In reply to a post by euphoria4949:

This is the one part I'm really quite rubbish on "LLU", "ADSL", ADSL2...... etc.. I'm not great on the differences and which is better or based on my exchange which would better for me :-\
Could some lovely person break it down into an idiots guide please

See my What is LLU? page.

ADSL these days in the UK usually means BT Wholesale ADSL Max, which is also sometimes called IPStream. Before ADSL Max, and for a while after it was introduced, there were only fixed speed ADSL lines of 512kbps, 1Mbps and 2Mbps. It is still possible if needed to get similarly fixed speed lines but based on "managed" ADSL Max.

ADSL Max, (in fact most ADSLs and ADSL2+ services too), carries out a little bit of chit-chat between the exchange equipment and your modem/router to work out the highest stable speed to connect at. Each time you connect this can be different, as the background interference varies all the time.

The highest download connection speed possible on ADSL Max is 8128kbps. The upload connection speed can be either 448kbps or 832kbps, depending on ISP, package and price.

ADSL2 is an advance on ADSL in that it can connect at 12Mbps downstream. Possibly 1.3Mbps upstream. So far as I know, no ISP actively sells ADSL2, but some will downgrade you to it if ADSL2+ is unstable, or some of us force it down by "tweaking" our modem/routers, as in some circumstances it is better than ADSL2+.

ADSL2+ is a further advance which uses extra frequencies as well as the ones used by ADSL and ADSL2, which are the same. It can therefore connect at up to 24Mbps. Upload speeds of up to 1.3Mbps or with some suppliers up to 2.5Mbps.

LLU suppliers generally have ADSL2+ equipment. BT Wholesale ADSL2+ is their 21CN WBC service.

Lots more information on my website about what Noise Margin is, (applicable to both LLU and non-LLU plus an extra bit about how BT Wholesale mess it up for non-LLU), and how the BT Wholesale ADSLx works. Unless you are on an LLU service then you are on a BT Wholesale service, whoever your ISP is.

Edited by RobertoS (Thu 19-Aug-10 11:40:16)

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

In reply to a post by boysteve:

The "do not take sky rental" is purely because you will be in the same situation as now should you want to move broadband in the future.
You do not need sky rental to benefit from the broadband reduction,Sky Talk is all that is needed, freetime or unlimited,either will get you the £5 discount.

I think for new subscribers taking both broadband and Sky Talk there is no choice. It changed last year. See this News Article.

Only if taking Sky line rental,Sky Talk is a seperate package available on any BT compatible line.

In reference to www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a157082/sky-moves-to-fully-unbu...:

The fully unbundled model, which will be offered to both new and existing customers who take Sky Talk Line Rental and Sky Broadband, uses Sky's unbundled equipment exclusively.

In reply to a post by boysteve:

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

In reply to a post by boysteve:

The "do not take sky rental" is purely because you will be in the same situation as now should you want to move broadband in the future.
You do not need sky rental to benefit from the broadband reduction,Sky Talk is all that is needed, freetime or unlimited,either will get you the £5 discount.

I think for new subscribers taking both broadband and Sky Talk there is no choice. It changed last year. See this News Article.

Only if taking Sky line rental,Sky Talk is a seperate package available on any BT compatible line.

In reference to www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a157082/sky-moves-to-fully-unbu...:

The fully unbundled model, which will be offered to both new and existing customers who take Sky Talk Line Rental and Sky Broadband, uses Sky's unbundled equipment exclusively.

Ummm

Looks like you are right!

Having decided that, I just went in to see what happens. Without entering a phone number I get tick-boxes letting me select Broadband Unlimited with free Sky Talk E & W for £10. (No Sky TV, calls to mobiles chargeable).

Which seems crazy as remove the free Sky Talk and it goes up to £15. As my mobile gives free calls to other mobile networks the only possible revenue they could get on Sky Talk would be 0800 etc, and that only if their charges were less than my mobile ones. Not worth looking into that as I'm staying with O2 LLU.

That Sky bundle is a darn good deal though!