Interpretation of line stats-help please

I have started a new thread for this query as it seemed that I was now moving on from my original question. My previous submissions were under 'Which Entanet reseller' and Re Newnet'. I hope that this will be acceptable to the moderators.

I have now kept a record of my stats throughout the day today. It seems to me that the noise margin on the 24-07-07 was a rogue figure for some reason. It has not been repeated at all today. The speed did dip at 18:30 however. (measured by Brightview)

Could some one help me to answer the following questions?

1. Is is possible to interpret these figures now, to get a rough idea of what speed I should be able to achieve in the hands of a good ISP? If so, what sort of figure should I reasonably expect to achieve?

2. Would I be best 'touting' the figures around the good ISPs e.g. Newnet, IDnet, and the Entanet companies, to see what they say about the speed they would expect to achieve for me were I to join them?

3. Would you expect my interests to be best met in a max set up or a fixed speed one? If fixed speed, what should that be?

4. I am currently with AOL on their silver package. When I signed up to this, almost a year ago, I understood that I was signing up to a two MBs package, but seemingly I am on a 1Mb fixed speed. Is this reasonable of them, looking at the limited capability of my line, or have I been 'duped' by them, and would my speed increase if they were to put me up to 2Mbs?


24-07-07

20:00

Connection Speed 1152 288
Line Attenuation 55db 15.5db
Noise margin 2147483646db 13db


27-07-07

7:00

1152 288
54db 15.5
4db 13db

14:45

1152 288
54db 15.5db
3db 13db Speed 937


18:30

1152 288
54db 15.5
4db 13db Speed 620.6


21:30

1152 288
55db 15.5db
5db 13db Speed 962

I would be most grateful for any assistance given.

I have just read a note from someone giving details of a link that can check what is available from an exchange. My exchange is Cleveleys, and it seems that it is now Be enabled. Is this significant to what I can achieve from my poor line?

In reply to:

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My exchange is Cleveleys, and it seems that it is now Be enabled. Is this significant to what I can achieve from my poor line?

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Yes it is as LLU providers (such as Be and Sky for example) will more than likley give you much better speeds - higher or unlimited download limits - and better prices than any provider that goes via BT IPStream (i.e.providers like Newnet and Entanet resellers for example).

As an example of what difference using an LLU provider can make - you could get a package deal from Sky LLU of their TV Channels - free phone calls - plus your broadband connection from just

Looking at those line stats it would seem you would get under 1.5Mbps with an up to 8 Mbps service (i.e. Entanet etc.)

With an LLU provider you should get over 3Mbps.

I used the excellent calc. tool of Mr Saffron here

Edited by deleted (Fri 27-Jul-07 23:04:55)

Be use ADSL2+ which may get 3 Mbps out of your line.
NewNet, IDNet, Zen, Entanet all use the same underlying ADSL and I'd guess you'd get a 1 MBps link.

Most of the LLU operators will tie you into a long term contract (12 or more months). This is fine if you get good service, but if you don't you're stuck for the term or you'll have to buy out your contract.

John and Tony,
You are both right. I have spoken to Be and they estimate 3.4 on my line. They say that that is the official figure, although people often achieve better than the quoted figures. The question is whether it is worth the risk of the 12 month contract?
Views?

Depending on the package you should be able to get a shorter contract with Be (3 months or so).

This is the best estimator around on what you would get moving from fixed speed to Max (ADSL1) or ADSL2+.

I put in 1152, 54, 5. Adsl1 it replied 1152 - so you could stay the same, maybe improve sync but not enough to improve Profile, maybe lose out. So that is a no-no.

For ADSL2+ it gave 3000+ - so if you can get Be then go for it as regards sync speed.

However - recently it begins to seem Be are becoming victims of their own success. Too many customers for their capacity. So actual download speeds can suffer.

Sky - great as long as it works first time - excellent service and price, but CS - ouch!

Talk Talk generally reviled - but a few good reports in these forums. My brother (on Freeserve > Wanadoo > Orange dial-up for years) just signed up for International 3 as he has 3 friends in his area who had initial troubles but say it is now great. He will get BB and phone with unlimited (01 & 02) UK and International phone calls (to 30+ countries) for

I personally have never minded 12 month contracts after doing my research first.

You can get a lot more value for money with 12 month contracts but not in every instance.

Someone like Be and Sky seem to have good reviews and with Sky for example they throw in a free wireless router.

if you put in 1152,54,5 you get a line speed estimate of 3870Kbps

but if you up the margin to 20, you still get a line speed estimate of 3870Kbps.
You have to increase it to 21 for the line speed estimate to change.

So either low SNR has much less impact on ADSL2+ speeds, or the figures are well below the range for which the estimator is accurate.

The graph here appears to indicate that with attenuations above d 55db ADSL2+ offers no improvement, although I wouldn't know if that is the case.