Broadband Line Test

I was wondering how these line tests actually work? The type you put in your number and it works away for a while and then comes back with a range of what bandwidth you should be able to get? Are they generally accurate?

When I run mine, I am currently in ADSL how can it give me a figure for both adsl and vdsl if moving to VDSL involves being hooked up to a different cabinet?
Does it perform two separate tests, one between me and the exhange (my current connection) and another between the fibre cab and me?

They are all based on one line length database, so any variations is down to how they interpret and present the data to you.

So they are NOT a test of the actual speed now, but just a lookup in a big table of what they think you should be able to get.

That's what they are, not tests! They usually call themselves 'Availability Checkers' and, whichever ISP you are consulting, they end up looking up BT Wholesale Broadband Availability Checker

Mine isnt very accurate, estimate 9.5mb, actual 17.1mb so take it with a pinch of salt.

Same here! Estimate 13 Meg, Actual 20 Meg.

And as for my parallel non-BB 2nd line which once hosted O2 LLU at 15-16 Meg, the estimate is 7 Meg. Well, I ask you, it's less than useless!

EDIT: Guess that's cuz BT have no data on it! Indeed it makes me doubt MrSaffron's assertion that they even have line length data on it, seeing as it is same length as my BB line.

Edited by XRaySpeX (Wed 29-Jan-14 20:13:18)

What would make the ringer give out a very quick chirp when performing the test>?