HELP: Confused about broadband speed in my area

Hi,
I am currently with Zen on the business 8Mbps package (79+vat p/m) and was looking to possibly get a faster package for around the same price!.

Using the broadband availability checker tool on this site, I checked the availability in my area (Egham - code 01784) and the site tool took me to the BT Wholesale. Entering the phone number yields:

'Our test also indicates that your line currently supports a potential ADSL2+ broadband line rate of 14Mbps or greater.'

I found an ISP (IDNET) that does fast broadband @24Mbps for the same price (yumm!) and with similar package features. Now what I dont understand is that when I use their tool, I get the following info:

'BT estimate (based on distance from exchange) that you should achieve download speeds of up to 14Mbps* on 01784******.'

Can someone please help me in understand the descrepancy - The BT tool says '14Mbps or greater' but the idnet says 'upto 14Mbps'. How can I find out what the true bandwidth is in my area?

As I said earlier, currently I am on 8Mbps and I get typically 6-7Mbps which I am happy with but obiously getting more bang for the buck would be nice

Thanks for reading this post and for any help/insight you can give!
Cheers,
Imran

If you're only getting 6-7mbps on an 8Mbps service, upgrading to a bigger package (hehe) isn't going to give you any more sync speed. The greater bin range of ADSL2+ may give you a bit more sync, but I doubt it would be significant.

How far from the exchange are you?

The true bandwidth is entirely dependent on your line and not the lines of others in the area.

Until the line is actually setup on ADSL2+ it will only be estimations. If you post your full line stats we might be able to comment on what you could get but will still be an estimate.

How can I find out how far I am from the exchange. Sorry to sound like a newbie but I have not ever needed this info before so I have no idea where to look!

ian, where can i get the statistics for my line? I dont have a clue where to find them!

In reply to a post by Tirion:

If you're only getting 6-7mbps on an 8Mbps service, upgrading to a bigger package (hehe) isn't going to give you any more sync speed.

Depends! 6 to 7 Meg Download test speed is typical for an 8 Meg service,

Depends whether OP was talking about Sync speed or Download speed, and as he appears not to know how to get his stats, I doubt it was the former.

He could well get well over 8 Meg with ADSL2+.

I always use samknows.com:

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/checker2.php

Enter your postcode, click "check", then when it's done click "Locality".

It'll give you the straight line distance to the exchange, which you need to add about 75% onto to get the real length of the copper.

You're right I have no idea what Sync speed is. I was talking about download speed.

In reply to a post by Tirion:

If you're only getting 6-7mbps on an 8Mbps service, upgrading to a bigger package (hehe) isn't going to give you any more sync speed. The greater bin range of ADSL2+ may give you a bit more sync, but I doubt it would be significant.

It would double to 12-14Mbps. You may not think that is significant but I do

In reply to a post by ImranQ:

ian, where can i get the statistics for my line? I dont have a clue where to find them!

Your router will tell you.

What router do you have?

Instructions are here: http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/frogstats.php