Thanks for your advice.

I'm in a rural area so 11 Meg was a big shock and 15 Meg would be unbelievably good.

Here is latest stats after I did house keeping around the router (moving electrical devices further away and using different wall sockets for the devices near the TV):

ADSL Line Status

Connection Information

Line state: Connected
Connection time: 2 days, 06:55:37
Downstream: 7.742 Mbps
Upstream: 1.133 Mbps

ADSL Settings

VPI/VCI: 0/38
Type: PPPoA
Modulation: G.992.5 Annex A
Latency type: Fast
Noise margin (Down/Up): 13.6 dB / 6.4 dB
Line attenuation (Down/Up): 30.6 dB / 16.4 dB
Output power (Down/Up): 20.4 dBm / 12.6 dBm
FEC Events (Down/Up): 0 / 0
CRC Events (Down/Up): 2150 / 193
Loss of Framing (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Signal (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Power (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
HEC Events (Down/Up): 4554 / 180
Error Seconds (Local/Remote): 1694 / 110

I had all other electrical devices unplugged except for the Home Hub 3 so it connected at the 7.7 Meg rather than the usual 15 dB induced ~6 Meg but then after I finished the house keeping and plugged everything back in the noise margin dropped ~2 dB more than it usually does and it seems it is because of the electrical usage nearby.

Also I remember it having a lot of error seconds like that even when the noise margin was at 6 dB.

I'm hoping it automatically lowers the noise margin now because I have good news at least for my wallet it is good news! I received an offer from EE and it's too good to refuse so it's unlikely I will be receiving help from BT should the high noise margin turn out to be a cause for concern.

For the same unlimited broadband and calls package the monthly cost drops from BT's £29.40 to EE's £5 as I have a T-Mobile mobile contract.

BT were great about it and I received the MAC code over the phone after 5 minutes chatting and EE have already sent me a welcome email and are doing their thing with the MAC code.

I know it's a risk to switch but I think I'm making a good decision.

In reply to a post by akawtu:

Also I remember it having a lot of error seconds like that even when the noise margin was at 6 dB.

That's not a lot of ESs! It's not how many there are that matters but their proportion of your Uptime. I generally reckon on about 1 ES per min. Uptime as being acceptable on Fast Path.

Switching to EE may not solve your issue and getting help from their support may be more difficult than BT.

I didn't mean to imply it was too many was just I remember the number increased consistently like you are saying.

I don't really mind if it stays at ~7 Meg now it's costing much less and it's still a fast connection to me but obviously the faster the better if I can.

Currently I have a WDS setup for the kids upstairs (Xbox and PCs) and while it's reliable I occasionally run into an article suggesting wireless use isn't good for us so I've been thinking about a new line for upstairs so the kids have their own broadband and now with the cost reduction I should still be saving compared to a single BT broadband package!

I just hope EE doesn't have problems although from light reading EE appears to be pretty much the same as my BT package including the same peak time priorities and slow downs for downloads etc.

Re your idea about a second line, what does samknows say about your exchange? (Best is if you post the URL of the result).

Edited by RobertoS (Sat 05-Jan-13 00:41:28)

It's ok, I've read about the LLU options and C&W is likely my choice.

You can't go direct to C & W. It really would be better to let us see and interpret the exchange data.

I'm not that clueless. I know I can't go direct.

Thanks for offering to look but really there is no need unless you consider Tiscali or AOL a viable alternative!

OK maybe it's not so simple.

Is there a forum for options about ordering a new phone line? I am thinking I need some advice!

I phoned BT to order a second line but they aren't able to supply one because I am considering a LLU broadband supplier which takes over the line. The BT rep also talked about my current line and for a long while he tried to convince me to cancel the EE broadband package which he said I can do so up until the last day.

Why has it become so difficult to order a new line that isn't locked into a phone package?

I'm starting to think the BT rep was correct and I should cancel the EE broadband and go for a LLU broadband supplier on that line. I would also order WBC broadband on a new line and the WBC supplier will be able to order the new line at the same time as broadband and calls package.

This is not as simple as I thought it would be!

Oh and unknown to me the BT rep said we are heavy users so maybe we will have problems on EE broadband!!!

In reply to a post by akawtu:

BT rep said we are heavy users so maybe we will have problems on EE broadband!!!

Why? EE is an unlimited provider, with some throttling on P2P during peak.