You shouldn't be looking at "Standard ADSL RAG results" ; they are fixed speed lines, not applicable to you. You should be looking at:

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

1.5Mbps or greater ADSL connection via ADSL Max
2Mbps or greater via ADSL2+

Perhaps..... but in my experience, if even the fixed 2Mbps isn't do-able, then the line is pretty well a no-go anyway for broadband and is going to be useless.

I just can't see how anyone looking at the information available for that postcode would give an estimate of 3.5Mbps. As I look at the results, I'd expect 0.5 to 1.5meg.

You didn't do that by phone # as I suggested, but by Post Code. Thay is why you are getting the "You are approximately 0 metres from the exchange".

Try it by phone # and your neighbour's and confirm you are both on Hereford exchange - if it allows you to.

Just spotted that there is another anon person posting in addition to myself, will regsiter the first chance I get to help reduce possible confusion.
I should point out that most post code databases don't yet have my postcode. Google maps for example puts me several miles further out of town. The nearest older postcode fyi is HR2 7UT..
Will reconnect the router later this morning when the sun is higher in the sky.

If it says no to 2Meg fixed then line is at 43dB or higher, and at 43dB attenuation 7Meg is feasible via ADSL2+

The old fixed line limits are very conservative.

Postcode not in databases correctly - so why is anyone actually using it to estimate broadband speeds?

Looking at your postcode I think you are that new development at belmont, on CAB-80 which has 2 different cable routes. One cable goes to the Hereford/Cathedral exchange and the other to Hereford/Barton exchange which has all the broadband equiptment in it, and then there are tie cables linking the exchanges together. If you are on the cathederal cable you will only get 1mbit, the barton cable will give you 5mbit, you will need to get them to send openreach round and ask the engineer to change you onto the other cable.

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

The nearest older postcode fyi is HR2 7UT

Are you the OP who said he was at HR2 7GA, which PostCode SamKnows did recognise?

Please register or at least sign.

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

Looking at your postcode I think you are that new development at belmont, on CAB-80 which has 2 different cable routes. One cable goes to the Hereford/Cathedral exchange and the other to Hereford/Barton exchange which has all the broadband equiptment in it, and then there are tie cables linking the exchanges together. If you are on the cathederal cable you will only get 1mbit, the barton cable will give you 5mbit, you will need to get them to send openreach round and ask the engineer to change you onto the other cable.

Now we are talking, cool!
Will bide time until the end of the 10 day period which sky asked me to wait for and then follow your advice!
Many thanks indeed!
OP

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

Looking at your postcode I think you are that new development at belmont, on CAB-80 which has 2 different cable routes. One cable goes to the Hereford/Cathedral exchange and the other to Hereford/Barton exchange which has all the broadband equiptment in it, and then there are tie cables linking the exchanges together. If you are on the cathederal cable you will only get 1mbit, the barton cable will give you 5mbit, you will need to get them to send openreach round and ask the engineer to change you onto the other cable.

There is no exchange at the Cathedral, it closed down years ago when the Hereford Cathedral school took over the building. there are connections around there as the cable I got goes back on itself from the Exchange in Barton yard to the cathedral and then back up to me, which is why my attenuation is so bad. 54.5dB, but I am still getting 4.4megabit. Mainly due to the fact that my Thomson router is good on long lines and that my ISP don't use any profiling

Openreach still lease a couple of rooms in the cathederal building and there is still an MDF in there. But not an exchange.