long line issue with Be/O2

Hi I noticed my BT exchange has in the last couple of weeks opened up to Be/O2, http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/NDAYL
I rang Be about switching to them from my current supplier F2s.com but they say I'm over the 5.5KM threshold that they allow (7.2KM) which I know for a fact as the crow flies I'm about 2Km from the exchange (maybe the cable goes a further 5.2KM round the houses).

from the http://www.samknows.com/broadband/mapping/mapping.php page i get a green tick for;
ADSL2+ available at ~3Mbps
Be Unlimited
O2 broadband

has anyone had any luck getting either O2 or Be to ignore what the BT openreach Database is telling them and to enable the service regardless of distance?

Do I have no chance looking at my Line Attenuation?

these are my current stats with F2S (I'm also using an i-plate)

ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 1856 kbps 704 kbps
Line Attenuation 63.5 db 31.5 db
Noise Margin 9.4 db 6.0 db

Another interesting point is my neighbour gets down speeds of approx 3800kbps through BT broadband!

cheers,
Blozza

That attenuation does say the cable run to your exchange is either very long or very poor quality, like maybe aluminium not copper.

What stats do you get if you connect through the Test Socket inside the master socket? (On the wall at the back in this pic).

If there are any wires attached to the faceplate do what it says in the FAQ surrounding the pic.

Do you normally use the master socket with just the filter and short ADSL cable plugged in, and maybe a phone into the filter as well? Or do you use a wired extension or a plug-in extension cable?

thanks for the swift reply;

I'll try it in the test socket this evening and report back, I did plug my router into the i-plate on the test socket and it was getting 1888kbps down but I've not tried directly in with the ring removed before.

the master socket is under my stairs so i don't normally use it for anything, my router is upstairs on a extension ring socket and shares a filter with my sky box.

Edited by blozza (Thu 01-Oct-09 12:16:28)

In reply to a post by blozza:

Line Attenuation 63.5 db 31.5 db

The line length is actually only used as a guide. What really matters are the figures you've posted here. Unfortunately they are very poor figures. Whether that's due to length or cable quality is unknown. As RobertoS has suggested, try the face plate.

Hi ,
I�m jealous Blozza, I�m getting 365 Kbps upload and 349 Kbps download on a Namesco Max package with similar stats to you
DSL Noise Margin: 10.3 dB 13.0 dB
DSL Attenuation: 63.5 dB 31.5 dB
DSL Transmit Power: 11.9 dBm 11.9 dBm
I have just had a brand new line and filter installed from my property to the junction box in the street. Last year I was getting 2mb and in August I was getting 1.25mb. My ISP seem to be keeping their head down and I am unclear what to do next. I think I might be tempted to settle for your speeds!
Regards
Peter

Peter have you tried an i-plate that gave me a 40% boost straight away;

http://www.shop.bt.com/products/bt-iplate---bt-broad...

I see what you are saying having found this chart, likey Be/O2 wont be able to offer me a service unless I can convince them I'm under 5.5KM which is unlikely;

Attenuation.............Approximate Line Length............Potential Connection Speed
32db...................................2.3km.....................................16000kbps
35db...................................2.5km.....................................14500kbps
40db...................................2.9km.....................................11800kbps
45db...................................3.2km.......................................8500kbps
50db...................................3.6km.......................................6500kbps
55db...................................4.0km.......................................4500kbps
60db...................................4.3km.......................................3200kbps
65db...................................4.7km.......................................2000kbps

Thanks Bozza, when BT put the new cable in the also put a new connect box on the wall, which means I don't need to use a fliter is this an IPlate?

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

Thanks Bozza, when BT put the new cable in the also put a new connect box on the wall, which means I don't need to use a fliter is this an IPlate?

No - it's better

The iPlate removes or isolates the ring-wire. Other than that you still need to use micro filters.

An ADSL faceplate also gives you a dedicated ADSL socket direct onto your incoming line. All other sockets (and any interference they pick up) are downstream.

In theory therefore an ADSL plate separates the two functions. In practice I'm not sure how much more of a difference it makes. I think I'm writing in saying that if you have one of these there's probably no point in removing the faceplate and using the test socket - hopefully someone will correct me if I'm over egging it

Edited by Andrue (Thu 01-Oct-09 14:58:27)

Hey Andrue. Some Openreach connect boxes have built in I-Plates. Please use this link for more info http://tinyurl.com/ndhstx

Rodney