Looking for a temporary ISP, thinking ADSL24?

Hi Everyone,

I have posted over in the Orange forums about some issues I have been having with them throttling Spotify.

Originally I was hoping to be on FTTC by now as my exchange was set for December last year. I am now on a different exchange for whatever reason... and that is set for June this year, so got a bit of a wait yet.

I did not want to switch as I have a good price with Orange and I didn't want to start a new contract, however I have since realised you can get rolling contracts.. a provider that seems particularly good is ADSL24, sounds like a nice company, and they specifically say no throttling which would hopefully mean I could use Spotify in the evenings!

However, I have found very little information about this company, does anyone have any thoughts on them? Or a different 1month provider (or 3 month I guess would work also).

As a side note, some brief questions about switching ISP, (hope that's ok in this forum).

- If I grab a MAC code from Orange can I hold onto that for a bit til I decide on a provider?
- Will it just transition over smoothly when I decide? (obviously would need to change settings on my router) by which I mean there won't be a dead period I hope?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Charlie -

ADSL24 are well-known here and pretty well thought of. Like any ISP, occasionally someone has a problem with them, but the boss man monitors these froums and picks up on anything that might have gone wrong.

Once you get a MAC from your ISP you have 30 days to give it to your chosen new ISP with your order, and for them to submit that to Openreach. Most ISPs do that within minutes of your order. It doesn't matter if the actual migration, which is scheduled by Openreach, takes place after the 30 days.

The vast majority of transitions, (migrations), occur smoothly. Depending on the service you choose there may be half-an-hour or so downtime of phone and broadband. Most services there is no phone downtime, (you probably need to choose one of these), and probably no down time on the broadband at all. Except for you restarting your router on the new one. (The old one often continues as well for a few hours).

As ADSL24 provide connections from a number of wholesalers, it would help us advise you on the best package if you put your phone number into this checker and post the URL of the result.

Thanks very much for your thorough and informative reply.

My exchange is this: http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/ESNEW (from putting my number in)

I like what I hear about ADSL24 then.. their 1 month contracts sound very intriguing.

The only other quick question is to do with line rental, if I quit my Orange contract to switch to another provider, can I keep my line rental with them, or is that not advisable? I don't really mind as it's only going to be about £1.50 a month difference to move the line rental to ADSL24 (for example) anyway.

Thanks again,

Charlie -

sorry, one other question...

If I do want to transfer the line rental as well (which I think I do, as I have had a horrible experience in the past with broadband and line rental on separate companies) do I need a separate code for that, or does the MAC code do everything..? Sorry if these are basic questions.

Charlie -

Hmm, sorry to add another reply and detail, hope it doesn't count as spam!

I've got a MAC code on the way from Orange. From what I have read now it sounds as though, I will give the MAC code to ADSL24 and then that will transfer my BB to them. My line rental would be a separate hassle, and to be honest, by line rental with Orange is very cheap so I will leave it with them if it's possible.

As I understand it I transfer to someone else using the MAC code and then once it's transferred over call up orange and end my BB contract. I presume/hope that I can cancel the BB on it's own and not have to cancel both the BB and the line rental, otherwise back to the beginning of having to transfer the line rental to the new provider also.

Charlie -

In reply to a post by charliestyr:

line rental with Orange is very cheap so I will leave it with them if it's possible.

It isn't! Orange don't do Phone only.

The MAC only covers the BB. You will need to get your new ISP to take over the line rental, but make sure they don't take over the line itself (Full LLU), keep it as BTw WLR, or you will have difficulty leaving them.

Ok, thanks for the info. I presume once I get my MAC code and call ADSL24 they will be able to explain what they are doing and I can specify that the line rental stays BT wholesale?

Thanks for all the help everyone.

Charlie -

LOL .

It would be easier to answer the questions if you weren't looking at a change to FTTC as soon as possible. That 1 June date is probably just a place-holder though and could easily slip again.

ADSL24 have some very good products available on that exchange, but the choice is affected by the different contract lengths some of them have. Also what to do about the phone line is very much dependent on whether or not you decide to go for BT Infinity for the FTTC, as they require you to have line rental with them as well.

I need a bit more info now.

1) Which products of theirs are you thinking of?

2) How much do you download and upload per month, and could any heavy stuff be scheduled to be downloaded overnight?

3) If you have no idea about the amount of traffic, what do you do on the net? In particular, lots of torrents/P2P, gaming, YouTube, TV catchup and other similar things?

4) Do you know how to find your router stats? We could do with you posting those. See here for help.

The MAC is for just the broadband. The phone line is separate, but if you have a phone/broadband bundle with Orange you need to find out what will happen there. They seem to get confused sometimes and end up cutting off both.

In the past, they used to refuse to accept notice on the broadband until the migration had completed. Which means you have to pay a month after you have left. I believe that to be either illegal or at least outside the MAC rules, but no-one seems ever to have challenged them about it.

At some time, but not yet,( let's discuss the broadband and FTTC first), you need to talk to ADSL24. James might even pick up this thread .

Were you on LLU with Orange before they passed it over to BT Wholesale? I'm wondering if there may be a problem with retaining your existing phone number if and when you move the line rental. Would that matter?

It could be worthwhile considering the Post Office for the phone, as I think the ADSL24 phone rental is 12-months. The PO is on 15 days notice so wouldn't tie you down. You can have most, (possibly all), of the ADSL24 broadband packages on that.

I type very slowly.

Howdy

It's straight forward to transfer your line rental to us too.

Once your broadband order has been placed with the MAC you've received from Orange, and you receive a go-live date, you can then place the order for the line rental with us, and we will be able to process this so that it transfers shortly after the broadband without affecting anything.

If you have any specific queries just ask

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

In the past, they used to refuse to accept notice on the broadband until the migration had completed. Which means you have to pay a month after you have left. I believe that to be either illegal or at least outside the MAC rules, but no-one seems ever to have challenged them about it.

It was never illegal or outside MAC rules; it was a term of contract. Nowadays it is notice of 14 days from when MAC is "used" (whatever that means, proffered to gaining ISP or from actual migration).

The notice period after migration is in fact useful for this poster, as it enables migration followed by line transfer, as suggested by James.

Roberto,

Thanks for your informative reply.

1) I was looking at their cheapest home broadband (12mb/1.4mb) with 1 month contract and unlimited peak/offpeak usage.

2/3) I download a lot, generally quite varied but I watch a lot of HD TV from iTunes (and sometimes other sources...) and HD movies also. I am constantly listening to music when home through Spotify which probably uses quite a lot of data also. For reference, my computer has been on for 8 days at the moment, over which time I have downloaded 42.6GB and uploaded 4.51GB. I don't really upload anything specifically myself so I am guessing that will be Spotify mostly.

I also play online games through a PS3 vaguely regularly.

4) Here are some stats from my router: http://cl.ly/2r2N3n1X1l0a0U1U443w

If you need something else let me know, I am techie enough to find these things, but I am not knowledgable enough about BB to understand what the figures actually mean!

----

As for the Orange situation, I do have a BB and Line Rental bundle. I am worried about this now! When you say "you need to find out what will happen there" do you mean I should be talking to Orange about what will happen when I transfer away?

From what James has mentioned after you it sounds like ADSL24 could take over the line rental simply enough. I am only worried because I certainly don't want to transfer the BB and then have Orange cut my line!

I don't know what the situation is with Orange, but I can give you the history. (I don't care about the phone number btw, a phone isn't even plugged in to the socket haha) I moved into this flat around this time of year in 2010. There was no phone line to the flat at all at the time, but I had already found that Orange was the cheapest supplier of BB at the time (£20 for unlimited and as fast as line would go inc. line rental) I contacted Orange and they told me that if I don't have a number I have to get a line fitted.

So, I got a line fitted through the Post Office, and then transferred the line rental to Orange with the BB activation. And that's where I am now, I am afraid I do not know if it is on BT wholesale of LLU... I don't quite get what all that means. (I am quite new to these intricate details of broadband!)

Since ADSL24 offer Fibre also, I wouldn't mind switching the line rental to them as I could end up staying with them for Fibre if the price is right. (Along with the fact that they seem to be well respected here).

Hope this answers what you were asking of me, and thanks again for all these responses.

Charlie -

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Were you on LLU with Orange before they passed it over to BT Wholesale? I'm wondering if there may be a problem with retaining your existing phone number if and when you move the line rental.

I don't see this as an issue. Orange were never Full LLU; lines were always WLR. No reason to lose phone #.

In reply to a post by Adsl24:

Howdy

It's straight forward to transfer your line rental to us too.

Once your broadband order has been placed with the MAC you've received from Orange, and you receive a go-live date, you can then place the order for the line rental with us, and we will be able to process this so that it transfers shortly after the broadband without affecting anything.

If you have any specific queries just ask

Thanks for this James, it all sounds excellent and simple about the transfer. I will probably phone you when I get my MAC code to discuss in more detail. Like I have mentioned above in my reply to Roberto, I am just concerned about Orange cutting my line rental off when I switch away with the broadband, so I will try to get a better picture of what will happen with them now from you guys!

Charlie -

No problem. If you wish to PM me your telephone number I can check if Orange have you on the BT-based system or their own LLU unbundled solution.

Once we get the line rental transfer order in, Orange cannot cease it, as there is only one order actually allowed on the line at the same time, so any cease they try and place will be rejected!

Thanks

James

As I just said Orange don't have unbundled phones and anyway they are not now LLU of any flavour.

Your phone number shows you are on the BT-based system so no problem there. So as I mentioned, give us a call when you get the MAC and we'll advise accordingly. It is important to ensure that you don't ask Orange to "cancel" or "cease" anything, we take care of the switch for both ADSL and Line Rental, and then you contact Orange to cancel thereafter.

Ok, that's great James, thanks a lot. I will probably be getting in touch soon when the MAC arrives.

Charlie -

You're welcome Charlie

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Were you on LLU with Orange before they passed it over to BT Wholesale? I'm wondering if there may be a problem with retaining your existing phone number if and when you move the line rental.

I don't see this as an issue. Orange were never Full LLU; lines were always WLR. No reason to lose phone #.

It never occurred to me that they didn't do full LLU.

All that was worrying me was that if it had been installed as an LLU line the number may have had restricted transferability, even though it would in any case by now have inevitably been on WLR.

Stats look a little suspect. Nothing to worry about though.

When was the last time you restarted the router? Have you noticed any slowing down from how things once were?

Haven't restarted the router in... I don't know, months, but it's fine. Same speed as ever, around 8.5Mbps at my computer. When I first had the contract it was 'as fast as your line will go' and I used to get about 12Mbps, (this is nearly two years ago mind), since then I am now on a different exchange, and also Orange changed my contract (and put up the price a bit) to a 10Mb contract.

I doubt it was legal to just change the terms of the contract in the middle of it but whatever.

But yeah, it's generally 8-9Mb which it is now. What's odd on the stats? We have seriously old and dodgy looking cabling on our building, a phone line creeps up the back of the building and goes into a black box and then about 30 or so wires shoot out of it like a spiders web to windows all over the building. I'm sure it's normal but it looks dodgy! Nothing's nailed to the wall either it all just flails around... random.

Charlie -

I suggest a single restart of the router . I would expect 12Mbps or thereabouts to be possible.

There's a figure not shown, which is the connection speed. That's probably in the normal GUI. The attainable of 12100kbps is low for the attenuation of 34dB, probably caused by the high noise margin of 11.1dB.

If you do a restart, please take the stats again immediately afterwards. The noise margin at that time is important, and it can vary all the time from then on. If that is 12dB then we have the beginning of an explanation.

Back to the line rental. From what James and XRaySpeX have said, particularly re you giving notice to Orange, I think there'll be no problem. You certainly need to be careful what you ask Orange, as it isn't beyond their incompetence to put a cancellation/cease on it from you asking about them .

I'd do it all from the new ISP/line rental side and give notice once the broadband has gone across and the new has been rental ordered. As James suggested.

Ok, restarted and now the full stats, probably including the connection speed as well Cut it off before as didn't realise there was much crucial down there:

http://cl.ly/063P1o1x2s3q1h2h3A1Z

Like I mentioned my contract with orange is no longer 'as fast as the line will go' (like it was when I opened the contract ahem) but it is 10Mb now, so I would never expect more than that I guess.

As a side note I am getting the same 8.5Mb from speedtest.net as I was before the reboot.

Thanks also for your opinion on how to treat the line rental etc. I will not say anything to Orange until it is all switched over!!

Charlie -

Interesting. (And still doesn't have the connection speed). Look in the normal router menus for something like Connection Status or Bandwidth.

Any idea why they capped it at 10Mbps? Did you have a lot of errors when it moved from LLU? (That's if it was LLU).

It's just that the 12Mbps product from ADSL24, although it should give better than you have now, will have a maximum real download speed of about 10Mbps. The more expensive 24Mbps one should give approaching 12Mbps actual, with more possible if the error rates are low. That's because they can reduce the connection-time noise margin in appropriate cases.

All I can find is a summary that says:

This information reflects the current status of your DSL connection.
Line Rate - Upstream (Kbps): 952
Line Rate - Downstream (Kbps): 10115

I presume they capped it at 10Mbps so that they can offer me the option to upgrade to a more expensive plan that is up to 24Mbps. I mean, when I signed up with the contract it was an up to 24Mbps contract, then they changed it about half way through to a 10Mbps contract... bit cheeky really. But, since I was only getting about 10-12Mbps on the 24, going down to 8-9 isn't the end of the world for me

So, you're saying that if I sign up for the 24Mbps contract I'd probably go back to that 10-12 ish amount? That's interesting, I always presumed that if you can't even get to the maximum speed your contract offers, switching to a higher maximum speed contract wouldn't make a difference! I will keep it in mind.

Charlie -

In reply to a post by charliestyr:

Orange changed my contract (and put up the price a bit) to a 10Mb contract.

There is no such thing! Someone's having you on! Tho' something is holding your Target NM at 12 dB which is worth 2.5 - 3 Megs of Sync Speed.

no such thing as what, the 10Mb contract? This is what is states when I log into my orange account, and under my 'current plan' :

"Home Max - £9.71 a month plus £10.72 Orange line rental (total £20.43 a month), up to 10 Meg speed, wireless router, unlimited usage allowance (fair use policy applies), evening and weekend UK landline telephone calls included."

Originally it was as fast as your line will go, I am certain. Or is that what you are saying does not exist?

But anyway, what about this Target NM you speak of, is that to do with my cabling or, outside stuff etc? Currently my router is plugged directly into the socket on the wall, no micro filter thing in there, would that help?

Charlie -

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

(And still doesn't have the connection speed).

It's below "Path 0/Downstream"

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

give notice once the broadband has gone across and the new has been rental ordered.

No need! It's auto as 14 days from migration.

Ah, I see!

Home Max was always up to 20 Meg. That statement "up to 10 Meg speed" is just Orange's estimate of your line's capability and probably mirrors what BT thinks at http://www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/adslchecker.welcome .

My Orange statement says "Home Select - £12.26 a month, up to 13 Meg speed", yet I've been getting over 19 Meg for months. No way am I contracted to only 13 Meg; I would be up in arms if I were.

EDIT: What's it say at bottom of that page "We've checked out your line and your estimated speed is"?

Edited by XRaySpeX (Mon 05-Mar-12 17:24:26)

Interesting... I'd like to think that was right, and it sounds like it is in your case as you are getting 19 when it says 13, however I am also given the option to 'upgrade' to "up to 20 meg" broadband.

http://cl.ly/222O3T1H0q0t1V3s1Q2j

However, like you say, the current description of my package could be judged on the speed they think I can get, and those options below are just for renewing into their newer contracts which are otherwise the same but a tad more expensive.

Either way, when I was certainly on a 'max your line' situation, I only just got 12meg or so, so now getting 8-9 is not much different, and doesn't necessarily mean I've been cut down to "up to 10". Either way, having the upgrades displayed like that in the screenshot above does suggest I am limited to 10Mb and I certainly have never seen speeds over 10Mb from my computer...

Charlie -

I get the exactly same set of "You can change to:" but in my case it makes more sense as I'm on the BB Only package.

The "Up to" speeds they quote are of Sync Speed not throughput.

On reflection, I think the same happened to you as happened to me (last April) when Orange switched from LLU to WBC.

On LLU you would have got a good Sync speed, 12+ Meg. When they switched you to WBC they put you on a high NM of 12 - 15 dB, which would have trimmed at least 2 Meg off your Sync. For some reason they leave it like that even tho' it is the same technology, ADSL2+, as LLU and your line is capable of more.

In my case they left me on 11.5 Meg @ 15 dB NM until I complained and insisted they reduce my NM to 6 dB. Eventually they did so and I ended up on 16.8 Meg @ 6 dB NM. Sometime later they reduced NM to 3 dB, which BT WBC can do, and I got the 19 Meg I'm getting now.

That 13 Meg estimate in my Orange online account appeared about the time I went to WBC; while on LLU it showed 17 Meg.

The stats do bear out what XRaySpeX is saying, though it's a damn funny thing for an ISP to do, and a daft way of describing the package. I'm not surprised you believe what it says, as no doubt do many thousand others.

The result of thousands or probably tens of thousands of users getting several Mbps less than they should is a huge cost saving to Orange or BT Wholesale, depending on the contract between them.

Whether you want to pursue the issue with Orange or not is up to you. The ADSL24 12Mbps package will give you 12Mbps connection with 10Mbps actual, as I said before. The 24Mbps product would give well over 13Mbps and possibly 14Mbps cnnection, giving you an extra 880kbps actual per 1Mbps connection speed. **** See next post ****

The high noise margin setting of 12dB at connection time would disappear on migration to these particular ADSL24 services. It would be set at 6dB and that would mean the full 12Mbps connection or "as fast as it can go", (figures already given), on the 24Mbps one.

There would also be the possibility of perhaps another 1Mbps/880kbps on the 24Mbps product by adjustments ADSL24 can make to the standard settings, but that would depend on how stable the line turned out to be.

Edited by RobertoS (Tue 06-Mar-12 00:20:51)

In reply to a post by charliestyr:

All I can find is a summary that says:

This information reflects the current status of your DSL connection.
Line Rate - Upstream (Kbps): 952
Line Rate - Downstream (Kbps): 10115

That's what I was after .

It's about 1Mbps below what I hoped to see . Can you confirm the highest actual download speeds you used to get before all this happened? Not a range. The highest.

I presume they capped it at 10Mbps so that they can offer me the option to upgrade to a more expensive plan that is up to 24Mbps. I mean, when I signed up with the contract it was an up to 24Mbps contract, then they changed it about half way through to a 10Mbps contract... bit cheeky really. But, since I was only getting about 10-12Mbps on the 24, going down to 8-9 isn't the end of the world for me

So, you're saying that if I sign up for the 24Mbps contract I'd probably go back to that 10-12 ish amount? That's interesting, I always presumed that if you can't even get to the maximum speed your contract offers, switching to a higher maximum speed contract wouldn't make a difference! I will keep it in mind.

Charlie -

It's not surprising you are confused. What is certain is that one way or another, probably by setting the "target noise margin" to 12dB instead of the standard 6dB, Orange are unfairly capping your speed. I have this page explaining (target) noise margin, which should help you.

Upgrading on Orange would make no difference at all. Going for the 24Mbps product on ADSL24 would definitely give you more than the 12Mbps one, figures now given a few times. It's the attenuation that is the basic speed determinant, and yours of 34dB should connect at well over 13Mbps. But given the 10115kbps above I'm a bit puzzled, and less confident about whether the difference would be worth the extra cost. I'm going to ask about something elsewhere, hopefully get an answer during Tuesday.

Then of course, there is what made you start looking around anyway. You say they are throttling Spotify. This connection speed issue is nothing to do with that.

Read your article/page on the noise margin. Very interesting! I never realised how intricate broadband connections are, although of course I realise it is not a simple thing to put so much information through metal.

Anyway, I think you guys have provided me with lots of invaluable information, and I thank you for that! As far as I can tell, Orange are behaving vaguely oddly, but as the speed is still acceptable I've never thought about it much before.

You ask what the maximum speed I used to get was.. Basically, before my exchange changed, which I now gather was probably when they switched from LLU to wholesale or whatever, I used to get 1.2MB/s often and easily. Google tells me that is 9.6Mbps... Now I get 8.5Mbps ish, so a 1Mb drop on my vague memory and calculation!

I certainly do not intend to 'upgrade' on Orange, don't worry! I am definitely considering switching to ADSL24 though, and I will probably go for their 24Mb service based on what you have said. Since their contracts are 1 month, I presume it would be simple to change to the 12Mb if I was not getting high speeds.

Again, like you say (!) back to the beginning of all this, the main problem is that Orange throttle Spotify, and ADSL24 do not throttle, which is what was leading me there in the beginning. Any overall speed increase is a bonus as far as I am concerned, as to be honest, 8Mb or so is enough for most of my use. (Obviously more speed is always welcome!).

Thanks again for all your help and information, this is very well educated forum! I have learned a lot, which I genuinely appreciate.

Any further thoughts are of course welcome, but basically, I am set on switching to ADSL24 when I get my MAC through from Orange

Charlie -

Hi Charlie

Which package are you looking at with ourselves? Is it the LLU Premium Home or the standard BT package like Home 30? The LLU Premium Home is up to 12Mb but unlimited usage, whereas the Home 30 package is up to 24Mb (if your exchange supports BT 21CN) but capped peak usage/unlimited off-peak.

Anyhow our sales team will advise accordingly in any case.

Hi James,

I was looking at the Premium Plus initially based on what others have said about what my line should be able to do. Then, if I do not get speeds greater than ~10Mb I would probably switch to the Premium Home instead.

The limited peak time usage packages, such as Home 30 are quite likely to not be enough for me and my flatmate. (At the moment I can only monitor how much I use! Not sure how much could be used total).

Should I be considering some importance between going LLU or "standard BT" ? My exchange supports 21CN.

Charlie -

No, if you can get Premium LLU, there is nothing better

ohh ok, just re-checked and I cannot get that LLU package silly me.

I guess I will be going for standard then.. if I cannot get LLU from you would that mean that in the future when I supposedly can get FTTC I would not be able to get it through you?

Charlie -

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

As I just said Orange don't have unbundled phones and anyway they are not now LLU of any flavour.

They have been in the past as a know a couple of people who was on Orange full LLU service and they had a letter to say they was being changed back to the Bt network.
Orange is getting rid of their LLU equipment, they may have already done it country wide by now.

Yes, FTTC is complete separate and is not related to LLU, so as soon as FTTC is available you can upgrade with us.

ok, that's good. Thanks

Charlie -

In reply to a post by Adsl24:

No, if you can get Premium LLU, there is nothing better

I presume that uses Be network. i know I can't get that, do you think it is better than Cable and wireless?

I am happy with my cable and wireless network, I can really put the speed up to a decent amount by changing my SNR, could never do that with BT network.

Sure i would love a few more megabits, but that is not going to happen on ADSL, but even changing my SNR down to 4.6 the network is stable, saying that, the old Netgear DG834Gt have a great modem inside.

Also, I can get C&W LLU, but I presume I'd need to have a new line fitted to my flat for that..? (which obviously I'd rather not do unless there is some huge advantage )

Charlie -

Edited by deleted (Tue 06-Mar-12 09:46:07)

Have you checked if ADSL24 traffic manage P2P? Most ISPs do; particularly on a BTw product. Which I understand was the whole reason for considering migration.

Yeah, the main reason I have been looking at ADSL24 is that they do not throttle anything according to their website.

"There are no blocked ports on the network and we do not throttle any protocols. We provide a static IP as standard."

I will double check when I am actually buying a product from, but I think that should mean I'll be ok.

Charlie -

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

They have been in the past as a know a couple of people who was on Orange full LLU service and they had a letter to say they was being changed back to the Bt network.

That would have been their line rental. Orange have never had Full LLU.

In reply to a post by charliestyr:

ohh ok, just re-checked and I cannot get that LLU package silly me.

Where do you get that from? Unless the Be capacity at the exchange is full, you should be able to.

Oh, it's just when I put my number into the ADSL24 website to show me what options I can get the Premium LLU packages disappear. I presumed that meant there wasn't the option for me. I have checked the exchange on Sam Knows though and it does have Be LLU. Unsure why it wasn't showing on the site therefore.... I'll check when I call them as the LLU package would be much more suitable for me.

Charlie -

Just for interest, what happens if you try the Be checker?

It says:

"You'll get a download speed of around 9.0 meg on your line. Existing BE members with lines like yours get between 6.0 meg and 12.0 meg."

So I guess that means I could get be LLU?

Charlie -

Sounds like it. Best thing would be to talk to ADSL24 and see what they find with your number.

But what did you mean in your opening post about now being on a different exchange? The link you gave say Newington. Is that the new one or the old one, and what was the other? It could be that one or other checker is looking at the wrong exchange. Or did your number change at the same time?

Very odd.

Yep, will reserve judgement until I've spoke to them!!

As for the exchanges, when I started my contract, about 20 months ago I was on the Waverley exchange. The reason I knew this was because I was always checking the BT fibre rollout and putting my number in always went to Waverley exchange.

Around the same time that my broadband speed dipped, the fibre rollout changed to 6 months later than it initially said. I now realise that this is probably as I am now on the Newington exchange. (this is Edinburgh by the way, if not already mentioned!)

Now, I didn't really think/realise you could just change exchanges but I guess there's not much reason why not? Physically anyway, I'm not sure why though otherwise. I am a little closer to the Newington exchange than the Waverley one.

Interestingly if I put my postcode in it still says I would be at the Waverley exchange.

Charlie -

E2A: also my number has not changed.

Edited by deleted (Tue 06-Mar-12 13:48:17)

You don't change exchanges just like that (w/out moving) . You were always on the Newington exchange.

In reply to a post by charliestyr:

As for the exchanges, when I started my contract, about 20 months ago I was on the Waverley exchange. The reason I knew this was because I was always checking the BT fibre rollout and putting my number in always went to Waverley exchange.

FTTC is supplied from the nearest cabinet, but that doesn't have to connected (planned) to your current exchange.

So it look like your phone (incl. BB) goes to the Newington exchange, but fibre to you is planned from the Waverley exchange.

In reply to a post by charliestyr:

Interestingly if I put my postcode in it still says I would be at the Waverley exchange.

What is "it"?

Edited by XRaySpeX (Tue 06-Mar-12 14:03:53)

Hmm, maybe I am wrong, not sure why I am so certain I was on Waverley exchange.

'it' is the ADSL24 website. If I put my number in it shows services available from Newington and if I put my postcode in it shows services from Waverley.

Charlie -

Phone # is always definitive.

What does this checker say? Particularly about fibre.

Can we have the post code? I want to check it against the fibre cabinet rollout.

That site says:

"For Telephone Number **** on Exchange NEWINGTON

Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband service that provides a fixed line speed up to 2Mbps.

Our test also indicates that your line currently supports an estimated ADSL Max broadband line speed of 5.5Mbps; typically the line speed would range between 4Mbps and 8Mbps.

Our test also indicates that your line currently supports an estimated ADSL2+ broadband line speed of 7.5Mbps; typically the line speed would range between 5.5Mbps and 12Mbps. Our test also indicates that your line could support an estimated ADSL 2+ Annex-M broadband upstream line speed of 1Mbps and downstream line speed of 7.5Mbps; typically the downstream speed would range between 5.5Mbps and 12Mbps.

Your cabinet is planned to have WBC FTTC by 30th June 2012. Our test also indicates that your line currently supports a fibre technology with an estimated WBC FTTC Broadband where consumers have received downstream line speed of 40Mbps and upstream line speed of 10Mbps."

---

My postcode is EH8 9DH.

Charlie -

Edited by deleted (Tue 06-Mar-12 15:59:04)

That's better. Starts to make sense.

(By the way, both exchanges have Be LLU presence, so why the ADSL24 checker isn't showing it as available is strange).

Two cabinets serve that postcode. Cab 34 has 46% of the lines and goes to Newington. Cab 36 has the rest and goes to Waverley. So the postcode checker won't know which is correct.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

What is certain is that one way or another, probably by setting the "target noise margin" to 12dB instead of the standard 6dB, Orange are unfairly capping your speed.

Surely BTw wouldn't run a tailored DLM for Orange? Or do they?

I think the WBC DLM has ISP-selectable Standard, Stable and Super-Stable. How else did yours get set high at first? Which of them is the ISP in that respect is another question.

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I'd update you on my situation. Today I switched over to ADSL24's service. I am seeing speeds of 1.5x or so what I got with Orange.. 8mb, now about 12-13, as was predicted on this forum.

I am on the 24Mb service from them, but obviously I am not getting 24Mb, so am debating whether to switch to the 12Mb service... from what I remember of our conversation that would probably lower the speed to more like 10 rather than just to 12? Or am I mistaken?

Thanks for all your help everyone, much more satisfied broadband user here now, and also, ready to switch to fibre as soon as it appears in my area

Charlie -

Depends on your line stats for Attenuation, sync speed, Noise margin, etc.

Who is the underlying ISP?

Edited by deleted (Tue 20-Mar-12 20:23:08)