Broadband woes

[Supa T]

I recently moved into a new flat (4 weeks ago), and and about 2 weeks before moving in, I researched various broadband packages to try to find a) the best deal for me and b) which providers and deals would actually be available in my area.

 

Now, the ISP I ended up going with (albiet on their more expensive "access" package) was O2, who quoted me a speed of 2.5Mb based on the post-code I provided. Now I know 2.5Mb isn't too great but I thought it would be adequate. A few days after moving in, BT phoneline all set up and active, I again go through the various websites and deals before settling on O2 where I again tested the availability of their products based on my area and now, as I had the number at this point, my phoneline. I was again quoted a maximum speed of 2.5Mb.

 

Having signed up and been connected, I came off the "10 day adjustment" period to find speeds much lower than the 2.5Mb quoted. After several calls to customer services I was advised that BT had "revised their quote" of what the line was capable of, and it was not 0.5Mb. (Several tests on Speedtest.net later and it seems the line can actually run at up to 1.1Mb but this is still insufficient for online gaming which is the main reason for me having broadband).

 

O2 say there is nothing they can do as they're just leasing BT's equipment in the exchange, and BT say there's absolutely nothing they can do, and that there are no plans for upgrade work in the area.

 

I can't believe that in the year 2009 my only options for a faster broadband service are to either a) move, b) wait for BT to upgrade the line which could be heaven-only-knows-when or c) wait for Virgin to put cable in the area which again, could be whenever.

 

The only other possible alternative I can think of is the Vodafone "mobile broadband" unlimited package (although I think it's meant for business), who claim speeds of "up to" 7.2Mb. There's however is a 2 year, £20/month contract.

 

Any advice or suggestions would be most gratefully received.

[locutus]

OK do a check here SamKnows Broadband - Availability - Broadband Availability Checker and tell me if "be" is available... if not you just have re-branded BT broadband

 

I get 0.5 meg and to be honest it's not 2 bad for online gaming... the ping time is what needs to be low, not the big bandwith. (I feel the ping time with a dongle is not going to be any better... if you order them online/over the phone you do get a 7 day cooling off period if its something you wanna try!)

 

You still within your cooling off period woth o2?

[Supa T]

Hi Locutus, thanks for taking the time to reply

 

I went to SamKnows Broadband and apparently "be" is available in my area. However, on going through their website "just to see", they say my phoneline won't support their broadband.

 

The ping times I'm getting will lead to me quitting my WoW account (no bad thing if you ask certain people in my life!) as the ping is making the game unplayable. I also play a lot of Left4Dead and have only had 1 occasion where my ping has been below 200 since getting connected where I am now. (Edited to say that I am apparently now unable to get a ping of LESS than 1000 on L4D, making it unplayable online *sigh*).

 

I have 5 days left of my "cooling off" period with O2.

Edited July 24, 2009 by Supa T

[locutus]

I would talk to o2 to see if they can offer advice. Out of interest, any chance that some programs (updates or antivirus etc..) or someone else on your network is downloading anything?

[Supa T]

It's a secured network and the only other person to use the network is my girlfriend on rare occasions, and I know when she's on it as it kills my connection pretty much dead.

 

O2 say there's nothing they can do as they're just leasing BT's equipment in the exchange.

 

Speed seems to have gotten worse and I'm probably just going to cancel O2 and maybe even go without altogether

 

So is there really nothing else I can do?

[locutus]

Nothing I can think of... if you want to post a list of the servers that samknows says are available to you and ask peoples oppinion I'll gladly give you mine.