Be broadband offers ADSL2+ trial in London

[petej]

Have you tried here to see if your exchange is OK? BT and my ISP were in an argument about who borked my exchange, and then magically it was upgraded to 2mb/s. Keep trying at Pipex

I kept on tracking my exchange status and was overjoyed when BT upgraded it. Sadly my speed did not increase. I assumed that this was because of my distance from the exchange. Then one day, my connection speed just bounced up from 512 to 1M. So who knows what is going on with BT. I suspect that there is a bit of trial and error going on and BT are taking things slowly so as not to get too many complaints.

Looking forward to someone offering ADSL2+ in my area. I still get the feeling that even now, my network speed is not the bottleneck for most surfing, more it is the places that I visit and their servers/networks.

 

[Goliath]

Edit: Just read the link on that site to the Offcom-Bulldog story.

Without doubt, Bulldog is the worst comms company ever, I hope it goes seriously bust.

I signed up in January to Bulldog- 2 months free trial on a rolling 1 month contract for a 4mb line and phoneline and I have NEVER received a bill for their services- each month I await for the, by now, shockingly BIG bill and it never comes!

And as I can't pay what I haven't been billed for I happily use my 'free' service and cross my fingers. At least for another month anyway!

 

[sushi]

Great news for ADSL users, like Wintermute I'm waiting for my 10MB upgrade. The problem with all of these uber-fast home connections to me seems to be that the web servers can still only deliver content at a limited rate, so even if you do have 10MB or even 24MB down, who the hell will actually be able to send you data that fast. Not many places I'm willing to bet.

First of all, glad to see you guys getting better ADSL support.

Now a Mini Nitpick for a Mini Mod.

Broadband connections are measured in Megabits per second vice Megabytes per second.

- MBps is Megabytes per second.

- Mbps is Megabits per second.

Unfortunately, most ADSL connections are not even close to their advertised speeds.

As for supporting bandwidth, Apple is one who does. A buddy has FTTH (Fiber To The Home) connection. I DL'ed system 9.2.1 update (82MB file size) 4 times. Here are the stats:

- Minimum 7 seconds.
- Maximum 12 seconds.
- Average 9 seconds.

BTW, I never trust the stats from various sites concerning speeds. The best way that I know is to DL a large file and time it. Granted server and location will affect the results. But Apple and Microsoft have great support speeds as a rule -- for updates anyhow.

I am down to about $17 per month for my 1Mbps connection. Moving in a few months were we will have 50Mbps connection for about double that ($35 per month). They have a fiber backbone to the apartment complex, then have VDSL to each apartment.

At around $55 you can get FTTH over here. In my case, the extra speed is not worth the cost at this time. I would rather have an iPod Mini or something of similar value each year.

Again, glad to see you guys getting faster broadband support.

Sushi

 

[sushi]

Unfortunately physical distance from the exchange doesn't mean much since you could be at the wrong end of a long loop. Those stats look very odd though if that's the case

Are you talking cable or ADSL?

ADSL is connected directly to your exchange.

Cable is looped to all those who are connected.

So ADSL tends to keep a more consistent speed/throughput vice cable which can get really bogged down at times. Like around my place when the kids get home from school, cable rates drop considerably.

Also, according to an EE fellow that I knew who worked in the industry, the distance from the exchange does not affect the ADSL throughput as much as the industry would like us to believe. Around here they have a special ADSL for those who live far from an exchange. Yahoo BB uses it.

Sushi

 

[AlBDamned]

Is anyone actually rolling with this new 24MB service yet?

We got our phone line installed yesterday and are desperate to sort the broadband out, but after the Bulldog experience, I'm dubious of going with one of these super-fast ISPs....

Something like BT or PIPEX is only 2MB, but it will get connected in 2-5 days and I know it works average to good. I'd love to try 24MB but with a 2-4 week connection time and the 'Beta' status, I'm not sure about it (got enough problems at our new place already!!).

 

[dcv]

Hmmmm sounds very tempting and it is apparently available in my area.

Only thing holding me back is that I work from home so it HAS to be a reliable service.

I'm paying far too much for my 2MB Bulldog broadband (pre-C&W takeover fiasco so mine has always been fine apart from a particular day or so in June), but i've always thought if it aint broke don't fix it...

 

[Applespider]

Are you talking cable or ADSL?
Also, according to an EE fellow that I knew who worked in the industry, the distance from the exchange does not affect the ADSL throughput as much as the industry would like us to believe. Around here they have a special ADSL for those who live far from an exchange. Yahoo BB uses it.

Was talking ADSL since those on various broadband boards and the industry as you said above, keep banging on about the length of line. And that you might be v near the exchange physically but have a very long length of line.

From what I can make out, the main thing that affects speed though is that line attenuation along with still maintaining a reasonable SNR.

 

[sushi]

Was talking ADSL since those on various broadband boards and the industry as you said above, keep banging on about the length of line. And that you might be v near the exchange physically but have a very long length of line.

Roger.

From what I can make out, the main thing that affects speed though is that line attenuation along with still maintaining a reasonable SNR.

That makes the most sense, the SNR bit.

Anyhow, they are pushing the extended range ADSL here. Can get 45Mbps.

The reason for the push is competition from FTTH. It is becoming very common here. Currently many companies are offering free installation and the first 3 months service being free. Yesterday, a friend of mine just got her notification for this type of setup. Monthly cost ends up being around $55-$60 per month. Not bad at all for 100Mbps.

Sushi

 

[iJaz]

Move to Sweden, I've had 24MB for more than a year, before that I had 10MB for like 2 years!

 

[cookieme]

I'm moving in to a new flat in London on the 15th Sept. and I was thinking about getting Be Broadband, but I'm not sure how good their service is! Does anyone have this service?

 

[boonkoh]

I just signed up for the service, and should take about the average 2 weeks to get activated and set up. I'm quite excited about getting 24MB for 24 pounds, with a free wifi router/modem thrown in to use. The next best deal I found was Bulldog's, at 29.99 a month for 8MB connection, but they wouldn't give a free modem at all!!

I will post statistics and my review of the service once i get it.

Also, if anyone is thinking of signing up, what they don't tell you on the signup form is that if you enter a member's email address under the referrer section, you get the first month free! Its sort of their way of trying to get marketing by word of mouth i guess. Anyways, if you don't know any members yet and want to take advantage of this offer, you can use mine: boon.koh***@***imperial.ac.uk (remove the ***'s).

 

[Falleron]

I am looking forward to getting my new connection in Jan06. I have signed up, so am just waiting for it. I am hoping they connect me early!

 

[RedTomato]

I signed up a month ago, and am in the pilot scheme. I was told I would be connected last week.

But I havent received my welcome package / box or been connected yet

As far as i can see, NOBODY has been connected yet (apart from the famous Stefan, their one and only customer!

http://whitelabel.org/

Supposedly, the first few connections will happen next week.

I'm not holding my breath - it's very new tech, and there's been several problems so far. I will be suprised if I actually get connected before xmas...

RedTomato

 

[Applespider]

Anyone actually using BE with their Mac successfully?

I just got an email to tell me that my exchange has been connected and as soon as I send them my MAC code, they'll get me sorted.

But just want to check if anyone has this, what speeds they're getting and how well it works with the Mac.

I've had a look on the adslguide.org site which suggests that the service itself seems pretty reasonable but there's a questionmark over whether the modem/router they're providing (Thomson Speedtouch 716) works with iChat.

 

[RedTomato]

Hello AppleSpider,

Further to my above post, I finally got connected to Be in September 2005 from my place in Kilburn NW6.

At first, it was pretty awful, low speeds etc, but I stuck with it as I knew it was experimental, and it was a good price besides.

After about a month, speeds improved a lot, and now I consistently get the full 1 meg upload (which is a big reason why I went for the service in the first place), and download is easily faster than the 8mb/sec the wifi in the SpeedTouch can send it to my laptop. (!)

I've never used iChat, just Fire and various IM clients, but all seem to work fine. If you PM me, I can give you an appointment to pop over and you can test whatever you want to test on iChat.

One issue has been that email tends to fall over maybe once a month, last time was yesterday when they rolled out a new cheap service, which suggests they havent quite got the hang of managing their email servers.

When that happens I have to go to my webmail, or send out POP mail via my Gmail account.

cheers

Tomato

 

[Sabbath]

Hello AppleSpider,

Further to my above post, I finally got connected to Be in September 2005 from my place in Kilburn NW6.

Glad to hear someone has been connected. The activation date for here in Shepherds Bush keeps getting pushed back further and further, first it was December, then January, then February and now March! I had thought they were going to magically have the exchange enabled yesterday, the day after their two month free deal ran out but no luck. I guess I gave them too much credit.

I can't decide whether to keep hanging on with BT and waiting for them to get their act together or just go with someone else?

 

[Applespider]

Thanks for the feedback, RedTomato. Good to know that it all seems to work. Feedback I've had from elsewhere suggests that it's the audio/video chat that can be flakey but since I rarely use those, I'm not too concerned and hopefully it will be fixed in a later firmware upgrade.

I'm going to give them a call and see what deal I'm on. I have a promocode of pilothome listed on my account since I did sign up back in September so I'm hoping that they'll honour the early price. It's the upload speed that appeals to me; the downloads will be an added bonus.

Also as a note, my exchange has been done earlier than expected. They initially said February 06. I wonder whether it's to do with number of orders. My exchange only had Homechoice - UKOnline and Bulldog, the other major LLU unbundlers, never made it here - so perhaps there was a pent-up demand!

 

[sushi]

Boo. One more reason for me to move to the UK. The tops I can get here is 4 Mbps, or 6 Mbps if I sell three of my fingers and a testicle.

Or maybe Japan!

VDSL or FTTH at 100Mbps.

Regular ADSL up to 50Mbps.

 

[Applespider]

Well, I've bitten the bullet and given them my MAC code. They're estimating I should get at least 15Mbps and probably 18-20 with a full 1.3 upload which probably as good as I can get without moving a) to the exchange or b) to Japan!

And I'm getting the promo price without a connection fee - sounds pretty good! So it will 1/3 cheaper than BT which will cover my .mac subscription quite nicely since it doesn't come with webspace at the moment.

 

[rickvanr]

Or maybe Japan!

VDSL or FTTH at 100Mbps.

Regular ADSL up to 50Mbps.

I hate you. No, not really. I'm just jealous, also of users in the UK. 24mbps is a lot faster then my 1.4mbps line, and the kicker is it costs more too.

 

[Applespider]

I hate you. No, not really. I'm just jealous, also of users in the UK. 24mbps is a lot faster then my 1.4mbps line, and the kicker is it costs more too.

If it's any comfort, I read recently that it's only something like 5% of the population who can get a full 2Mbps signal in the UK. Most are on 1Mbps or less thanks to lots of long lines and elderly copper wires. And many UK ISPs now cap their services with anything from a 2GB to 40GB maximum per month.

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do with so much speed but since it's cheaper than my existing connection, it seems daft not to try it!

 

[Applespider]

Well, I'm all hooked up with Be now and so far everything as gone smoothly, I'm synched with the router at 17.5Mbps and downloading about 14Mbps or so from what I can see.

 

[dcv]

Well, I'm all hooked up with Be now and so far everything as gone smoothly, I'm synched with the router at 17.5Mbps and downloading about 14Mbps or so from what I can see.

Oooooooooh I'm rather tempted to switch to that myself!

Are you using the wireless router they provided or your own stuff?

 

[Applespider]

Oooooooooh I'm rather tempted to switch to that myself!

Are you using the wireless router they provided or your own stuff?

If you do, quote my email address and both you and I will get a free month

I'm using a combination. I started off with their 'bebox' which is a Thomson Speedtouch 716 complete with VOIP ports etc which is preloaded with a be template so that it just connects. Powerbook found it without problems but since I have my Airport already set up and hooked up to my Express etc, I turned the wireless off on the Bebox and plugged it into the Airport. All is well! My old modem wasn't ADSL2+ compliant so although it connected, it could only do so at about 8Mbps.

All in all, I'm quite impressed so far. I know they had teething problems initially but this has all gone very smoothly.

 

[dcv]

If you do, quote my email address and both you and I will get a free month

Oooooh!! Well I'll have a think about it and if I decide to go for it, I'll definitely do that

I'm using a combination. I started off with their 'bebox' which is a Thomson Speedtouch 716 complete with VOIP ports etc which is preloaded with a be template so that it just connects. Powerbook found it without problems but since I have my Airport already set up and hooked up to my Express etc, I turned the wireless off on the Bebox and plugged it into the Airport. All is well! My old modem wasn't ADSL2+ compliant so although it connected, it could only do so at about 8Mbps.

All in all, I'm quite impressed so far. I know they had teething problems initially but this has all gone very smoothly.

That sounds like the sort of set-up I'd go for. I need to hard-wire my work laptop to the router since they don't allow wireless connections, then I've got two Airport Expresses set up using WDS, so I would also have to turn the wireless off (although actually their modem page says it supports wireless repeating using WDS... I'm just not sure you can mix two (or more?) different bits of equipment.)