Recent download speed problems

[Rik]

What, you're stopping one short??

[peterbeaumont]

I thought I'd add a footnote before this thread descended completely into risque territory...

I had a response from Support today, basically saying that I had no cause for further investigation, although this comment:

"...unfortunately if BT need to change the phone network (normally to
help other customers) they will do so as long as the change does not
cause a fault on another line"

worried me a little. Does this suggest some kind of "equalisation" process by BT at my local exchange?

Anyway, having lost 2336kbps of sync speed and a proportional loss of download speed in a breath, I'm being told that everything is ok.

Not happy, but stuck for a response.

[kinmel]

This is not a new thing, many years ago when I was obtaining new phone lines for fire service use, it was common for "our" phone engineer to move customers off the "best" pair in a cable to give it to us, before ADSL no-one noticed.

BT provide customers with a line, not a particular line, using what is available to best advantage and the choice is all at the whim of the field engineer, because every used line meets the minimum standard needed to satisfy the voice spec.

[Rik]

Hi Peter

I understand your frustration, but as Alan says, BT do re-arrange things to suit themselves. It happens that I have the best speeds by far amongst my immediate neighbours, it also happens that I was the first ADSL adopter around here, and a friendly BT engineer checked to find the best pair for me.

Essentially, providing your line doesn't fall below the fault threshold rate, which is set at 70% of the maximum stable rate established in the 'training period', then BT will not accept there is a fault. IDNet, or any ISP, can't budge BT on this, and if they ask for an engineer to come out, you will end up with a bill for £170 or so - because BT say there is no fault.

It's unfortunate that BT are able to act as judge and jury, but that's the way things are.