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Hi,
Two years ago I put my mum on a satellite broadband service in rural Devon as her DSL service was 512k, and lives in a small village miles from the nearest exchange. I'm reversing the decision now; I can confirm that latency on satellite connections, plus the ridiculous usage limitations, make it an expensive and pointless service unless you can't get anything else!
So, going back to DSL - but when I order (probably from BT as it's easier for her), I want to ensure an engineer actually visits the house to do the installation. That way, maybe they'll be able to do something about the line and improve on the previous awful speed. We are among thousands waiting for Connecting Devon and Somerset to invest in our area, but we'll be waiting years not months.
Given BT want/expect you to do their own installations, how can I ask them to come over without shelling out a fortune?
Thanks
Will
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Have you checked her ring/bell wire?
My broadband basic info/help site - www.robertos.me.uk | Domains,site and mail hosting - Tsohost.
Connection - Plusnet UnLim Fibre (FTTC). Sync ~ 59.4/14.4Mbps @ 600m. - BQM
"Where talent is a dwarf, self-esteem is a giant." - Jean-Antoine Petit-Senn.
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Allergy information: This post was manufactured in an environment where nuts are present. It may include traces of understatement, litotes and humour.
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In 2005. It wasn't there, from memory, or if it was then it was already disconnected. Our nearest neighbour, whose line I guess we piggyback, gets much better speeds...
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Register (or login) on our website and you will not see this ad.
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Why should you piggyback any line? You don't still have a party line, do you?
You shouldn't need or pay for an eng install on ADSL; just some simple prevention measures like ring wire and extension wiring which you can look up.
1999: Freeserve 48K Dial-Up => 2005: Wanadoo 1 Meg BB => 2007: Orange 2 Meg BB => 2008: Orange 8 Meg LLU => 2010: Orange 16 Meg LLU => 2011: Orange 20 Meg WBC
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May I suggest AAISP? They can fix the line issue when you switch to them
See http://aa.net.uk/broadband-trial.html
I had many line issue and three previous ISPs could not fix. As soon as I switched to AAISP, they bent backward to get this resolved via BT. I now have a new line from the pole to my house, new line to the master socket and everything is perfect!
So worth considering this option... AAISP even offer you money back if they cannot fix the line issue! So you got nothing to lose. 
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Why should you piggyback any line? You don't still have a party line, do you?
A party line being what exactly? Piggybacking? This is rural, hilly Devon; I doubt a BT engineer has visited it since the Victorian era when the lines were first laid! All sorts of horrible wiring is happening; we can't even work out how the line reaches our house. It's underground, and there's no physical route from the "pole", so we assume it was just joined onto our neighbour's house...
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You could start by checking the BT phone number here www.dslchecker.bt.com
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Single dropwire with one pair to you and one to the neighbour.
Ignore te partyline comment - they no longer exist on BTs network.
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M H C
taurus excreta cerebrum vincit
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Tony. Thanks - great idea. I know AA are hugely rated in the industry but had no idea they offered such help and guarantees. Are you locked into a 12-month with them? My only difficulty with them is the complicated usage limitations; I don't live with my mum, so it's almost impossible to explain such things to her, even though she relies on an internet connection to supplement her pension (she works remotely as a transcriber). It looks ridiculously complex.
Can I ask, the new line - who paid for that? I have spent years writing to BT to persuade them to come and see our village and help. Our local MP even intervened and spoke to BT's then chairman! But nothing.
I am fairly sure that my mother's line is "shared" with our neighbour. From the "pole" (not sure where that is), a line is run to our neighbour, and we piggyback off it. That is almost certainly why we failed to ever get more than 512k, not to mention the long line distance to the exchange.
The other concern with AA is that they only fix faults, not speed issues. Traditionally, even though 512k is appallingly slow, it was always reliable; uptimes of months or more. I'd love to hear more about your experience and the new line from the pole...and what your issue was in the first place, if you don't mind sharing.
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The checker will tell you whats available.
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Single dropwire with one pair to you and one to the neighbour.
Ignore the partyline comment - they no longer exist on BTs network. Then explain 'piggyback'? Your suggested config does NOT sound piggybacked.
1999: Freeserve 48K Dial-Up => 2005: Wanadoo 1 Meg BB => 2007: Orange 2 Meg BB => 2008: Orange 8 Meg LLU => 2010: Orange 16 Meg LLU => 2011: Orange 20 Meg WBC
Edited by XRaySpeX (Sun 05-Jan-14 15:08:57)
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It's not going to tell me anything I don't already know though, is it? 512 for fixed line; 1mb for Max. It says I'm on cabinet 2, but...that means nothing! Right?
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At least it means you have a direct connection to Cab 2, not "piggybacked".
It's hard to comment further without seeing the output.
Edited by deleted (Sun 05-Jan-14 15:10:25)
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Oh I see. Great. V useful then, thanks.
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Maybe you could explain "piggybacked"? Unless it's a "mistake".
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I can't! That's why I'm querying its introduction into this discussion by OP.
1999: Freeserve 48K Dial-Up => 2005: Wanadoo 1 Meg BB => 2007: Orange 2 Meg BB => 2008: Orange 8 Meg LLU => 2010: Orange 16 Meg LLU => 2011: Orange 20 Meg WBC
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Ok, "mistake" it is then.
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Single dropwire with one pair to you and one to the neighbour.
Ignore the partyline comment - they no longer exist on BTs network. Then explain 'piggyback'? Your suggested config does NOT sound piggybacked.
What config have I suggested?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
M H C
taurus excreta cerebrum vincit
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Single dropwire with one pair to you and one to the neighbour.
1999: Freeserve 48K Dial-Up => 2005: Wanadoo 1 Meg BB => 2007: Orange 2 Meg BB => 2008: Orange 8 Meg LLU => 2010: Orange 16 Meg LLU => 2011: Orange 20 Meg WBC
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Piggybacked was simply my non-technical way of interpreting the "sharing" of a line, that's all. DSLchecker confirms that's not the case. Connected to Cabinet 2. Downstream range 0.25 to 2 (wow)
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Which exchange?
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Terrible. How fast do you need though?
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How long is a etc etc!
2 seems a good starting point. Would be nice for her to be able to use iplayer and other catch-up services, and all manner of other data-hungry things.
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I thought the checker suggested 2? You could always get a 2nd line and bond for 4 at twice the cost.
You really need to order it and see what you get as it appears there are no current plans for any upgrade.
Or move.
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With 1.5mbps I was able to use youtube, iPlayer, 4OD etc... HD streaming was obviously a pipe dream but I could use VOD services.
BBC iPlayer requires a minimum of 500kbps to stream TV.
Edited by deleted (Sun 05-Jan-14 21:00:28)
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They may only visit if it's not a simple switching back on of the previous line. Even if it requires a visit, you might get a contractor. If it's an Openreach bod, you'll get a pair quality test run, and that's about it.
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Right. OK, thanks for everyone's advice. In other words, we are stuffed.
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No. The only reason you think that is because you mistakenly believe your line is somehow unique. It isn't - it's just like everyone else's.
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Their fiarly new Home::1 package has a 6 month mimimum term and does away with the units-based usage allowances http://aa.net.uk/broadband-home1-info.html#more
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Their fiarly new Home::1 package has a 6 month mimimum term and does away with the units-based usage allowances http://aa.net.uk/broadband-home1-info.html#more
Thanks. Sent them an email.
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No. The only reason you think that is because you mistakenly believe your line is somehow unique. It isn't - it's just like everyone else's.
What a bizarre, unhelpful statement. The fact it's like everyone else's is precisely why I want to improve it.
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You thought the line was piggybacked on your neighbours. However, the estimate given by by BT matches what you received. Is this not so?
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No, he is being honest. Get it installed, and then if there are issues, then you'll get an engineer come fix it.
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I understand FTTC is coming to Torcross this year.
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I would be staggered if that was the case! No worries if you'd rather not say, but how reliable is that info?
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Id say, preppared to be staggared
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Very good news! I suppose the challenge will then be to get a cabinet in the local villages which Torcross serves. The immediate surrounding area will all benefit, but Slapton, for example, is some way from the exchange and (I suppose) would need rather a long line of fibre. Which is the whole problem with rural broadband!
Great news. Any lead times? And is this thanks to the Connecting Devon and Somerset initiative? PM me if you'd rather not talk publicly. Or not at all. No prob. Grateful for the heads-up either way.
Will
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Slapton, for example, is some way from the exchange and (I suppose) would need rather a long line of fibre. Which is the whole problem with rural broadband! The problem isn't long fibre runs from the FTTC cabinet to the headend exchange but rather long D-sides from the PCP to the end user. Those reasonable close to an FTTC enabled PCP can expect good speeds. Those that will have problems are those rural properties a long way from their cab even if the cab has FTTC available.
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The problem isn't long fibre runs from the FTTC cabinet to the headend exchange but rather long D-sides from the PCP to the end user. Those reasonable close to an FTTC enabled PCP can expect good speeds. Those that will have problems are those rural properties a long way from their cab even if the cab has FTTC available.
Yep - understood. I think the problem for rural places like Slapton is knowing whether or not they even have a cabinet. A lot of these places have direct lines from the exchange (unless I'm mistaken which I probably am!). The DSLchecker says my mother is connected to cabinet 2, but there's no way of knowing whether that cab is in Slapton or Torcross. Will have a look when I next go there.
Edited by deiwise (Tue 07-Jan-14 14:59:24)
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Id say, preppared to be staggared
A neighbour in the village tells me there's a planning application from Harlequin next to the existing cabinet. So things appear to be moving! Out of interest, would Harlequin be responsible for laying the fibre from the exchange, or do they only construct the street furniture and new cabinets?
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Id say, preppared to be staggared
RFS date set for March 2014. Definitely staggered
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Just to thank you, Ribble - the cabinet's currently being installed, and roadworks.org tells me they're laying fibre from Kingsbridge in July. Thanks for the inside info a few months ago.
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If your mother is in Slapton then this link appears to show Cab 2. Perhaps you may recognise the location?
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=slapton&hl=en&ll=50...
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No...nowhere near! It's here. Thanks though.
Dropped Pin
near South Devon Heritage Coast, Devon
http://goo.gl/maps/DSLRi
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Same place. What did you get when you used my link?
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Before you do anything else, I suggest that you go through the Quiet Line Tests, to ensure that whatever way you proceed/ISP etc subsequently, the line itself is in good condition.
17070, Option 2 on BT.
Try it first on any phone extension at your mother's. If there are NO untoward noises, apart from a very faint hum - good.
If there are any untoward noises, try again at thenTE box where the line "enters" her house, if there are no iuntoward noises - good.
If you do hear "Snap, Crackle, Pop, bangs, squeals, dialling tones etc, report it to her PHONE Provider as a PHONE Fault, avoiding mentioning Broadband etc.
Also with the other tests, especially note the Line Length if available; and try to trace the line, at least to an obvious location, such as the PCP - the "traditional grey/green" GPO/BT junction box.
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All v helpful. I've done all this over the years, so ... it's just a matter of waiting until the DSL checker on BT's site is updated. I know where the PCP is; a rough estimate, based on tracing the line there, is 900m to 1km, which is a lot better than the 3.5km line length to the exchange.
The new cab has been installed - just waiting for fibre to be plumbed in later this summer.
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