Switching to Sky

[paddy1508]

I'm new here and seriously considering switching to Sky for Broadband Unlimited/Line Rental/Anytime calls but am confused about the speed I may expect.

Currently my ISP is BE Unlimited (with BT line rental) and my connection/line speed is 12.7Mbps (which is more or less constant).
The line attenuation is 32db and SNR 7.5db

IMHO the figure that Sky give of 'estimated line speed: 7.0 - 14.3 Mbps' is too wide a variation.
If the worst happened and I just got the 7Mbps it's a big drop from what I'm getting now from BE of 12.7Mbps

That's my main concern and any help/experiences would be most welcome as I have read horror stories about connection speeds

[St3althM4ster]

hey im on 31db line attenuation and im connected just under 15meg so i will expect you prob will see 13-14meg

[Scubbie]

Sky has to be careful when predicting the line speeds. BTO can, and often do, change the cabling when people switch between providers. This means that instead of say using pure copper cable, they could use copper-coated cable.

It also depends on where Sky's kit is, in relation to your previous supplier's kit in the telephone exchange to where the trunk cables enter the building.

Another thing which can affect the connection speed is Fibre. Many members have commented on the drop in speed when it is installed in their exchange.

In practise though, provided that your line is of good quality, you should be able to achieve a better connection speed with Sky based upon those figures. Sky DLM will now reduce the Noise Margin (SNR) to 3dB if the line can handle it. This translates in to a faster connection speed.

[paddy1508]

Another thing which can affect the connection speed is Fibre. Many members have commented on the drop in speed when it is installed in their exchange.

In practise though, provided that your line is of good quality, you should be able to achieve a better connection speed with Sky based upon those figures. Sky DLM will now reduce the Noise Margin (SNR) to 3dB if the line can handle it. This translates in to a faster connection speed.

Thanks for the detailed reply.

I note that in a number of posts you have mentioned the speed drop since fibre was installed at the exchange.
BT Fibre was enabled at my exchange (and I have a cabinet just around the corner) in July and I have noticed no drop in speed - or does this apply only to Sky?

A lot of 'ifs'/'it depends'/'in practise' to take into account.
So, really, a crystal ball is needed or is it better the devil you know?

[Scubbie]

Whilst I am sure that note everyone will notice or experience the drop in speed, I can only assume that it is related to the fact that the existing cables pass through some ducting and that some/all of the new FTTC cables are squeezed through the same ducting.

I am now assuming that either the cross interference from the fibre cables is interfering with the ADSL signal and causing speeds to drop, or because all the copper telephone cables are compressed together, that they are causing more problems with each other.

Since the cables supply the broadband to everyone, whether they are Sky customers or not, I would imagine that this is going to affect all ISPs.