PC Pals Forum
Technical Help & Discussion => Broadband, Networking, PC Security, Internet & ISPs => Topic started by: DJ on November 14, 2002, 19:31
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A problem for you all...
Currently my local exchange is at 225 with a trigger level at 400, so broadband ain't coming for a while :(
My current connection on a 56k modem is only around 30k (due to a split line - long story!)
The Big Question...
What alternatives do I have to increase my speed on the internet. I'm not a gamer, but just general surfing / email etc.
Looked at BT Home Highway but seems expensive compared to BB.
I'll prob just wait and see if the exchange gets enabled in the new year, but thought I'd ask anyway. :P
Any ideas ?
;D Cheers ;D
DJ1UK
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Can BT get away with that then? Splitting a line so you only get connected at half speed? Have you suggested that you'd only like to pay half the bill?? 8)
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i used to get a constant 33.6k on BTInternet, without a split line... Makes you think what you are paying for doesn't it! I don't know of any alternatives, but if you do manage to find one, GO FOR IT :) Broadband is one of the best you can have, well.. next to a satalite connection ofc. :)
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DACS or line splitting is bad news because it was never designed for internet traffic and you will only get it to work at half speed. If you asked for a 2nd line and mentioned to them that you intended to use it for an internet connection then they should have warned you that it would be unsuitable. If they didn't, you have a case against BT for giving you wrong information.
They probably DAC'd you because there were no spare lines available at your exchange, but most exchanges have been upgraded in the past few years and there may well be one available now. If that is the case, demand that they change it for a proper 2nd line.
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Looked at BT Home Highway but seems expensive compared to BB.
;D Cheers ;D
DJ1UK
Well if BB is not obtainable for lets say at least twelve months, it is a pointless exersise comparing it with Home Highway cost wise as it is not an option.
Looking at the costs [well off the top of my head but near enough] a bog standared line rental is ball park £10, so a line for the phone and an extra one for the internet is another £10 per month = £20, plus £100 to install. Now I think you can get ISDN installed for £150 with £24 a month rental with a couple of quids worth of free calls thrown in.
So rental wise not alot in it, and you get a 64 K line that connections instantly. Plus you have the two analoge lines free, but you can only use any two lines at one time. Ofcourse if you subscribe to a 128K service that will mean you are using both channels so your analoge phones wont make or recieve incoming calls unless you drop a channel.
I have tried 128K but as I dont really use the web for downloading music or films I don't really need it. Ping times are more important to me, and they are slightly faster on a single 64K channel than on two bonded channels. I would not go back to a 56K modem for a gold clock, I now it is a rip off compared to BB, but you can only ever play the hand you have a chance of being dealt unfortunately.
catch
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Thanks for all the advice.
My line was has been DAC as they say there are no more lines on the exchange (we've now got two home lines - one business / one personal).
It'll wait and see if the BB registration goes up much in the next month - if not I'll consider HH.
* EDITED * - Just had a look at the BT barometer and its jumped from 225 to 243 over-night! Might be hope yet !
Thanks
DJ1UK1
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If that keeps up you should be enabled in less than two weeks! ;D ;D ;D
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Just an update.
I've started a campaign for BB in my area - trigger level now at 285/400 ( ::))
But - just thought of a problem...
Will I be able to get Broadband with my DAC'd split line ???
Thanks
DJ1UK
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I hope so, DJ - it would be a real bugger after all your hard work if DAC was the turd in the water pipe! :brick:
I'm sure someone here will know for certain! :D
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Why is your line DAC'd DJ1UK? I presume it's because you wanted to use the Internet and receive phone calls at the same time? With Broadband, you will be able to do just that without your line being DAC'd as the Internet connection runs on the same line. They will simply convert you back to a standard line. DAC connections are not really suitable for Internet connections anyway as you are only getting 28K out of a 56K modem which is very painful. BT should have warned you about that in the first place and if they didn't, I have heard of people taking them to court over it.
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i've a feeling that beetee are only legally obliged to provide a line capable of transmitting voice messages which is around 9-10k i think. having said that if they were aware that you intended to use the line for internet access then its a bit of a poor show on their part. i'd give them some grief and see where you get.
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Hi
My line was DAC'd as one line is used for a home personal line, the other a business line. They couldn' give a new line for business use as there was none spare !
If and when i get BB hopefully as the exchange will be upgraded they will be able to give a seperte line for business, convert the old one back to a standard line and everyones happy!
Heres Hoping!
DJ1UK
PS - Yes 28k is painful!! :'(
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I used to have ISDN since that gave me two voice lines on separate numbers. It also gave me two internet connections at 64K but the downside was that you could only use 2 out of the 4 available lines at any one time. The alternative would have been a DAC'd line because there were no spare numbers available on my exchange at the time so a 2nd line was out of the question.
Now that I have BB, there are plenty of spare lines and I had a 2nd business line installed. With a network, it means that I can have 2 telephone lines plus 3 computers accessing the Internet at the same time which effectively gives us 5 lines.
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Soooooo Jealous! ;D
Still Waiting for Broadband :brick:
DJ1UK
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Soooooo Jealous! ;D
Still Waiting for Broadband :brick:
I can't get BB yet either DJ. So you can imagine how I felt setting it all up for Clive ;) :sanity:
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Check this link out DJ1UIK. Things may have improved for you.
http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?194343
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Thanks Clive,
Sadly not - my exchange still has a trigger of 400 - though we're on 290/400 now !!
I've started a campaign and BT are due to print flyers this week and distribute them over the next two weeks to over 1600 households on the exchange.
If that doesn't get people signing up I don't know what will!! ;D
DJ1UK
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Watch your fingers when pushing leaflets through letterboxes. I have helped deliver leaflets on several occasions and apart from the fact that most letterboxes are very unfriendly, beware of dogs lurking the other side waiting to bite your fingers off. ;D Pity the poor postman.
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Cheers Clive,
well spotted, hey what do you know our exchange has been given a target after all. Mind you it is 350 with a registered interest of 98, no prizes for guessing who the first to register was. ::)
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Its OK - BT are doing the distribution as well. Ain't they kind!! ;)
So it won't be my fingers that get trapped in the letter box. ;D
DJ1UK
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Just checked mine. It's been reduced from 400 to 300! :rock:
The registrations seem to have stuck on 104 though :( Perhaps I'll have to take a leaf out of DJ1UK's book ...
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You'll be sorted in 6 month's time then, Sean! I can still vividly remember the thrill of anticipation, like it was only yesterday or something or other. :gofor:
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( Perhaps I'll have to take a leaf out of DJ1UK's book ...
Adept its very very easy to start a campaign. I just bought a domain name and linked to some free webspace. Added a free BT Barometer style thingy (to show number of registrations) and got BT to design, print and distribute flyers (covering all costs themeselves!). So far it's cost me the grand total of £4.68 (for the domain for 2 years) ;D .
A friend supplied the number and streets of all user on the exchange, I have forwarded this to BT and they are sorting delivery.
Just waiting to see if it has any impact.
Need any help - feel free to PM or email me (email@westbrokbroadband.co.uk)
DJ1UK
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Need any help - feel free to PM or email me (email@westbrokbroadband.co.uk)
When I get a couple of hours spare, I'll take you up on that DJ. :thanks:
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I live in a village and don't think we will ever get broadband. I still can't receive channel 5 and never will until we go digital. :'(
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Ahhhhhh poor Lona :(
Now then I to may take you up on that kind offer DJ1UK. But surely BT will know which Tel numbers and their where abouts that are connected on that exchange? Go on prove me wrong yet again :(
Off to watch one of my favorite comics now, good old Jasper Carrot ;D
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But surely BT will know which Tel numbers and their where abouts that are connected on that exchange? Go on prove me wrong yet again :(
Not too sure Tony. They should know, but I don't know if they share their information easily between teams. Thought I'd give them as much info as possible though - that way they haven't got any excuse for delay in delivery.
;)
DJ1UK
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Just out of curiosity, to register interest, do you have to make some sort of commitment to have ADSL, if the service was provided? Otherwise, what's stopping 400 people registering, BT laying on the facility, then only 40 people actually sign up?
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ADSLGuide explains the rules here (http://www.adslguide.org.uk/newsarchive.asp?item=930) :)
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Again from ADSLGuide (http://www.adslguide.org.uk/), some potentially interesting news ;) :D
ADSL potentially available on a further 3500 BT exchanges!
Author: MrSaffron
BT Wholesale has announced a scheme called 'Exchange Activate', that is intended to provide ADSL access at exchanges that perhaps otherwise would not see the standard ADSL deployment for a few years. The new scheme revolves around a Service Provider buying a block of 30 connections for a 3 year period. The intention is that sponsors such as a Regional Development Agency, or local councils meet some of the costs.
The scheme is very much at the consultation stage, with Service Providers been able to provide feedback to BT Wholesale, as to whether they think the pricing and level of interest would make the scheme worthwhile. The pricing indicated at this time is ~£55,000 for 30 connections lasting 3 years, or around £46 per user per month. Obviously this price is higher than the usual connection fee, hence the idea that partnerships are formed to reduce the cost to the end-users in the areas where the system is deployed.
The reductions in costs of setting up the scheme compared to the standard rollout, come about by using the newer ranges of DSL exchange kit that are smaller and cheaper. Combine this with using existing network connections to link back into the normal BT ADSL/ATM network and the initial costs are much smaller.
The actual ADSL as far as an end user is concerned is BT IPstream Home 500, and after the 3 years is up, the cost reverts to whatever the standard monthly Home 500 fee is (currently £14.75). An exchange can have multiple blocks of 30 users. If an exchange reaches its actual trigger level for a standard ADSL build, then a 'buy out' scheme exists that will reimburse some of the charges to the Service Provider, based on how long the service has been running.
For those that have not realised yet, this new scheme is based on the experiences from the 16 user community DSL concept trial. A final decision on go/no-go and pricing is expected around the end of March 2003, but the next couple of months give time for Service Providers and potential sponsors to provide feedback.
This news is most welcome, and while the pricing does seem a bit high, this may be part of the price of having ADSL in a rural area. Obviously if some funding can be found to subsidise the cost the price can come down.
If we find out more, we will let our readers know. If trying to enquire with a Service Provider about the scheme, remember that they may still be considering their options, which means it is unlikely sales staff will even be aware of the product at this time.
Posted: Monday 03 February 2003, 13:32:06