topic Re: Speed Questions in Broadband

Speed Questions

wills1988 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:16:01 GMT

Hi,

Looking for some help, I am looking to rent a property in a relatively rural area in the next month or so and I'm having something of a panic about broadband speeds. I've looked at the BT wholesale checker and I've attached the results.

Am I being silly, but I would expect my estimated speeds to at least somewhat match those from the VDSL ranges? When I look at any packages, lets take PlusNet as an example:

2 - 5Mb

estimated download speed

0.8Mb minimum guaranteed speed
1Mb estimated upload speed

As someone who works from home, and will have x2 kids often streaming videos etc, this doesnt feel like it'll be enough!

Re: Speed Questions

jab1 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:27:18 GMT

Keep checking this link - that 'waiting list' narrative for VDSL can change quite often, but only check when you have confirmed you are going to be moving.

At the moment, there is no spare capacity for a VDSL link.

Re: Speed Questions

wills1988 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:45:23 GMT

Hi John, thanks for the response.

Just so I understand, is it likely that there is not capacity for an additional line, despite it being capable at this exact moment in time or is this move of a waiting list for something physical to happen?

I spoke to a neighbor in the road who suggested they get speeds of "17" which would be enough for me, but I'm concerned to the point I probably wouldnt move in if I was to get the speeds suggested before signing up - it just wouldn't work.

Re: Speed Questions

jab1 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:51:58 GMT

I'm assuming the property you are thinking of moving to already has a phone service - do you know if they have an internet service and what type?

Basically, for a VDSL service, there has to be a spare 'port' in the fibre cabinet, and at the moment, there isn't one in yours.

The slower speed you are quoting is for ADSL, which is copper all the way from the exchange to the property, the faster one is over fibre cable to the cabinet port, and then then copper line from there to your property.

Re: Speed Questions

wills1988 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:54:26 GMT

Right OK, so I likely am looking at what, 1mbs down speed until that point?

It’s empty at the moment so assuming there is no active line, which means I’m at the mercy of someone nearby exiting the service?

Gut feel tells me this isn’t going to work out!

Re: Speed Questions

bmc — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:54:27 GMT

@wills1988

There may or may not be plans by OR to add an additional DSLM card to the cabinet to increase capacity - or it could be there is no space to add one.

Either way you can't order VDSL until a line is available.

You could check the following to see if there are any plans for FTTP in the area.

https://www.openreach.com/

Brian

Re: Speed Questions

wills1988 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:57:39 GMT

Yeah no plans, I’ve been in the general area for a few years and it doesn’t sound likely either!

Anyone have an idea of how common this is, and if so how long I could be waiting for a spot for VDSL?

Re: Speed Questions

jab1 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:58:38 GMT

@wills1988 wrote:
Right OK, so I likely am looking at what, 1mbs down speed until that point?

It’s empty at the moment so assuming there is no active line, which means I’m at the mercy of someone nearby exiting the service?

Gut feel tells me this isn’t going to work out!

Correct, although see @bmc 's response above.

Re: Speed Questions

jab1 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:00:11 GMT

@wills1988 wrote:
Yeah no plans, I’ve been in the general area for a few years and it doesn’t sound likely either!

Anyone have an idea of how common this is, and if so how long I could be waiting for a spot for VDSL?

Quite common, and the question is 'how long is a piece of string'? No-one can answer that.

Re: Speed Questions

wills1988 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:17:14 GMT

Trying now to imagine what life would be like with the minimum speed offered, pretty rough, right?

Re: Speed Questions

jab1 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:20:22 GMT

True, but it is what it is - very little you can do about it. What is the mobile signal like - you could possibly use mobile broadband from (say) 'Three'.

Re: Speed Questions

wills1988 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:33:21 GMT

Feel like that would be a iffy solution, it's "close" to the edge of 4G however, but in practical terms I'm not sure how reliable that would be. I remember a bad experience with a 3G offering many years ago!!

Re: Speed Questions

MisterW — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:37:14 GMT

Does the Openreach USO of a minimum 10Mb come into play here ?

If there's not a decent 4g signal , then possibly, unless they can wriggle out on the basis that 'we can provide >10Mb' if only we had the capacity🙄

Re: Speed Questions

bmc — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:54:45 GMT

@wills1988

I believe you can ask OR if there are any plans to upgrade the cabinet or install FTTP via a form on their website. You might only get a "canned or generic" asnwer but it can't do any harm asking.

If mobile provides a short term solution you should get a landline installed with ADSL. It's quicker to upgrade than it is to place a new order. If a line opens up it's first come, first served.

Brian

Re: Speed Questions

wills1988 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:59:36 GMT

Thanks (BMC) and all. Have done some more digging and can see, obviously, quite a few people with similar. Positive news is people seem to get eventual joy by just checking the upgrade option on a near-daily basis. Might have to go with that, sadly!

If anyone else has similar experience, would love to hear it!

Re: Speed Questions

bmc — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:06:18 GMT

@wills1988

Last year a neighbour was moving house (only a mile or so away) but knew that it would mean going from FTTP to FTTC. When we first checked there was a waiting list - which seemed to come and go.

Luckily, when she moved a few months later a slot was available and PN was able to get her up and running with FTTC on the selected day.

Brian

Re: Speed Questions

wills1988 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:08:52 GMT

Great, thanks again.

Final question I promise, what part of the OpenReach portal should I be looking at to indicate availability for VDSL slots?

Assuming that's as close to a "live" view as I'd ever get?

Re: Speed Questions

jab1 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:09:21 GMT

The right hand column in the top of the screenshot you posted - 'waiting list' changes to 'available'.

Re: Speed Questions

bmc — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 17:00:32 GMT

@wills1988

The other way of doing it is to use the PN website. If a slot is available you'll get a response.

Brian