i dont want ADSL MAX - what can i do?

on 24 feb, virgin adsl switched me to ADSL MAX from normal ADSL without telling me. since then, (a) my router no longer syncs, so i've had to rely on a speedtouch usb modem, (b) the speed has severely dropped, i used to get 5Mbps+, now i get ~ 2.5 Mbps, (c) i'm experiencing constant disconnections - whenever the phone rings, the connection drops (even if all the phones are unplugged).

so from all this, i deduce my house's phone line is not suitable for ADSL MAX, right? i want to go back to the nice, steady ADSL i had before. is this possible, or are these kinds of upgrades a one-way-street? would virgin switch me back if i asked?

i'd also consider leaving virgin for another ISP, but i cant find any details of if they only offer ADSL MAX service or they offer normal ADSL also..... i'm mainly interested in o2 and Be.... how can i find this information?

thanks.

u can't get 5mbps on adsl, only on adsl max.

really? well i've definitely been getting more than 4Mbps for a year or so, so i guess i must have been on ADSL Max all that time?.... one month ago there was some LLU changes that destroyed my connection, but they fixed it.... but since 24 feb i've been getting all the disconnections/slow speeds/inabilty to sync with router etc... if its not and ADSL Max upgrade, must be some other fault at the exchange?

Edited by gloomdog (Sun 01-Mar-09 18:21:51)

yeah, it sounds like another fault, noise on the line maybe. just fyi adsl=fixed speed upto 2mbps, adslmax=rate adaptive upto 8mbps, adsl2+=upto 24mbps.

Run a test at http://www.speedtester.bt.com/ to find out you IP Profile.

thanks for the info.

everytime i try to use the btspeedtester i get "The system is currently busy. Please try again shortly, however if this problem persists, raise the issue with your service provider." grrr.....

Go on this website here sam knows and it will tell if you can get LLU providers like O2, Be, sky, ukonline, virgin cable etc....

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/checke...

thanks.

The following services are available in your location:

BT Wholesale ADSL
BT Wholesale ADSL Max
BT Wholesale WBC (21CN)
BT Wholesale SDSL
AOL LLU
O2 / Be LLU
Bulldog LLU
TalkTalk (CPW) LLU
Sky Broadband / Easynet LLU
Tiscali LLU
Tiscali TV (via Tiscali LLU)
Orange LLU (Formerly Wanadoo)
Virgin Media (Cable)

You are approximately 1.39km from the exchange. Note that this is the straight line distance - the actual cable length will be longer!

ReceiveAttenuation_dB= 33
ReceiveMargin_dB= 9
RxOutputPower_dBm= 0
SendAttenuation_dB= 12
SendMargin_dB= 5

sync 6.5 Mbps

http://www.hmmm.ip3.co.uk/speedtest/ 00:52 2-Mar-09
up: 2888 kbps
down: 481 kbps

(and BT Speedtester still not working!)

now i'm interested in O2 / Be, but i read they are ADSL2+ services, and samknows doesnt mention anything about ADSL2+. are there any compatibility requirements for ADSL2+ on my line? also how can i be sure that i dont end up on e.g. O2's "Access" non-LLU service?

Edited by gloomdog (Mon 02-Mar-09 00:55:05)

Your line would get 10meg+ on O2 / Be LLU (which is the pick of the bunch). You could also get that on WBC via an Entanet reseller (like adsl24).

I take it there is a reason why you can't get Virgin cable despite it being in the area?

eta; just to clarity, both LLU and WBC (21cn) will give you Adsl2+. Your line will do Adsl2+ too, the only thing you need to check is whether your modem/router is up to it (although, even with this, O2 will supply you with a new router for free when you sign up).

Edited by deleted (Mon 02-Mar-09 01:59:46)

If you lose connection when the phone rings it is almost certain a fault has developed on the line. What happens if you disconnect all your internet gear from the phone line, Sky boxes and so on, and try the "Quiet Line Test" on 17070?

(You haven't got anything like a Sky box or new burglar alarm not going through a filter have you? Any new phones?)

Your line is actually quite good from the stats you posted - though the connection speed of 6.5Mbps for the attenuation of 33dB looks low. That also points towards unusual noise on the line. Sort that out and on O2/Be LLU you should get a considerably higher speed.

Can you try the BT speed test as well and post the full results, that gives some other useful info, and if it gives an error instead of running please tell us that.

Whether you will be able to get any sense from AOL about the line is another question, but if there is a fault it will almost certainly go with you if you move.

when i do the quiet line test, all i get is a dim background "buzzing"... nothing loud or obtrusive.

i do have a sky box, but it is totally unconnected from the phone line. had it for a few years, always left the phone line unconnected. no new phones or burglar alarms. basically the problems started on 24 feb "out-of-the-blue", with nothing changed at my end.

10.45am march 2

ReceiveAttenuation_dB= 29
ReceiveMargin_dB= 9
RxOutputPower_dBm= 0
SendAttenuation_dB= 12
SendMargin_dB= 6

sync 6.8 Mbps

http://www.hmmm.ip3.co.uk/speedtest/ :
down 2880 kpbs, up 646 kbps (before 24 feb, would get ~ 5Mbps down)

http://speedtester.bt.com/ :

Test error: The system is currently busy. Please try again shortly, however if this problem persists, raise the issue with your service provider.