[UK-CONTEST] It's a conspiracy

[Adrian Rees]

Couple of things here:
 
I have been a BT ADSL User since the first days of ADSL in the UK. I admit that I use the BT SOHO (Small Office Home Office) service as it offers better user Contention Ratios and 24 x 7 Support, no blocked ports, and a generally RAW Internet connection. I recently moved house, to the Hills of North Wales, and had to cancel my ADSL Subscription and re-apply. I subscribe to the BT SOHO Service from my new location and have the following comments to make:
 
1. You may need to install software to configure the BT Router, as initial configuration is done via USB port.(Note some older Routers use Western Digital or similar chipsets, and cannot connect to ADSL Circuits faster than 2Mb without a Flash Upgrade. Some cannot be Flash Upgraded, so you may have to use a new Router). Some Routers, even brand new, will require a Flash Upgrade to operate at peak performance on MaxDSL enabled circuits. This is because BT changed its DSL Specifications at the last minute, just before the whole MaxDSL Service was due to be rolled out. Thats another story not for this forum.)
 
2. The Wireless LAN Connection is solid, albeit with very slight reduced range, but perfectly useable at 54MB.
 
3. The Router does not generate any Interference or Noise, even when next to the RX and Aerial.
 
4. I have never seen the ADSL Circuit drop out even when significant amounts of RF are about.
 
As to performance: BT MaxDSL ,or similar service, initially monitors the connection and determines the best speed atainable for 80% Reliability for home users (thats why I use the SOHO Service, its 95% Reliability). I am 11Km from the nearest Telephone Exchange, and the actual line travels nearly 13Km around the Hill I am on, before reaching me. On this circuit there are at least 15 Users before the cable reaches the pole with the "green box" at its base. I know that there are 4 of us using broadband on this circuit. 
 
I currently get a down load speed of 448Kb and up load speed of 412Kb. I have had BT send an engineer out to optimise the line, but as its at the extreme of Broadband range, its the best I can get. 
 
The BT Call Centre in downtown Mumbai ( or Chenai) is the most infuriating place on the planet to deal with. 
If you have to contact them, to get anything done, the best way is to demand:
 
1: A PSTN Engineer Call (they HAVE to send out the Line Man first)although this usually is preceeded by a series of line tests, done from India (!).
 
2: A Broadband Engineer visit. When I finaly got a Broadband Engineer on site, my original connection performance increased, (from its original 300Kb to its  current 448/412 Kb) after he fitted a replacement wall socket, with internal ADSL Filters.
 
3: Because I cannot get a faster connection than 448/412Kb BT have reduced the monthly connection cost to £7.99 on the basis of poor speed. I am still a SOHO User, and as far as I am concerned 95% (plus) reliability, RAW Internet Connection at reasonable speeds and 24 x 7 support, is a bargain at £7.99 a month.
 
Adrian Rees MW1LCR

________________________________

From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com on behalf of Dave Sergeant
Sent: Thu 28/09/2006 07:00
To: uk-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] It's a conspiracy



On 27 Sep 2006 at 22:52, G3SJJ wrote:

> 7 September I received an email from BT : "Good news! BT Total Broadband
> is here! We´ve made exciting changes to BT Broadband - changes that can
> expand and enrich your online experience, enabling you to take your
> high-speed broadband beyond the internet into a world of wider
> possibilities."
>

A word of warning from someone who has refused to be dragged into any
of these latest offerings from BT - and who continues to have a rock
solid 2Mb ADSL offering from them on the old system. I have read all
the horror stories elsewhere.

1. Read this first Chris - do NOT install a single byte of their
software. You don't need it and you will certainly regret it if you
do. If you are currently connecting via ethernet (and since you have
networked computers I assume you do) just plug it in and go. Not sure
what you mean about a new password, if you already have BTYahoo and
have upgraded your existing accounts you don't need anything new.

2. 'Up to 8Mb' with MaxDSL may well mean rather less. If you are on a
long line don't expect much more than what you already have, probably
less. If you already experience drop outs expect these to increase
after upgrade. I see Bulldog has been done by the advertising
standards agency for wrong use of the 'Up to 8Mb' term and notice
that BT are no longer pushing it in their ads.

3. The new 'Hub' they supply is apparently pretty cheap and nasty and
its router is apparently not all that much cop as a modem. Many have
had problems with the range of the wireless. I would not be surprised
if RF gets into it. It is aimed at their broadband voice product,
which apparently has also had its problems (like it was down
nationwide all last weekend...). You can continue to use your old
router though.

4. Because DSLMax works at a much lower SNR (it increases the speed
until there is no more margin left) my gut feeling is that it will be
more RF prone than fixed speed DSL.

There you have it. I will not be changing until it is forced on me.

73 Dave G3YMC

http://www.davesergeant.com

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