Putting New ISP on new phone line

I wish to change to Sky Broadband from my current ISP but having carried out a phone line speed test I see that the line I currently use for the internet is only capable of accepting 512kb broadband.

My second phone line is capable of 4MB. I've just got the MAC code from my ISP for my existing line. What is the best way of getting Sky on my second phone line? Shall I tell them to start their service on my new number or get Sky on my existing slow line initially and then change it after it's been set up?

Am I right in thinking that starting Sky on my second line will take far longer than transferring it to my existing line?

Hope all this makes sense - I am a bit of a technophobe and ideally don't want to be without the internet for more than 24 hrs during the changeover as I work from home.

All advice appreciated

Many thanks in advance

Go straight for new ISP on other line:-
1.it's predicted to be faster. (not guaranteed)
2. Providing on existing line then trying to move is
a) likely to be subject to early cancellation fee. and
b) a new installation fee.

Broadband cannot simply be transferred from one line to another... it's subject to Cancellation and new Provide (with all the attendant costs)

3. choosing this method means you can have the new service up and running before ceasing the old one, and as it's on a different line you don't need a MAC.

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having carried out a phone line speed test I see that the line I currently use for the internet is only capable of accepting 512kb broadband

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I'm not sure what you mean there, but is is almost certainly false information.

A speed test tells you the actual download speed at the time. Some speed tests such as the BT one at http://www.speedtester.bt.com will also tell you the connection speed and the profile, both of which are important.

Something that says "Your line can support a speed of xxxx" is usally an estimator, looking at a fairly inaccurate database that BT have.

If you can find your line stats and post them then a very accurate picture of your line comes over to us. You may be able to see them in your modem/routers GUI, but if you don't know how have a look here or here. Don't be scared by that, you can't do any damage unless you deliberately set out to, and it isn't difficult.

The BT test above is useful additional info, but the really important stuff is in the stats. The BT test frequently says it is too busy except in the mornings. It also takes an age to do anything after you put in your phone number, so don't panic.

That's reasonable advice, but seeing as his existing MAC is valid for 30 days I think he may as well try to give us the line stats before making a decision.

He could very well be on fixed speed connection at the moment - possibly since forever - and the estimator complete rubbish.

What do you think?

Having tried the estimator on my line and neighbours, it does seem very inaccurate. I get an estimator of 2Mbs but in reality get 8Mbps very easily (att 18dB, Noise Margin 13dB). Neighbours are estimated at 6.5Mbs and 2 Mbs - same range of phone numbers all cables go through same wall mounted junction box to exchange <1km away.

Many thanks for all the advice, a friend checked my router last week and my current connection speed with Metronet/Plusnet was only showing as 512 on the router. It certainly seems very slow to use compared to friends or internet cafes.

I am just a bit confused why both lines show such wildly different speeds as I would have thought both are the same distance from the exchange and therefore both should have the same speed!

It sounds as though I'm probably best to at least try Sky Broadband on the second line and keep everything crossed that it gives me a faster connection as only 512 is driving me mad!

Am I right in thinking that it will take longer to set up the new account with Sky if the line being used has never had broadband before and it is usual for 2 lines within the same house to have wildly different predicted broadband speeds?

Many thanks again

What speed do you get upstream when you do a test. That sounds suspiciously like you are on a fixed rate (half meg) connection. If you only get 250k ish upstream then you definately are. Test it and let us know.

As PeteK says, it sounds like you are on a fixed speed connection, as I suggested before. The line stats however would tell us almost exactly what speed you can actually get.

If you are on a fixed 512 then it is not surprising that is what the estimator says. It works largely on the historic speed!

It is far less hassle to get the stats than to spend hours worrying whether you are doing the right thing.

Why are you looking at Sky? To save money? (Nothing wrong with that). Or if you could get higher speeds with Metronet/Plusnet would you stay with them?

Is it Sky LLU or Sky Connect? They are different products with different reputations.

ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 576 kbps 448 kbps

These are the stats from the router. I had originally decided to go for Sky as their �26 package gives me the TV and free calls for only �4 than I pay with Metronet however I've now found out I'm not in Sky's broadband area and will be going through Sky Connect and the cost will be �38!

I may change to Talk Talk instead as I have heard their connection is faster and cheaper.

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I may change to Talk Talk instead as I have heard their connection is faster and cheaper.

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Cheaper ? Maybe

Faster ? I don't think so !