Who offers standard ADSL? 256/512/1MB/2MB

Hi,

I have a really poor line (will be lucky to get 512mb) so feel its a waste
of time going down the 'up-to-8mb' route.

Does anyone offer standard ADSL anymore?

"Richard Falconer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:go63ep$ehh$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> I have a really poor line (will be lucky to get 512mb) so feel its a waste
> of time going down the 'up-to-8mb' route.
>
> Does anyone offer standard ADSL anymore?

Tesco only do the slow speeds that is why I left them.

Google Sam Knows, see who provides what from your Exchange, then go to the
various ISP sites and see what they check for your phone number.

--
Regards,
David

FREESAT HD as it is now its a joke.
No BBC 1 or 2, no Ch4 or Five HD.
ITV1 a couple of programmes a week in HD

Please reply to News Group

Richard Falconer <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I have a really poor line (will be lucky to get 512mb) so feel its a waste
> of time going down the 'up-to-8mb' route.

> Does anyone offer standard ADSL anymore?


In my experience, the "up to 8Mb" package is likely to work better for
you than a fixed one (512 Mb or whatever). This is because the "up to"
is allowed to negotiate the best possible speed, whereas the fixed ones
either work or don't.

You might be able to get a speed capped "up to" package, but don't
confuse that with a fixed speed package such as Tiscali's 2Mb.

Chris

David wrote:
>
>
> "Richard Falconer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:go63ep$ehh$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have a really poor line (will be lucky to get 512mb) so feel its a
>> waste
>> of time going down the 'up-to-8mb' route.
>>
>> Does anyone offer standard ADSL anymore?
>
> Tesco only do the slow speeds that is why I left them.
>
> Google Sam Knows, see who provides what from your Exchange, then go to
> the various ISP sites and see what they check for your phone number.
>

adsl max is better for poor lines than fixed rate

also fixed rate can be more expensive that max

"Richard Falconer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:go63ep$ehh$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> I have a really poor line (will be lucky to get 512mb) so feel its a waste
> of time going down the 'up-to-8mb' route.
>
> Does anyone offer standard ADSL anymore?

In the past Zen offered a 256kbits/sec service for about £18 per month with
unlimited download - I think the idea being that at 256 kbits/sec you could
not download so much data that it would overload their backhaul. I can't
see that they still offer this service.

The current economy option at much the same price is the "Lite" which
carries a 5GB/month limit. It is "standard" in that it is 'up-to-8mbit' but
of course it will only achieve what your phone line will allow.

There isn't any difference in the exchange hardware for a very slow speed
versus 'up-to-8mbit' - the hardware simply adjusts itself to the
capabilities of the line. So in theory it should not matter which ISP you
choose - however an ISP with good technical support will be able to pressure
BT into getting the best out of the line you have.

--
Graham J

"Graham J" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:49a6b4bf$0$2521$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Richard Falconer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:go63ep$ehh$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have a really poor line (will be lucky to get 512mb) so feel its a
waste
> > of time going down the 'up-to-8mb' route.
> >
> > Does anyone offer standard ADSL anymore?
>
> In the past Zen offered a 256kbits/sec service for about £18 per month
with
> unlimited download - I think the idea being that at 256 kbits/sec you
could
> not download so much data that it would overload their backhaul. I can't
> see that they still offer this service.
>
> The current economy option at much the same price is the "Lite" which
> carries a 5GB/month limit. It is "standard" in that it is 'up-to-8mbit'
but
> of course it will only achieve what your phone line will allow.
>
> There isn't any difference in the exchange hardware for a very slow speed
> versus 'up-to-8mbit' - the hardware simply adjusts itself to the
> capabilities of the line. So in theory it should not matter which ISP you
> choose - however an ISP with good technical support will be able to
pressure
> BT into getting the best out of the line you have.


This is what BT Wholesale website says about my line:

Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line indicates
that it is VERY UNLIKELY you will be able to receive fixed 512Kbps or
256Kbps broadband service due to the very long length of your telephone
line. However, your order will be accepted if you still wish to order. An
engineer may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the broadband
service.


Our initial test on your line indicates that your line may not support a
reliable ADSL Max broadband service, with current technology. However, an
order for 250Kbps broadband speed will still be accepted, but an engineer
may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the service.

If you decide to place an order, a further test will be performed to confirm
if your line is suitable for the service you wish to purchase.

Not good is it?

"Richard Falconer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:go6f1h$oj5$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Graham J" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:49a6b4bf$0$2521$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> "Richard Falconer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:go63ep$ehh$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > I have a really poor line (will be lucky to get 512mb) so feel its a
> waste
>> > of time going down the 'up-to-8mb' route.
>> >
>> > Does anyone offer standard ADSL anymore?
>>
>> In the past Zen offered a 256kbits/sec service for about £18 per month
> with
>> unlimited download - I think the idea being that at 256 kbits/sec you
> could
>> not download so much data that it would overload their backhaul. I can't
>> see that they still offer this service.
>>
>> The current economy option at much the same price is the "Lite" which
>> carries a 5GB/month limit. It is "standard" in that it is 'up-to-8mbit'
> but
>> of course it will only achieve what your phone line will allow.
>>
>> There isn't any difference in the exchange hardware for a very slow speed
>> versus 'up-to-8mbit' - the hardware simply adjusts itself to the
>> capabilities of the line. So in theory it should not matter which ISP
>> you
>> choose - however an ISP with good technical support will be able to
> pressure
>> BT into getting the best out of the line you have.
>
>
> This is what BT Wholesale website says about my line:
>
> Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line indicates
> that it is VERY UNLIKELY you will be able to receive fixed 512Kbps or
> 256Kbps broadband service due to the very long length of your telephone
> line. However, your order will be accepted if you still wish to order. An
> engineer may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the broadband
> service.
>
>
> Our initial test on your line indicates that your line may not support a
> reliable ADSL Max broadband service, with current technology. However, an
> order for 250Kbps broadband speed will still be accepted, but an engineer
> may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the service.
>
> If you decide to place an order, a further test will be performed to
> confirm
> if your line is suitable for the service you wish to purchase.
>
> Not good is it?

As others have said, ADSL Max does a better job on poor lines because of its
adaptability.

All that you report BT's website saying is true, so as I previously
suggested you should choose a professional ISP who will ensure that BT sends
out a competent technician. You might still have to supervise that
technician to ensure he has replaced old lines and dropwires, and fitted a
good microfilter in a new master socket.

I think AAISP will take your order on the basis that they won't make any
charge if they can't get it to work (but possibly only for a new line
intended to support ADSL only and not voice) - but other ISPs will not
refund the up-front setup charge even if they fail.

The best I saw working, at a solidly reliable 276 kbits/sec line rate, was
an overhead line 8km to the exchange. Can you estimate the length of your
line? If you go ahead, the BT technician will have a map showing the line's
route, and a good estimate of its length.

If your line length is further than that, you need to consider a wireless
link to a neighbour who can get a good signal. Here the topology of the
land is important - I've set such links up in the flat fenland countryside,
and the civil engineering involved in getting antennae up high enough is
quite significant - it's not really an amateur untertaking!

--
Graham J

"Graham J" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:49a6d933$0$2521$(E-Mail Removed)...

..... If you go ahead, the BT technician will have a map showing the line's
> route, and a good estimate of its length....

My ISP measured the length of my line and it is over double the straight
line distance to the exchange, I would love to know where my wires actually
go.
I'm a short distance from the road that runs passed the exchange.
How would I go about seeing this map or being told what it shows?

--
Regards,
David

FREESAT HD as it is now its a joke.
No BBC 1 or 2, no Ch4 or Five HD.
ITV1 a couple of programmes a week in HD

Please reply to News Group
>

On 26 Feb, 19:53, "David" <david.p...@tesco.net> wrote:
> "Graham J" <gra...@nospam.zen.co.uk> wrote in message
>
> news:49a6d933$0$2521$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> .... *If you go ahead, the BT technician will have a map showing the line's
>
> > route, and a good estimate of its length....
>
> My ISP measured the length of my line and it is over double the straight
> line distance to the exchange, I would love to know where my wires actually
> go.
> I'm a short distance from the road that runs passed the exchange.
> How would I go about seeing this map or being told what it shows?

Have you considered Mobile Broadband. Getting cheaper by
the day it seems. You would be better off with wires if that works
but if it doesn't ... ?

Dial-up still just about works for e-mail and for
basic web sites but many just don't work:-)

"bod43" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bb37af24-11db-4932-bfbf-(E-Mail Removed)...
On 26 Feb, 19:53, "David" <david.p...@tesco.net> wrote:
> "Graham J" <gra...@nospam.zen.co.uk> wrote in message
>
> news:49a6d933$0$2521$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> .... If you go ahead, the BT technician will have a map showing the line's
>
> > route, and a good estimate of its length....
>
> My ISP measured the length of my line and it is over double the straight
> line distance to the exchange, I would love to know where my wires
> actually
> go.
> I'm a short distance from the road that runs passed the exchange.
> How would I go about seeing this map or being told what it shows?

> Have you considered Mobile Broadband. Getting cheaper by
> the day it seems. You would be better off with wires if that works
> but if it doesn't ... ?
>
> Dial-up still just about works for e-mail and for
> basic web sites but many just don't work:-)
>

Ths usual problem with mobile broadband is that in the very remote locations
where the distance to the exchange is too far for ADSL there is virtually no
mobile signal. Yes, you can hold a voice conversation on a mobile phone,
but that's carried in less than 12kbits/sec.

It's only in city and urban areas that the mobile coverage is 3G rather than
GPRS and achieves the much-hyped 3Mbits/sec connection speed.

--
Graham J