Fraudband Britain?
Do you get the internet speed you signed up for?
The government has been pushing BT recently to spend billions on a speedier broadband infrastructure. The competitiveness minister, Stephen Timms, has said a faster internet is vital to the future of the UK economy.
Yet many people complain of not getting the speed advertised with their broadband service. So how fast is your internet connection, and does it live up to the claims of your provider?
Taking part is as simple as following a link to a website that will measure your internet speed and posting the following pieces of information as a comment to this post (or emailing them to us at ipm (at) bbc.co.uk).
1. Determine the speed of your internet connection by clicking here. Start the test and make a note of your speed in kbps. It's circled in red on the example here.
2. If you know the advertised speed of the internet service you pay for, let us know. Otherwise, continue to...
3. Your postcode or the name of your city or town.
UPDATE I see that some of you have rightly noted that broadband speed on DSL declines with distance from the exchange. You might be in interested in this site which will tell you where your nearest exchange is.
UPDATE:Results are here.
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Comments
service=Virgin Media Broadband
package=2Mb
speed=1630
postcode=BT5 7BQ
7816 kbits downloaded in 19.188 sec was the speed registered by this test. I am a subscriber of Tiscali Broadband and my phone line is rented to BT. Th eadvertised speed of my service is 8 Mbpm, but apparently in Aberystwyth - or in the area of town I live in (which is fairly central) - it won't reach a speed higher than 2 Mbpm.
WS13 7ER
Advertised speed 8mb
Actual speed 877
1. 25213
2.
3. W12
measured speed was 3920 kbps. advertised speed is "up to" 8 Mb. postcode IV36 2UE.
Here's one...
Speed: 5751
Advertised: "up to 8Mb"
London, SW3
1706 (average of 7 tests) for a nominal 2meg connection; OX2 (Oxford)
got 2 different test results, neither very good:
1743 and 1924
this is for Virgin cable broadband
in Edinburgh EH13
7816 kbits downloaded in 8.484 sec
2667kbps - BT internet (8Mb) - Withington, Manchester Pretty poor, really!
1989 kbps; I'm on BT but don't know the advertised rate.
Romsey.
BT supposedly give me "up to" 8mb, but the speed tests including this one, regularly report 3.5.
I'm wondering if the BT Homehub actually limits wireless transmission because it like to reserve some wireless capacity for the home hub phone? I seem to get nearer to 6mbps when I connect over cable.
1772 KBPS
2MBPS
CB41UG
1989 kbps; I'm on BT but don't know the advertised rate.
Romsey.
My actual speed download speed from the test is 457K; the speed promised me by BT is 3Mb.This result is not a surprise to me - it's par for the course.
1812 on the test shoud be 7mps TS14
My speed is above what I am told my link is
I am on Blueyonder 2 meg (now Virgin Media) and my speed was 2621 which is pleasing.
I find the message "waiting for BLAH.com " is the reason for slow connections,and a cable between you and the modem is always faster here than the wireless despite what the wireless gear vendors say.
John
Demon advertise and BT confirm the connection up to 4MEG. Results taken over five minutes are between 1272 and 1623. Turning off Radio 4 streaming and another download resulted in an improvement of around 200. Hmmm............
Pay for 2mB
Measured speed 1.8mB
To be fair I live in a rural area and the speed may be technically limited by my distance from the exchange but I pay for 2mB not 1.8mB
Mine is quite close to the advertised 'up to 4Mb' with Virgin Media L package - test result 3743KbpS
My speed is tested to be 534 kbps.
Advertised speed was up to 8 Mbps when I signed up with btinternet broadband. It is impossible to get through to anyone responsible at BT to make any meaningful complaint (and beleive me, I've tried).
Post code: LS29 7RR
I was with pipex internet on a “2meg” connection which never downloaded faster then 1Meg so I moved to DST (Direct Save Telecom) to there 8Meg Connection which will let me download a maximum of 3meg at maximum (on the speed test I got 1meg) the only reason I haven’t moved again is that it seems so widespread that whoever I move to ill only get half the speed :(
I guess we have to except that whatever the isp’s offer we will only get 50% of what paying for
Just done the test and it says about 500kbps.
I am supposed to get up to 2 meg with Tiscali. Oh well, it's still cheaper than aol was, and the phoneline and free calls all help. I will be checking my speed regularly from now on and will contact the isp if I don't see changes. Thanks for pointing me to this resource.
I'm in Cambridge. I believe I'm supposed to get 2MBPS from Virgin Media. I ran the test several times and got between 1600 and 1800 KBPS, which seems OK to me all things considered.
KBPS speed: ONLY 451!
We pay for 8MB from Force 9
Town:Ellesmere, shropshire
Have a 500kbs connection, the test showed 465kbs. Considdering the distance of my home to the nearest teleco station, I am pleased with the result.
1989 kbps; I'm on BT but don't know the advertised rate.
Romsey.
My actual speed download speed from the test is 457K; the speed promised me by BT is 3Mb.This result is not a surprise to me - it's par for the course.
SN8 3SE
BT Broadband
Advertised up to 8Mb
Actual speed = 2147
CV23
rate - 472
SG2 7ED
using T-mobile USB modem
PlusNet, my broadband supplier, advertises 8Mb speed but I am actually getting 3900 kbps according to the test. I live in central London, N1. I work from home and have a PlusNet teleworker account. I have to say I'm feeling a bit nonplussed...
My speed is tested to be 534 kbps.
Advertised speed was up to 8 Mbps when I signed up with btinternet broadband. It is impossible to get through to anyone responsible at BT to make any meaningful complaint (and beleive me, I've tried).
Post code: LS29 7RR
Oops forgot post code
Virgin Media L package advertised 'up to 4 Mb' actual test = 3743Kbps Live Uxbridge UB8 3EE
1816 from 2Mbps in KT11
Broadband provider Virgin
Advertised 2Mb
Speed 1755 kbps
postcode NG9 1AY
SPEED: 483 KBPS
LOCATION: Durham DH1
PROVIDER: BT
NB: This test was conducted over a wireless connection.
PlusNet, my broadband supplier, advertises 8Mb speed but I am actually getting 3900 according to the test. I live in London, N1
test done 18:07
service=BT Broadband
package=8Mb
speed=738
postcode=Bn17
yes, really only 738
less than 100m from exchange BT reduce speeds at peak times, don't go with BT, let everyone know!
Measured as 1793 kBps (1.793 MBps) in Linlithgow EH49 6BS using cable (Telewest/Virgin) which should be 100MB/S
2 tests gave the same answer 1793 from Bt Broadband whose promise was up to 8Mb
Supposed to get up to 2 meg with Pipex. Actually get 1.7, so not too bad. SG14
944 KBPS
8 MBS (Virgin)
WA6
Oh dear
I pay Virgin Media for a 2Mb broadband connection and according to this test, only get 921 kpbs. At the time I ran the test my computer was telling me that the strength of the connection was "excellent"! I live in S17
2 tests gave the same answer 1793 from Bt Broadband whose promise was up to 8Mb. YO18 7PY
Orange Bband signed up at 2Meg
Average of 5 tests at 1550 kbps.
Not suprised!
Oops forgot post code
Virgin Media L package advertised 'up to 4 Mb' actual test = 3743Kbps Live Uxbridge UB8 3EE
test done 18:07
service=BT Broadband
package=8Mb
speed=738
postcode=Bn17
yes, really only 738
less than 100m from exchange BT reduce speeds at peak times, don't go with BT, let everyone know!
Mine is 533kbps, about 1/4 of what I should be getting.
My provider is Virgin Media, and I am not happy with this speed - thank you for letting me know how to do this.
584 Kbps
Madasafish with BT line
Advertised upto 8Mb (or at least 2MB)
On a 2Mb/s line I am getting just under 1 Mb/s
Postcode NG20 8BT - less than 1/2 mile from the exchange. This does not bode well if I need to upload files to a server since this is limited to less than 56Kb/s.
My ISP is Eclipse Internet and I have been having an on going battle with them. I was until recently with BT and receievd a constant throughput of 2915Kbs/sec and My Line profile is constantly 3000kbs/sec set by BT. when ever I do and test it comes down pityfully low and Eclipse are reluctant to do anything without getting me to junp through Hoops. Use master socket, disconnect all phones from line, test over serveral days. change routers, etc etc etc. I have recently found out that they throttle the service to enable more people to be on each line althought I doubt they would accept this. Before subcribing to Eclipse I phoned and asked if I would notice any difference between BT and them selfs, you guessed it their reply " of course not, we use the same line" the day I migrated the speed fell by 60% my advise dont use them and move on, Im waiting till my 12 months is up and will move to another ISP that is honest and does not throttlew the service
BT 8 meg package
actual speed a scorching 2254
EH3
Service: BT 8mb
Actual: 1034 kbps
Place: Northumberland.
It's my own fault: I believed BT.
I had a 2mb service which operated at about 1750. They upgraded the exchange, offered a 8mb service for the same price and the service became slower and frequently stops. Apparently this is common for people who are a long way (2.5 miles in my case) from the exchange especially with overhead cables. The slightest problem slows down or cuts out the service.
BT's usual serviuce desk doesn't know this - but it's buried on their web site information. I should change back, but haven't got the energy to deal with them again.
Broadband Provider - Orange
Package - 8MB
Speed - 2651
Postcode - TQ5 9AR
BT Broadband
Advertised up to 8Mb
Actual speed = 2147
CV23
Mine is 533kbps (av.) which is about 1/4 of what I should be getting.
My provider is Virgin Media, I pay for 2mb and I am not happy with this speed - thank you for letting me know how to do this.
My speed is above what I am told my link is
I am on Blueyonder 2 meg (now Virgin Media) and my speed was 2621 which is pleasing.
I find the message "waiting for BLAH.com " is the reason for slow connections,and a cable between you and the modem is always faster here than the wireless despite what the wireless gear vendors say.
John
KBPS speed: ONLY 451!
We pay for 8MB from Force 9
Town:Ellesmere, shropshire
Oops forgot post code
Virgin Media L package advertised 'up to 4 Mb' actual test = 3743Kbps Live Uxbridge UB8 3EE
Signed upto 2meg with Orange.
After 5 tests averaging at 1550 kbps.
No surprise really!
My ISP is Eclipse Internet and I have been having an on going battle with them. I was until recently with BT and receievd a constant throughput of 2915Kbs/sec and My Line profile is constantly 3000kbs/sec set by BT. when ever I do and test it comes down pityfully low and Eclipse are reluctant to do anything without getting me to junp through Hoops. Use master socket, disconnect all phones from line, test over serveral days. change routers, etc etc etc. I have recently found out that they throttle the service to enable more people to be on each line althought I doubt they would accept this. Before subcribing to Eclipse I phoned and asked if I would notice any difference between BT and them selfs, you guessed it their reply " of course not, we use the same line" the day I migrated the speed fell by 60% my advise dont use them and move on, Im waiting till my 12 months is up and will move to another ISP that is honest and does not throttlew the service
I wonder where this story is going?
The "results" that people are collecting will not have much meaning unless you also include what else they were using there local network and internet connection for at the time of the test. Also, are people aware of the impact of 'contention'? Are they familiar with the concept of theoretical limits? Guaranteeing a broadband speed is like predicting the time it takes to drive from Leeds to London. It depends who else is on the road.
The only possible outcome from this story is the realisation that we don't know what we are buying. Caveat emptor.
Measured as 1793 kBps (1.793 MBps) in Linlithgow EH49 6BS using cable (Telewest/Virgin) which should be 100MB/S
Actual speed 421
Talk talk broadband
Postcode TA6 9AT
Test=1598kbs
paying for 2Mbs
VirginMedia
EN9
4133
Results 7816 kbits downloaded in 1.891 sec
or roughly 4meg as opposed to the supposed 8meg.
At quiet times it does go up to about 6meg!
1. Test Speed 5436 Kbps
2. Advertised 8Mbps
3. BH20 6DE
Tiscali two tests 358 - 542
CA10 1DQ
I get 9 MBPS on the test. Be is my ISP who offer 'up to 16 MBPS'. I believe it helps to be close to telephone exchange
In SY22 on the Wales/Shropshire border.
ISP Orange 'up to 8 meg'.
Free weekend and evening telephone calls included in package.
Result of two tests.
1. 2970
2. 3499
Provider = BT
Nominal speed = 7.6
Measured = 3.6
Postcode = G63 0RE
measured is average of 10 tries with lowest speed 2.7 and greatest 4.3
AOL 1MB Broadband
2 tests: 447 kbps
Maybe two beancans and a taught piece of string would work better.
418 Kpbs on a 512 Kbps, my provider is Pipex using a BT phone line, as I live approx 4 miles from the exchange I suppose this isn't bad.
My results were around the 4,500 to 5,000 mark over a few clicks. Speedtest.net says that the speed is about 5,800.
My broadband is officially meant to be 8Mb. My router statistics show that this is the case. Although I'm not sure how they are determined.
My provider is Freedom2Surf, who have recently been bought by Pipex.
This test doesn't take into account all of the different things that my connection is doing. I run Firefox with lots of plugins, chat programs with active sessions, the Steam gaming application, as well as my virus checker seeing if there have been any updates. So the results here shouldn't be seen as written in stone.
Running a packet snooper like Wireshark shows what is going on with your connection.
provider: BT
advertised speed: 'up to' 8Mb
actual speed: 2199 Kbps
post code: BT6
I seem to be in the minority here in south Birmingham.
My link is advertised as 2 meg by Virgin Media and the test shows 2621 which is faster than i am entitled to don't rock the boat guys. GRIN.
B29 postcode
But my telly service is abysmaly slow so i am probably compensated.
John
Broadband provider: UK Online
Service: 1MB
Test result: 987 (3 tests the same!)
Postcode: BA1
ISP will not offer more than 2MB in this area anyway.
test done 18:30 to 1833
service=Orange Broadband
package=2Mb
speed=1)1588, 2)1276, 3)1046, 4)1719
postcode=LN2 2NH
Provider sky
Speed advertised as 8Mb
Post code ME5 9UL
Medway Kent
All other PCs in house switched off before test
Test PC restarted immediately before test
Run the test 3 times and obtained consistent results
of 7816 Kbits in 2.234 sec
Under half of advertised speed!!
Netgear Router shows DownStream Connection Speed as 4544 kbps
888kbps
Service Tiscali 1MB
The article you link to in this item refers to ADSL. Are you aware of the difference between between ADSL and cable broadband. Do you know what a contention ratio is?
Asking people to post their results from the "broadband test" is not at all useful unless those people also indicate: their distance from the exchange (in the case of ADSL); what else they are using their network for at the time of the test.
The only possible outcome from this story is the realisation that we don't know what we are buying. Caveat emptor.
My supplier is Eclipse which regularly come out well in surveys. I'm paying for 8Mb
Speed test = 798K!
Warrington - close to a major exchange
Absolutely lousy speed!
321 Kbps
I pay for 2MB with Tiscali (on BT line)
TA7 0BZ
I know I live in the sticks but this is ridiculous. Why is our broadband so slow compared with the rest of Europe? I'm thinking of using smoke signals in preference. In fact it's so slow that I cannot get this post off.
Actual speed 421
Talk talk broadband
Postcode TA6 9AT
test done 18:07
service=BT Broadband
package=8Mb
speed=738
postcode=Bn17
yes, really only 738
less than 100m from exchange BT reduce speeds at peak times, don't go with BT, let everyone know!
ISP is Tiscali
Nominal connection speed is "up to 8Mb"
Repeated readings all about 4313kbps (18.25)
Interestingly, Tiscali's own speed check at
http://speedcheck.ispconnect.co.uk/ was giving repeated readings round about 6896kbps
Post code is M20
I believe our supplier Onetel said the speed would be 2 MBPS.
I took the test and got 235 KBPS.
Post Code CA16 6DA
Derek
service=Virgin Media Broadband
package=2Mb
speed=946
postcode=BN25 2RT
I get 9 MBPS on the test. Be is my ISP who offer 'up to 16 MBPS'. I believe it helps to be close to telephone exchange
1. speed is 926 KPS
2. "up to 8Mbit/s"
3. London SW17
Averaging 1701 kbps (5 tests). I'm an AOL subscriber who is paying for a 2Mb connection. Situated in sunny PL5 1LT.
1. 2943
2. Plusnet with BT line advertised up to 8Mbps
3. BN12 Worthing
I get 9 MBPS on the test. Be is my ISP who offer 'up to 16 MBPS'. I believe it helps to be close to telephone exchange
Service: Orange Broadband
Speed: 2meg
Time of test: 1830 to 1835
Results for four tests: 1588, 1276, 1046, 1719 giving average speed of 1407
Postcode: Lincoln LN2 2NH
Absolutely lousy speed!
321 Kbps
I pay for 2MB with Tiscali (on BT line)
TA7 0BZ
I know I live in the sticks but this is ridiculous. Why is our broadband so slow compared with the rest of Europe? I'm thinking of using smoke signals in preference.
I seem to be in the minority here in south Birmingham.
My link is advertised as 2 meg by Virgin Media and the test shows 2621 which is faster than i am entitled to don't rock the boat guys. GRIN.
B29 postcode
But my telly service is abysmaly slow so i am probably compensated.
John
Connection speed will always vary based on other people connecting. For me it varied between 1825 - 4390 on multiple tests, nowhere near the 8Mb advertised. Connection is with Tiscali (Homechoice) in EC1V. Seems from the data that you've already gathered that most people with up to 2Mb are getting roughly what they're promised.
If we're Fraudband Britain, the Fraud's being directed at people paying for the highest connection speed. Interesting business strategy - disappoint your highest revenue customers...
provider Tiscali
actual 1740
sold as 2 mb
postcode bt42
Measured speed 534Kbps. Advertised Speed up to 8Mbps, strangely the speed is at about 7Mbps during the week at about 10am, but when people around the country are getting back from work and school, the speed mysteriously drops. This wouldn't be so bad if it was a minimal drop in throughput, but the simple fact is that Tiscali do not appear to have enough bandwidth to keep up with their customers' demand. Users on the Playstation Network are unable to connect to popular games during peak time. Users are also unable to connect to their e-mail at peak times, unless you are using the webmail route for access and speeds drop down to slower than a DSL connection.
Absolutely lousy speed!
321 Kbps
I pay for 2MB with Tiscali (on BT line)
TA7 0BZ
I know I live in the sticks but this is ridiculous. Why is our broadband so slow compared with the rest of Europe? I'm thinking of using smoke signals in preference.
3725 for the Virgin Media 4mb package. Not bad!
To maximise speed I use a wired router. With wireless there is often interference and the encryption/decryption from a secured wireless link slows things down too.
Postcode SS12 0AB
Connection speed will always vary based on other people connecting. For me it varied between 1825 - 4390 on multiple tests, nowhere near the 8Mb advertised. Connection is with Tiscali (Homechoice) in EC1V. Seems from the data that you've already gathered that most people with up to 2Mb are getting roughly what they're promised.
If we're Fraudband Britain, the Fraud's being directed at people paying for the highest connection speed. Interesting business strategy - disappoint your highest revenue customers...
AOL 1MB Broadband
3 tests; 447, 447, 443kbps
Not great. BT says my limit is 2mbps but I don't think it'll get better without new lines in the ground.
Speed: 878KBPS
Tiscali 1MB
PL3
Service: BT 8mb
Actual: 1034 kbps
Place: Northumberland.
It's my own fault: I believed BT.
I had a 2mb service which operated at about 1750. They upgraded the exchange, offered a 8mb service for the same price and the service became slower and frequently stops. Apparently this is common for people who are a long way (2.5 miles in my case) from the exchange especially with overhead cables. The slightest problem slows down or cuts out the service.
BT's usual serviuce desk doesn't know this - but it's buried on their web site information. I should change back, but haven't got the energy to deal with them again.
I was with pipex internet on a “2meg” connection which never downloaded faster then 1Meg so I moved to DST (Direct Save Telecom) to there 8Meg Connection which will let me download a maximum of 3meg at maximum (on the speed test I got 1meg) the only reason I haven’t moved again is that it seems so widespread that whoever I move to ill only get half the speed :(
I guess we have to except that whatever the isp’s offer we will only get 50% of what paying for
Connection speed will always vary based on other people connecting. For me it varied between 1825 - 4390 on multiple tests, nowhere near the 8Mb advertised. Connection is with Tiscali (Homechoice) in EC1V. Seems from the data that you've already gathered that most people with up to 2Mb are getting roughly what they're promised.
If we're Fraudband Britain, the Fraud's being directed at people paying for the highest connection speed. Interesting business strategy - disappoint your highest revenue customers...
ISP: Orange
Advertised speed: 8Mbps
Actual speed:4810kbps
time:18.45, 8 November 2007
package is 2Mb
actual is 1.7Mb
Post code - BT38
when I logged on to my account to check what my speed is supposed to be they said they'd upgrade me to 4Mb for free. So thanks for posing the question chaps ! Public service broadcasting at its best !!
Absolutely lousy speed!
321 Kbps
I pay for 2MB with Tiscali (on BT line)
TA7 0BZ
I know I live in the sticks but this is ridiculous. Why is our broadband so slow compared with the rest of Europe? I'm thinking of using smoke signals in preference.
ISP is Tiscali
advertised speed: 1Mb
Test Result: 931 kbps
Postcode: London N11 3JB
Connection speed will always vary based on other people connecting, type of connection etc as other have noted. However for me it varied between 1825 - 4390 on multiple tests, nowhere near the 8Mb advertised. Connection is with Tiscali (Homechoice) in EC1V, tested saturday evening 19.00. Seems from the data that you've already gathered that most people with up to 2Mb are getting roughly what they're promised.
If we're Fraudband Britain, the Fraud's being directed at people paying for the highest connection speed. Interesting business strategy - disappoint your highest revenue customers...
Postcode: NP16 6 (Nr. Chepstow)
Signed for Tiscali MAX (8Mb)
Did 6 tests:
Highest = 489kbps
Lowest = 142kbps
THAT'S LESS THAN 5% OF WHAT I SHOULD GET!!!
........ I'm a mile from the exchange, so distance not the problem.
I'm a techie and do have professional line diagnostics kit. I know the line can carry a clean signal at 8Mb. I know there's only 4 'hops' between Tiscali's server & me & delay at each 'hop' is a mere 72ms, so traffic is eliminated. I ran extensive tests over a 4hr period last night - the DSL signal completely dropped 5 times during the tests - had to re-boot DSL modem each time to get DSL back. Quality of Service test (QoS) shows average of 2%. MOS is about 3 & TCP pauses frequently exceed 2000ms, with RTT typically between 136ms & 195ms(all absolutely abysmal).
Joke is, I was with Tiscali up until 3 months ago & had excellent service, I changed ISP for a short while, the service was terrible, so went back to Tiscali to now get probably the worst service on the planet. I'm currently having very 'hot' & detailed techie 'debates' with Tiscali's senior techies who, after they noticed me monitoring their monitoring suddenly changed their attitude & stopped feeding me bull***t.
IT WILL GET FIXED (& by fixed, I actually know not to expect greater than 50% - anything beyond is a bonus). I'm a very patient, a realist, but FOOTNOTE: I LOST THE SIGNAL AGAIN WHILST SENDING THIS POST!!!
Connection speed will always vary based on other people connecting. For me it varied between 1825 - 4390 on multiple tests, nowhere near the 8Mb advertised. Connection is with Tiscali (Homechoice) in EC1V. Seems from the data that you've already gathered that most people with up to 2Mb are getting roughly what they're promised.
If we're Fraudband Britain, the Fraud's being directed at people paying for the highest connection speed. Interesting business strategy - disappoint your highest revenue customers...
Advertised speed 2Mb Virgin Media
7816 Kbits in 4.765 sec
Speed 1690
max. speed 512kbps
tested speeds: 66-75kbps!
MK7 7NE
ISP is Tiscali
advertised speed: 1Mb
Test Result: 931 kbps
Postcode: London N11 3JB
Two broadband connections, both 20:1 contention, going to the same rural exchange. Both upgraded to 8Mb. Average of 5 tests each.
Demon 1170
BT Broadband 5079
PE12 0TR
package is 2Mb
actual is 1.7Mb
Post code - BT38
when I logged on to my account to check what my speed is supposed to be they said they'd upgrade me to 4Mb for free. So thanks for posing the question chaps ! Public service broadcasting at its best !!
Virgin broadband size L up to 4mb
Result 2057
It often runs much slower and not infrequently drops out altogether.
Virgin are generally unaware for several hours when their network goes down in this area. Their phone helplines
are worse than useless - ill-informed and unhelpful and then they charge you for having wasted your time.
Broadband provider BE
Advertised up to 24 mbps
Actual speed 17.421 mbps
Location Derby
max. speed 512kbps
tested speeds: 66-101kbps
MK7 7NE
Service = Orange
Speed advertised as 2.2mb
Actual = 1731
BT Total Broadband
Advertised 'up to 8Mb'
Test speed 3,535
TN26
speed 2224
Pipex - Ithink its supposed to be 8 meg now - if not definately 4 meg
bh19 2bq
Broadband provider BE
Advertised up to 24 mbps
Actual speed 17.421 mbps
Location Derby
In SY22 on the Wales/Shropshire border.
ISP Orange 'up to 8 meg'.
Free weekend and evening telephone calls included in package.
Result of two tests.
1. 2970
2. 3499
Service = Orange
Speed advertised as 2.2mb
Actual = 1731
Service = Orange
Speed advertised as 2.2mb
Actual = 1731
i understand that there are many things that need to be taken into consideration with this but well i should be receiving 8mb from virgin media on ADSL im only getiing a 512K service :( i am really not happy thats not even 1m
my postcode is NP12 2PT, the funny thing is though my friend that lives less than a mile away is getting 8mb with sky maybe i should switch providers?
Virgin Media Size XL up to 20Mb
2393 to 3474
BTinternet - up to 8mb?
2194
hmmmm
1. 5668
2. 8Mb (Orange, was Freeserve)
3. GU7
Have any of my fellow Taff's out there noticed from the above that this survey confirms our suspicions ........ THE WELSH GET THE WORST SERVICE - ie: there is a far greater variance between our purchased vs actual sp
eeds .... even in the Cardiff metropolis.
Must be the rain, the mud, or maybe, like our council taxes, the Welsh Office are first taking their percentage (no offence Rhodri!).
I'm with The Utility Warehouse on an 'up to' 8Mb service. Using the tool, I was getting an average of 1Kb/s at around 19.45 on Sat 8 Dec.
My post code is AL1 1RD. I am less than 2 miles from the BT exchange.
Service - Virgin 1mb
Actual - 663
This is a good result as usually the speed is much less and can be as low as 300.
I think 2mb is the limit in my rural area but would I get that anyway if I upgraded?
Postcode SY23 4BG
Service = Tiscali Broadband 1Mb & Anytime Talk
phone line rented from BT
Package= 1Mb
Speed= 7816kbits in 10.635 secs
= 735 kbps
Postcode= IV26 2XE
VirginMedia 4Mb cable broadband
Over 8 to 10 tries, values ranged from about 2600 up to 3200, mostly at the higher end.
Postcode is GU51 in Fleet, Hants.
My Virgin Broadband (not cable) plan two says up to 8 Mb but the test result was 1022 Kb. If they were selling milk and only gave be 1/8 of a pint they would be prosecuted. Why not for broadband? When I queried their poor performance they said it could be a problem with my computer, but earlier in the year I was getting 6 Mb in the mornings which is acceptable on the same computer. Now it is totally useless. Which? says Waitrose is best so I am seriously considering getting my broadband from my grocer in future.
is this a con - I can get no result (tho browse without graphics + Javascriut Off )
BT "up to 8MB"
I get 2.667MB instead.
Guess I'm "too far from the exchange" (that's what they always say isn't it?
HD3 in Yorkshire.
After Orange sent me a 2Meg modem for nothing and charged me £3.00 per month less than my old Anytime fee I got over 1700Kbps, which is probably quite good for a peak period. People need to realise that computers work at a finite speed and if demand is high this speed must be shared with a lot of users. The test should be carried out again at 3.00am!
Using Virgin Media, advertised speed 4Mb, repeated tests vire between 2300 and 2700 .........rip off or what??
Glasgow G11 7EZ
BT broadband
speed 1467
Advertised 8 meg
EC1A 4HU
BT 8Mb
Speed 5200 on the test
Near to the exchange
B95
henley in arden
Has anyone considered contention rates, with these its impossible to guarantee you speed as you are sharing a connection.
Never mind - I am on a 100 Mb connection at work .... but that does not seem to be much better than at home.
Using Virgin Media, advertised speed 4Mb, repeated tests vire between 2300 and 2700 .........rip off or what??
Glasgow G11
BT broadband
speed 1467
Advertised 8 meg
EC1A 4HU
BT broadband
speed 1467
Advertised 8 meg
EC1A 4HU
This is good, hopefully it will inspire the ISPs to improve their service. However I think the gadget show (http://gadgetshow.five.tv/jsp/speed_test.htm) needs some credit as they started the very same campaign 2/3 weeks ago. Plus their measure is better as it tests both upload and download speeds.
I’m London, zone 3 so shouldn't be too far from an exchange
download: 1222
Way short from the advertised but I can live with it, it’s fine for browsing but what concerns me more is that they might be limiting my downloads. I’m a HEAVY internet user and on their “unlimited” package, I work from home and in IT, some months I have to download huge files and suddenly notice the download rate becomes a trickle.
Just had 3 very different readings:
1040, 1640 and an unbelievable 1985 kbps.
Virgin cable (TV & phone not being used at same time) package supplying a nominal 2MB.
I shall try again the next time everything seems to grind to a halt...
Pete
BS3 (Bristol)
BT 8mb
Actual 4349k
M5 Manchester
Seems a fair result to me
Result was 426 kbps
i am with TalkTalk - Talk3 plan.
I am meant to get an 8MB download speed and 448kbs upload speed. i don't know what that signifies. I reckon it's not a great service for what i'm paying though is it!
Oh well.
test = 2852 Kbps
Pay for 8Mb/s from Tiscali
Mornington Crescent, London NW1
test = 2852 Kbps
Pay for 8Mb/s from Tiscali
Mornington Crescent, London NW1
1883 average of 10 tests
entanet
ch48 6ea
supposed 8mb/s max
Tiscali Broadband wireless connection
7816 in 6.3 secs, same as other bloggers who use Tiscali. Holding cursor over Wireless icon in task tray message says that the signal strength is either Excellent or Very Good, depending upon where I am using my laptop in my (small) house.
3706
4mb/s from Virgin (ex-Blueyonder/Telewest)
Bath BA2
Tested half a dozen times, always 3600/3700. Pretty nearly as advertised.
3706
4mb/s from Virgin (ex-Blueyonder/Telewest)
Bath BA2
Tested half a dozen times, always 3600/3700. Pretty nearly as advertised.
I'm in - it's a big fat 1899
Virgin 2mb
E12
Virgin 2mb broadband Carnmoney Newtownabbey
Actual speed 31k yes thats right 31k, slower than dial up, its been slow all day. Tested on laptop and desktop with modem reboots.
Beyond a joke. Virgin get the finger out!
1. 3499
2. Advertised 'up to 8mb' from TalkTalk
3. South-East London
380 kbits/sec on a so-called 8Mbit service (PlusNet).
It has been a bit better than this but also a lot worse. I have complained twice in the last two months and they have improved it a bit.
It will be interesting to see the results of this trial.
Forgot the post code last time. Repeated test and got
460 kbits/sec
Post code HA2
373! broadband in BN41. sky "up to" 8Mb
When: 01:30 9 Dec 2007
service: virgin media adsl
where: Beeston, Nottingham
speed: 387kbps
advertised: up to 8Mbps!
Sometimes, on a good day, I get 6Mbps
There is horrible packet loss on my
route to resources.zdnet.co.uk.
service=Eclipse Internet
package=2Mb
speed=437
postcode=SN15 3AA
I'm also in now.
And I'm marginally less than Rupert (which is true in so many ways) with a speed of 1855, also from Virgin's 2mb
I'm in N1
I get the feeling that a lot of broadband providers will be getting called by irate iPM listeners on Monday morning!
actual speed: 1719
BT option 1 advertised speed: up to 8mb
postcode: SE4
Connection speed will always vary based on other people connecting, type of connection etc as other have noted. However for me it varied between 1825 - 4390 on multiple tests, nowhere near the 8Mb advertised. Connection is with Tiscali (Homechoice) in EC1V, tested Saturday 8th Dec at 19.00.
It seems from the data that you've already gathered that most people with up to 2Mb are getting roughly what they're promised.
If we're Fraudband Britain, the Fraud's being directed at people paying for the highest connection speed. Interesting business strategy - disappoint your highest revenue customers...
Service = BT option2
Speed = 1619 KBPS
Postcode = CO16
Package = ?
service=Virgin Media Broadband
package=up to 8Mb
sowned cspeed: 6.4Mb
real speed=1758
Brinkworth, near Chippenham, Wiltshire (SN15)
Service :: BT Business Broadband
Advertised data rate :: 2Mbps
Data rate achieved :: 462 kbps
Post code :: NN4 8LW
I am with Virgin Media in your test it's ~ 3000 and the advirtised is 20Meg I stay in G14. The test i usually use is is Speedtest and depending on what server I use I am getting ~ 7000@ the mo, but early in the moring when their network is not so busy it scrapes up to just under 20,000 which is about the 20 Meg I pay for, but it has been getting really bad recently. This is not the only rip off about Virgin, I thought they were bad when it was NTL. They over chargd me by about £100 in the summer and have resisted all attempts by me to get it back, phone calls letters the lot, I have given up trying now. When I got the V+ TV service fron them it took ~100 phone call each one taking avergae of 30 mins, all calls to Virgin take 30 mins to connect even the one that connect to someone in india with infants level 1 English, (any company that still have their help desk in India still is a company that cares far more about money than their customers) and then took two weeks to get it enabled. I Must admit right about now even BT is begining to look atractive. There is basically 2 choices in this country BT or Virgin, there maybe many companys doing broadband but most of them lease the lines wholesale of BT, Virgin are the only ones with their own infrastructure. Like most things in this country they have lovely shiny adverts that promise the earth by provide dog poo.
service = Virgin Media
package = up to 4Mb
tested speed = 2.87(average of ten)
post code EH17
I have recently changed package from the up to 20 Mb (£37 per month) because I was getting nothing like it. It only exceeded 10Mb on two occasions!
actual speed: 1719
BT option 1 advertised speed: up to 8mb
postcode: SE4
Service = tiscali broadband
Advertised rate = 1Mb
Real speed = 298
Conington, Cambridge (CB23)
Service = tiscali broadband
Advertised rate = 1Mb
Real speed = 298
Conington, Cambridge (CB23)
2Mb adverstised speed, onetel.net
1836
Brighton
Connection speed will always vary based on other people connecting, type of connection etc as other have noted. However for me it varied between 1825 - 4390 on multiple tests, nowhere near the 8Mb advertised. Connection is with Tiscali (Homechoice) in EC1V, tested Saturday 8th Dec at 19.00.
It seems from the data that you've already gathered that most people with up to 2Mb are getting roughly what they're promised.
If we're Fraudband Britain, the Fraud's being directed at people paying for the highest connection speed. Interesting business strategy - disappoint your highest revenue customers...
1159kbps
advertized speed 20mbps
ISP Virgin Media (via cable network)
postcode M20 6SL
on occasion over the past few weeks the speed has been up to 18mbps. Most times I check it is 1-2 mbps.
Advertised - upto 8 Mb
Real speed (average of 20 tests over 12 hours) = 2598
NN12
Service :: BT Business Broadband
Advertised data rate :: 2Mbps
Data rate achieved :: 462 kbps
Post code :: NN4 8LW
Measured again this morning, my "8Mb" service from PlusNet came in at 467 kb/s, postcode HA2.
The results of this exercise clearly show that broadband customers, and particularly those paying for "up to 8 megabits per second", are being taken for a ride - and a painfully slow one at that.
iPM: do you have a plan to follow up with the broadband industry using these results?
ISP: NTL (Virgin) Cable 4Mb/s
Test Result: 3760 kb/s
Hitchin, Herts.
I do get better than this with downloads from some websites. Bear in mind that ADSL connection speeds will be governed mainly by the distance from your property to the exchange and the quality of the copper wiring. With cable, the signal is delivered by an optical connection almost to the door.
Consistency of available bandwidth is also very important to me, and I have to say that NTL (Virgin) has been pretty good over the past five years. There have been interruptions, but given the complexity of the technology, this is inevitable.
The average over 7 tests was 588kbps.
I live in W14 and am with Virgin, paying for 8MB.
I can't bear the thought of holding for an hour and remonstrating with slippery salesmen...
Homecall (pipex) advertising up to 8MB but I am receiving only 3.2
The average over 7 tests was 588kbps.
I live in W14 and am with Virgin, paying for 8MB.
I can't bear the thought of holding for an hour and remonstrating with slippery salemen...
BT Broadband advertised rate 8mb
Actual per test 1.166mb
I'm lucky if I ever get above about 2 Mb despite going through everything that BT suggested may be causing my PC to run slowly. Its not the PC - it's the lousy BT service
BT Broadband advertised rate 8mb
Actual per test 1.166mb
I'm lucky if I ever get above about 2 Mb despite going through everything that BT suggested may be causing my PC to run slowly. Its not the PC - it's the lousy BT service
ISP: NTL (Virgin) Cable 4Mb/s
Test Result: 3760 kb/s
Hitchin, Herts.
Consistency of available bandwidth is also very important to me and I have to say that, despite the many adverse comments, NTL (Virgin) has been pretty good for me over the past five years. There have been interruptions, but given the complexity of the technology, this is inevitable.
Speed 1286
Service - Orange
I don't know what I'm supposed to get - I'm on an old package, which seeems to be obsolete!
Postcode WS13
ISP: TalkTalk
Advertised service: "Up to" 8Mb
Test result: average of five tests - 1,352
Postcode E4
i am with sky for a speed up to 16mb
I'm getting 1841kps
i'm quite happy with that as i was previously with tiscali who charged me more for a speed of up 8mb but provided up to 500kps. they kept blaming my bt phoneline for the slow speed
2089kbps instead of the "up to 8Mbps". That's actually quite good. It's been as low as 1535kbps at times. I pay £24.99 to Zen.co.uk - feeling a bit foolish about that when there are cheaper deals out there. Looking forward to hearing what's the best deal out there.
Leeds
Supplier: Orange Broadband
Advertised speed: Up to 8 meg
Actual speed: 4941 kbps
Post code Se17
Note: I live very close to the telephone exchange.
i am with sky for a speed up to 16mb
I'm getting 1841kps
i'm quite happy with that as i was previously with tiscali who charged me more for a speed of up 8mb but provided up to 500kps. they kept blaming my bt phoneline for the slow speed
My test came out at a disappointing 2 mB on Virgin Broadband.
Test result 1511
Advertised 2.2 MB
Postcode IP4 5UN
Supplier: Orange Broadband
Advertised speed: Up to 8 meg
Actual speed: 4941 kbps
Post code Se17
Note: I live very close to the telephone exchange.
1595 kbps (average of 5 runs, range 821-2566))
Virgin Media
advertised at 10-20Mbps - via cable TV line so should be 20Mbps
Virgin Media
1595 kbps (average of 5 runs, range 821 to 2566)
advertised at 10-20Mbps but via cable TV line so should be 20Mbps
L15
We previously had BT broadband which was pretty reliable, didn't slow at busy times, and gave the bandwidth we needed. But after they cut us off by mistake we switched to Virgin. BAD move.
Supplier: Orange Broadband
Advertised speed: Up to 8 meg
Actual speed: 4941 kbps
Post code: SE17
Signed for 8Mb with Tiscali
Reported to this blog yesterday was getting less the 5%
Now getting download speeds of up to 5700kbps - this is, in my opinion, totally acceptable for an 8Mb connection. Told you it would be fixed.
THANK YOU TISCALI
........ it just takes patience - don't get angry with their support people - they don't know anything about your individual line so won't be aware you have a problem until your report it. You'll prob go to the bottom of the list if you shout. They're only doing a job, but have millions of lines involving thousands of combinations of configurations & every type of user etc. - just be nice, be patient, ensure you talk to the right department & it will get fixed
Well I got 777 - a good score on a fruit machine, pretty poor on a 2mbps connection a stone's throw from Canary Wharf (though admittedly I'm South of the river - maybe packet data doesn't like to cross the Thames either).
I also discover that I'm 2.5miles from the nearest exchange (which probably explains the poor performance)
I found the exchange using this most excellent link:
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/search.php
Advertised speed of broadband = 8 mb - test speed 4064 - varies from 5000 approx to 4000 approx - pretty poor, I think
Test result - 1657
TalkTalk
Postcode TD1 2SS
Paying for up to 8Meg
Seems awful
I'm paying for 1MB - maybe they forgot to change their settings when I downgraded last year!
1181kps
CB24
Virgin Media XL 20MB
Between 2393 amd 3474
Virgin media.
I'm paying for 8MB, the the test reported 572kps!
Cannot ever reach IPS to complain!
BT
Paying for 'up to' 8 MB
Actually getting
482 KBPS
7816 kbits downloaded in 16.207 sec
SE16 6QL
This is worse than I thought.
It should be noted that the service sometimes goes down altogether but the last time I rang to complain, BT shunted me to a technical support call centre that I had to pay to use, and the person performed a line test and claimed that everything was fine, and suggested my modem was 'too hot' (although it had been switched off for 24 hours) or that is was 'too close to my stereo' (it was nowhere near anything electronic and had not been moved since the problem began). I suspect BT's broadband is just sporadic but it is easier for them to blame to user's setup.
If the max I can get here in Rotherhithe is less than a 512K modem, should I just demand to be put on the lower (2 MB) tariff? Or will my speed just decrease proportionally? In other words, do I have to pay for 8 MB to achieve 482 K?
BT option 3 package advertised as up to 8MB
Test result 3107 - not good
Postcode PR8 2PA
I am with BT Broadband - allegedly 8mb. I live in North London - totally NOT the sticks. I've had a hunch it was slow....
I ran the test a dozen time and it never beat 1mb DSL
I am disgusted and will be on BTs case until they sort it or refund me.
Crooks !
Connection speed will always vary based on other people connecting, type of connection etc as other have noted. However for me it varied between 1825 - 4390 on multiple tests, nowhere near the 8Mb advertised. Connection is with Tiscali (Homechoice) in EC1V, tested Saturday 8th Dec at 19.00.
It seems from the data that you've already gathered that most people with up to 2Mb are getting roughly what they're promised.
If we're Fraudband Britain, the Fraud's being directed at people paying for the highest connection speed. Interesting business strategy - disappoint your highest revenue customers...
I am paying BT for 8mb. According to the test provided on the BT site I'm getting 5927 kbps - which isn't bad BUT using the BBC test, apparently I'm only getting 1480 kbps....
Something stinks - but it is BT or Radio 4 (or both)..... ?
Test result: 909
Provider: Orange
Postcode: NP25 3JS
Download Speed: 6208kbps
Product: ADSL MAX upto 8Mb (Nildram)
Postcode: NR1 4EJ
I don't have that much of a problem with my speed, as I was told my predicted speed would be 6.5Mb before I signed up with Nildram.
The big problem I have with ISP's is their "Fair Usage Policy" on unlimited Broadband. Not one ISP will tell me what the usage limit is on their unlimited packages, before you get a snotty letter/e-mail saying "you are downloading too much, and you must reduce your usage or be disconnected". How can I be expected to comply with their "Fair Usage Policy" if they won't tell anyone??
Guy
Download Speed: 6208kbps
Product: ADSL MAX upto 8Mb (Nildram)
Postcode: NR1 4EJ
I don't have that much of a problem with my speed, as I was told my predicted speed would be 6.5Mb before I signed up with Nildram.
The big problem I have with ISP's is their "Fair Usage Policy" on unlimited Broadband. Not one ISP will tell me what the usage limit is on their unlimited packages, before you get a snotty letter/e-mail saying "you are downloading too much, and you must reduce your usage or be disconnected". How can I be expected to comply with their "Fair Usage Policy" if they won't tell anyone??
Guy
Test result: 909
Provider: Orange
Postcode: NP25 3JS
Download Speed: 6208kbps
Product: ADSL MAX upto 8Mb (Nildram)
Postcode: NR1 4EJ
I don't have that much of a problem with my speed, as I was told my predicted speed would be 6.5Mb before I signed up with Nildram.
The big problem I have with ISP's is their "Fair Usage Policy" on unlimited Broadband. Not one ISP will tell me what the usage limit is on their unlimited packages, before you get a snotty letter/e-mail saying "you are downloading too much, and you must reduce your usage or be disconnected". How can I be expected to comply with their "Fair Usage Policy" if they won't tell anyone??
Guy
7816 downloaded in 4.719 secs
Up to 2Mb Tiscali
BN2
I've only just upgraded from "up to 1Mb" and it has just about doubled, so I think I'm generally getting what I'm paying for.
When Tiscali was more sought after, though, the speeds were dreadful - sometimes less than the advertised dial-up speed.
Tesco Broadband 1.1
Result 862
mediocre! L17
ISP = Bulldog (Cable and Wireless) Via C&W Phone line.
1) 14993
2) up to 16 mbps (ADSL2+)
3) Bournemouth (BH1 3QG)
NB: Having performed this test several times it tends to fluctuate between around 10000 and up to 15500.
7816 kbits downloaded in 3.469 sec = 2253kbs
Waitrose 8MB ADSL Broadband
Sheffield S11 - 1.22km from exchange
Have speed checked many times and never get much above 2MB although the router reports it is synching at 7MB.
Wanadoo 8MB
GL27AH
925 Kbps
up to 8mb virgin
wireless 369
wired 728
bd13
I think the providers are more bothere4d about download limits not speed. So think pay for download and not speed. None will claim you will get the full speed.
will try at work which is nearer a different exchange tat has more things enabled.
ISP: Sky
Phone line: BT
Advertised speed: 8Mbps
Actual Speed: 1.5Mbps
service=AOL
package=2Mb
speed=456
postcode=PE85LZ
service = Orange
package = 2MB
speed = 1701 KBPS
Over a mile from the Peat Inn exchange
Quite surprised that the speed was as high as this
I have 8MB BT Broadband but in fact get 1833kb.
I want to get BT Vision but BT won't allow as my line speed is too slow!!
Wanadoo Standard user
Advertised 2Meg
Tested 1685 kbps (mean of 5 readings 1900 - 1930 hrs Sunday)
Less than 400 metres from exchange in rural Pembrokeshire. 84% of advertised rate not bad I suppose. (Trade off is no mobile signal, and rubbish Freeview signal quality from Preseli transmitter)
HoHum
service=Tiscali Homechoice (on BT line)
package=2Mb
speed= 1645; 1712; 1727; 1803;
4 tests in past 2 hours
postcode=NW3 4SL
I am on BT 8MB but tested at 1213 which is pretty rubbish. Not surprised really. Are you going to tell us how to get money back for not providing the advertised service?
service=JT (Jersey Telecom) Broadband
package=2Mb
speed= 353; 645; 1,104
3 tests in past 2 hours
postcode=JE2 4QG
Service: Toucan 1MB
Actual speed: 907kbps
Exchange: Sheffield
distance from exchange is about a mile
Measured at 10.55 pm 9th December:
457 kbits/sec
postcode HA2
1100 metres from exchange
"up to 8Mbits/sec" service from PlusNet
On an 'up to 8Mb' but rarely any faster than 4Mb, on the current speed tests during the day and early evening 2500Mb on average but between 2300 and 0800 I can get 3800Mb. Post Code is PR4, Preston Lancs, ISP is a BT reseller.
Service : TalkTalk
Actual Speed : 2690
Advertised : upto 8Mbs
Postcode : SE9
Connection speed will always vary based on other people connecting, type of connection etc as other have noted. However for me it varied between 1825 - 4390 on multiple tests, nowhere near the 8Mb advertised. Connection is with Tiscali (Homechoice) in EC1V, tested Saturday 8th Dec at 19.00.
It seems from the data that you've already gathered that most people with up to 2Mb are getting roughly what they're promised.
If we're Fraudband Britain, the Fraud's being directed at people paying for the highest connection speed. Interesting business strategy - disappoint your highest revenue customers...
Advertised as "up to 8"
actual: 3772
Salaam/Shalom/Shanthi/Dorood/Peace
Namaste -ed
Monday is an awful way to spend one seventh of your life.
Service prvider: Tiscali
Package paid for: up to 2Mb
Test result: 800
Post code: CF64 4JT
Okay -
It's clear that most people are not getting anywhere near to the 'UP TO' speeds they have been promised?
However, in many cases it's not fair to blame the ISP's for this.
There are several factors that can influence the speed.
1) The link between the comsumer and the local exchange is governed by several factors. The quality of the line is generally the decisive factor.
The ADSL modem will try an connect at the highest speed with the 'kit' at the local exchange (DSLAMS)
If the local copper wire circuit is noisy or has other problems like water ingress, the connection speed between the consumer and the local exchange will be lower than anticipated. This can change on a daily basis. Also people who install the kit themselves do not always pay attention to the number of extention handsets on the line - and installation of filters etc...
By going into your modem settings you can normally determine your true synchronised speed between you and the exchange. If this is less than you were initially told thenyou should take it up with your ISP who will then fault it with BT Wholesale.
It **isn't** an ISP problem though.
Secondly - the majority of connections are utilising BT lines and exchange equipment.
BT employ contention at the exchanges. In simplistic terms this means that if you are the only person using the connection in your area - connecting to the same rack at the local exchange, and to the same ISP, all being well - you 'SHOULD' get a good connection speed. However if they are using a contention of say 20:1 then if another 5 users are downloading files - the speed will only be a quarter of that advertised.
The whole system is very dynamic - henc the variable results.
The majority of users - Pipex, Tesco, Virgin, etc... will all be under the BT local exchange management.
They are in the process of implementing a whole new system which will start to be introduced next year and should solve some of the speed issues.
Eddie and iPM can decide who we blame in the meantime :-)
Advertised as "up to 8"
actual: 3772
DG7 1PN
Salaam/Shalom/Shanthi/Dorood/Peace
Namaste -ed
Monday is an awful way to spend one seventh of your life.
I got 942kbps returned as my speed.
Virgin claim up to 8Mbps so you can understand how disappointed I am.
My postcode is SG8 7RD
Test result: 1757
Connection paid for: 2mb with BT
Postcode: SK23 7--
(About 3km from the exchange)
I'm in Lincoln, BT (8MB). seems to vary between 4500 and 5500kbps
Tested at noon on 10/12/07.
Virgin Media XL (20 mb)
Result 7816 in 3.493 sec.
IP2.
Do ISPs take any notice of complaints ?
They do not quote actual rates ever it seems, only advertising "puff" of "up to ....."
Test Result: 1175
Advertised as "up to 8MB" with BT
Post Code ME14
(Distance from exchange 1.75Km)
Time somebody put the boot into BT.
They really must STOP conning people.
BT Broadband
Actual speed : 3548Kbps
Paid for up to: 54Mbps (Hah!)
Postcode: DE4 2HF
I'd long realised we weren't getting 54Mbps, but we're not even getting 5.4Mbps!
service=Virgin Media Broadband
package=20Mb
speed=11360
postcode=BS3 3DH
Postcode = BN6
Provider = Orange
Advertised speed = 2.2 Mbps
Test speed = 1799 Kbps
service=Virgin Media Broadband
package=4Mbps
speed=2748kbps
postcode=SP2 8NL
PS. Rachel no. 248, I think you may be mixed up with the speed of your wireless network - noone that I'm aware of advertises a service that fast - and BT's fastest service is 8Mbps
I am using a 3g connection advertised at 1.8Mbps, but when connected Windows reports 3.6Mbps.
The test gave a result of 4858kbps !
BT Broadband
Speed = 7816 kbps
postcode ML11 9XL
I am about 3miles from exchange
BT Broadband
I pay for 8Mb
The test shows 1734 kbps !!
Moreton, Wirral
I've also had 4 days of losing my connection every few minutes. Completed all the 'troubleshooting' and diagnostics checks without success. Today it's all up and running correctly. I've now discovered that friends in the local area had the same problem. Grrrrr!!
Pipex Midi 6.5Mb
Test Speed = 216KBS
Post Code GL9
Tested Speed? 700kbps
Advertised as "up to 8mb"
Postcode CM3 6AE
Distance from exchange 2.93km as the crow flies, however the cables follow the road, and despite Mayland being several times larger than Latchingdon (~3500 vs 1200) where the exchange is located, we have to use theirs. I believe I may possibly have one of the lowest speeds for a large-ish rural population going. Not good as I work from home in the IT industry.
My company do not advertise a connection speed. I work for a large software house with a big intranet and over 800 employees.
The average speed over 5 results was 120!!!
All around me, paint is drying!!!
Jake (#251) See below
http://allyours.virginmedia.com/websales/product.do?id=3246
My 8meg Virgin connection never gets above 4000. Scanning through quickly (and why so many double and triple postings?) Virgin don't seem to deliver any better than 50% on any package. Still looking at the ADSL/phone connection speed, we cable users are getting quite a result!
Tested speed: 751 kb/s
Advertised speed: "Up to 8 Mb/s, but at your location you will probably get 4Mb/s"
Provider: TalkTalk
Location: Birmingham B30
Test showed 1807Kbs
I am with talktalk, so the service is a free add-on to my telephone and no speed is mentioned, however on connecting each time it shows a speed of 5.1, 5.2 or 5.3 Mb. I am in Aberdeen.
Tested speed: 751 kb/s
Advertised speed: "Up to 8 Mb/s, but at your location you will probably get 4Mb/s"
Provider: TalkTalk
Location: Birmingham B30
Speed shown is 2909 kbps.
I upgraded to Pipex Midi a couple of months ago which claims 'up to 8MB'.
I suppose if they say 'up to' they can get away with anything...
Tiscali say up to 8mbs----Highest 7-lowest 6.5.
Fine by me!
service=Virgin Media Broadband
package=2Mb
speed= around 1950
postcode=NE33...
ok ... but not as reliable as when Telewest ran the service ...
8 Meg service from BT
Numerous bandwith speedtests (using different websites) has never got the speed up to 3 Meg - let alone 8!
Is this a trade descriptions violation?
Measured rate between 4500 and 4900 kbits per second. Advertised rate with Waitrose 5mb so not bad I guess!
Service = BT option 2 broadband
Package = This idiot has no idea and cannot find the information in all the bumf.
KBPS = 1619
Postcode = CO16
Up to 8 mb/s advertised.
Tested twice one hour apart.
811 b/s
2817 Kb/s
Postcode DL8 4RU
My modem tells me I am connected to the ISP at 5842 Kb/s
1786 on BT Broadband. Is that slow? - it seems so & is very unreliable in wet weather. When it rains hard we lose our internet connection entirely!
Up to 8 mb/s advertised.
Tested twice one hour apart.
811 b/s
2817 Kb/s
Postcode DL8 4RU
My modem tells me I am connected to the ISP at 5842 Kb/s
619 kBps - supposed to be 2 MBps (Virgin, formerly NTL, via BT phone line - just a few yards from the exchange). Supposed to be upgraded within a few days to Virgin's "up to 8MB" service - will be interesting to see the result then.
Oops - forgot to include postcode IV15
1 ) Speed 5496
2) Advertised as up to 8mBits
3) CH64
Download speed 2661. Supposed to be 4Mb. Less than amused.
Service - Orange home free broadband
advertised speed - 2MB
actual speed - 1801kbps (2mb)
Post code - SE1 2BW
1. 1846 kbps
2. -
3. W2 4BU
If you put your postcode into this website it will give you a map showing the distance to your local exchange.
http://www.dslzoneuk.net/distance.php
Provider: FSB Telecom
Advertised speed: 'up to 8Mbps'
Acyual speed: 1662
Wish I knew what this meant!
service=Freedom2surf
package=8Mb
speed=7816 kbits
postcode=EH8
service=Virgin Media Broadband
package=4Mb
speed=1017
postcode=ST9 9HX
One thing that I often cannot do is listen to programmes on line although I am on 8 Mb/s.
There are so many 30 second stoppages - probably after only 15 seconds or so of programme it reverts to "downloading" for another 30 seconds or so.
This happens even when the speed is around 2500 Kb/s., so it's not only speed that counts.
BA1 7QU
Orange Unlimited. advertised as 8MB
Actual 2553
When I followed the advice for speeding up my system as shown on the Orange My Account web-page it dropped to 1954
This was between 18.15 ands 18.25
Bought at 8mgs BT line and internet connection
1432 kbps
7816 Kbits
Download in 5.459 secs.
Its all geek to me!
BT Broadband contract "up to 8 Mb"
Actual speed 0.6 to 1.1 Mb
EC1A 4HU in the City of London !!
Is that level of service actionable??
Tried the speed test 10 times in the last hour. Highest speed was 2977, lowest 77! Average was about 2400.
Supplier is BT, up to 8Mb package.
Postcode is B75 6SU
BT Broadband contract "up to 8 Mb"
Actual speed 0.6 to 1.1 Mb
EC1A 4HU in the City of London !!
Is that level of service actionable??
Provider Orange
Claimed speed 5.5 Meg
Actual speed 2.428 Meg
Postcode SW19
I loved the fact that when I went to check the speed of my package (5.5 Meg) they offered me a free upgrade to 2.5 Meg!! Well clearly they have already upgraded, Oops I mean, downgraded me.
Achieved max of 12834 kbps over 10 tests on Virgin Broadband XL, whicg claims up to 20 MB/s.
Postcode SG18.
Bought at 8mgs BT line and internet connection
1432 kbps
7816 Kbits
Download in 5.459 secs.
Its all geek to me!
Postcode CO10 5EE
Service Provider: BT
Advertised Speed: Up to 8Mb
Avg. Actual Speed: 888 Kb
Postcode: WR5 2PQ
Comments: Very disappointing (and frustrating!)
service=Orange Broadband
package=2Mb
speed=1475
postcode=BT4 3FF
Service Provider: Plus Net
Advertised speed for which I am paying: 8 Mbps
Best actual speed measured (3 tests) 452 kbps
Postcode LL65 2RH
Comments: North Wales comes out bottom yet again!
Service Provider: BT
Advertised Speed: "Up to" 8Mb
Avg. Actual Speed: 2486 Kb
Postcode: SE14 5RQ
Comments: Very disappointing (and very frustrating!)
1. 1615
2. 2 Mb (ukonline)
3. Sheffield
Service Provider: BT
Advertised Speed: "Up to" 8Mb
Avg. Actual Speed: 2486 Kb
Postcode: SE14
Comments: Very disappointing (and very frustrating!)
Service Provider: Plus Net
Advertised speed for which I am paying: 8 Mbps
Best actual speed measured (3 tests) 452 kbps
Postcode LL65 2RH
Comments: North Wales comes out bottom yet again!
Service Provider: BT
Advertised Speed: Up to 8Mb
Avg. Actual Speed: 2486 Kb
Postcode: SE14 5RQ
Comments: Very disappointing (and frustrating!)
322 on a BT promised raste of upto 8 meg. Is a kind of success that I seemed to be the lowest in the forum, unless I missed one while waiting for the page to download! BT, Bloody Terrible!
Service Provider: Virgin Media
Advertised Speed: 2Mb
ZDNet speedtest: 1454, 1535, 1254
alternating with
Speedtest.net - Maidenhead and Munich: 1980, 1967, 1960
followed by
Thinkbroadband.com: 1120, 1162 -
Postcode SO22
Conclusion: Web based speedtests seem unreliable.
Tiscali
pay for 2MB service
speed test at 893
post code NR5
Broadband speed:
I pay for "up to" 8M from Plusnet
I get 1700 - I am 3 miles from the exchange, but I reckon it should be faster than that
Location:
LS16 9DQ
Graham
AOL at £14.99 per month
pay for 8MB service
speed test 1800
i.e.
Post code KW14
service=Tiscali Homechoice (on BT line)
package=2Mb
speed= 446 at 22:43 ; 441 at 23.55 Monday pm
postcode=NW3 4SL
Worth retesting on different days!!
Sunday eve 4 tests were ok: from 1645 - 1803. But tonight is bad result for 2mb account.
Virgin cable L pack advertised at 4 mbps (in AL1)
Tested at midnight = 3,600 kbps, but tested several times during the day at below 1,000 kbps
Actual speed = 5751 Kbps at 00:25
Advertised speed = up to 8 Mbps
Postcode CB7 4QF
Service provider Plusnet on a BT line
service=Virgin Media Broadband
package=4Mb
speed=1530
postcode=ws13 9
BT Phone Line
Plymouth City Centre
1.6 miles from exchange
service = Zen Internet
Package = 8mb
speed test = 1345
Postcode = PL1
Service: TalkTalk
Speed: slowest measured: 975 kbps
fastest: 2733 kbps
(this was within a few minutes of each other)
Advertised: 'up to' 8Meg
Postcode: PO5 1SA
Tried the website another poster suggested and I am 1.27 Km from the exchange....doesn't sound like far to me!
Nominal line speed: 8 Mbps
IPS promised line speed: 7.6 Mbps
Actual speed: 5.6 Mbps
Nearest exchange: Reading Earley
Distance to exchange: 550 meters
BT 2Mbs
1636
PO20 is the postcode, quite a distance from the exchange, and supposedly on the end of the line. My neighbour can't get it, apparently!
3945 Kbps on an 8 Mbps service.
This is about average for us. Sometimes for a laugh though, we're treated to what seems to be a Dial-Up emulator! It's just to remind us of the good old days, and to underline that all-important phrase 'up to' as in 'up to 8 Mbps'.
LE9 postcode, zdnet test shows 2779 on TalkTalk "up to 8Mbps" contract.
Distance from exchange - 2.5Km
3945 Kbps on an 8 Mbps service.
This is about average for us. Sometimes for a laugh though, we're treated to what seems to be a Dial-Up emulator! It's just to remind us of the good old days, and to underline that all-important phrase 'up to' as in 'up to 8 Mbps'.
My village is currently conducting its own speed survey to work out why rates are so poor. Speed varies widely between houses in the same village, all of them on the same exchange. I suspect the actual quality of the copper wire in the last few hundred meters may be responsible for this.
I didn't expect to get much more than 2Mb down my '8Mb' broadband, because of my rural location. What annoys me, is that while the exchange can handle nearly 2mb fine in the early morning, during peak hours my ISP can't give me more than 1mb - so they are still over-selling their own product!
The situation is rather chaotic, but I think it will settle down on its own. We should remember that ten years ago everyone was swearing blind you'd never get more than 128kbs down the old copper wires!
1695 KBPS
Postcode BT19 6BD
Service Pipex - Not sure about speed - either 2MB or 4 MB but distance from exchange means 2MB is about the limit anyway.
service=entanet
package= Max 8Mb
speed=2025
postcode=ME1 1UP
Tiscali Broadband
Only 412 kbps on an 8 mb service!
Mind you it's a lot better during the day when all the kids are at school...
RG4 7RZ
BT - advertised 8mb (and wireless link says 11mb)
Recorded speed averaging around 3750.
To be fair, that's generally fast enough for me, that's wireless not wired, I'm not a big downloader nor do anything fancy and I'm more concerned about stability than speed.
111 KBPS
4008 kbits downloaded in 36.235 sec
CT20 2QH
That's only twice as fast as an old dial up modem. Paying for an 8Mb service. Absolutely dire.
Been on to Virgin countless times. They just blame congestion.
Awful!
Just tried this test in LE11 - just 2 miles from the exchange.
Using Virgin cable
result at 18.12pm was 84 !!!
The web has been particularly slow just recently especially when the children are back from school.
Current speed - 1437kbps provided on a 2mb service from Orange. Speed varies enormously depending on time of day.
CV7 7BL - exchange about 2 miles away
Plusnet 8Mb package
3841K bps
(tsk tsk)
PO11 (Hayling Island)
service=Sky Broadband
package= "Up to" 8Mb
speed=1113 (7816 kbits downloaded in 7.02 sec)
postcode= TW13 5LY
My gripe would be that I'm sure that the Sky website advised that me line should be able to run at speeds up to 3.5Mb
I used the phone line test from the site:
http://mysky.sky.com/portal/site/skycom/skyproducts/broadband/pricesandoptions/dsl
and received the following reply:
You can get Sky Broadband Max, Mid or Base
Testing your phone line shows it should support broadband speeds of up to 3.5 Mb* . To continue ordering simply click the link below...
*Top speeds may vary significantly depending on distance from local exchange and line quality.
This lead me to choose the mid range option (up to 8Mb), which now seems like a waste of my money!!!
I would've been better off choosing the 'Base' 2Mb option.
Why couldn't the Sky website point me towards the link that has been provided in this item by the BBC?
Perhaps they didn't know this kind of test existed, or perhaps more cynically, they thought it might result in fewer sales?
:o(
Note, that I am not using wireless connection.
What is all this supposed to prove?
I ran the ZDnet speed test and got answers between 450 and 570 Kbps. I then went to speedtest.net and got 1940 Kbps, just under the rated 2 Mbps. I looked at this blog for some minutes, returned to ZDnet and got 1665 Kbps.
Conclusion - it varies. Of course it does, it's a shared network.
In the days when I worked in the network support of a university and people asked 'Why is the network slow?' my answer was because of a problem at one end, or the other, or possibly somewhere in between. If there was a problem with some specific server, we could get the systems guys to look at it, we could swap the user's PC for s known good laptop to see if the problem was something wrong with their machine (it often was) or we wait until we get more reports of problems and then play hunt the thimble with the various bits of network equipment, wires, fibres etc. until (a) we find a faulty component and cure it or (b) the problem goes away. All of which takes a great deal of time and effort. We did have some excellent monitoring software to help spot errors on the equipment or lines, which sometimes helped us to correct problems *before* the users noticed, I have no idea whether ISPs do the same. I would hope so.
I find the phrase "Fraudband" idiotic. The ISPs sell a service "up to" x Mbps. That means "not exceeding". Anyone who thinks it means "not less than" is naive.
My 2p worth
2427 kbit/s
HU12 8
Karoo Broadband Max "up to 8MBbit/s"
Stuck here in a village just outside Hull, we're stuck with the monopoly that is Kingston Communications - we have absolutely NO OPTION to get a better service or deal, no other service providers (broadband or phone) come near us.
The broadband service is appalling and the sooner the Government get rid of this 19th century anachronism, the better!
ps today is a "fast" day... it sometimes goes down as low as 300-400kbit/s. Not very good...
Wrote at 18:12 that the speed was 84
It stayed that way until about 20:00 when it went to about 400 - 500.
It's now 23:50 and the score is 3439 - on a 4MB service with Virgin media
So not bad unless a lot of other people are using it at the same time. Which is frustrating at those times. Even emails take ages to download then.
Very interesting to be able to measure it
BT Broadband
Top package 'up to 8MB'
I got 2660 in Powys, SY18
and I've recently had an email saying that if I choose to leave BT AFTER my 18month contract expires I'll be charged for the privilege of moving, outrageous.
People complaining about speed, I have no broadband???
BT say my line is ok, but no signal gets to me I’ve used all sorts of tools to test it.
No ADSL signal arrives?
Nothing and if you read about ADSL you should get something.
I am one of just 55 subscribers to a remote rural exchange in the North-West Highlands. My Broadband speed is 468 Kbps, which I don't think is bad considering the fact that BT told me I should expect up to 512 Kbps. My exchange is one of the 148 smallest and remotest exchanges which are involved in the Scottish Government's Broadband for Scotland intervention; BT calls it Exchange Activate. Better a slow speed than no speed!
Virgin Cable at 20Mbs, SN5 5TR
Always over 10Mbs on speedtesters. Nearer 20Mbs for big downloads from decent servers and Torrent shares.
Wanadoo
package= "Up to" 8Mb/s
Measured 2.8Mb/s
17.45 Wednesday
Postcode CO4 3HB
Broadband service by BT Internet, at 'up to 8Mb'.
Measured at 1996, i.e. We are about 2.5 miles from the exchange.
Zen 8000
Speed 214
YO23
Pretty poor for the centre of a large city
Pipex
'up to 8Mb'
actual: 4088
HG5 Knaresborough
just tested at approx 20.05 on 12 Dec 2007
Test results: 7816kbits in 49.612secs
equates to: 158 kbps
Service Tiscali Broadband advertised: 2 mb (2.3)
Postcode: IV26
Speed has been increasingly slowing up all afternoon.
Pipex
'up to 8Mb'
actual: 4088
HG5 Knaresborough
Tested at 20.05 12 Dec 2007
ISP package: Tiscali Broadband & talk
Advertised/contract: 1 Mb
Test: 158 kbps
Result was: 7816 kbits in 49.612 secs
Postcode: IV26
Trying to upgrade a Microsoft programme realised getting nowwhere - did the 'test'!
Result 816kbits in 9.641 secs;pretty poor considering I'm paying for "up to 8Mb!!
Result 816kbits in 9.641 secs;pretty poor considering I'm paying for "up to 8Mb!! Postcode CB3
879 Kbs on a 2mb virgin media broadband in E.Norfolk. pathetic service. tony
Provider: Zen Internet
Service : 8 Mb
Actual speed: 5.321 Mb (my laptop on home wireless network)
Post Code : TA2 6LA
Advertised: 2Mb (Tiscali)
Tested: 1.75Mb
Postcode: LS6 2DS
Pipex midi package 8mb, actual 1121kb/s .
we are 2 miles from the exchange, br7 6da.
service=Tiscali
package=2Mb
speed=1839
postcode=RG30 2AS
service = PlusNet
package = 'up to 8 Mb'
speed = 3852 kb/s
time = 21:45
PlusNet's own speed test = 5890 kb/s !
distance to exchange
postcode = LA6 1PL
BT decline to confirm what connection speed we have the pleasure in paying them for but the advertised rate is 'upto 8M. The best result I've managed is 449K and often it's 200K. This is nothing to do with distance from the exchange (about 400 metres) but BT's lack of investment in backhaul bandwidth to this community.
Sometimes I feel we might as well be using dial-up.
BT have a virtual monopoly in this part of the Scottish Highlands - a clear case of market failure. Even more annoying when their sales people call and offer BT Vision, faster speeds - things they can't (or won't) deliver.
Ever felt you're being ripped off ?
Don't know what you're all complaining about. Try this for a rip-off.
Speeds recorded - 56, 211, 60, 100, 70.
BTBroadband are the crooks.
up to 2Mb ha! ha! ha!
It's actually faster to use a dial up modem sometimes.
service = Virgin cable
package = 8Mb
speed = 2447
Postcode = NG9 1QD
Service TalkTalk 1.1mb
Speed 933 (7816 kbits downloaded in 8.375 sec)
PC ST17 0TT
about average although occasionally very much slower. Still no sign of the promised LLU.
Service BT Internet
Service expected 512 due to v rural location > 4mls from exchange
Speed 1177 therefore v happy
AB33 8QR
ISP = Talk Talk
Advert speed = 8Mb
Speed test = 2050 kbps
Barnet, London
Waitrose
up to 8mb
Speed test 1401kbps
1. 1360
2. 2Mb Demon ADSL
3. LS8 5AS
service=Virgin Media Broadband
package=2Mb
speed=1662
postcode=E5 0AR
tiscali 2meg
1763 at fy81pl
I believe that there has been some investment in the digital network recently, Im going to sky 8meg soon . . . we'll see if its really 8 meg ( £5 for sky, whan I was paying £25 for tisclai because the deal was an old one and they did not get in touch and offer me, a valued customer, a better deal!
Well, how about this!
ISP=Virgin Broadband ADSL
Advertised speed =8Mb
Speed test 317kbps
........and that was after three attempts with the connection being dropped continually!!
measured speed 468 kb/s
server virgin media
service up to 8Mb/s
postcode sy7 9eu
Service Provider: BT
For our Exchange, 8MB is advertised, (used to be 2MB) When exchange went to 8MB we lost our broadband completely and it took BT 5 weeks to fix it and the best they can offer is fixed at 512Kbps
at 19.16 on 13th December speed was measured at 816kbits downloaded in 13.437 seconds - which is a speed of 61kbps
This is becuase it's a busy time of day - we can get 400kbps at 3am
Don't ya love BT
Recently signed up with aol, after years on dial up, initial broadband speed around 700Kbps. After hours on the AOL free helpline discovered that:
a) They knew that my BT connection was limited and required "upgrading" this was prmised for 10 days later, nothing happened, after even more hours on the helpline being passed between India and Waterford call centres, again promised an "upgrade", at the same time told that my BT connection was limited to 4.5Mbps.
Hurrah, now regularly running at 3.9Mbps.
Had I nort persisted, do you think AOL/BT would have upgraded this connection, I think not!!!
Incidentally now we live in the virtual world, should you wish to make a FORMAL COMPLAINT to AOL, it has to be in hard copy sent by snail mail.
My complaint of 3 weeks ago has not been acknowledged.
Peter
I am supposed to be getting 8MB from Virgin and was appalled to find I was only getting 60 Kbps. My postcode is SS1 2QX.
Well done Virgin Broadband is as good as your train service!!
Don't ask about 'speed' - ask about contention ratio! Are they keeping you connected?
My BT 2Mb line tests at between 330 and 400K.
M
my broadbad speedshould be 8Mbps. I receive 1787 kbps. and my exchange is only two and a half miles away. Are BT's lines like the waterboard's pipes?
I don't suppose they give refunds for missing bandwidth do they?
Time: 07.45 a.m.
ISP: AOL
Service: up to 8 Mb/s "Platinum"
Measured speed: 2667 kb/s
Postcode: LU7 0J-
Distance from exchange: 400 metres
My ADSL modem/router status page shows basic line speed as 3776 down, 448 up kb/s.
A year or so ago connection speeds to 7000 kb/s were commonly reported by modem status, but now it rarely exceeds 4000 kb/s.
My New Year resolution for 2008 will be: dump AOL, even if it is my employer's preferred provider.
I have a 2 MB Connection and the download speed never varies because
my connection does not share a 1/50 contention ratio
so the results do not tell the whole story
supplier ' Bulldog '
service ' 2 MB '
contention ratio ' 1/2 '
1860 KBPS { 7816 kbits downloaded in 4.281 sec }
its because of my low contention ratio that prevents me from
moving.
I could get ' up to ' 8 MB's - a friend round the corner gets on average 6 MB's but they can drop well below 1 MB at peak times.
I am looking forward to H2O Networks Focus which consisted of laying dark fibre optic cables in the sewage pipes.
As that is a 1 GBPS and relatively inexpensive that is the future but we will see how long they take to reach my location.
Enfield EN1 1BG
Test speed 3469
PlusNet advertised at 8Mb
Postcode NE20 9HE
This result is poor when you know that I can see the telephone exchange from my kitchen window in the winter when the trees have no leaves. A month ago when I first changed to PlusNet I got 4.6Mb. I was with BT before but on a 2Mb deal (do't know the actual speed). PlusNet is cheaper.
I'm surprised that we should be surprised at all this. We're trying to bolt 21st century technology on to an early 20th century infrastructure. Call me old fashioned but I believe that if profits were invested in updating the system rather than lining the pockets of shareholders we might begin to enjoy the services we are all paying for but quite obviously not receiving.
SKY Broadband 'up to 8Mb'
Test Speed 4089
SE17 3NG
When first installed I sometimes got 6000 download speed, but it has consistently fallen, I guess as more subscribers come online?
My postcode is PO2, I'm with Pipex now (ex-Bulldog, ex-C&W), signed up 2 years ago for a 2MB download contract.
Customer service is getting better than it was in the early days!!
Speeds I got running the test 5 times over 6 minutes were:
07:54 - 1148
07:56 - 1437
07:57 - 1396
07:59 - 2686
08:00 - 2733
At 13:22 PM on 14 Dec 2007, andrew irvine wrote: service=?Media Broadband
package=7816
speed=14.391
postcode=rg2 8fs
My post code is BS3 so I think it's quite close to the exchange. I have Virgin M which is supposed to be up to 2MB. The actual speed registered at 8.15pm 13 December was 7816Kb in4,877 seconds or 1603Kbs in 1 second. Ihad no other sites on at the time.
186kbps on Plusnet up to 8mbps, a two minute walk from the exchange
Virgin Media Broadband
Results from test
You 1961
Results 7816 kbits downloaded in 3.985 sec
1. 2031
2. 8Mb
3. E12 5BD
This is a very typical result for my line (I sometimes even get figures as low as 500Kbps) and is nothing to do with distance from the exchange, as such, but is caused by congestion, either at the exchange or at my ISP.
My router reports that I am actually connected at a line sync speed of 6336Kbps, which is also typical, and which I would be very happy with if I ever got anything like that in actual data throughput. There is absolutely no technical reason why I shouldn't (although OK, various overheads mean that I would never get a data throughput quite as high as the line sync speed). I am simply not getting the service I am paying for. And am stuck with it too, since it comes with a 12 month contract...
No come-back whatsoever. My ISP refuses to do anything about it and just blames BT. Apparently, BT refuse to do anything unless the data throughput drops to less than 400Kbps. That's when my line can technically support over 6000Kbps. Got to be something wrong there. But it is a mystery which of them is really to blame. All this "upto" phraseology can be a bit of a red herring because that is really only intended to cover the variation caused by distance from the exchange (using rate adaption technology). On that measure, my line is fine and should deliver around 5.5Mb of actual data throughput. But it doesn't. Ever.
There are other reasons why people never get quite the speed they were expecting, to do with BT's idiotic IP profiling system, but then it starts getting all rather technical and complicated, so you might be better off steering clear of that issue, even though it can make a significant difference.
In fact, the issue overall is that there are rather too many issues, and disentangling them is a whole other issue in itself!
421 - very close to the 512 maximum. I am MILES from the exchange, out in the Essex stix, so I very pleased. Well done BT.
service=BT Broadband
package=8Mb
speed=631
postcode=IP31 2SD
I'm using a wireless connection. This will slow my apparent connection speed compared with an ethenet, wired connection.
Was with BT broadband (up to 2 mb promised) but had endless problems with service dropping out frequently. Phone service is also a bit dicey (very old bit of line the last mile to our house)
Current service provider: Tiscali broadband (512 DSL) and a tiscali phone package
Actual speed 433
Post code KW17 (and quite a distance from the exchange)
I will be checking speed at various times as I suspect it is often much slower than this.
Service= bt broadband
Package= 2Mb
Speed= 851
Post code= PE34 3LX
Service = BT Total Broadband
Package = 8Mb (up to !!!)
Speeds Today = 2647 / 1939 / 2661 / 2464
Postcode = CM21 9EX
I have been checking regularly over the last few months becuase I was having horendous slow speed problems and they have been trying to sot it ! However, it is never much better than this except on rare occasions !
So ... in summary I am averaging about one quarter of the paid for rate but still paying full whack ! Can this be fair/right/justifiable/reasonable ? I think not ... !
Hope this helps in your quest ?
Best wishes, good luck and kutgw … !
Roger...
Roger L Gilbert
serivce- ukonline
package - 1mb
speed - 842kb
postcode - b18 6ex
service- BT Total Broadband
package - upto 10mb
speed - 5721kb
postcode - sn1 3jr
Here's what we have to put up with:
1. Test result: We get 417k !!!!! (Can you even call that BROADband!)
2. Advertised: 8Mb (although when you contact them they tell you our exchange can only do 0.5Mb)
3. Postcode: PH20 1AH (and we are only 100m from the exchange)
And what's more is that BT is the only provider we are allowed to use - no other provider will accept us because the exchange is only 0.5Mb. So no competition, no incentive to improve. So much for Broadband for the Highlands and they're trying to promote the area for eBusiness!!
I ran the test 7 times in a three min period. Min value 692 max 3522
Package is up to 20 Mb
Postcode N22 7SB
Service - Virgin Media
Please note : close to the exchange
Here's what we have to put up with:
1. Test result: We get 417k !!!!! (Can you even call that BROADband!)
2. Advertised: 8Mb (although when you contact them they tell you our exchange can only do 0.5Mb) We still pay what everyone else pays for 8Mb (or whatever they get!)
3. Postcode: PH20 1AH (and we are only 100m from the exchange)
And what's more is that BT is the only provider we are allowed to use - no other provider will accept us because the exchange is only 0.5Mb. So no competition, no incentive to improve. So much for Broadband for the Highlands and they're trying to promote the area for eBusiness!!
service=Virgin Media Broadband
package=M 2Mb
speed=1826
postcode=MK45 1RP
BT tested the line at 3.5Mb. On 8 weeks of contract I get 2.7, 2.2, 1.8, 1.4, 0.7 - falling all the time. After two complaints through my MP and after an engineer test(which agreed capability of 4Mb) my speed shot up again to 2.4Mb both times. Nothing wrong with the equipment so it must be tweaking of the service by the ISP. This is scandalous when you pay for something and then get short-changed on it. If they can't provide a full service they should reduce costs for slower speeds.
Virgin Media
Purchased speed......20Mb
Actual speed............4Mb
GU21 2AY
:(
Provider: Virgin Media Cable Brpadband
Advertised speed: 2mb
Actual speed: 885 kps
Postcode: BR 3JF
7816 kbits downloaded in 4.515 sec. I pay Orange for 2mg but have never achieved it in sixteen months of subscription.
Not only that, I had the insult of a letter telling me I'd exceeded my download usage and under the 'fair use' scheme Orange felt they had the right to limit my access in future ... although if I got the promised service in the first place, I wouldn't have been exceeding their limits.
Virgin Media 1 Meg Broadband, SE3 London,
Advertised Speed: 1024 kbit/s
Actual Speed (average of 5) : 212 kbit/s
Slowest of 5: 165 kbit/s
Fastest of 5: 243 kbit/s
Dave
Postcode : HA6 1BE
Nearest exchange : NORTHWOOD / HA6 2AB
Service: 2mb - British Telecom
Speed at 1750hrs 15 Dec 2007 : 1715
service= TalkTalk
package=Talk2 International
speed=962 (7816 kbits downloaded in 8.125 sec)
tested=Sat 15 Dec approx 17:35
postcode=ME16 9xx
(down to 906 at 17:47)
Plusnet
Package: 8 Mb
Speed: 3166
City: Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Distance from nearest exchange: Just over 100 meters away.
Speed 816 bits took 73.906 sec !! under 3 miles from uprated exchange but no hope of broadband like many other villages in Somerset. Currently on anytime dialup with Orange which is shortly to be switched off because presumably they think everybody can now get Broadband. There are many thousands of people who have no chance of a Broadband connection. What are we to do?
BROADBAND via WI-FI DONGLE.
Advertized/promised 3200KBPS,
actual mean 1927KBPS
Sample Standard Deviation, 525KBPS
Provider, T-Mobile £29 per month.
Not impressed at all! Test @ 18:08 Sat:
speed(?!): 318 kbps
paying for: up to 2 Mbps
exchange: only few metres down the road!!!
postcode: CH1
provider: Tiscali Fraudband...!
....hmmmm... maybe time to think about changing?
Tested 6.05pm Sat 15/12/07
Service :- Virgin Media 20Mb
Result :- 4311 k/bits
Postcode: SG2 8AZ
This is about par for the evening performance of the Virgin Media 20Mb service. At times during the day the speed can hit 18.5Mb which is vastly better than any ADSL provider could supply me with. This is a fibre optic cable service so outdated equipment cannot be blamed. Excess contention and, I suspect, deliberate choking (described as 'traffic shaping') are the likely problems.
I am a former BT Broadband customer. Speeds were pathetic - never better than about 450 Kbit/s on the 2 Mb service. They tried to sell me the 8 Mb service and after some pressure from me admitted I would be unlikely to get better than about 3.5 Mb. I considered even that optimistic. They blamed the quality of 'my' line for the poor quality service. I take exception to this - it's not 'my' line, it's theirs. I merely rent it. I can imagine their reaction if I climbed up the telegraph pole down the road with a tool kit to repair 'my' line! So bye bye BT Broadband.
2 further points if I may :-
1. ISP's tend to insist on a 12 month contract period, performance unseen and unknown. Once signed up, you're stuck with it.
2. ISP's, notably BT, will not allow any trial period. A friend of mine on BT Business 2Mb broadband, was offered 8Mb and asked for a 7 day trial. He already had a BT Modem in place and his line was ADSL enabled so work at their end would have been minimal. No dice. 12 month new contract or nothing. He's on cable as well now.
Speed 816 bits took 73.906 sec !! under 3 miles from uprated exchange but no hope of broadband like many other villages in Somerset. Currently on anytime dialup with Orange which is shortly to be switched off because presumably they think everybody can now get Broadband. There are many thousands of people who have no chance of a Broadband connection. What are we to do?
Speed 816 bits took 73.906 sec !! under 3 miles from uprated exchange but no hope of broadband like many other villages in Somerset. Currently on anytime dialup with Orange which is shortly to be switched off because presumably they think everybody can now get Broadband. There are many thousands of people who have no chance of a Broadband connection. What are we to do?
postcode TA10
Provider: Virgin Media Broadband
Package: 20Mbps (guarranteed) via Cable
Actual slowest: 369 Kbps
Actual fastest: 392 Kbps
Post Code: GL52 2QH
BBC link test indicated a range between 2.6 and 3.5 MB, testing using BT's speed test indicate 0.8MB.
Using BT 8 MB service!
RG40
Service TalkTalk
Package up to 8meg Broadband
Glasgow, Govan
My speed averaged around 1meg which is shocking considering I live about half a mile from the nearest exchange
Service TalkTalk
Package up to 8meg Broadband
Glasgow, Govan
My speed averaged around 1meg which is shocking considering I live about half a mile from the nearest exchange
Hi
I cannot be unusual with my broadband speed issue.
I am connected to Pontefract exchange, over 7Km away and have a broadband speed of around 1.8Mb download speed. I am told I cannot have higher speed because of the distance to the exchange.
But there are two other BT exchanges nearer.
Crofton is 3Km along public roads.
Normanton is 3.2Km as the crow flys, around 4.5KM on public roads.
BT say they are not prepared to install cables from these nearer exchanges, so my promised 8Mb speed is never going to be acheived.
Thanks
Derek C Johnstone
Hi
I cannot be unusual with my broadband speed issue.
I am connected to Pontefract exchange, over 7Km away and have a broadband speed of around 1.8Mb download speed. I am told I cannot have higher speed because of the distance to the exchange.
But there are two other BT exchanges nearer.
Crofton is 3Km along public roads.
Normanton is 3.2Km as the crow flys, around 4.5KM on public roads.
BT say they are not prepared to install cables from these nearer exchanges, so my promised 8Mb speed is never going to be acheived.
Thanks
Derek C Johnstone
Hi
I cannot be unusual with my broadband speed issue.
I am connected to Pontefract exchange, over 7Km away and have a broadband speed of around 1.8Mb download speed. I am told I cannot have higher speed because of the distance to the exchange.
But there are two other BT exchanges nearer.
Crofton is 3Km along public roads.
Normanton is 3.2Km as the crow flys, around 4.5KM on public roads.
BT say they are not prepared to install cables from these nearer exchanges, so my promised 8Mb speed is never going to be acheived.
Thanks
Derek C Johnstone
Postcode: BT20 4PE
Provider: British Telecom
Theoretical maximum 8 Mb
3.032 Mb in test
(Router usually reports over 5 Mb......)
I live in Camberley and use Virgin Media cable 20 Mb service. The test site you use shows 10.2 but Speedtest.net shows over 16.2, if I use a London test site but only 11 Mb on a Maidenhead site. These results makes me wonder how good these tests are. The Virgin website suggests various ways of improving the speed including re-setting the properties of your network adapter and also uninstalling QOS Packet Scheduler from your Local Area Connections properties. They then suggest you visit SpeedGuide.net and use the TCP Optimizer program. I did all of this and obtained a significant improvement in speed. I also found out that the modem supplied when I had a 1 Mb service needed to be upgraded to reach the speed I now have. Perhaps tuning the computer might help get nearer the advertised levels although I agree in general that the speeds achieved are not as advertised.
Actual speed was 935 KBPS at 19:30 on 15 December.
Tiscali 1mb package.
S5
I live in Camberley and use Virgin Media cable 20 Mb service. The test site you use shows 10.2 but Speedtest.net shows over 16.2, if I use a London test site but only 11 Mb on a Maidenhead site. These results makes me wonder how good these tests are. The Virgin website suggests various ways of improving the speed including re-setting the properties of your network adapter and also uninstalling QOS Packet Scheduler from your Local Area Connections properties. They then suggest you visit SpeedGuide.net and use the TCP Optimizer program. I did all of this and obtained a significant improvement in speed. I also found out that the modem supplied when I had a 1 Mb service needed to be upgraded to reach the speed I now have. Perhaps tuning the computer might help get nearer the advertised levels although I agree in general that the speeds achieved are not as advertised.
As an addendum to my earlier message 392, I notice that TalkTalk include broadband for free in the Talk2 International package I have.
I guess that makes it alright then, it's 'costing me nothing' so I have nothing to complain about. Rather odd when their sales pitch was that 'we can at last offer 8Mb in your area now, would you like to upgrade?' when they telephoned me.
The so-called unlimited free calls at certain times need to be redialled after 69 minutes; the international calls require the input of a special code before dialling the international number, and then the line performance is as bad as Skype In and Skype Out as echo, time lag and intermittent performance are a 'feature' of this service.
Not that I'd want you to think that I grumble all the time, of course - sometimes I bang my head against the wall for light relief
!
est Speed: 1839
Provider: BT
Postcode: OX17
Promised speed: 6 mgs
Not once was it mentioned, before I signed up, that because of distance from exchange (half a mile), weight of internet traffic, colour of next doors cat, whether my windscreen wipers work or not etc that I'd be unlikely to get anything like that.
Was with BT, and rang to tell them I was going to change to TalkTalk. BT offered 'upgraded' package for cheaper than I was paying them before. I asked why they hadn't told this particular 'valued customer' they could do this before - it was because I hadn't asked them apparently. Wonder why they couldn't have told me in the e-bill they send me every month. Is ANYONE getting what they're paying for?
PS. It's taken two attempts and ten minutes to get this message online.
Update: Three attempts and twenty minutes.
Update: Four " " thirty "
Service = Virgin Media Broadband
Package = 2 MB
Speed = 16k and sometimes nothing
Postcode = WC1X 9NX
An appalling service which takes a premium rate call to complain (with all the associated delays)
No answers to email complaints.
What can I do?
The Bell Wire trashed my ADSL after I was MaxDSL'd
My page reports that when I disconnected the Bell wire at my master socket faceplate, My ADSL connection downloads went from a disappointing 136 kbs to a very acceptable 5250 kbs.
My ADSL download has been disappointing since my line was MaxDSL'd. I have reported the fault to my ISP, and was told to directly connect the modem to the master socket.
When I did a direct connection a few years ago, I got 5000/448 DownStream/Upstream, but with the extensions connected, I got about 3904/448, which decreased over a week.
Since I was MAXdsl'd it has been bouncing around 800 kbps mostly 500 kbps, and maybe upto 1800kbps for a while after rebooting the modem. When I got back from holiday, my download speeds were down to 136kbps. Rebooting the modem made no difference. Time to sort out the wiring!
Conclusions:
Simply disconnecting the OrangeWhite/WhiteOrange pair from pins 3,4 at the master socket improved my Broadband download speed.
The Bell wire was connected to the B wire via the 1uF capacitor, which then runs in parallel to the twisted pair carrying the A & B wires to the slave sockets. It acts as an aerial sucking out power from the B wire and adding noise from received signals.
Even if you use filters at each socket, the bell wire may still be distributed unfiltered to the slave sockets.
You do need to get the correct type of Micro Filter, they are not all the same circuits. Some feed the bell wire straight through, others have a bell capacitor after the inductors.
My survey of the local hardware shops suggest that you have to be very careful when buying a filter.
Currently they are selling a filter that feeds the Bell Wire straight throughand all are CE marked.
However, No local hardware shop sold filtered faceplates sockets that allowed you to distribute the bell wire filtered as suggested in the SIN 346.
Currently, You cannot buy from local shops, a solution that would get my ADSL to work! I will keep using my Solwise Micro filters.
This tip is in the BT SIN 346 suppliers information note in paragraph 7.3
I am delighted. My two year saga of support questions getting an answer that did not quite tell me the solution is over!
Remember - the extension wiring is your responsibility, not BT's or your Broadband Provider.
service=Be Unlimited
package=24Mb
speed=6010
postcode=KT22
I was told to expect 14MB at my location, but 6M
Advertized/promised 3200KBPS,
actual mean 1927KBPS
Sample Standard Deviation, 525KBPS
Provider, T-Mobile £29 per month
7816 kbits downloaded in 2.147 sec =3640
at 0229-16/12/07
virginmedia(telewest) 4mb
BD16
1993!!!!!!!! from 12mb broadband. Thats just rediculous!!!!
tested at 9.44 on a sunday morning.
Really dissapointed.
regards
charles
16/12/07
11:40
2507
BT - Advertised as 8 mb
NG12 4
16/12/07
11:40
2507
BT - Advertised as 8 mb
NG12 4
BT is the provider
2,842
EH4
Beat this! 8mb package and not a single test result over 400! Well done Pipex Homecall!
AOL PLATINUM £31.99 per month 4MB package
7816 kbits downloaded in 82.172 sec 95 Kbps
I don't understand these figures. Is this a good result? The cost seems high and it seems slow, but I don't know what it should be.
CV5 9FT
16/12/07 20.28
I'm on Virgin media cable at 20Mbs, and generally get that speed outside of peak hours, whereupon it usually halves, but still pretty slick. The main problem with VM is their stupidly low usage cap. After 3Gb per day, it automatically throttles the connection to 5Mbs. 3Gb at 20Mbs is about 20 minutes downloading time! Yet who are they advertising their 'blazingly fast 20Mbs connection' to? heavy users of course! They want to sell it on it's speed compared to the competitors, but don't actually want you to download anything. Sharp, sharp practice.
I tested mine yesterday evening at 8pm and was shocked to find my 8MB conection was 58kbps! I tested it just now at a quieter time of day and it's 989 kbps. I'm with Plusnet and pay £14.99 a month.
TW8 8ES
Re-tested at 4.55pm: AOL Platinum speed ("up to 8 mbits/s") now running at 1202 kbits/s, just 400 metres from exchange.
I thought the morning speed of 2667 kbits/s was poor!
Re-tested at 4.55pm: AOL Platinum speed ("up to 8 mbits/s") now running at 1202 kbits/s, just 400 metres from exchange.
I thought the morning speed of 2667 kbits/s was poor!
P.S. Lois (post 423) the (supposedly) 8 Mbit AOL Platinum is costing me £17.99 per month rather than the £31.99 they're charging you. I'd take your business elsewhere if I were you: I certainly will.
Broadband Provider = Virgin Media
Advertised Speed = Up to 20Mb (XL Package)
Speed test result = 2739 KBPS
BT Broadband
Advetised: up to 8Mb/s
Actual: 1.6 to 3.9Mb/s
GU32 1RN
We are in a rural area at the end of a piece of damp string, several miles from the nearest exchange.
Tiscali ADSL, advertised 8Mbps
Postcode RH6 7DA
Modem downstream rate: 8157kbps
Modem upstream rate: 447kbps
Distance from exchange: 1km
Speed test result, 11pm: 5555kbps
Judging by some large downloads I've done, I believe the speed does reach around 7.6Mbps at less busy times...
Mostly pretty happy with the service, but occasional DNS troubles or periods of an hour or two when the router keeps dropping the line are annoying.
Other users should be aware that their broadband modem speed can be adversely affected by poor telephone wiring within the customer premises. This can be tested by removing front plate of BT Master Socket and plugging modem/router directly into the inner socket (this disconnects consumer wiring inside the house).
Similarly if you can hear any crackles/buzzing/hissing on your telephone line then this may indicate a problem an engineer can fix. The BT website has an automatic line-testing option.
Broadband Provider = Virgin Media
Advertised = 4Mb/s
Actual = 3624 Kb/s
Location = TS3 8NJ
I normally get around the advertised speeds, although over the last 2 nights web browsing has crawled to worse-than dial-up speeds. Think Virgin are having problems this week.
Broadband provider: Virgin Media
Advertised: 4Mbs
Actual: 112KBPS
Location: CF11 9BW
Is this a record low? Unbelievable!
Provider Tiscali up to 8Mb
Actual 3225
Location SN10 5FJ edge of town
Broadband provider = Talktalk
Advertised = 8Mb/s
Actual = 6826 KB/s
Location = AB24 1TX
I have just swapped from BT whose connection was just as fast but lapsed constantly (e.g. about every 5 minutes in the evening). Over the course of six months to the BT call centre, operators put this down to to (a) the local telephone exchange (b) my equipment (c) the wiring in my house (d) heavy demand in the evenings.
The day I switched providers, lo and behold, reliable and speedy broadband service with no changes to any of the above.
ISP: Tiscali
Package: 8Mb
Speed: 3427
Postcode: TR1 2LA
Test time: 19122007 @ 18:25
Even for peak time usage, that sucks!
Over 100 tests the average speed was 1972, max 2310, min 1670.
Bt Broadband up to 8m
PO11 - Hayling Island
about 1km from exchange.
Service = AOL
test = 1135
Speeds "up to" (i.e. if uncontested) 8MPS
EX36 4EL
"...will tell you where your nearest exchange is." This does not seem to work for (Kingston upon) Hull, which is Karoo territory. Anyway, Karoo Option 3 (4-star service – offering up to 8.1 Mbps) has provided, over a two weeks period, a rate of mostly 3.8 kbps for my north Hull location.
4MB speed - pay for 8MB...
G13 1UB.
Pipex
Ian
Provider : Tiscali
Advertised: 1MB DSL
Actual : 803 KBPS @2100 Hrs
Location : GU10 4RQ
Supplier is TalkTalk
Speed is meant to be up to 8mb
Just bought new computer because after 4 months of waiting for service to be connected it finally arrived and crashed my computer. They blamed the computer.
Now with a brand new computer I'm getting 1,509kbps
It's all so disappointing
GU9 8HW
Actual 4.5 Mbs
Advertised 8 Max
I still don't understand what the difficulty is with understanding the '8Mbs max'. My speed is entirely consistent with my distance from the exchange. I realise the actual possible maximum is 7.6Mbs but surely poetic licence permits rounding up to 8Mbs.
I pay for 8 Mb Broadband from BT.
My results were:
2912 Kb/s
7816 kbits downloaded in 2.684 sec
Postcode: SO23 9QX
Provider - Orange (Home Max package)
Advertised - Up to 8mb (restricted by local exchange limit to 6mb).
Actual - (according to ZDNet speedtest at 20:10 on 20/12/07) - 7816kbps in 4.875 sec.
Postcode YO26 5SX
ISP = Mersinet/UKRTC ( http://www.mersinet.co.uk/ )
Advertised speed = 2MB ADSL
Actual = 1936Kbps
Postcode = CH48
I am just over 1 mile from the telephone exchange.
Provider : - TalkTalk
Claimed speed 'a dizzying 8 Meg'
Actual; 7816kbps less than a tenth of the claim
Post code: TW5 9EF
How do I quicken this? Complain to TalkTalk? Mind you checking the comments above I'm about average for TalkTalk!
Brian
Provider: TalkTalk
Advertised speed: Up to 8 Meg
Measured speed (avg 10 tests): 1.4 Meg
Post code: B74 3LF
Distance from exchange: 258 metres
The speed is disappointing considering how close we are to the exchange and it's not a densely populated area.
Provider: TalkTalk
Advertised speed: Up to 8 Meg
Measured speed (avg 10 tests): 1.4 Meg
Post code: B74 3LF
Distance from exchange: 258 metres
The speed is disappointing considering how close we are to the exchange and it's not a densely populated area.
Provider : Virginmedia ADSL
Post code NG22
Advertised Up to 8 Meg. BT say wont get better than 3 Meg. Lucky if I get 2 Meg.
Speeds taken over the last 5 days:
Highest: 1777kbps
Lowest 14Kbps yes 14
most in the range 357 to673 kbps
Before NTL were taken over by Virgin I regularly got 2400kbps and very rarely below 1500 kbps. No change to my equipment.
2.3 km from exchange.
I pay for 8; I got 0.5 until I complained to BTInternet and now I get 1.2.
I am lucky ( :~} ) - other people in this village get 0.33mbps. Daylight robbery.
Post code CV37 0ST
Mike
I pay for 8; I got 0.5 until I complained to BTInternet and now I get 1.2.
I am lucky ( :~} ) - other people in this village get 0.33mbps. Daylight robbery.
Post code CV37 0ST
Mike
Provider: Lixxus
Advertised speed: Up to 8mps
Actual speed: 4590bps
Postcode: RH12 4EW
I pay for AOL silver over a BT Line which is supposed to be 2mb, but what I actually get is:
Download Speed: 715 kbps (89.4 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 226 kbps (28.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
I ran the test several times with similar results and called AOL, who didn't seem at all surprised I wasn't getting anywhere near the 2mb for which I am paying. However they are not prepared to accept 33% of their monthly connection fee!
If anyone has the same supplier, you might be interested to know they offered to upgrade me to 8mb (reduced price for first 6 months of £9.99) and then at the same price as my 2mb line (£14.99 per month). They give a one month cooling off period, and, if unless you advise them you don't want to continue, you are signed up for 18 months.
The only reason I still use AOL is because I have had the same screenname since 1995, and I don't want to lose it, but if AOL doesn't improve on speed dramatically, I'm going to shop around. AOL also has horribly busy screens with all sorts of rubbish which you can't turn off, whereas I want a zen like Google clean screen.
I'd wouldn't advise anyone to switch to AOL.
1. 1853
2. 2mb, provider is BT
3. Brighouse, West Yorkshire (About a mile from the exchange)
I'm with ecipse and have been very happy with them. I've just discovered they are a BT Wholesale re-seller, which is nice.
My speed is 1791 although I pay for upto 8 Mb
Service: Plusnet
Package: up to 8Mb
Measured speed: 448kBps
Postcode: BT33 0RE
This is slightly faster than dial up but I was paying a lot less than £15 a month for that.
1. 901
2. Provider is Tiscali
3. 8Mb
Tested speed 1742.
Supplier: Orange (previously Wanadoo, previously Freeserve).
Advertised up to 8Mb.
Test speed: 1111
Supplier: Virgin 8MB
Postcode: TA21 0DB
Virgin tell me that it's because I'm on a traditional twin copper wire cable one mile from the telephone exchange. I pay £19.99 a month for this.
service=Sky Max (£10 pm)
package=16Mb
speed=6026
postcode=CB6 1EB (Ely, Cambs)
I'm within a mile of the exchange I think.
SamKnows says that ADSL2+ is available at ~11.3Mbps so I'm running at 1/2 available speed :(
ISP- BT [Speed is up to: 8mb]
Result was 3227kbps
BT say speed is up to 8mb and what we get varies depending on current usage (i.e. how many are using the internet at the time) and my distance from the exchange, since subscribing I've yet to see a faster connection
600-800kbps
MAX 3meg cos of BT monopoly
service is eclipse 4meg
la22
Provider: BT Internet
Advertised speed: up to 8mb nationally, 7mb promised from this exchange, which is just a mile from here
Actual speed: 371kbps
Post code: KT13
Scandalous! A rip-off!
Try clicking on 'Test' twice. I get wildly different results - so how can my complaint to my ISP be at all valid?
Provider: BT Internet
Advertised speed: up to 8mb
Actual speed: 1588 kbps
Post code: SK14
Broadband prices, but the connection is barely faster than ISDN. Rip-off!!
Wf8 3rj
pontefract exchange
aol 2mbs supplied
recieve 1792 down and 240 up 11pm to 6pm
recieve 292 down and 240 up between 6pm and 11pm
whats that all about
Wf8 3rj
ponyefract exchange
aol 2mbs supplied
recieve 1792 down and 240 up 11pm to 6pm
recieve 292 down and 240 up between 6pm and 11pm
whats that all about
Tiscali advertised my 2Mb service as "unlimited", yet insist that I try not to use it between the hours of 6PM and 11PM, to protect Tiscali's bandwidth delivery to it's customers! I dread to think how many hours I "wouldn't" be able to use it if I upgraded to their 8Mb service.
What a joke, these hours are the only time most working people get to use their internet service...
I'm paying for something I'm not getting. Their customer service is also a joke.
Talk Talk
4Mb DSL/Cable (just got 1211)
I have noticed my bandwidth being cut
right under my nose when downloading/updating my pc.
Fair usage policy of 80GB.
I had to compain to offcom to get a result.
"STAY WELL AWAY"
Talk Talk
4Mb DSL/Cable (just got 1211)
I have noticed my bandwidth being cut
right under my nose when downloading/updating my pc.
Fair usage policy of 80GB.
I had to compain to offcom to get a result.
"STAY WELL AWAY"
ISP:BT Total Broadband
Speed:1283KBPS
Advertised: "up to 8Mb"
Exchange name:Hastings
Private comapany with a manopoly mind.
Only maginaly better than 2 cups and a peice of string.
isp - virgin broadband
package - 20mb
actual speed - 3188kbps (ie 3mb)
PATHETIC, FRAUDULANT and CRIMINAL. SALES AND SUPPORT STAFF lie to me on a regular basis.
i signed up to virgin broadband's most expensive package purely because the sales rep GUARANTEED a 20mb connection. my connection has NEVER been anywhere near that. the highest recorded speed i have is around 13Mb, and that's around 4am on a weeknight about 2 months ago. the lowest is BELOW 1Mb, the average is around 4Mb. what a joke. contacting support results in garbled explanations, lies and lame excuses. VIRGIN ARE TAKING MONEY FOR A SERVICE THEY FAIL TO PROVIDE. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
1. 724
2. 8Mb
3. SO14 3HR
BT Broadband
Im supposed to get 8mb
I actually get 1693 which is just over 1mb. I am not surprised, i live like 5 mins in a car from the exchange.
BT is terrible i phone them all the time it always drops out. Funny tho they never forget to take there money out my direct debit for there so called 8mb service
Ofcom need to fix this up instead of concentrating taken down pirate radio
BT Broadband
Im supposed to get 8mb
I actually get 1693 which is just over 1mb. I am not surprised, i live like 5 mins in a car from the exchange.
BT is terrible i phone them all the time it always drops out. Funny tho they never forget to take there money out my direct debit for there so called 8mb service 'and yes i am paying maximum its called option 3'
Ofcom need to fix this up instead of concentrating taken down pirate radio
Home:
1. 3663 (7816 in 2.134 seconds)
2. When I last phoned BT a few weeks ago they said we had 2MB but they were about to start upgrade work (we live across the road from an exchange)
3. SK23 6BD
Work:
1. Only 3032
2. Not sure
3. M4 1HS
Amazed work is slower connection than home.
Lissa
Orange 2mb
Actual - 927kb/s (best of 4 tests)
Service has recently been as slow as 246kb/s !!!
Was originally with Metronet with a "up to 8 Meg" package.Got about 2.5-3 meg ,I am rather a long way from the telephone exchange.
Changed to Talk Talk and was promised a "up to 8 Meg speed,actually get approx 0.75 meg. Complained and was told it was due to still using Bat's equipment in the local exchange and that it will improve in two months time when they put their own equipment in.
WHAT A LOAD OF COBBLERS!!!!!
Was originally with Metronet with a "up to 8 Meg" package.Got about 2.5-3 meg ,I am rather a long way from the telephone exchange.
Changed to Talk Talk and was promised a "up to 8 Meg speed,actually get approx 0.75 meg. Complained and was told it was due to still using Bat's equipment in the local exchange and that it will improve in two months time when they put their own equipment in.
WHAT A LOAD OF COBBLERS!!!!!
We were 'upgraded' by Virgin to an 8Mb service from 2Mb but it didn't get any faster. Actually that's not strictly true. However 23 tests over a 4 month period produced an average download speed of 1.2 with a peak around 2.4 (so sometimes it was really slow). However it transpired that the maximum the BT line could deliver was around 2.4, so it's not just Virgin. I notice they've got wise to this in their pricing - you can get a 1Mb package and then it's straight to 'up to 8'. We are looking to change package, because we're still paying 24.99 pcm for a package that no longer exists!
2GB/sec service from Plus Net.
Problems with BT line for the last 2 months.
BT keep coming out and finding "no fault".
I get crackles on my phone line and poor speed.
Currently getting 227kbps.
Not Happy!
654 kbps
PE19
Advertised speed with Madasafish: up to 8mb
Speed test: 2553
Postcode SE15 1QA
Test: 3669K
Package: 4MB
Provider: Virgin
Post Code: PO7 8
after several tests, the average test speed on my VIRGIN MEDIA "up to 4MB" was 263.9kbps!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was on a plain old copper BT wire before switching from PLUS NET which regularly gave me over 2000kbps.
I wish I had never moved!!
VIRGIN MEDIA what a con!!
Test:263.9k
Package:4MB
Provider: Virgin Media
post code: DE248EZ