ADSL Max vs "Fixed Rate"

According to www.btwholesale.com/includes/adsl/main.html my exchange has the following available:

ADSL Max offering 5.5 Mbps
and
"Fixed Rate" offering 2 MBPS

There is also a note stating:

"The Stop Sale date for Datastream is from 30-Jun-2012; the Formal Retirement date for Datastream is from 30-Jun-2014."

I'd be grateful if someone could answer the following questions:

1) With my current provider, I get a speed of over 6 Mbps, so presumably am on ADSL max; If I change to a cheaper provider, is there a possibiliy I'll only get "Fixed Rate" with a max speed of 2 Mbps? I suppose I'm asking if there really are two broadband speeds available from the same exchange.

2) Is "Datastream" a third product that is no longer available, or is is the same thing as "Fixed Rate"?

Datastream not available

Who is existing provider if llu may be faster than adsl max

Providers only use The fixed rate products if you order that explicitly ie. As rare as 5 numbers on national lottery

Hi,

I don't think so. Makes no sense to put someone on a fixed IPstream 2mbps service where ADSL Max (upto 8mbps) is cheaper and more flexible.

Datastream ( I think) was the system before IP stream came along. https://www.btwholesale.com/pages/static/products-se... is what I think I am on about. I also think Datastream was the fixed product but few people are on it now

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Datastream not available

Who is existing provider if llu may be faster than adsl max

Providers only use The fixed rate products if you order that explicitly ie. As rare as 5 numbers on national lottery

Existing provider is Plusnet. SSE offer free BB for two years if I move line rental to them, but their system tells them I'd get a max speed of 0.5 Mbps. Can I safely assume that is rubbish and I'd actually be getting the same product as I'm currently enjoying from Plusnet?

Edited by deleted (Tue 28-Apr-15 23:09:56)

If no llu at exchange I'd avoid SSE as providers like them tend to perform poorly on ipstream max echanges due to small amount of backhaul capacity ordered

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

If no llu at exchange I'd avoid SSE as providers like them tend to perform poorly on ipstream max echanges due to small amount of backhaul capacity ordered

ADSL Max and the Fixed Rate thing are all that are showing. I think you are saying that SSE are probably correct in warning me my speed will be low? Is backhaul capacity sort of like bandwidth they have to pre order from BT wholesale? So if I go with SSE, I could find my speed is actually restricted to 0.5 Mbps?

It wouldn't do any harm, and there's a slight chance it would help, if you tell us the exchange .

The BT Wholesale estimates are connection speeds, not throughput. The 0.5Mbps suggestion from SSE looks strange. Again, a copy and paste of the BTW estimates might help us help you.

Datastream and IPStream were around at the same time but were wholesaled differently as they used different options for the backhaul from the exchange.

A small number of providers used datastream but the majority used IPstream. Both are now legacy products since the implementation of 21CN.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

It wouldn't do any harm, and there's a slight chance it would help, if you tell us the exchange .

https://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/ESASB


The BT Wholesale estimates are connection speeds, not throughput. The 0.5Mbps suggestion from SSE looks strange. Again, a copy and paste of the BTW estimates might help us help you.

BT BROADBAND AVAILABILITY CHECKER
Telephone Number 01361840xxx on Exchange ABBEY ST BATHANS
Featured Products
Downstream Line Rate(Mbps) Upstream Line Rate(Mbps) Downstream Range(Mbps) Availability Date
ADSL Max Up to 5.5 -- 4.5 to 8 Available
Fixed Rate 2 -- -- Available

For all ADSL and WBC Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) services, the stable line rate will be determined during the first 10 days of service usage.

Throughput/download speeds will be less than line rates and can be affected by a number of factors within and external to BT's network, Communication Providers' networks and within customer premises.

The Stop Sale date for Datastream is from 30-Jun-2012; the Formal Retirement date for Datastream is from 30-Jun-2014.

No LLU
http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/?postcode=TD11%...

So general rule is avoid the resellers, stick to the BT, PlusNet providers