for the very,
> very fat bill that accompanies the pipe.
>>Iwan
> You could always buy the wireless kit and see if there's any signal
> leakage from the company in question, purely because you're interested
> in the health risks of exposure to microwave radiation of course!

Do you reckon they would notice the antenna sticking out of my loft window
in their general direction ;-)?

Said utility is actually a broadband provider - using powerlines (Scottish
Hydroelectric) - but naturally doesn't offer its product in this back
yard... Do you ever get the feeling you're being picked on??? ;-)

Iwan

"Sunil Sood" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:bmnaud$occ0q$(E-Mail Removed):

>
> "Iwan Davies" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:Xns9416E805D2A4Biwandaviestranslutio@130.133. 1.4...
>
>> Also, when the lines were installed last week, the engineer said that
>> half the houses on the new estate I live on are served by a cabinet
>> that has a relatively direct link straight back to the exchange, and
>> the other half by a cabinet that is further away from the exchange
>> than the houses themselves - guess which I am on... With this in
>> mind, is there any way I can get BT to serve my line from the other
>> cabinet if the ADSL activation fails?
>
> Hmm - perhaps, if these are "new" lines you could argue with BT that
> you specifically ordered them for broadband - though it would have
> been better if they had been told before the installation so they
> could have added a note to your account then - though I don't know if
> they would change the cabinet - that depends on the way its wired up
> in your area I guess - more likely they may be willing to try another
> pair on your existing cabinet...
>
Thanks for your help so far, Sunil.

I've just looked at the web-based line checkers again, and now they say
that *both* my lines are too far from the exchange to get ADSL. This is
presumably an indication that they have now tested the line and it has
failed - is that a correct interpretation? As I see it, this means I
really am up the creek, as I will not even be able to reapply for RADSL
if need be, as the lines will fail at the first hurdle.

I would ring BT about this, but I'm worried that they will just cancel
the activation as the line checker now says fail...

Iwan

"Iwan Davies" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns9417A0D7B62Biwandaviestranslutio@130.133.1 .4...
> I've just looked at the web-based line checkers again, and now they say
> that *both* my lines are too far from the exchange to get ADSL. This is
> presumably an indication that they have now tested the line and it has
> failed - is that a correct interpretation?

It could be - does your order appear on
http://www.bt.com/customerservices/cust_ordertrack.jsp ?

They will only have tested the line that you applied for ADSL on - not the
other line..

Also the checkers are not always accurate - I have a 2MB line here but the
line checker now says "It will not be possible to provide the 1Mbps or 2Mbps
broadband ADSL services" (this has changed in the last month or so..) on
that number

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 " cannot provide
1/2Mbs services" and now back to "can get 2MB"

> As I see it, this means I
> really am up the creek, as I will not even be able to reapply for RADSL
> if need be, as the lines will fail at the first hurdle.

You will still be able to apply - if an ISP is automatically rejecting you,
ask them to submit a "manual order" to BT Wholesale - this means that BTW
carry out a line test - regardless of what their database says but it does
mean a little extra work for the ISP...

Regards
Sunil