real competition to VM???
 

Had a flyer dropped through my door the other day from 02.
apparently they're offering an "upto" 20mbps connection with "upto" 1.6mbps uploads through your phone line. www.02.co.uk/broadband - with discounts if you have an 02 mobile.
Perhaps we do have an alternative to VM's poor speeds and atrocious customer service

does anyone know of a way of getting a good estimate of likely speeds down phone lines bearing in mind distance from exchange issues???
I'm sure i did find a site once that gave you an estimate.

Im not saying its better or cheaper than VM - but nice we may have an alternative

Re: real competition to VM???
 

It's ADSL, I think there is enough evidence in this forum, and others that up to means that most won't get any where near those speeds.

Re: real competition to VM???
 

Plus they aren't offering TV or a Phone Line themselves so the only competition they are are to VM's Internet services for which the mostpart work fine. Plus, I wouldn't presume that O2's BB support will be any different to Virgin's

Re: real competition to VM???
 

I agree with the "up to" bit.

However like many on here i'd rather have an "up to" 3 or 4mb connection that works rather than the "up to " 0.7mb VM give me evenings and weekends!!!!

Re: real competition to VM???
 

This is what you are looking for.

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/checker2.php

I have an upto 20 meg cable connection that drops to dialup speed at a weekend.

Re: real competition to VM???
 

Ha to get 20meg ADSL I will have to move right next to the phone exchange, no thanks ill stick with fibre optics.

Re: real competition to VM???
 

O2's broadband is provided by Be (www.bethere.co.uk) - they bought Be out not so long back.

They can offer 'up to 24Mb' but only through enabled exchanges (less than half of the total I believe) and I don't think they are enabling any more.

As with all DSL products, your very much limited by distance from the exchange... on the 'up to 24Mb' products, you need to be very close to the exchange to have any hope of getting it, we're on be at work and getting about 15Mb with the exchange literally over the road.

Re: real competition to VM???
 

Its fibre from the exchange to the DN, Then coax to the BN which can be up to 1 km, Then coax to your house which can be upto 300 meters. It's NOT fibre to the home and untill VM find some money never will be.

Re: real competition to VM???
 

DN's, BN's? Don't suppose you have a link that explains the cable infrastructure do you? :)

Re: real competition to VM???
 

OK here we go Cable 101 "Ex C&W"

DN

A DN is the Distribution Node and is where the Fibre from the Exchange terminates. There is normally 4 in a ring configuration allowing for diversity via a A route and a B route fibre. The DN contains the power supplies, CATV, And Telco equipment. There is also battery backup for that cabinet. Some areas now have a extra DN to allow for expansion.

BN

A BN is the block node and is fed from the Dn's via 50 pair cables and coax cables. This is where your DROP cable from your house is terminated. Each block node is capable of feeding upto 50 customers and is normally no more than 300 meters from your house.

I will try to put a drawing together to show this.

Re: real competition to VM???
 

Here you go hope this helps.

Re: real competition to VM???
 

I wish people would stop thus FUD.

You dont have to be right next to an exchange to get them speeds.

1.7km Clocked in @ 19.7mbit down 2.5mbit up (thats actual distance)

So please, shut up already, getting bored of hearing the same old crap.

Most people who complain have poor filters, poor faceplates and crap extensions, those things can cause massive problems you know :rolleyes:

P.S You do realise you have coax to your house right, not fibre...

Re: real competition to VM???
 

48 for CATV ;)

Re: real competition to VM???
 

:LOL:

---------- Post added at 17:17 ---------- Previous post was at 17:16 ----------

:LOL:

Did you read any of my posts above.

Re: real competition to VM???
 

yeah, thanks for that.

---------- Post added at 17:41 ---------- Previous post was at 17:40 ----------

Your one of the lucky ones then... we're much closer than that at work, and don't get that. And no, no extensions, new faceplates, and a good filter.

Got a friend who's 1.5km from their exchange, he's lucky to get 4Mb from the 'up to 24' service. Welcome to the variation that comes with *DSL