Any point in changing ISP if they all use BT?

I'm with Utility Warehouse on their 8mbps service. Actual speeds fluctuate from 5.5 down to 0.2 (yes really), regardless of time of day and how many other customers might be online.

I suspect the problem is with BT's exchange or line, in which case, is there any point in changing ISP? Or should I bite the bullet and go optical with Virgin Media, which I don't want to do for many reasons.

Or, what can I say to UW to get them to fix the problem once and for all?

Check the VP status of your exchange here. This tells us about exchange congestion on BT Wholesale based broadband.

Also tell us your exchange, or better still give us the link to its details on samknows. This tells us what is available at your exchnage if you decide to migrate.

Run a speedtest here and tell us what ISP it says you are on. Or post the result like this. This tells us which ISP UW are supplying you through, so we can advise you on that.

Finally see if you can find your modem/router stats and post them - see here for help. These tell us what your line is currently connected at, what it should be able to achieve, and if there are a lot of errors.

Thanks Bob, I've done all that, but I must admit, there's a lot of technical info here that I just don't understand.

Here is my Exchange Status.

Here's the link to its details on Sam Knows.

Here are my results from Speedtest.net.

Here are my Router stats.

I notice my Router has firmware v2.10.22. Kitz.co.uk tells me there's a new version (from 2007) 3.01.31_UK "which cures the frequent drop outs". More details here. I don't have "drop-outs" - unless these include the perception of the internet grinding to a halt (very low speed) and then recovering just as spontaneously.

Following my most recent discussion with Utility Warehouse, I do reboot my router from time to time. Sometimes, I get a much higher speed instantly, sometimes not.

I hope this helps, I am very grateful for any advice you can give.

Thank you very much.

It is likely that you are not using BT kit at the exchange as Utility Warehouse resell TalkTalk LLU amongst others.

In reply to a post by RandomJointer:

It is likely that you are not using BT kit at the exchange as Utility Warehouse resell TalkTalk LLU amongst others.

But the ISP shows as Mistral? So could it be that it's not a LLU product?

Have you tried a BT speedtest (http://speedtester.bt.com/) - to see if it accepts your phone number. That'll be the easiest way to show if using a BT-based product, or if you are actually on a LLU product.

Matt

Post deleted by RobertoS

In reply to a post by mick_the_grey:

Thanks Bob, I've done all that, but I must admit, there's a lot of technical info here that I just don't understand.

Looks like Twitpics are deleting things quickly.

I saw your stats but they have gone now. Also the exchange status but I can check that with the info in the samknows link. I remember they showed 8128 downstream, can't remember the upstream. Also a lowish attenuation and downstream margin about 8dB?

From another poster it seems your ISP is Mistral, which is odd to me as it belongs to Kingston Communications (Hull) and I've never heard of Mistral outside the Hull area - I shall dig deeper.

I think the BT speed tester should run as someone else suggested. A copy and paste of the full results from that would be useful.

Who do you pay your phone bill to?

It's looking to me as though the problem will be within the Mistral systems and a migration would not just solve the problem but probably be far better and possibly cheaper. How much do you pay for broadband and/or phone?

Edited by RobertoS (Sun 09-Aug-09 21:46:54)

Mistral and Eclipse are KCom offnet firms. Karoo is the Hull one.

Kcom do use Tiscali LLU in some areas

Thanks.

If the modem is always connecting at 8128Kbps then the BT line is fine, and the uptime of 28 hours since when router was switched on suggests the line is fine.

Different providers will provide a varying speed, e.g. Be/O2 are likely to give you much higher connection and throughput speeds.

So while the copper and exchange is BT's there is a significant variation in performance, but who is best varies from area to area and month to month.