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Internet speeds
  • JasonJason January 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    This is quite interesting - the Gazette is reporting on the slow online speeds that our near neighbours in Clacton are having to suffer with. 0.14 Mb would drive me mad. I was spoilt in London with regualr speeds topping 10 Mb. After an initial settling in period, my speeds with BT in Wivenhoe now tend to settle at around 5 Mb - perfectly adequate for streaming video, downloading etc.

    Can we have some other speeds posted up here please? It's really simple to carry out a check. Simply go this speed test site, and then begin the test. Please then post up what the speed is (ie I just tested for 3868 kbs.) It would also be good to know who your ISP is (e.g.BT) and if you feel comfortable with this, roughly where you are located - upper or lower Wivenhoe (distance from the Exchange makes a difference.)

    So...

    3868 kbs
    BT
    Lower Wivenhoe
  • JasonJason January 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    Oh yeah - expect fluctuations depending on the time of day! Mornings get high speeds with less people using the Wivenhoe Exchange. Early evenings tend to get rather slower speeds.
  • adrianadrian January 2011
    Posts: 88
    download = 5349kbs (AM reading - evening can be much slower, as you noted - especially if there's footy on lol)
    upload = 379kbs (perhaps a techie can explain the difference...?)
    Orange
    Claremont Rd

    It is frustrating that whenever I look to change my BB I cannot get any of the best deals on offer because of the exchange being old & BT-only (that's the reason they always give, anyway).

  • JasonJason January 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    Download is when you are having data sent to your computer, e.g. video or simply text and pictures from a website.

    Upload is the opposite - you sending maybe a video to youtube, or even just an email - ie data leaving your machine.

    5349 kbs sounds pretty good. I too was frustrated with the lack of available ISP's. I had heard bad things about BT, but have been pleasantly surprised.

    (We should start a separate thread about poor TV signals btw...)
  • adrianadrian January 2011
    Posts: 88
    lol I understand what upload/download are - just curious about the huge discrepancy in speeds :)

    Agree about tv signals - all part of the digital ripoff IMHO; satellite signal goes wonky with a bit of rain/snow/cloudcover (a bit like the economy lol) and the analogue signal just gets poorer all the time (presumably to 'encourage' us to switch); that's progress....

  • puffinpuffin January 2011
    Posts: 200
    Speed is 6204 at 1.45pm in Lower Wivenhoe, but grindingly slow at other times.. ISP is Supanet, who we find pretty poor: two many crashes, always blamed on modem. TV reception (Valley road) is dismal, despite a fortune spent on an aerial which interferes with flight paths (break-up, freezing, or blank are the variables for almost all independent channels) Default for ITV, CH4, Ch5 is analogue, but we're soon to lose this option. Sigh.
  • puffinpuffin January 2011
    Posts: 200
    OOps! Upload is only 213, which explains a lot!
  • JasonJason January 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    We moved into the area, unaware of the current TV signal issues in Wivenhoe. I signed up with BT Vision before the move to get Sky Sports on the cheap, and then pondered why everyone seems to have a satellite dish.

    Doh!

    I struggled for a week or so trying to get various signals. In the end I called round a couple of ace local TV engineers. They pulled out a few tricks, and we've ended up with pretty much all of the Freeview channels via the main TV ariel, and then Sky Sports via BT Vision. ITV 1, C4 and C5 are through analogue.

    Fun and games in July, when analogue is turned off around here, and supposedly a boost to the digital signal. Happy to mail the details of the wonderful engineers, should anyone need them. Cheap as well.
  • puffinpuffin January 2011
    Posts: 200
    May get back to you on engineers details, once my patience snaps in July!
  • SteveGSteveG January 2011
    Posts: 23
    Oddly, I've noticed a definite dip in the speed of my ASDL line, but then again, with BT as my ISP I can't say I've ever really had high expectations; if I'm lucky if it tops out at 5mpbs.

    That said, I noticed that Virgin Broadband suddenly appears to have become available for my postcode. This wasn't the case 6 months ago (I checked explicitly, because cable is largely preferable to ADS:), not sure what changed but I'm tempted. Will have to do a speed test when I get home.
  • SimonSimon January 2011
    Posts: 578
    Just got 4474 download and 375 upload. Park Road area.

    As for TV reception, the guy who installed my aerial five years ago told me it is poor here due to an 'ITV spike' (or something like that) that goes through the signal that we all try to pick up. He even showed me it in his fancy little machine. He said it was something to do with the University... do they re-broadcast (is there such a word and/or ability?) the terrestrial signal?
  • MarikaMarika January 2011
    Posts: 811
    This area is served by the Sudbury transmitter and there is a repeater (signal amplifier) at the university. You can find a host of informative material about television reception here.
  • elmfootelmfoot January 2011
    Posts: 44
    Two tests just now with two different sites:-    6832/643  & 6774/615

    Contract is with talktalk. I'm situated in Ernest Rd, just behind the Co-op.

    Lewis
  • elmfootelmfoot January 2011
    Posts: 44
    Last post was obviously about broadband of course.
    Now for TV.
    Marika (my wife) just posted the information about the Sudbury transmitter which transmits  analogue & digital(DTV) signal.
    The TV signal has recently  boosted the power in preperation for the analogue closedown.
    Since the boost, we receive excellent signals on DTV but we DO have a high gain aerial plus a TV signal amplifier.
     A related subject Digital Radio.

    The transmitter is situated nominally at Manningtree, but geographically at Horseley Cross.If you want a better signal, I could give you the details of a simple dipole aerial.


    Lewis
  • adrianadrian January 2011
    Posts: 88
    Does anybody else get periodic disruption of their digital signal? My signal is usually good, but sometimes the screen breaks up / pixelates & the sound breaks up too, with an occassional loud popping sound added into the mix (and no, that's not my boot going through the screen).
    It's difficult to predict because it doesn't seem to be dependant on local weather conditions. Completely ruined The Tudors last week - tried switching to analogue, but that was even worse.

  • MarikaMarika January 2011
    Posts: 811
    We used to get that a lot but no longer. What kind of aerial do you have?

    (I wonder if a kindly host would transfer this tangent to a new thread?)
  • MoiraMoira January 2011
    Posts: 207
    Just done the speed test - download 6732 and upload 374 - Barr Close, off Bobbits Way. ISP is BT

    Our TV watching was transformed about a year ago when we got Freesat ( = all Freeview channels).  Before it was hopeless (Freeview alone didn't work) but now, having just paid for the installation and box, that's it - no subs. Of course we miss out on any Sky channels but since we won't give money to Murdoch that's OK.


  • adrianadrian January 2011
    Posts: 88
    Marika, the receiver is built into the telly, so presumably the digi signal comes through my standard arial. Like Moira, I refuse to enrich Dennis Potter's least favourite media mogul.

  • JasonJason January 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    Disclaimer: I like to think that I am not directly paying the Dirty Digger with my subscription to Sky Sports. I'm hooked up via BT Vision (great deal of £11 a month.) BT are shafting Sky by offering the service as a loss leader.

    If I had to choose two channels that I couldn't really give a stuff about coming through analogue, ITV1 and C5 would be the perfect combination.

    Love the way this thread has gone from broadband to TV. Um, anyone for CB radio?
  • elmfootelmfoot January 2011
    Posts: 44
    Adrian, Wivenhoe is on the S facing slope. Sudbury is NNW of us. The land gets in the way. Try to get your aerial as high as possible and pointed as precisely as possible towards Sudbury.
    The symptoms you're getting are symptomatic of weak & variable signals. It will vary from channel to channel.
    Could be that aircraft heading to or from Stanstead can be reflecting some interfering signals.
    Where are you situated in Wivenhoe? Below the Co-op?

    Lewis
  • adrianadrian January 2011
    Posts: 88
    hi elmfoot,

    Thanks for the suggestion! Yes, the problem does seem to vary from channel to channel; rather like Jason I can live without ITV1 and C5 most of the time, but not BBC2!

    I live on Claremont Road, so quite high up (relatively speaking).

  • SteveGSteveG January 2011
    Posts: 23
    Don't forget, there's always iPlayer, ITV Player and 4 On Demand.
  • JasonJason January 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    Yep, good point Steve. Looking ahead and that will ultimately be the main delivery of programme content - online, rather than through a piece of metal stuck on your roof.

    Plus there's the alternative of *gosh* going out to see a film! Our first month in Wivenhoe was without any TV picture. The lovely folk at Moving Image were a saviour for Saturday night entertainment.

    And with perfect timing, I've just added the February schedule to the calendar, as well as some bloggage over here.
  • puffinpuffin January 2011
    Posts: 200
    5pm download speed 3029, less than half that recorded one lunchtime! As for Freesat, we also have this, but the range of stations is considerably less than Freeview (unless my menuu is sub-standard!)
  • LisaLisa January 2011
    Posts: 3
    We've got Talk Talk but it's incredibly slow here. Anyone got any recommendations for a faster speed? Can barely watch You Tube!
  • JasonJason January 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    Hi Lisa - thanks for joining!

    BT has been very good for me. The speed and connection is reliable. The problem though, as with most ISP's, is that they are keen to get you on board with the full bundle of broadband, phone and TV deals. I didn't really mind, as having moved into a new home, I was in a position to get the full package.

    A decent online connection in Wivenhoe *is* possible. If Talk Talk can't provide this, then yeah, I'd switch.
  • LisaLisa January 2011
    Posts: 3
    Thanks.  Just tested at 126 kbps download speed, 367 kbps upload.  Soooo sloooooowwwwww.  As was Talk Talk in answering my call.  Eventually hung up.  Yeesh.  Simplify Digital is suggesting Plus Net.  Anyone have luck with them?

  • MarikaMarika January 2011
    Posts: 811
    Lisa, are you sure you are using the broadband connection? These look like the speeds you get when you connect through a modem.
  • SteveGSteveG January 2011
    Posts: 23
    Changing to another ISP can sometimes make a slight difference; some will have their own (likely more modern) equipment in the exchange, others will have a lower contention ratio, effectively the number of other people you are sharing your bandwidth with - the lower the better, but that's probably not a huge factor in a town like this.

    But ultimately, the problem with DSL is that you are largely at the mercy of a) your distance from the exchange and b) the quality of the line that connects you to it. You cannot really change these factors without spending a lot of money; I hate to say it, but we are really are at the mercy of the lumbering sloth that is BT.

    Chances are, things won't get any better until they decide it's time to try and pimp us fibre optic broadband, at a premium of course, and quite frankly I can't see this happening for some time yet.

  • JasonJason January 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    Great wisdom, Steve G - cheers.

    Lisa - 126 kbps is shocking. Technically this isn't even broadband - the accepted working definition is 500 kbps. I'd certainly ditch Talk Talk. ANYTHING has to be better, even a PAYG dongle.

    Here's a tip if anyone is out on the move: *shhh* The Greyhound has help yourself free WIFI ;)
  • elmfootelmfoot January 2011
    Posts: 44
    I'm no big advocate for TalkTalk, but our TT broadband connection read 6729/615 a few moments ago, close to my reading entered here a few days ago. That is towards the top speed of those entering readings.

    I think the discrepancy between Lisa's and  my broadband speed is too great to be the provider's fault. The problem needs investigating by someone knowledgeable.

    We have a friend who thought she was on BT broadband (and should have been because she was paying for it) but it turned out that she had never 'activated' it  -  she also had much lower than expected speeds.

    I assume Lisa, you set up your free TalkTalk router when it arrived?

    Lewis
  • KeithKeith February 2011
    Posts: 45

    I've had AOL for 14 years, never a problem, but they phoned me with the promise to 'enhance my line' if I moved the line rental to them.  This I understand, is not possible, so I made a point and ditched them because of the bad sales pitch - and told them why.


    Switched to TalkTalk - reluctantly, their reputation is not good, but the price deal was amazing.


    Been with them since last December and on my many speed checks since have never dropped below10 mbs, usually more, which is great for lower Wivenhoe.  Don't like them especially, but speak as you find...

  • JasonJason February 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    Woh! 10mbs for lower Wivenhoe is pretty impressive. Talk Talk get a very bad press, but the price is certainly competitive.

    Changing tact slightly...

    Anyone have any experience of using dongles around Wivenhoe? I had a poxy 3 dongle back in London. The best I ever managed was 40kbps (!) anyway in central London. I'm thinking about the May Fair, and possibly having some Wivenhoe Forum presence there. This would require being online of course at KGV.
  • SteveGSteveG February 2011
    Posts: 23
    I had a T-Mobile web'n'walk dongle which worked rather well (until I dropped my couch on top of it), I used to get anywhere from 20kbps - 200kbps depending on the time of day. I had no complaints with it at all.

    I'm not sure what the signal coverage is like for the rest of the town, but in Bobbits Way it was fine.
  • MarikaMarika February 2011
    Posts: 811
    Did anyone else experience a break in DAB transmission of 17 minutes during this morning's Today programme on R4?
    Snap, crackle and pop started at 8.05 for a minute and a half, then just absolutely nothing?
  • AndrewAndrew February 2011
    Posts: 64
    Broadband  5600/366 Barr Close with Plusnet

    Just had two Talk Talk salemen on the doorstep this evening offering "free" broadband with "high speed Fibre Optic" following "recent upgrade" of Wivenhoe exchange

    As far as I am aware we are still on ADSL2 (not even ADSL2+) from the Wivenhoe exchange - with no implementation date for fibre even planned.

    I only managed to check on BT website after these guys had moved on - but if they come knocking on your door just ask how they will achieve what they are offering.
  • JasonJason February 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    A great heads up Andrew - cheers.

    Yes, it is also my understanding that fibre optic broadband is not at our exchange yet. If high speed was possible, then I'm sure that the more reputable ISP's would be involved with the hard sell.

    Everything I hear about Talk Talk all suggests... avoid.
  • PointyheadPointyhead February 2011
    Posts: 45
    Hi Forum!
    I live on the Vine Farm Estate, my broadband speeds are 10.5 to 12.5mb download and .75mb upload,
    im with Talk Talk no complaints with there service at all. Last year the best speeds were 6.75mb until the exchange was upgraded, also my 3.5 G speeds with Virgin are always very good.
  • JasonJason February 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    Hi Graham - cheers for joining :)

    12.5 - woh! High (ish) speed can be achieved in Wivenhoe. With Talk Talk as well.

    Blimey.
  • AndrewAndrew March 2011
    Posts: 64
    Partly as an update on my earlier comment about TalkTalk's seemingly misleading doorstep sales pitch referring to fibre optic broadband, and Jason's above note on higher speeds being seen.

    What has happened in Wivenhoe is that TalkTalk have come into the Wivenhoe exchange with a change to using Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) rather than BT Wholesale - this means that they now have their own equipment in the exchange using their own network which is seperate from BT wholesale services. 

    This main pipe will be fibre optic based but they are still using the existing copper wiring from exchange to house.  This, as with BT, decreases speed with distance and this would not improve until such time as the wiring from the exchange to local street cabinet is replaced with fibre.

    The TalkTalk equipment is the equivalent of BT ADSL2+.  These systems can theoretically provide speeds up tp 24Mbs although as a result of the copper wire etc will normally provide lower rates as seen in the posts evidencing 10Mbs in lower wivenhoe and 12,5Mbs. 

    BT are providing ADSL Max which has a limit in the region of 6Mbs.  Although BT plan to have ADSL2+ available to 75% of customers by this spring, our exchange is one of those currently listed with no planned availability date so it could be years away.

    So to sum up, at present the only way of obtaining the higher speeds is to switch broadband AND phone (it uses the same wires) to TalkTalk.  As TalkTalk are the only LLU operator on the Wivenhoe exchange, any other broadband provider will be using the BT Wholesale network with the same 6Mb limit.

    I hope the above makes sense without too much jargon - I am most definitely not a telecoms or IT expert, just a user so apologies if any of this is incorrect.

    (There was a comment from Keith above who had "ditched" AOL and moved to TalkTalk following a bad sales pitch - In fact, AOLand TalkTalk (and Tiscali) are brands of the same company,  The improved speeds would have come from the effects of moving to the LLU sevice which had come in shortly before the move, whilst AOL is still provided over BT Wholesale)




  • JasonJason March 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    Very insightful - many thanks for sharing, Andrew.
  • PointyheadPointyhead April 2011
    Posts: 45
    Hi,

    The broadband speeds seem to have picked up a bit more, 12.5Mbs to even over 15.5Mbs
    and reliable too, at about 5pm it can slow down to 11.5 mbs, well done isp!

  • JasonJason April 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    Mine are holding steady at 6.9Mbs with BT, just down from the Co-op. This is certainly sufficient for my online needs right now.
  • queeniequeenie April 2011
    Posts: 27
    I'm with BT downloads are 6933kbs, uploads 377.  Not too bad but not of course as promised.  Not far from Queens Road BT exchange.  Re TV I use Sky Freesat.  Great reception except when it snows.  Badly bruised my arm in the depths of winter leaning perilously out of an upstairs window to knock snow off the digital receiver so I could get a signal.  It ought to be possible to position the dish so that it receives the signal but does not collect a mountain of snow!!!!
  • JackieJackie April 2011
    Posts: 26
    mine says download 970 kbps and upload 242 kbps.  which sounds pretty awful. Orange/Wanadoo is the provider.  It suits our needs but I had no idea it was so slow.
  • JasonJason April 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    Jackie - that is... SLOW. It's worth checking again at different times of the day. Early evenings tend to be peak, plus don't forgot that the kids are off school, so plenty of online gamers around right now.

    If this speed is constant, then I would certainly consider a change of ISP at the earliest opportunity that your current contract allows. BT get a bade name, but the service seems to be fine in Wivenhoe.
  • MottzaMottza May 2011
    Posts: 396
    about 5-7.5mbps here in Wivenhoe Cross with BT.
  • fenellawriterfenellawriter May 2011
    Posts: 29
    1998 on the Anchorage - a lot better than where I was before which was half that. I'm with Plusnet and my wifi cuts out when I pick up or put back the phone.
    fenellawriter
  • MottzaMottza May 2011
    Posts: 396
    sounds like you need to speak to BT about that. Maybe change the microfilter first.
  • Deli_MikeDeli_Mike May 2011
    Posts: 98
    Wi-fi is the radio signal between your router and computer(s) - the microfilter has no effect on the wi-fi, only the data coming into the router from your telephone line.  Some cordless telephones can interfere with that signal since they are on similar frequencies and if you have such a phone, picking it up from the base unit may cause interference.

    However it's more likely that the router is dropping the internet connection rather than the wi-fi when the telephone line is opened.  In which case installing/checking/replacing the microfilter is the first course of action before calling BT (who will just tell you to do that anyway).

    Hope this helps!
  • JasonJason May 2011
    Posts: 1,733
    As an update - I'm still holding steady with BT just down past the Co-op. Very happy with anything above 5Mb.


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