ADSL Max Pro

I'm moving from a house with FTTC out to a house that only has 20CN ADSL Max.

Does anyone know if any ISP still offers Max Pro with the higher upload and traffic priority?

Also - are exchanges still being upgraded to WBC/ADSL2+? The exchange only has 600 odd lines so I'm not hopeful.

Thanks

Edited by huwwatkins (Tue 25-Oct-16 12:50:39)

What exchange is it?

https://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/SMBEN

In reply to a post by huwwatkins:

Does anyone know if any ISP still offers Max Pro with the higher upload and traffic priority?

Officially called Max Premium, which might help in any Google searches

Matt

I believe you're referring to the BT 20CN product called 'Adsl Max Premium' which is up to 8128/832 kbps. Yes many ISPs (incl BT, Plusnet) still offer this though you will have to go on a more expensive Business package in order to get it as bog standard Adsl max is up to 8128/448 kbps

I used to have a 8128/832 kbps service with Goscomb around 8 years ago and whilst I appreciated the increased upload, my line still slowed down at peak hours so not sure about the 'traffic priority' claim. Luckily TalkTalk LLU'd my exchange in 2010 so i jumped over to them. I think with the introduction of FTTC, BT may have stopped upgrading smaller exchanges to ADSL2+ (21CN), they certainly won't touch my exchange (NSICL) with a bargepole even though Sky, Vodafone & TalkTalk have LLU'd it.

Edited by baby_frogmella (Tue 25-Oct-16 13:27:11)

I have ADSL Max Premium with Plusnet - you don't need a business package, but you do need to pay an extra £7.83 per month to get the extra upload speed (the Premium part). Although the Premium is supposed to give traffic priority, there is still a small but noticeable drop in achievable speed and increase in latency in the early evenings which can make iPlayer a bit iffy - but to be fair this may not be due to congestion in the BT/plusnet network.

The business package costs even more and gets you priority repairs - they only wait 1 day before looking at problems rather than making you wait 3-5 days (even when it is something they did that broke your connection). I don't think it is good value, and I use a 3G dongle as backup if/when my connection is broken - it is cheaper and avoids even the 1 day delay.

Yes you are correct! Its amazing how much you unlearn about ADSL after a few years on FTTC!

The 1,000 line Market A exchange I am connected to only has ADSL. Some areas do have FTTC. I could get a faster speed if I paid more. I am not that far from the exchange so ADSL2+ would suit me, but from what I have read, the exchange is unlikely to be upgraded.

There is one thing to watch out for with Max Premium. There are different makes of equipment used in 20CN exchanges. If you are put on to a Marconi mux it is almost certain that you will experience disconnections nearly every time the phone rings for an incoming call (even if you don't have a phone plugged in). I experienced that on my Plusnet supplied line.

Luckily I contacted A&A under their we'll fix it guarantee who identified the issue when I described what was happening. Plusnet told me first there was no alternative equipment, but after further advice from A&A

Good news is that there are two Fujitsu 20cn mux's on your exchange so if you moved over to us we would request a tie pair change to move your line over.

Regards
--
Shaun Kemp
Escalations Manager
Andrews & Arnold

which I relayed back to Plusnet, I was moved to the Fujitsu equipment and the problem went away.

Are you on an exchange only line (i.e. not via a cab)?

I presume you've checked for plans at http://www.connectedcounties.org/check-availability Have you contacted [email protected] - they should know what may happen.