Different providers on same exchange = different throughput?

Good evening,

It's a while since I last posted - last year I signed up for virgin.net
broadband and was initially happy because I was getting download
speeds of 350-400 kbytes/sec. My exchange is Exeter Sowton
(WWSOWT) and I am about 1km from the exchange. For the last
month or so I have been getting 10-50 kbytes/sec which seems
ridiculously slow to me (even at peak times). My sync speed is as
high as it was when I first signed up a year ago.

I am in a position to move ISP, so what I want to know is, is this
problem with download throughput going to affect all providers
who supply broadband through this exchange, or is it a virgin.net
problem which needs resolving? My guess (having used the BT
speedtester) is that the problem lies with virgin.net. I have emailed
their free tech support and will see what they say.

My second question is, can anyone recommend a good ISP?
I need about 5-10Gb download limit and at least 2Mbps speed.
I don't need email, webspace, etc., but a static IP address
would be nice. Most important to me would be technical support,
so Orange, Tiscali, Eclipse etc. are definitely all out. One month
contract would be good too, as I don't want to get stuck with
another crappy service

Thanks in advance,
Al Reynolds

PS A while back I remember someone posted a site where you
could get better detail about DSLAMs etc. at your exchange,
(like samknows but with much more detail). Can anyone
remember what it was, or if it is still around?

=============================================
Here are the results from my use of the BT Speedtester site:
=============================================
Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test:
-provides background information.
IP profile for your line is - 3000 kbps
DSL connection rate:
448 kbps(UP-STREAM)
3744 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 241 kbps

This test was not conclusive and further testing is required.
Please wait whilst you are redirected to undertake a second test.
Now logged in as (E-Mail Removed) (no password)
http://speedtester.bt.com/indexTap2F...=2&BBD=yesTest Results This Test comprises of Best Effort Test: -provides background information. IP profile for your line is - 3000 kbps DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 3744 kbps(DOWN-STREAM) Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 2768 kbpsYour service was found to be performing poorly. Please raise afault with your service provider, stating that the BT PerformanceTester tool indicates poor service throughput performance after thefirst test.============================================= =

Al Reynolds wrote:

> My second question is, can anyone recommend a good ISP?

Idnet. A *FIRST CLASS* ISP. A couple of quid more than the run-of-the-mill ISP but worth every penny for the vastly superior service offered.


> I need about 5-10Gb download limit and at least 2Mbps speed.
> I don't need email, webspace, etc., but a static IP address
> would be nice. Most important to me would be technical support,

Idnet's support is superb, provided by a *British* person who speaks the language clearly, doesn't use 'scripts' and can be phoned on an 08000 number. They also don't work under time based constraints to get you off the line as fast as possible.


> so Orange, Tiscali, Eclipse etc. are definitely all out. One month
> contract would be good too, as I don't want to get stuck with
> another crappy service

Idnet.

If you like what they offer, email me on my posted email address and I can get you a £10 off as an introduction bonus.

Graham

"Al Reynolds" <ajr-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:yURQi.10936$(E-Mail Removed)...
SNIP
> My second question is, can anyone recommend a good ISP?
> I need about 5-10Gb download limit and at least 2Mbps speed.
> I don't need email, webspace, etc., but a static IP address
> would be nice. Most important to me would be technical support,
> so Orange, Tiscali, Eclipse etc. are definitely all out. One month
> contract would be good too, as I don't want to get stuck with
> another crappy service
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Al Reynolds
SNIP

I've been with adsl24 for the last couple of months and would have no
hesitation in recommending them. Good speed, low pings and excellent tech
support. You can e-mail or phone (a geographic number) and you deal with
knowledgeable UK staff. There is also a very active forum where you can get
help from other users. I'm on a deal with 30 GB peak, 300 GB off-peak for
£19.99 IIRC, monthly contract. Static IP.

Liam

Al Reynolds wrote:

> My second question is, can anyone recommend a good ISP?
> I need about 5-10Gb download limit and at least 2Mbps speed.
> I don't need email, webspace, etc., but a static IP address
> would be nice. Most important to me would be technical support,
> so Orange, Tiscali, Eclipse etc. are definitely all out. One month
> contract would be good too, as I don't want to get stuck with
> another crappy service

Well I've been with UKonline on a non LLU exchange and too far to get
any benefit from a MAX product, so just the happy-go-lucky 2Mbps fixed
"unlimited" service for 2+ years and it's proven to be faultless.

Also connected through them at another location on a Sky enabled LLU
(sky / ukonline are the same thing with regards to data) line sync of
23.5 Mbps and a very stable upload speed typically of around 80 Kbps
whatever the time, and no dropouts throughout the day or night.

I also have an 8Mbps "Max" product at the same premisis through an
Entanet re-seller which is also reliable though of the 2 the UKonline
service has actually performed more consistently than the Entanet service.

I use Entanet (purchased through UKFSN)purely for VOIP and UKonline for
everything else, but have on several occasions had to route voip traffic
over the UKonline connection as calls were dropping and going one-way
audio.

10 gold stars to UK-online and only 8 to Entanet i'm afraid.

A big bag of dogsh1t to Virginmedia whom now my father has also come to
terms with them being the crappest ISP on the planet and is forking out
£130 to get a BT line back in to go ADSL !

Another £60 a month out of Virginmedia's funding!

HTH

Pete
--
http://www.gymratz.co.uk - Fitness Equipment, Gym Equipment etc
http://www.water-rower.co.uk - Phone for deals we dare not publish
http://www.trade-price-supplements.co.uk - 30% off Maximuscle etc.

Pete @ www.GymRatZ.co.uk wrote:
> Al Reynolds wrote:
>
>> My second question is, can anyone recommend a good ISP?
>> I need about 5-10Gb download limit and at least 2Mbps speed.
>> I don't need email, webspace, etc., but a static IP address
>> would be nice. Most important to me would be technical support,
>> so Orange, Tiscali, Eclipse etc. are definitely all out. One month
>> contract would be good too, as I don't want to get stuck with
>> another crappy service

oops...
Forgot to ad, the two occasions I've contacted UKonline tech sppt/advice
calls were answered within a few rings and questions answered by
knowledgeable very easy to understand staff that had their own
intelligence rather than an Indian scripted call centre.

Entanet support took 1 month trying to find out why I could connect to
the BTadsltest connection but couldn't authenticate a session through
themselves.
It was down to their support not being able to set up the same password
as they were telling me to use (as detailed by e-mail) then insisting it
was faulty equipment my end.

I wouldn't trust Entanet support to sort out a _real_ problem!! I may
just have been unfortunate but wouldn't even know who to contact for
support if it went down as many Entanet resellers don't have contact
telephone numbers and seem to be "bedroom business" affairs only
responding to e-mails when they get home at night!

Just my take on life with UKFSN at the start of the year !Though I'm
sure there are other Entanet re-seller that offer a better service with
proper office hours and phone lies etc.

HTH
Pete
--
http://www.gymratz.co.uk - Fitness Equipment, Gym Equipment etc
http://www.water-rower.co.uk - Phone for deals we dare not publish
http://www.trade-price-supplements.co.uk - 30% off Maximuscle etc.

"Pete @ www.GymRatZ.co.uk" wrote:

> A big bag of dogsh1t to Virginmedia whom now my father has also come to
> terms with them being the crappest ISP on the planet and is forking out
> £130 to get a BT line back in to go ADSL !

*Back* in ? There was a BT line there before ? What happened to it ?

Graham

Eeyore wrote:
>
> "Pete @ www.GymRatZ.co.uk" wrote:
>
>> A big bag of dogsh1t to Virginmedia whom now my father has also come to
>> terms with them being the crappest ISP on the planet and is forking out
>> £130 to get a BT line back in to go ADSL !
>
> *Back* in ? There was a BT line there before ? What happened to it ?

Seems BT are making up for lost revenue by charging to re-connect a line .
All original points etc were hacked into for telewest phone.

I had the same issues on my 2nd line. The original span wire was curled
up outside the window in the flat above our shop.
Still, it means if they are claiming they have to put in a "new" line
the master socket can be located right next to the adsl modem/router etc
without any extensions or extra junction boxes etc.

"Eeyore" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
> "Pete @ www.GymRatZ.co.uk" wrote:
>
>> A big bag of dogsh1t to Virginmedia whom now my father has also come
>> to
>> terms with them being the crappest ISP on the planet and is forking
>> out
>> £130 to get a BT line back in to go ADSL !
>
> *Back* in ? There was a BT line there before ? What happened to it ?

Years ago now, they came and took all the lines from the pole to the
house, down.
I assume they were ones that weren't bein used.
We had ours took down as we had not long switched to Birmingham Cable.
Didn't think nothing of it at the time.
Thinkin about it now, it's a bit of a cheek, cuz if they were to do that
today, after you've paid em over £120 to have it installed previously,
you'd be well pissed off later.

"Pete @ www.GymRatZ.co.uk" wrote:

> Eeyore wrote:
> > "Pete @ www.GymRatZ.co.uk" wrote:
> >
> >> A big bag of dogsh1t to Virginmedia whom now my father has also come to
> >> terms with them being the crappest ISP on the planet and is forking out
> >> £130 to get a BT line back in to go ADSL !
> >
> > *Back* in ? There was a BT line there before ? What happened to it ?
>
> Seems BT are making up for lost revenue by charging to re-connect a line .
> All original points etc were hacked into for telewest phone.

Why were Telewest allowed to do that ?

Graham

Eeyore wrote:
> "Pete @ www.GymRatZ.co.uk" wrote:
>
>> A big bag of dogsh1t to Virginmedia whom now my father has also
>> come to terms with them being the crappest ISP on the planet and
>> is forking out £130 to get a BT line back in to go ADSL !
>
> *Back* in ? There was a BT line there before ? What happened to it ?
>
> Graham

You'd be suprised (well maybe not) how often the NTL/Telewest/Virgin
contractors will 'steal' any part of the BT local network to get
theirs installed. A local estate which had been extensively prewired
by BT has had the majority of said wiring removed as the cable co
engineers have cut the BT wiring & used it as pull wire to get their
cables thru the conduits, one of the reasons why BT stopped prewiring.