Whiteley telephone exchange and broadband

[rogerta]

My SNR margin is 29.0 and attenuation 29.5. I've just checked the line capabilities using these parameters plus modem reported speed which is 576kbs on www.snipurl.com/2vfg7 and get the following report:

"Your maximum line connection speed using an ADSL (up to 8Mbps) service is: 4860kbs
If using a BT Wholesale Max product, then your expected IP Profile (sometimes called BRAS Data Rate) will be 4Mbs
The IP Profile is set based on the lowest speed seen in the last 5 days, it drops immediately, but may take 5 days to improve even if you reconnect at a good speed again.

If your service provider uses ADSL2+ the maximum line speed likely is: 16950kbs
With ADSL2+ the maximum IP throughput (result from a speedtest) is likely to be around: 15000kbs
If your ADSL or ADSL2+ connection speeds are slow for the attenuation of your telephone line then take a look at this guide to removing the ring wire from your extensions.

Next step is to remove the bell (ring) wire and then maybe an I-plate - I'll let you know how I get on...

[StephenR]

Best of luck then - it sounds like it could be a problem in the house.

[rogerta]

Unfortunately, an I-plate cannot help me. The SNR margin does not warrant it apparently. Anything below 10dB and then the I-plate could help. Its a straight forward case of physical distance, the line distance from the exchange is just too long to be able to attain reasonable speeds. Need to move to a Virgin area. Count me in for your letter to BT bryony84. My speed is 460kb on a good day down to 300kb in the evening. I live in Cheshire Close.

[bryony84]

Rogerta

Have you made totally sure that you are on Locks Heath exchange. I only ask because I checked with BT (several times) and some online checkers and they all told me I was on Locks Health exchange, until eventually after many many phone calls, nearly 3 months of no internet etc, I was informed by openreach (via sky) that actually I'm on the Whiteley exchange.

The Whiteley exchange is somewhat behind the times (go to samknows website and type whiteley into the exchange search) and can only currently provide fixed line speeds of 512, 1mb or 2mb. I get similar speeds to you, yet my attenuation data shows that I am capable of far more if it was available. I can only assume that BT has fixed me at one of the lower rates. It seems there are no plans to upgrade the exchange to ADSL+ let alone ADSL2+, probably because BT don't seem to realise that the exchange exists half the time!

[bryony84]

My router stats:

Router Stats:
Downstream 576 Kbps
Upstream 288 Kbps

ADSL settings
VPI/VCI 0/38
Type PPPoA
Modulation ITU-T G.992.1
Latency type Fast
Noise margin (Down/Up) 29.4 dB / 10.0 dB
Line attenuation (Down/Up) 41.0 dB / 24.5 dB
Output power (Down/Up) 16.5 dBm / 12.3 dBm

[Hampshire Bus]

Rogerta

Have you made totally sure that you are on Locks Heath exchange. I only ask because I checked with BT (several times) and some online checkers and they all told me I was on Locks Health exchange, until eventually after many many phone calls, nearly 3 months of no internet etc, I was informed by openreach (via sky) that actually I'm on the Whiteley exchange.

The Whiteley exchange is somewhat behind the times (go to samknows website and type whiteley into the exchange search) and can only currently provide fixed line speeds of 512, 1mb or 2mb. I get similar speeds to you, yet my attenuation data shows that I am capable of far more if it was available. I can only assume that BT has fixed me at one of the lower rates. It seems there are no plans to upgrade the exchange to ADSL+ let alone ADSL2+, probably because BT don't seem to realise that the exchange exists half the time!

Whiteley exchange is not a "real" exchange. It is classed as an "annexe" of Locks Heath & sometimes called LH2 which adds to the confusion.
Line checkers generally show LH irrespective of if your physical line is based at the real LH exch or the Whiteley annx, because of that.
It's like LH exch being a house & the Wly exch being your garden shed, all are classed as at your property if you get my gist. However whilst LH runs on one system the Wly exh runs on another!
I've been told by BT that I can be put on the "real" LH exch , but I'm still waiting & waiting & waiting & waiting.............

[rogerta]

Hi everyone

Well I have checked with my line provider (Talk Talk) and they advise that I am hooked into the Locks Heath exchange " I can advise your local exchange is Locks Heath, exchange code (STLOCKH)."][i]

Not sure where that leaves me really other than I have a crap line speed and there's not a lot that can be done about it apart from either moving nearer the exchange or waiting for BT to upgrade the infrastructure. Having suffered BT as a supplier in relation to my job, it would be easier building my own exchange rather than wait for them to do anything!!

[Hampshire Bus]

Visited the Basingstoke Virgin Media store today & was told to email

Cablemystreet@virginmedia.co.uk

as VM are thinking up where to expand their network, so if you live in an area where you can't get anything broadband or BT or nowt here's your chance to suggest/plead/beg that VM visit your street & give you futuristic fibre optics!

[rogerta]

See response back from Virgin Media - not good news.

Dear Mr Taylor
Thank you for your enquiry about the provision of services to East Whiteley.
We have asked our Planning Team to look at the situation and advise whether the properties in this area can be connected to the main cable network. My colleagues have completed this work and a survey has been carried out to ascertain what would be required to create this extension to the Virgin Media cable network.

From the report on this, it is clear that serving this area would present significant challenges to us due to its distance from our existing built network. At this time, costs would be prohibitively expensive and work would take some considerable time.

Regrettably we are not in a position to offer service at this time, but we have a clear understanding of the need for provision in this area and as new ways of serving areas outwith our existing built network change, we will continue to look at technically feasible and cost-effective options with a view to providing service at some time in the future. Unfortunately I cannot be clearer on timescales but this will be treated as a future priority for the New Build team.

We will retain your request on file and will continue to revisit this project to see if we can find another way to provide service in a cost-effective way.

Many thanks for your enquiry.
With best regards
Ian Herbertson

Ian Herbertson | Head of New Build & Direct Sales Support
Virgin Media | 1 South Gyle Crescent Lane, Edinburgh EH12 9EG

M 07985 801 814 | D 0131 477 5811

[bryony84]

Rogerta, I was told exactly the same thing when I asked what exchange code I was on, they told me STLOCK, but Openreach have physically checked the line and its at the Whiteley one.

Try this checker, it accurately tells me my line is at whiteley. It has also just told me that BT have sneakily upgraded the Whiteley exchange to ADSL Max while I wasn't paying attention!
http://www.dslchecker.bt.com/adsl/adslchecker.welcome