Broadband Speed

[Matheous-2]

With only an ADSL line available - can anyone recommend and verify a decent ISP speed around 10 or above Kbps - Please, I do appreciate that is all locale specific.....?
Currently we are with TalkTalk which just manages around 4.5 Kbps and other than that -I don't have a great deal to critiscise on them - I am trying to upgrade the router and relocate it beside the master line socket with the hope of greater speed!
What do you think?

[VHG]

I assume you mean mbps.

[Prudie]

Have you asked your neighbours what speed they get as I think a lot depends on the area rather than the provider. I have lots of different ISPs used round me but none of us get more than 2 Meg (??).

[Matheous-2]

Sorry- yes Mbps....

[annieigma]

no matter who you are with, it all comes down the same phone line, and unless your I.S.P has capped your speed, they will all offer the same, and 4.5Mbs is good, if you are getting 450Kbs, then you need to test from your master socket test point with all extensions disconnected and see what speed you get there. if the speed there is much improved, then call your ISP and complain, BUT, make sure the wiring to the first socket is proper BT wiring, not a big DIY bodge, or BT will charge megga bucks for putting it right.

[Matheous-2]

So, it would be down to BT to upgrade our master socket? What would that cost?

[Buenchico]

>>>With only an ADSL line available

Are you sure that only ADSL is available. Most exchanges support ADSL2+ but the budget ISPs prefer not to tell you about it (because it costs them a little bit extra).

I'm about a 2-minute walk away from my local exchange and I was getting a download speed of around 5½ Mbps until I asked my ISP for a MAC code to switch to another supplier. They then offered me an improved package, giving me ADSL2+ (which effectively gives a user two phone lines connected together). Now, as promised, my download speed is around 11 Mbps.

My ISP mainly serves big businesses (such as BAE Systems) and I pay 'business prices' to get a decent contention ratio. (7 to 1, or better, compared with TalkTalk's pathetic 50 to 1). So their properly-trained support staff are probably more used to offering ADSL2+ than the script-based call centres that most 'cheapo' ISPs use, but it could well be worth hassling TalkTalk to see if they can upgrade your service as well.

Chris

[Matheous-2]

Thanks very much for that info Chris! - I will keep that in mind and hopefully avoid procrastination!