Topic: The Broadband Speed Pissing Contest

[IgorBobbins]

I have a question (apologies if it's already been answered earlier in the thread):

I'm moving to a new house next January and looking at what broadband deals are out there (it seems like it's cheaper to get tv/phone/broadband bundles rather than just broadband, but that's another point). 

Looking at the virgin media options, I'd either go for the 'up to 50mb' or 'up to 100mb' option.  My question is, if I'll only be able to get an average of, say, 20mb (due to how far I am from an exchage etc.), would there be any point in going for the 100mb option or would it still be a max of 20mb?  I asked VM but they just said it's fibre optic so wouldn't depend on other factors like distance from exhange, which I don't think is quite true.

[gazzalfc]

I have a question (apologies if it's already been answered earlier in the thread):

I'm moving to a new house next January and looking at what broadband deals are out there (it seems like it's cheaper to get tv/phone/broadband bundles rather than just broadband, but that's another point). 

Looking at the virgin media options, I'd either go for the 'up to 50mb' or 'up to 100mb' option.  My question is, if I'll only be able to get an average of, say, 20mb (due to how far I am from an exchage etc.), would there be any point in going for the 100mb option or would it still be a max of 20mb?  I asked VM but they just said it's fibre optic so wouldn't depend on other factors like distance from exhange, which I don't think is quite true.

If you are getting Virgin media then you will more than likely be getting Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). That means that you get the internet through fibre cable direct to your house from the cabinet.

The other kind of Fibre broadband which is what SKY, BT etc use is Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC). That means you get your internet through fibre cable only to the local cabinet and then they use standard copper wire to deliver your internet to your house (through your phone line)

Since Fibre uses light across glass there is little lag no matter what distance you are from your source so FTTP is better.

FTTC may be fast but relies on that old copper technology to transfer your internet. So over a long distance it starts losing its speed.

[gazzalfc]

Just found out that my exchange wont be getting released for superfast broadband until Q1 next year.

[IgorBobbins]

If you are getting Virgin media then you will more than likely be getting Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). That means that you get the internet through fibre cable direct to your house from the cabinet.

The other kind of Fibre broadband which is what SKY, BT etc use is Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC). That means you get your internet through fibre cable only to the local cabinet and then they use standard copper wire to deliver your internet to your house (through your phone line)

Since Fibre uses light across glass there is little lag no matter what distance you are from your source so FTTP is better.

FTTC may be fast but relies on that old copper technology to transfer your internet. So over a long distance it starts losing its speed.

Right....I think I understand thanks! But what I meant was - if someone is paying for 'up to 50mb' but only getting e.g. 28mb average speed, would it make a difference if he they upgraded to 'up to 100mb' or would they still get just 28mb average?

Sorry if I'm not making much sense!

[iSmiff]

I recently moved into a new place and got 120mb fiber optic broadband. The speed is clearly advertised as that on the website. But im only getting these speeds. That surely cant be correct for 120mb? Can anyone tell me?

The speed is great but if I'm not getting what I'm paying for, why would I pay it!

just seeing this now, if you're on 120mb with UPC you should be getting exactly that, is this speed coming from you connecting directly to your router with a cable?

[Red_Irishman]

just seeing this now, if you're on 120mb with UPC you should be getting exactly that, is this speed coming from you connecting directly to your router with a cable?

No mate that's from my laptop about 2 metres away from the router. Not really happy with the speed considering I'm paying for 120. But I havnt contacted them about it yet...

Also they are charging me an extra 3-4€ a month because I'm not registered. Only found that out yesterday!

[iSmiff]

You are using wifi. There's your answer.

[AndyMuller]

I have a question,

Me and the missus have recently moved in together and got sky unlimited broadband, now I think it's best to leave the router switched on 24/7 as it says on the router itself but she moans and turns it off at night because she the router is plugged into an extension lead along with the telephone. She think's its going to set on fire if we leave it on all the time which does my head in because I'm probably getting slow internet connection.

So is it true that its best to leave it on at all times?

[gazzalfc]

I have a question,

Me and the missus have recently moved in together and got sky unlimited broadband, now I think it's best to leave the router switched on 24/7 as it says on the router itself but she moans and turns it off at night because she the router is plugged into an extension lead along with the telephone. She think's its going to set on fire if we leave it on all the time which does my head in because I'm probably getting slow internet connection.

So is it true that its best to leave it on at all times?

It's recommended that you leave it on overnight as your router (and sky set top box of you have one) will do updates and line tests overnight to make sure your on the right speed.

It won't set on fire. But at the same time it won't mess up your speeds too much

[AndyMuller]

It's recommended that you leave it on overnight as your router (and sky set top box of you have one) will do updates and line tests overnight to make sure your on the right speed.

It won't set on fire. But at the same time it won't mess up your speeds too much

I thought so mate think she's just a bit paranoid over it for some reason or another, knew it was the best thing to leave it on all the time.

[iSmiff]

I have a question,

Me and the missus have recently moved in together and got sky unlimited broadband, now I think it's best to leave the router switched on 24/7 as it says on the router itself but she moans and turns it off at night because she the router is plugged into an extension lead along with the telephone. She think's its going to set on fire if we leave it on all the time which does my head in because I'm probably getting slow internet connection.

So is it true that its best to leave it on at all times?

haha, she's mental

[gazzalfc]

I've had mine on for about 2 years (save for 2 weeks when we went on holiday) now constantly with no issues.

[Zephyr]

Last year, when living in halls I had a constant 50mb/s download speed, with about 12mb/s upload speed - it was a wet dream for me. This year, rather unfortunately, I have to put with an awful internet connection. Now I'm living with some friends with a 10m/s download and about 2mb/s upload. That doesn't sound too bad at first, but when I'm living with five others who constantly stream Netflix it turns to shite. Always next year...

[S.Red please]

Going to browse through this thread now and have a look but I need some peoples opinions if I cant find anything. I need to get new broadband sorted, Liverpool City Centre. Ive been looking at BT Infinity 1 (38mb/s) but would prefer a rawkites review that lives in Lpool. Does it get close to the advertised limit or do you recommend other providers for the Liverpool area? Thanks

[AndyMuller]

My Sky Broadband has been down now since Friday, something to do with BT's line outside which is not working. Absolute joke only been with them since September aswell. Might fuck them off if it carries on much longer.

[CraigDS]

My Sky Broadband has been down now since Friday, something to do with BT's line outside which is not working. Absolute joke only been with them since September aswell. Might fuck them off if it carries on much longer.

If it's BT then it won't make any difference moving to someone else.

[AndyMuller]

If it's BT then it won't make any difference moving to someone else.

It's something to do with the box in my street or something, absolute joke.

[CraigDS]

It's something to do with the box in my street or something, absolute joke.

Who is your line rental with?

Have you called BT yourself to get it fixed?

[AndyMuller]

Who is your line rental with?

Have you called BT yourself to get it fixed?

Sky mate, no just Sky at the moment would BT even listen to me even though I'm not a customer of theirs?

[CraigDS]

Sky mate, no just Sky at the moment would BT even listen to me even though I'm not a customer of theirs?

Think you can report an issue with them no matter what.

Worth giving it a try anyway.

[gazzalfc]

You need to keep moaning to SKY.

Ring them every day and make sure its on record. Then demand that they issue a refund for the time with service loss

Its not BT's responsibility until SKY talk to BT Openreach (the guys who maintain the physical network)

[AndyMuller]

You need to keep moaning to SKY.

Ring them every day and make sure its on record. Then demand that they issue a refund for the time with service loss

Its not BT's responsibility until SKY talk to BT Openreach (the guys who maintain the physical network)

Just spoke to SKY, had me on hold for 25 minutes initially then spoke to some lad who was checking everything externally and he said the engineer from BT was out yesterday and fixed the problem, said he ran tests on my line and there was no problem with my connection in the house or anything, then said he will escalate it to BT open reach tomorrow and they will call me back tomorrow.

Can see this going on and on for some reason.

[L8Craig]

Going to browse through this thread now and have a look but I need some peoples opinions if I cant find anything. I need to get new broadband sorted, Liverpool City Centre. Ive been looking at BT Infinity 1 (38mb/s) but would prefer a rawkites review that lives in Lpool. Does it get close to the advertised limit or do you recommend other providers for the Liverpool area? Thanks

I'm 1.9 miles away from L1 with Virgin and get 60MB/s.

[marcus-g]

Going to browse through this thread now and have a look but I need some peoples opinions if I cant find anything. I need to get new broadband sorted, Liverpool City Centre. Ive been looking at BT Infinity 1 (38mb/s) but would prefer a rawkites review that lives in Lpool. Does it get close to the advertised limit or do you recommend other providers for the Liverpool area? Thanks

http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/3921428560

I'm with BT, that's my speedtest result. One of the main reasons i chose BT is because of the upload speed & the fact my package is truly unlimited both upload & download.
When i'm abroad i use slingplayer to access my slingbox to view UK tv and with my slingbox connected to BT i have no problem watching in HD.
Virgin throttle the upload speed on all their packages once you've uploaded a certain amount. I was sick of My picture turning to dogshit because of virgin throttling my uploads.

[Bucke]

http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/i/1046796168

Getting this in Dusseldorf in the taxi on the way to the airport on 3G. Not bad at all

[CornerFlag]

Liverpool Uni really need to upgrade their network somehow.  Hard to watch some online lectures sometimes.

http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/3959903566

[Sat1]

Im on Virgin and got 26.81 Mbps and upload 2.02 Mbps

I use Netflix, and kid uses PS4, I also download movies. Thinking if its worth paying £32+ when using ADSL I could knock it down to almost half.

How much would it affect me?

[Bucke]

I'm getting 25MB download on the work iPhone with 4G down the road, but only gprs at home. Hmmm

[WanderingRed]

this is what i've just got

[Twelfth Man]

[L666KOP]

Is there any way of checking broadband speed in a remote location.

Can I take my router with me and plug it in, or does it not work like that /

[24/7]

House-sitting in MK - happy with this!

[Claire.]

upload lol.

[Titi Camara]

Holy fuck! The ping on that! The BT server must have literally been right outside the house?

You would clean up on any FPS with a ping like that!

upload lol.

Who gives a flying fook about the upload numbers? That download is insane! Is that commercial or residential?

[24/7]

I've only ever seen 1ms ping once before and that was on Reliance Industries Corporate Park in Mumbai. I think a BT engineer lives on this street. Hmmmm.

[Titi Camara]

I've only ever seen 1ms ping once before and that was on Reliance Industries Corporate Park in Mumbai. I think a BT engineer lives on this street. Hmmmm.

The CS:GO world champ?

[Claire.]

Who gives a flying fook about the upload numbers? That download is insane! Is that commercial or residential?

Residential. Virgin Media, they're pretty good like

[Titi Camara]

Residential. Virgin Media, they're pretty good like

That's insane.....is it cable or fibre?

[Titi Camara]

Mines with BT, supposed to be up to 72 but only get about 55 which does me head in!

My contract comes to and end in a couple of months but i don't think I can get any better to be honest. I've checked all the comparison sites and cable looks to be a million years away!

[Claire.]

Have you checked both on wifi and on ethernet cable? Sometimes the speed is limited by the computers hardware/network/wifi/interference/modem - do they still provide a modem and the router? It's mad, but on an ethernet cable, I can only get ~90mb/s on this connection, on 5G wifi I get the full 152. Mess with it

I remember when I had BT Infinity installed years ago, Woolwich was one of the first areas to get it, and the engineer did a speed test and was getting 38mb/s, he said it'll probably settle down and the speed would drop (I assume because more people using it) it never did, though! BT Infinity is an excellent service and I'd more than likely go with them if they served this area, only choice for me is Virgin but at 152 and soon to be going up to 200, I can't exactly moan.