Networks "Up to 8Mb" upgrade - how long does it take?

Just interested in finding out how long it's taken for UK customers to get their broadband upgraded.

I got the email from my ISP on the 19th of last month stating that the upgrade process has started, and that over the next 10 days my speed will fluctuate, and eventually settle at the maximum my phone line can handle.
Well, my speed is still fluctuating; this morning it connected @ just over 7Mb, late afternoon reported 5.6Mb and I've now noticed it's dropped down to 3.7Mb.

Is this normal? I mean, when I had 2Mb it would always connect @ 2.2Mb, and reported this speed every time I checked the router status. Is "upto 8Mb" supposed to be like this, or is it just that my line upgrade is still taking place? It's almost like the dodgy dialup connection I used to have at my folks' place; sometimes it'd connect @ 36k, other times it'd drop down to 24k.

The other thing that worries me slightly is that I changed ISP today (got the MAC code through from Plus.net last week, which I passed onto AOL - managed to connect to them this evening). This won't affect the upgrade will it? My initial thought was "no" seeing as it's BT that actually perform the upgrade/tests.

So, how long did it take for your line to be upgrade to 8Mb?

 

It took about 10 days IIRC.

I'm managing to get about 3.5 Meg on a line that is only supposed to be able to do 1 Meg. It started off at 8 and gradually came down during the days that followed until it reached the stable level.

During that period, It was impossible to use the net for the first couple of days as my Router was continually dropping the connection and re-establishing it. Later on, it was possible to use - but every now and then the router would keel over trying to use the higher speeds.

What you have to remember on the Max DSL products is it is up-to 8Meg, not a guaranteed speed. It all depends on the length & quality of copper from the exchange to your house, the quality of the wiring in your house and how noisy the line is. Maybe your line can only support that speed - there's so many variables it's difficult to accurately predict what you're going to get.

You could try moving your router modem closer to the master socket, and cut out any potentially noisy extension leads / cables.

 

More info on the Max Product:

http://www.adslguide.org/newsarchive.asp?item=2615

 

Took them over a month to get my line stable at 4.8MB

 

I feel sorry for you guys. My ISP here in Finland manages to switch within a minute. No fluctuations at all, plus 10/10 for a nickel.

 

Thanks for that GOO - you're a star

Up until recently the router was actually connected to the master socket, but I ended up having to move it upstairs as the WiFi on my new laptop is pretty dire.

I did already know about the factors taken into account when trying to get a broadband connection set up - I had a major headache trying to get a 2Mb connection sorted. BT originally capped my line at 1Mb, even though the distance from exchange/attenuation/noise margin were well within the limits for a 2Mb connection - I basically ended up having to prove them wrong, after they told me countless times that my line would "only support a 1Mb connection". Idiots!

I know it's not an accurate way of measuring, but I did find a site that gives you a rough indication of what speed should be possible, based on your attenuation and noise margin figures. Can't remember the URL, but it did state I should be able to receive around 6Mb.

Anywho, I'll move the router back down to the master socket tonight and leave it for a week or two, see what happens. Hopefully it won't take too long for the speed to settle down.

Slightly off topic here, but is there any way I can increase the WiFi signal strength on my laptop? I mainly use it in my room, and with my new lappy I get next to zero signal quality (with frequent disconnects). Would having a cheap access point in my room help at all?

Cheers for the help so far guys!

 

You could try the AP route, as some (if not all) can be used as repeater stations for your WiFi. Another idea is to try some of the MIMO kit, as it has a far greater range than bog standard 11b/g

 

Your ISP receives a report from BT's BBCR application. This tells your ISP what speed your line can connect at - your ISP has no control of this value. BT should stop sending this report (or send it far less often) after the ~10 day period, however this doesn't always happen...

I was provisioned on MAX on 24/05/06 and ever since then BT have tweaked my speed every 2-4 days (although mine varrys from 7Mb to 8Mb).

Moving to another ISP won't stop this behaviour - unless it's an LLU or cable supplier of course.

How are you measuring your speed?

You already have been upgraded to MAX.

 

I think it's actually a common problem with the WiFi on my laptop. It's a Novatech Blazer (basically the same as a Rock CTX), and there appears to be quite a few posts on various forums stating that the WiFi strength isn't too great.
This post kinda proves just how craptastic it is...

I think I'll just get hold of an AP from somewhere and use that.

Just checking the connection speed in the router setup, although I did run an ADSL speed test last night which tbh, probably wasn't too accurate.
Router reported 5.5Mb down, 488k(ish) up. ADSLguide speed test gave results of 1.7Mb down 300k up.

[edit]
Regarding the WiFi trouble, do you think an aerial like this would work (connected to the router), or would I just be better spending the cash on an AP/repeater?
Is it true that adding an AP to the network effectivley halves the bandwidth?

 

Well, I'm still getting various connection speeds throughout the day - it's 6.4Mb atm, but was around 5Mb this morning.

ADSL speed tests seem to give a maximum download speed of 400kb/s no matter what connection speed my router states.
I'm assuming the actual connection speed doesn't really matter, I'm only ever going to see around 3.2Mb..?

If that's the case then I'm a little dissapointed...I was hoping to get somewhere between 5Mb and 6Mb. Ah well.

 

You'll just have to wait for BT's new C21 network - www.switchedonuk.org

 

It's gonna be along wait - mid-2011 according to there website.

I was downloading a few files through uTorrent last night, and it seemed to peak at around 500kb/s...so it's slowly getting faster (and taking a lot longer than 10 days!)

 

Night being the keyword. There will, of course, be less people using your local exchange and your ISPs bandwidth in the small hours.

 

you people are all lucky =P i live in granny ville, where there are more retirement homes and hotels than there are houses, more strands of blue rinsed granny hair than blades of grass, and a constant smell of paumade.

And of course, grannies dont use the internet, so not only do we have only 3 possible service providers (BT AAHHH, AOL AAAAHHHH, and WANADOO AAAAAAAAHHH) unfortunately mother got the wanadoo package as it was cheaper at the time..) but since we live in granny ville, i dont think our phone lines have been updated since WW2, we get around 1mb max, often we trumble around at 750kb, which is pathetic for 19.99! 2mb is the lowest package they offer so.. meh

 

Bear in mind that if you do decide to raise speed issues with your ISP, BT will only listen if your ADSL router is connected to the master socket, and every device connected to the phone line is properly filtered.

 

try www.speedtest.net

you also get a funky speed read out!

 

Heh me too. Took <5minutes to change my line from 1.5mbit to "up to 24mbit" - which i get 7.1mbit solid (4kms from the exchange, speeds are about on par)