TalkTalk modem stats?

I just got a phone call from a non computer literate friend who has had the
standard TalkTalk modem installed by their so called computer whiz kid
nephew. The various line checking sites suggest that their line should
support about 3Mb on a MAXED connection, but Windows XP reports a line speed
of 1MB when they connect. The friend was warned not to do so but the lure
of "free" broadband was too much even when they found out that "free" meant
£10 per month. In fact they are on a rural exchanged that has not, and is
never likely to be, unbundled. Whiz kid now suddenly not available! Before I
go and visit to try a proper modem/router can anyone confirm that the
standard TalkTalk product is MAX and is there any software that will enable
me to look at the stats reported by the Sagem TalkTalk USB modem? I have
Googled but without success.

Peter Crosland

On Oct 15, 2:23 pm, "Peter Crosland" <g...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> I just got a phone call from a non computer literate friend who has had the
> standard TalkTalk modem installed by their so called computer whiz kid
> nephew. The various line checking sites suggest that their line should
> support about 3Mb on a MAXED connection, but Windows XP reports a line speed of 1MB when they connect.

fairly standard where Talk-Talk don't have their LLU in the exchange.

> The friend was warned not to do so but the lure
> of "free" broadband was too much even when they found out that "free" meant
> £10 per month. In fact they are on a rural exchanged that has not, andis
> never likely to be, unbundled.

aha, so they'll be on a fixed speed IPStream product.

> Whiz kid now suddenly not available! Before I
> go and visit to try a proper modem/router can anyone confirm that the
> standard TalkTalk product is MAX and is there any software that will enable
> me to look at the stats reported by the Sagem TalkTalk USB modem? I have
> Googled but without success.

TT aren't using Max (yet ?). If the BT Checker only offers 1M that'll
be what they got.

Most USB modems have a utility that shows the sped (1152) by hovering
over a systray icon or the like. Sager F'st800 modems have lots of
stats in their utility but not sure what T-T ar eusing.

Anyways, to save you a trip they've picked a bum ISP and been screwed -
no technical solution available.

Phil

>> I just got a phone call from a non computer literate friend who has
>> had the
>> standard TalkTalk modem installed by their so called computer whiz
>> kid
>> nephew. The various line checking sites suggest that their line
>> should
>> support about 3Mb on a MAXED connection, but Windows XP reports a
>> line speed of 1MB when they connect.
>
> fairly standard where Talk-Talk don't have their LLU in the exchange.
>
>> The friend was warned not to do so but the lure
>> of "free" broadband was too much even when they found out that
>> "free" meant
>> £10 per month. In fact they are on a rural exchanged that has not,
>> and is
>> never likely to be, unbundled.
>
> aha, so they'll be on a fixed speed IPStream product.

Interesting! The terms and conditions state that the speed will be the
highest available without any caveat AFAICS about bundled or unbundled. Are
you saying that they don't support the MAXEd product on exhanges that are
not unbudled?

>> Whiz kid now suddenly not available! Before I
>> go and visit to try a proper modem/router can anyone confirm that the
>> standard TalkTalk product is MAX and is there any software that will
>> enable
>> me to look at the stats reported by the Sagem TalkTalk USB modem? I
>> have
>> Googled but without success.
>
> TT aren't using Max (yet ?). If the BT Checker only offers 1M that'll
> be what they got.

BT checker says line will support 1MB or MAX at 3MB.

> Most USB modems have a utility that shows the sped (1152) by hovering
> over a systray icon or the like. Sager F'st800 modems have lots of
> stats in their utility but not sure what T-T ar eusing.
>
> Anyways, to save you a trip they've picked a bum ISP and been screwed
> -
> no technical solution available.

Thnaks for that Phil. As I suspected really! I got a call from the Whiz kid
who had been spoken to by his uncle. In fact he seemed to be very
articulate, clued up and willing to learn. I shall go and visit with him so
he can benefit from the experience and hopefully avoid the need for me to
visit in future.

Peter Crosland