TalkTalk and ADSL Max?

Hi there.

My first post here so please be gentle. My father in-law has a TalkTalk broadband contract and is signed-up to their "up to 8Mb" service. He was complaining to me about his connection and the fact that he can not get more than 1.8Mbps download speed (using thinkbroadband speed checker). I have looked at his router and the stats are below.

ADSL State Show Time
Data Path Fast
Operation Mode G.dmt
Bandwidth Down/Up(kbps) 2272 / 288
SNR Margin Down/Up(dB) 26.0 / 29.0
Attenuation Down/Up(dB) 38.5 / 14.0
Power Down/Up(dBm) 9.0 / 11.5

Considering he is on an "up to 8Mb" package and he is only 1.4km from the exchange (which I have checked is definitely ADSL Max enabled, but not LLU), surely he should be connected at something better than 2272/288? I have tried different MTU settings and moved the router to the BT main box, but nothing improves the speed.

Any thoughts for you all? It seems to me that TT have got him connected to the old ADSL system and not to ADSL max (which I think should adaptively set the best speed possible). I did read on another website that TT did not use ADSL Max and that you could only get 8Mb if you are LLU, is this really the case? If so then surely the product is mis-sold if he is paying for up to 8 Mb when his is connected to a non LLU exchange.

Thanks all in advance.

Robbo1

Technically he should be getting the maximum connection speed if he is indeed using ADSL Max.

However TalkTalk will have to pay BTw a premium for him to be on ADSL Max so I wouldn't particularly expect him to be on that. It depends how exactly TalkTalk describe his particular connection. As far as I'm aware there are two types of TalkTalk connection.

* LLU - this can offer speeds up to 24Mb on request. People using this should be getting free broadband.
* BTw IPStream - customers on exchanges that haven't been unbundled will be on this system and paying some nominal fee for their broadband (�5 last I heard).

I would expect that TalkTalk make some effort to differentiate between the two products because the latter is likely to have service limitations in order to try to keep the price down. I can well believe that if the price is still �5 they will not want people on ADSL Max because it's going to lose them a lot of money.

In summary:I'm not surprised by what you've said and I'd expect TalkTalk to be able to point to some account/marketing information confirming a 2Mb limitation.

Edited by Andrue (Wed 02-Jul-08 13:43:46)

Talk Talk are liars. Their "free up to 8M" broadband is up to 2M and costs �15/month if you aren't on an LLU exchange. For some reason it takes 3 weeks, rather than the 1-1.5 via other providers.

I just gave up trying to navigate their website. There is a note saying that it's subject to availability but I couldn't find the price.

�15 for 2Mb? That's pretty awful.
Not being totally upfront and clear about it? Awful.

Edited by Andrue (Wed 02-Jul-08 13:58:56)

Urm IPStream Max from BTW is actually slightly cheaper than Home 2000 now

If you plug in a non-LLU phone number like mine (which syncs at 8128 and says 7M on the BT checker) it says..

"You can currently get broadband for �15 a month. If in the near future we're able to offer you free broadband in your area the planned go live date will be below" (this text is an image).

"We are continuing to update our network so we can offer more people Free Broadband.
Sign up now for one of our TalkTalk call plans with line rental and broadband
and we will let you know when Free Broadband becomes available in your area. If you'd like
to understand more about this offer then please call us on 0800 049 6298."

Calling plan will activate 3 week (s)
Line rental will activate: 3 week (s)
Your broadband will activate: 06 August 08 giving you a speed of up to 2 Mbps

Yes, he is paying �15 per month and getting 2Mb. Their website is rubbish and the small print says "up to 8Mb depending upon distance from exchange" it does NOT say "up to 8Mb on LLU for free but �15 and only 2Mb if you are not connected to an LLU exchange " which appears to be their un-written policy.

I have to say I am really shocked. I sympathise with some of these BB companies which are getting hammered by customers over their up to 8Mb quotes and agree that it is difficult to specify the exact speed a customer will get at any time, but TT seem to really be taking advantage and seem to be actively lying to their customers. The customer help at TT keep telling him that "You are connected at the fasted speed your line can support", which is absolute tosh, he is connected at the fastest speed that they can connect him to maintain their huge profit margins from what should be valued customers.

I think he is going to speak to the trading standards. My advice to him is to leave ASAP, but no-doubt he will be the one in default of contract if he leaves early!!!! These companies are outrageous!

Robbo1

Talk Talk has been trialing the BT Wholesale Max IPStream product for almost two years now, a clear request may get you moved over to it if that is what you want.

The line looks capable of running a lot faster.

Talk Talk go by the idea that 2 is between 0 and 8 which is what the up to covers. Rather than it referring to a fully rate adaptive product. One downside of the broadband being just a freebie

But sadly it is not a freebie, he is paying �15 on top of his telephone line rental and call package!

MrSaffron

You say "if that is what you want"... do you mean that is isn't a good idea to change over? I presume that "BT Wholesale Max IPStream product" is just ADSL Max?

Thanks

Robbo1