Broadband speeds

Post by **Mike** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:16 am

Offcom finally catches up with the rest of the population and shows that people rarely get the advertised broadband speeds. I am not surprised but they need to get the speeds accurate (cos 8mb should just be faster!)

BarcelonAl · Post by **BarcelonAl** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:28 am

You see the problem with broadband speeds is that although advertised as a max of 8mb, unless you're literally sitting on the exchange, you won't ever get that speed.

A lot depends on how many exchanges are in your area and how close you are to one. The more there are, the less people will be accessing the same one as you are. The DSL Zone site is pretty good for finding this type of info out.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 12:34 pm

I am about 1mile away from the exchange and get about quarter to half the advertised speed. . . . you must admit that is not what is said in the adverts! :D

BarcelonAl · Post by **BarcelonAl** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 1:01 pm

That is fairly rubbish, I'm getting 5.4Mb here and we're 700m from the exchange...I think it was advertised as being an 8Mb connection...

mr_e · Post by **mr_e** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 6:42 pm

We're just over a mile away and get 2-3Mb, although it's difficult to tell when you're sharing a line with up to four other people. Basically the same as Mike.

Weirdly enough, YouTube doesn't appear to be loading any videos when I attempt to access it. I'm guessing it's BT doing crazy stuff. I take it no-one else has the same issue?

Post by **johnriley1uk** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 11:23 pm

Usually our broadband is quite fast, maybe not 8Mb, but certainly 5-6 but tonight everything is Dead Slow.

My theory is the rain has kept everyone inside at their computers, so traffic is very heavy.

Perhpas someone should invent a Congestion Charge.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:12 am

They are already considering that; ie. to charge people who do a lot of downloading. Even your internet will have a fair usage policy - they are never quite clear on what that is but it would be interesting to see what the courts would have to say about it!

Lizzie · Post by **Lizzie** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:09 am

And what about Virgin Broadband, with speeds of 'non existent'!!!

Post by **Mike** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:26 am

BT is better than Virgin but to be fair we have 8mb broadband with BT and only 2mb with Virgin! :D

Post by **johnriley1uk** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:52 pm

I am an 8Mb Virgin User.

Perhaps I should rephrase that...

Post by **Mike** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 8:33 am

This article suggests that some day soon I will have to be leaving BT internet. They are suggesting that the existing copper wiring that forms the backbone of BT's network will never exceed the 24mps download rate. The virgin cable will actually meet download speeds of up to 50mps by the end of next year! Roll on the Virgin internet again when that becomes available! :D

mr_e · Post by **mr_e** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:48 pm

Oh, hello. Aren't you a pretty young fibre optic network? Care to dance? [Waltzes with the network forever more].

As much as I'm against the self-destructiveness that is progress for the sake of it, bring it on!

Post by **Mike** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:40 am

I am totally confused by mr_e's post but it is probably just on a higher (lower?!) plane of intelligence!

mr_e · Post by **mr_e** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:30 pm

Yay for surrealism! The second paragraph was entirely serious and should be read in isolation from the first. Consider the first paragraph an expression of my enthusiasm for greater internet speeds.

Post by **Mike** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 8:48 am

. . . . yay for something. . . . don't know what. If you feel the desire to mate with a fibre optic networks I would suggest (very kindly) that you seem medical assistance. Hopefully from a beautiful psychiatrist that is getting to be a bit of a stereotype!