I'm using an Asus DSL-AC68U now, although initially I was using the HH4 with no difference.

I run my own E-book library on Apache so forward port 80 to port 81 on my server which I wasn't able to do on my HH4, as well as run an OpenVPN server which runs natively on my Asus.

In which case you should have control of the adsl mode yourself you just need to change it

If the wire is tin-plated as part of the manufacturing process, keep in mind that food cans are generally tin-plated steel, to prevent corrosion - and copper is prone to corrosion.

It is also possible that if any soldering has been done, a short length of the wire may have been "tinned" with solder, which until recently was a tin-lead alloy at the eutectic ratio, to get the lowest melting temperature.

More recent solders have proportionately, less lead and more tin.

Also, I have used silver-plated wire in equipment requiring an extremely high reliability factor.

As several others have already correctly stated, there are no aluminium dropwire cables in use by 'BT'.

The only place on a pairs route to a customer where you might find any soldering would be if the exchange bar pair was of a tip solder type.

Thanks for that update on present practice.

I seem to think, possibly mistakenly, that I did not mention "aluminium" in my posting; and only the slight possibility of tinning, via soldering preparation, in the OP's premises, that may have been carried out, say, by an unauthorised person.

In reply to a post by eckiedoo:

... in the OP's premises, that may have been carried out, say, by an unauthorised person.

Just the same as some of the other changes that have been made there!

Well I feel a bit of a tit now, Found the setting in my modem to change it to ADSL2+ and now connected at 20,000kbps.

Sorry folks....

I still have some unresolved issues about my BT bill but mark the connection speed as solved. Need to keep an eye on the CRC errors but even so.

Better head over to the BT forums and apologise for my moaning about the connection..

I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong..

My wire definitely isn't soldered, that's one thing I know about, and it definitely hasn't been tinned..

Thanks again all

(Mods - Is there any chance we can delete this whole thread and magically remove it from everyones memory, it's rather humbling to expose yourself as a dozy twazzock on the world wide web!)

I've enjoyed reading this thread so I vote to leave it - someone else may have a similar situation.

Well I'm glad someone is pleased at my embarassment! hehe

Have a meal on us ... PIE