In reply to a post by edwincluck:

Sorry Bob, didn't mean to sound snidey. Just surprised this forum is still discussing the GEA Cablelink, and what it actually as, more than four years after FTTC was first rolled-out.

Peace .

I'd never dreamt that they were only 1Gbps, and never looked into that level of detail.

Anyway, thanks for putting me right, and I accept you didn't mean it the way I took it. The rest of this post of yours explains a lot more as well . You do seem to have a point.

In reply to a post by edwincluck:

Simple fibre optic patch cables, costing a few quid. And, yes, a 30 second job to install! In fact, they're so inexpensive, they were probably installed ready, but left dark, at the time the L2 switches were fitted.

It makes no difference if they were pre-run or not. It still takes effort and cost to install. You may be willing to go to work for free, but most people expect to be paid. Like a shop stockroom, the assets are cost until somebody buys it.

In reply to a post by edwincluck:

In reply to a post by panda:

Why do you think it's 1Gb aggregate? The peak capacity is in one direction.

Nice bluff but no cigar.

You clearly don't understand what 'Full-Duplex' means.

In reply to a post by panda:

The CPs have already paid BT handsomely for access to the co-mingling zones.

They pay for the equipment they have exclusive use of. They also pay a contribution to use the infrastructure Openreach has paid to put in place to reach beyond their exclusive domain.

In reply to a post by edwincluck:

Enough!

You're a moderator?

In reply to a post by edwincluck:

The point in highlighting BT's extortionate charge for a GEA Cablelink (AKA 'inexpensive fibre patch cable') is to show how that prohibitive cost of £2000 for a £2 cable has helped wreck the competition.

Your clearly prefer to rant rather than discuss.

Optical patch cables linking an L2 switch on BT's Main Distribution Frame (MDF) to an L2 switch on the HDF; the Communication Provider's (CP's) Handover Distribution Frame in the co-location/co-mingling zone of the exchange.

The MDF and HDF are two separate rooms in the exchange. On top of physically routing between A and B there's firestopping and the like to be considered, this isn't a 5 minute job by anyones ('cept yours apparently) stretch of the imagination.

Ooh! Plugging in a patch cable pre-run through ducting to the "room next door". Gosh! Sounds complex, especially for Openreach! Imagine all the teeth sucking going on. Nudge nudge wink wink. Shall we chalk it up as a "six minute job", Phil? Yeah, why not, Dave! Just enough time to put the kettle on, and laugh at the £2,000 bill landing soon on some sucker's desk!

Interesting discussion guys. Meanwhile we are now 11 days in and still no broadband. We weren't even given an update on Saturday as promised.

I am waiting to see what the Live Assistance guys and gals can come up with today. It's like some kind of torture having to explain the whole story over and over but it beats trying to converse with the Indian helpdesk.

You can always try calling the BT Loyalty Team in the UK on 0800 587 7216 to see if they can help

This is interesting but I don't know what it means.

Previously we were on TalkTalk so I had to use the postcode/address search on the wholesale checker which reported 1-4mbps on the ADSL2 connection which tallied with our experience of just over 3mbps at our router.

Now that the line has transferred to BT I can search by number and I get a prediction of 0.5-2.5.

Address/Postcode:

FTTC Range A (Clean) 80 66.1 20 20 -- Waiting list
FTTC Range B (Impacted) 80 57.1 20 17.9 -- Waiting list
WBC ADSL 2+ Up to 2.5 -- 1 to 4 Available
ADSL Max Up to 2 -- 1 to 3.5 Available

BT number:

FTTC Range A (Clean) 80 66.1 20 20 -- Waiting list
FTTC Range B (Impacted) 80 57.1 20 17.9 -- Waiting list
WBC ADSL 2+ Up to 1.5 -- 0.5 to 2.5 Available
ADSL Max Up to 1.5 -- 0.5 to 2.5 Available

Any idea why it should differ so much? Both are reporting for the same cabinet and, judging by the FTTC speed, are assuming the same distance from the cabinet.

The estimates start out as a guesstimate but after you're connected, BT update them with what you actually get.

Hmm, but we actually get 0mbps so that doesn't make sense.

You're not connected.