Market 2, longish line - possible high contention..

After writing a small essay in my earlier post, I then go back and check the samknows website to find Sky/easynet have recently set up kit in my local exchange (SWUWN Llanwern), thus I'm not restricted to BT Wholesale as a supplier..

I'm looking for a replacement for my O2 access package (which is a leftover from a recent house move) which as well as being expensive, suffers massive drops in peak time speed. Whilst the synch is at 2 - 2.5Mbps evening DL speeds drop to 100kbps and less quite often.

Would moving onto some LLU hardware help alleviate this problem?

Which other ISPs use sky/easynet (other than Sky), if any?

My intended usage (I'm renovating the house ATM) would be moderate: gaming, internet tv, sporadic P2P, and possibly hosting.

We're currently not signed up with Sky, but considering getting Sky+ when the work is done and we unpack the telly - I guess this would have an effect on the deal they'd offer.

Easynet obviously, but they are significantly more expensive than Sky,

I have just signed up to Sky (not connected yet though). They are £7.50 a month unlimited if you take out their Sky Talk package. I think (from prices another user posted) this is £10 a month if you have Sky Talk but no Sky TV.

If (by some miracle) 2Gb per month download is sufficient then the broadband if free with the Sky Talk package.

If you don't want Sky Talk it is £5 a month extra on top of prices I have put above.

Our exchange like yours was unbundled by stealth, end of October they had no plans to do it, I check a couple of weeks ago and it was done. They haven't bothered putting flyers through peoples door or notifying existing customers they had done it. I am hoping that there won't be too many users on it, and that I will get good speeds etc.

I have recently been sent a couple of vouchers that I can give to friends which at £50 M&S voucher each if they sign up to Sky. If you have any friends or family already on Sky, I am sure they would be happy to give you one.

Can you post your line stats reported by your router?

I recommend Sky LLU.

Can do, but not til tonight when I get home.

Assuming I'm allowed on the computer, I'm supposed to be fitting a carpet

O2 Access is well known for people problems, and switching to another IPStream service on the exchange would probably improve things.

Sky if getting the Sky TV too is a good deal, if happy having an all in one bundle.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

O2 Access is well known for people problems, and switching to another IPStream service on the exchange would probably improve things.

Sky if getting the Sky TV too is a good deal, if happy having an all in one bundle.

And not a bad deal at £15 for broadband only with no TV or Phone package

Im impressed they unbundled a ~2000 line exchange!

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Can you post your line stats reported by your router?

I recommend Sky LLU.

Have you moved SKY LLU recently as I thought your ISP was BE?

Pip

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Can you post your line stats reported by your router?

I recommend Sky LLU.

Have you moved SKY LLU recently as I thought your ISP was BE?

Pip

No I moved from Sky to BE.

Heh!

...and BE isn't available on the OP's exchange

Delete that quick!

Yup, If BE was available then I'd prolly also have O2, and I'd be happy.

Did a quick speed test tonight:

Down 46.13Kbps (I jest not!)
Up 373.68Kbps

Synch speed 448/2240 up/down

I can't get line stats right now as I've forgotten the Superuser password

Does this work? http://fruk.net/index.php?fruk=stimulatethomson

In reply to a post by gilesp:

I can't get line stats right now as I've forgotten the Superuser password

Either the serial number on the router label underneath, or O2Br0ad64nd. (Note the zero in the middle).

One hard reset later..

Line stats:

Uptime: 0 days, 0:06:16
DSL Type: G.992.1 annex A
Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 448 / 2,944
Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [kB/kB]: 0.00 / 0.00
Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]: 11.5 / 17.5
Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]: 31.5 / 53.0
SN Margin (Up/Down) [dB]: 22.0 / 9.5
Vendor ID (Local/Remote): TMMB / ALCB
Loss of Framing (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Signal (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Power (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Link (Remote): 0
Error Seconds (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
FEC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 12
CRC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 0
HEC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 0

Note to self, reset password

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

In reply to a post by gilesp:

I can't get line stats right now as I've forgotten the Superuser password

Either the serial number on the router label underneath, or O2Br0ad64nd. (Note the zero in the middle).

SuperUser password was changed to something a little less well published. No idea what I changed it to though

I'd say you'd get 4megs down on Sky LLU. I think that's probably your best bet TBH.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

I'd say you'd get 4megs down on Sky LLU. I think that's probably your best bet TBH.

I guess the question is, would I get a huge drop-off in speed in the evening

I've trawled through some of the Sky support forums and there appears to be a lot of unhappy customers complaining of poor service after 7pm - I've not got the full details as a lot of the poster know how to complain, but don't appear to know one end of a modem from another, so it could well be they're all on overstuffed BT services, but I'd hate to sign myself up to a years contract only to find the situation was as bad, but without O2's better-than-average customer services..

I wonder if there's a way of finding out how busy Sky's hardware is at my exchange? Would a call-centre drone have access to that sort of information?

This issue appears to be dependant on your exchange and how many people are on it.

My friend in Weymouth gets really good speeds (and very similar) off peak as peak.

From what you said your exchange was recently unbundled given that I would expect it to not have any problems for a little whily at least, certainly (and I am hoping this for my self as well) not within the first year.

ETA: I found a post on here (may have been in the SKy section which listed the exchanges that are having problems. There was also a post on the Sky websites forum which listed the exchanges which are having problems.)

Edited by deleted (Thu 24-Feb-11 11:59:33)

I don't think the call centre would tell you anyway. The idea of Sky BB is to sell Sky TV. If Sky BB isn't doing that, Sky will make sure it does.

Agreeing with Nicky J here. as the exchange has only recently been upgraded and with the comparatively small size I wouldn't expect any congestion problems.

Re the deals on signup the maximum on Sky is £50 M&S Vouchers,however go via Topcashback and you can claim £50.50 broadband only up to £90.90 with New Customer - Sky+ HD Box with HD Subscription + Broadband Unlimited.

Notes on Topcashback: See the bottom line for best deal
Cashback will not be paid on any purchases using an offer code.

Cashback is only for NEW customers only, unless stated otherwise.

Orders must be completed WHOLLY online, if the order is finalised over the phone, the order will not be eligible for cashback.

Please note the maximum M&S voucher amount that can be received in conjunction with a cash back claim is £50.

Sky Service status is here
http://www.sky.com/helpcentre/servicestatus

In reference to www.sky.com/helpcentre/servicestatus/messagedetail.html?messageUri=...:

# 23 Feb 2011 - 16:50

Sky Broadband Update
Customers in the following areas may have noticed a reduction in their broadband speeds at peak times recently. We�re sorry for the disruption to our normal service, in some instances web browsing and downloads are taking longer than usual and customers may also notice this impacting on their Sky Anytime+ service.

This issue is partly due to significant increases in the number of new customers joining Sky Broadband in the areas affected, combined with unplanned delays in the extra equipment we have ordered to accommodate them.

Areas upgraded so far:
We�ve completed the upgrade work in Kidbrooke, Chester and North Wales as planned. The Broadband service in these areas should be back to normal and we�re sorry for any disruption that you may have experienced while we completed the upgrade work in your area. If you�re still experiencing slow speeds it could be due to your home set up visit the Broadband Helpcentre for tips to get the most from your Sky Broadband connection.
Areas currently affected:
Elstree, St Albans, Welwyn Garden, Stevenage, Welwyn

Leatherhead, Crawley, East Grinstead, Horley, Horsham, Billingshurst, Lingfield

Stockton, Darlington, Aycliffe, Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Northallerton, Whitby

We�re working to upgrade all of these exchanges as quickly as possible and will continue to update on the Sky Help Forum< http://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Technical-Issues/bd-p/Sk...