Unrealistic speed estimate?

[Xizor]

Hi folk's,

Just registered to ask a simple question.

I'm thinking about changing from Talktalk LLU to Sky Unlimited LLU when my TT contract expires in May. According to the Sky Estimated Access Line Speed, I could expect between 12.2Mbps and 19.0Mbps.

Is this realistic? Seems very high to me.

I currently get about 8Mbps on my TT line with an attenuation of 40db. I believe that is about all I can hope for at that attenuation level. So, how can they quote such a high speed? Are they having me on?

Thanks for any info.

Cheers

[Scubbie]

Could you post your TalkTalk router's connection stats please? We may be able to give you a better idea from there.

If you can include the following information from the router:

Connection speed, Line Attenuation and Noise Margin for both the upstream and downstream connections.

[Xizor]

OK, I've just taken these off the router.

I'm currently on a 9db profile, but will be changing to a 6db one in a few days. I expect the speed will increase slightly, if it is stable.

Configured Current Line Status --- SHOWTIME Link Type --- Interleaved Path

Data Rate Stream Type Actual Data Rate Up Stream 958 (Kbps.) Down Stream 7577 (Kbps.)

Operation Data Operation Data Upstream Downstream Noise Margin 9 dB 9 dB Attenuation 44 dB 40 dB

Thanks for the quick reply.

Cheers

[NewsreadeR]

I doubt very much you would get between 12.2Mbps and 19.0Mbps

We estimate your line is capable of between 7mb to 8mb broadband on an ADSL2+ service. This ADSL2 Line Speed Calculator is a best guess only, as to the broadband speed that maybe possible on your telephone line. The checker provides results of up to 24mb with the data that is made available to us. This is purely for indication only and should not be classed as the Line Speed that you would receive on any ADSL or LLU product from another ISP.

SkyUser - Potential ADSL2 Line Speed Checker & Calculator

[Scubbie]

Looking at those figures I would be inclined not to go as high as 12mb for a connection on your current line.

It is important to realise that often BTO will re-router your connection. They will do this as a necessity in the exchange, but sometimes they can also re-route the connection between the green street box and the exchange too.

Based on your line attenuation, the tool on this site predicts a connection speed between 7-8mb/s. Your noise margin is currently 9dB. Sky uses a lower target of 7dB, which would indicate that you would get a small increase above what you have.

Since TalkTalk are going to change your profile to 6dB you should see a slight better increase in speed to what Sky would offer you.

Finally, it is important to know that different routers calculate the Line Attenuation differently. It could well be that a Sky router will give you a different figure.

Edit: lol - Ged's got in there before me

[Xizor]

In other words, 12-19Mbps is very unrealistic!

I'm glad I asked, because that is very misleading. I wonder how many other people have been drawn in expecting to get a big jump in speed from their current provider?

Maybe I won't change ISPs after all. The price for truly unlimited <abbr title="Broadband">BB</abbr> is attractive though. Hmm...

Thoughts anyone?

Cheers

[IWasNotTheEnemy]

Bear in mind you're on the TalkTalk LLU network at present and it could work in the same way as the Sky SVBN...moving might improve the line conditions so you may get something out of it. It's your call at the end of the day

[Isitme]

The router is obviously reading the attenuation very differently from the Sky routers. The fact that your upstream attenuation is greater than the downstream indicates this. Normally with Sky the upstream reading would be slightly over half the downstream. ie, at the moment mine is 37db downstream and 23db upstream. The only way to check properly would be to connect a Sky router to your line and check the figures it gives. It is very unusual for Sky to overestimate a line speed, more often than not they will underestimate.

[Xizor]

Bear in mind you're on the TalkTalk <abbr title="Local loop unbundling">LLU</abbr> network at present and it could work in the same way as the Sky SVBN...moving might improve the line conditions so you may get something out of it. It's your call at the end of the day

Can you explain what Sky SVBN is, please? I've never heard of it.

Cheers

[Isitme]

Sky's Full Metal Path Network, the Sky Voice and Broadband Network.*

*Note to NR - Maybe you could add this to the acronyms list?