Superfast Broadband with BT - advice sought

I currently have fast broadband Internet access (around 2 Mbps) with the UK provider BT. This service is not the cheapest but it has been generally very satisfactory: stable, reliable, and almost always available, even in the dead of night UK time.

For a while now BT have been wanting me to "upgrade" to their superfast service (up to 8 Mbps). To begin with, they were offering the upgrade for the same monthly price as my current service; recently, they have again offered the upgrade but for

>> I understand that I would not get the best from the superfast connection if I continued to use my existing USB modem ... [snip]
>> as this would allow the speed to develop only up to about 4 Mbps

Presuming that its a Speedtouch 330 that you have then? By default the maximum speed on some of the older ones is around 4Mb. However there is a free software upgrade thats available.

Whilst I would normally recommend using a router when on Maxdsl, there are some routers that perform better than others.. and Ive seen a few cases of the ST330 behaving better on some lines better than the Home Hub .

>> this costs

Thank you for your response.

I followed "line stats" link/instructions and saved a log file, from which following info is extracted - hope it is what is required ..... (I have no technical knowledge of this area) ..... CJG

**********************************************************************
* DSL Modem Log File
* 11/07/07 23:31:03
**********************************************************************

OS Version: WinXp Service Pack 2 (5.1)

**********************************************************************
* DSL Link
**********************************************************************

Startup State: Data Mode
Startup Progress: Completed (0xad)
Last Failed: 0x00000000
Bit Swap Counter: 0x00000020
DSP Firmware Ver: Y1921
...
Annex Type: Annex A
Data Rate (Rx/Tx): 2272 / 288
Line Rate (Rx/Tx): 2304 / 320
Heading: Local / Remote
Attenuation (dB): 5 / 3.5
SNR Margin (dB): 32 / 14.5

**********************************************************************
* DSL Failures/Counters
**********************************************************************

Heading: Failures
Heading: Local / Remote
Overall: 0x00000000
POW: 0x00000000
LOS: 0 / 0
SEF: 0 / 0
ncd_I: 0 / 0
ncd_F: 0 / 0
lcd_I: 0 / 0
lcd_F: 0 / 0
Heading: Counters
Heading: I / F
RS Local: 0 / 0
RS Remote: 0 / 0
CRC Local: 0 / 2
CRC Remote: 0 / 0
NCD Local: 0 / 0
NCD Remote: 0 / 0
OCD Local: 0 / 0
HEC Local: 0 / 0
HEC Remote: 0 / 0
LOS Local: 0
LOS Remote: 0
SEF Local: 0
SEF Remote: 0


**********************************************************************
* Actual Configuration
**********************************************************************

Heading: Downstream / Upstream
Rate (kbps): 2272 / 288
Latency: Fast / Fast
R_F: 0 / 0
R_I: 0 / 0
D: 1 / 1
S: 1 / 1
Framing OH: Reduced Overhead (3)
Trellis: Trellis Enabled
Standard: G.DMT

**********************************************************************
* ATM Counters
**********************************************************************

Heading: Rx / Tx
Cells Okay: 36035 / 6316
Cells Dropped: 0 / 0
OAM Cells Okay: 0 / 0
OAM Cells Dropped: 0 / 0
Packets Okay: 1839 / 1354
No Buffer Errs: 0 / 0
Packet Errs Tx: 0
AAL5 Errs Rx: 0
Rx Cells OutOfSynch: 0

http://www2.farina1.com/ADSL/default.aspx estimates that you would sync at 8128 kbps on ADSL Max (that is the maximum sync rate for standard ADSL).

You must be very close to your exchange.

The problem with going to Max is that it would probably start a new 12 month BT contract with a (in my opinion) mediocre ISP.

If you are going to start a new 12 month contract you should consider Be ( https://www.bethere.co.uk/ ). If they have unbundled your exchange they may provide much better value. If you went to Be you would get an estimated sync of the ADSL2+ value of 24294 kbps.

Thank you for these comments and for the link to Be.

There are indeed BT premises not far up the road from where I live.

Some further aspects from my point of view:

1. I have basic 'phone (though it is very little used) with BT as well and don't particularly want to have broadband with a different supplier, two bills/debits, etc.

2. I don't want a lot of trouble switching, need to change e-mail address and arrangements, etc.

3. Be's

In reply to:

---

I would be interested to know why you think that BT is a "mediocre ISP"

---

This comparison with five decent ISPs should give you some idea, as should these ratings.

In reply to:

---

b) Be seem to offer wireless router, whereas I need wired with my PC as it stands ...

---

Wireless is extra to wired.

I meant mediocre in the sense they don't stand out as particularly good, or particularly bad. If you want a single bill you haven't got much of a choice, although it may be worth checking out Madasafish to see if they offer a single billing point.

With a "better" ISP you would expect to get stable speeds throughout the day.

Enthusiasts find BT below what they are looking for but I guess that most people who just want to use a broadband connection find BT perfectly satisfactory. As you would expect, a public service will simply try to provide what the bulk of its customers want. Not very thrilling, I agree.

Trev

You have a great line and should be on full speed. If you are happy with BT 2meg, there is no reason to suggest you will be unhappy with BT 8meg.

I'd haggle for a free hub to secure the deal.