Is speed estimate a joke?

[jambo862]

Hi, I have recently signed up to Sky Broadband Unlimited on the promise of 20 meg unlimited broadband.

I was previously with BT and getting a speed of 7.5 meg approx.

At the time of signing up for Sky Broadband I could not get a speed estimate as there was some kind of issue with they're system, and when I log in to My Sky it still tells me my estimate can not be given.

This morning however I have received the Sky Broadband welcome letter which has told me that my speed estimate is 4 meg?

How can this be, my exchange is LLU for Sky, according to Samknows my distances to the exchange are -

Distance:- Direct: 0.07 mi
(appx)* By Road: 407 ft

So surely I can get better than 4 meg? Has anyone got any idea what sort of speeds I should expect?

Thanks for your help.

Jambo862

[timc]

You need to post stats from your current router to be given an estimate.

As for the Sky estimate , well it's not exactly that. The letter should be saying that 4meg is the initial speed you'll be set at - that applies to every new customer - and that the line will be monitored over the 10 or so days following activation to get the best, stable speed for you.

As you're so close to the exchange you'll possibly get 16+meg but without existing stats - line attenuation & noise margin - it's impossible to give a reasonable estimate.

[Scubbie]

The Speed Estimator that Sky uses is often inaccurate and underestimates the connection speed, rather than over estimates it.

Provided that you have a clean connection and that it follows path that is of a similar length to your distance, then you should be getting over 14Mb for you download.

If you could post your BT Router Stats, then someone may be able to give you an estimate of what you should expect.

[Isitme]

If you are .077miles (about 125m in new money) from the exchange you should get pretty near the full rate. I think Sky are a bit disingenuous with their estimates. In almost every case the estimate is far below the true rate. The problem arises if you can only get, say, 10 Mb and call Sky help. Tier one will tell you your estimate was 4 Mb so you are doing very well

[Shonk]

If its a new phone number
the database has the old address for the number
for a few months after install

They said mine would be 4mbit
and its good for 23mbit

It now says

Our test also indicates that your line currently supports an estimated ADSL2+ broadband line speed of
17Mbps; typically the line speed would range between 10Mbps and 19.5Mbps.
Our test also indicates that your line could support an estimated ADSL 2+ Annex-M broadband upstream line speed of
1.5Mbps and downstream line speed of 17Mbps; typically the downstream speed would range between
10Mbps and 19.5Mbps.

So even now that they have the correct info theyr best estimate is still 3.5mbit down

[Isitme]

on the promise of 20 meg unlimited broadband.

Just noticed this bit. You were given wrong information, no ADSL supplier will promise a definite speed, what you are sold is Up to 20Mb. In your case you will probably get it, but it should never have been promised. A too enthusiastic seller me thinks

[Exdee]

Hi, I have recently signed up to Sky Broadband Unlimited on the promise of 20 meg unlimited broadband.

I was previously with BT and getting a speed of 7.5 meg approx.

At the time of signing up for Sky Broadband I could not get a speed estimate as there was some kind of issue with they're system, and when I log in to My Sky it still tells me my estimate can not be given.

This morning however I have received the Sky Broadband welcome letter which has told me that my speed estimate is 4 meg?

How can this be, my exchange is LLU for Sky, according to Samknows my distances to the exchange are -

Distance:- Direct: 0.07 mi
(appx)* By Road: 407 ft

So surely I can get better than 4 meg? Has anyone got any idea what sort of speeds I should expect?

Not too long ago there was an instance here when the maximum sync speed somebody with a attenuation of 2-3db (considered a very short line) could get was 16ish Meg. Hence there is a possibility one might get something short of 20MB no matter how close to the exchange you are.

But assuming your internal wiring is top notch and your line to the exchange is of decent quality you should be easily able to get a 20MB sync. Maybe even more.

The only information I could get out of Sky about how they estimate the line speed was that we do it based on 'historical data'.

Shonk is right about the possibility of them estimating your speed based on the telephone number you have been given. If this number was in use previously the wholesale database will not be updated until the day after your line goes active.

Put in the telephone number you have been given in the following database and see what estimate it gives you: https://www.btwholesale.com/includes/adsl/main.html

Afterwards use the 'address checker' on the same page and see what estimate it gives you.

You will probably see there will be a huge difference between the two.

[Giskard]

Jambo:

No provider will promise - or is able to promise - a particular speed. There are too many unknowns - too may variables.

In theory you should do very well. As timc said, Your letter from Sky will have confirmed their speed estimation to you for your line but in the same letter you would probably also have been advised that you would start off from 4meg as part of a (standard practice) line-testing process designed so that you end up with the fastest and most stable speeds that your line can provide.

"Is speed estimate a joke?" No - they come later, don't worry

Tier one will tell you your estimate was 4 Mb so you are doing very well

See what I mean? You'll love Teir One - they have a great sense of humour.


Anyway, this forum is a great resource - I know nothing about networking and this place has been a real help to me.