17070 - Dont believe it!
-TC-
Just thought I'd share my experience of the 17070 test, as a lot of people
tend to rely on this when deciding whether its worthwhile ordering or not.
Well, my 17070's ALL came back as 10.5km from the exchange. This seemed
hard to believe as its around 1.0-1.5km away in a straight line!
Checked my neighbour's house, and his came back as 9.6km.
I ordered ADSL (Pipex) anyway, and guess what?! Connected yesterday, two
days early. No problems, 60k/sec.
So the moral of the story is -- use 17070 by all means, but order anyway
because otherwise you'll never know for sure!!!
:-)
Diamond
"-TC-" <wo...@trevc.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3c970326$1...@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
I tried calling this number but it gives you lots of options which one doy
you pick?
I tried one of the options and then it said press x if you are authroised to
carry out this test or hangup so I hung up just in case.
Which options hsould you pick?
Slugsie
Yes, it will check that you are authorsied (the 1 option), but I just
pressed 1 anyway. Don't know what would happen if they managed to find out
that you had run the test and weren't authorised.
--
</Slugsie> www.renold.org.uk
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of my
employer, not necessarily mine, and probably not necessary.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
"Diamond" <dia...@fastmail.fm> wrote in message
news:OJFl8.3543$WP.7...@news2-win.server.ntlworld.com...
Aaron Turner
: Just thought I'd share my experience of the 17070 test, as a lot of people
: tend to rely on this when deciding whether its worthwhile ordering or not.
: Well, my 17070's ALL came back as 10.5km from the exchange. This seemed
: hard to believe as its around 1.0-1.5km away in a straight line!
I checked our new postcode before moving. ADSL enabled said BT.
I called up and ordered ADSL. No dice said BT.
I pressed further. THey said that the line was too noisy or too far away.
Finally got an answer saying it was too noisy. But I did the line check
and it said 4.86km. I asked if they problem was noise given the length
of the line, or the line was noisier than expected for the distance.
No useful answers from BT, meaning it is hard to be informed when calling
them. BT tells me to just call 150.
I only tried the line length (ringback) test.
Should I just try ordering Pipex and see if they can get it working?
Thanks
Aaron Turner
Kráftéé
"Aaron Turner" <ag...@york.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:a77igi$kaa$1...@pump1.york.ac.uk...
> -TC- <wo...@trevc.co.uk> wrote:
> : Just thought I'd share my experience of the 17070 test,
as a lot of people
> : tend to rely on this when deciding whether its
worthwhile ordering or not.
>
> : Well, my 17070's ALL came back as 10.5km from the
exchange. This seemed
> : hard to believe as its around 1.0-1.5km away in a
straight line!
>
> I checked our new postcode before moving. ADSL enabled
said BT.
>
> I called up and ordered ADSL. No dice said BT.
Firstly you should order ADSL from BT Openworld, not BT
(most BT droids will try & sell you HH anyway). If you have
tried to order from BTO then by all means try another ISP
(BT Openworld appears to be stuck in the old pre RADSL &
stick to the older limits, 3.5k) & you may be lucky..
>
> I pressed further. THey said that the line was too noisy
or too far away.
> Finally got an answer saying it was too noisy. But I did
the line check
> and it said 4.86km. I asked if they problem was noise
given the length
> of the line, or the line was noisier than expected for the
distance.
> No useful answers from BT, meaning it is hard to be
informed when calling
> them. BT tells me to just call 150.
If you line is ok for normal voice communications then
calling BT will do nothing for you (except possibly costing
you money). How did you test your line? As other people
have posted (even today) the line length test is only an
approximate one & can be a long way out but even if it was
accurate all you need is a 'good' length of aluminium cable
(instead of copper) & the deals are off.
> Should I just try ordering Pipex and see if they can get
it working?
Even if they did get you working if/when you have problems
(not necessarily RADSL related) when the engineer does the
line test after completing the task (as they all should) &
finds you out of spec BT will (not maybe, not if, it's will)
withdraw the ADSL service.
Best thing to do is try another ISP, possibly one who
actually wants your business (BTO sometimes appears to be
more interested in turning people down than signing them
up), & immediately after placing the order unplug your
television digi box from your line (if you have one) until
you get your results back. Digi boxes sometimes put strange
erroneous conditions onto the line.
All this of course is taking it for granted that you are
ordering a 512k circuit, 1Meg & 2Meg are still working to
the 3.5km limits..
B-)
Mark
sky digital phone connector etc?
"Aaron Turner" <ag...@york.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:a77igi$kaa$1...@pump1.york.ac.uk...
Aaron Turner
: Firstly you should order ADSL from BT Openworld,
Er..I did.. BTO is a BT subsidiary though.
: (most BT droids will try & sell you HH anyway). If you have
: tried to order from BTO then by all means try another ISP
: (BT Openworld appears to be stuck in the old pre RADSL &
: stick to the older limits, 3.5k) & you may be lucky..
They quote our postcode as enabled, despite the 17070 test of
4.86km.
: If you line is ok for normal voice communications
Clear as a bell.
: Even if they did get you working if/when you have problems
: (not necessarily RADSL related) when the engineer does the
: line test after completing the task (as they all should) &
: finds you out of spec BT will (not maybe, not if, it's will)
: withdraw the ADSL service.
THey wil remove iit even if it works? That's truly
ridiculous, especially as they keep bombaring me with
information on how in 15 days I could be using ADSL!
: Best thing to do is try another ISP, possibly one who
: actually wants your business (BTO sometimes appears to be
: more interested in turning people down than signing them
: up)
THat's what it felt like!
: you get your results back. Digi boxes sometimes put strange
: erroneous conditions onto the line.
Haven't plugged in since we moved (nothing much worth watching
on ITV Digital Select/choice/thing!)
: All this of course is taking it for granted that you are
: ordering a 512k circuit, 1Meg & 2Meg are still working to
: the 3.5km limits..
512k would be a big improvement over dialup!
Thanks
Aaron Turner
Aaron Turner
: Did you have anything else plugged in to the phone sockets at the time, like
: sky digital phone connector etc?
Just the phone (cordless) and modems.
Aaron Turner
Mark
when the test is going to happen. Mine failed a test with the SKY digital
connector plugged in (caused a line fault) with it removed it passed on the
re-test!
"Aaron Turner" <ag...@york.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:a78d1n$lia$2...@pump1.york.ac.uk...
Aaron Turner
: OK Aaron, might be worth unplugging everything apart from one good phone
Maybe I will try just the non cordless phone we have lying around. Whether
or not I can persuade them to retest is another matter. I suppose in
theory it is possible that the cordless (which is connected to the mains
via a DC adapter) might possibly put interference on the line.
Thanks for the hints.
Aaron
Kráftéé
> Kráftéé <Kra...@invalidntlworld.com> wrote:
> : Firstly you should order ADSL from BT Openworld,
>
> Er..I did.. BTO is a BT subsidiary though.
But you stated BT not BTO :-)
> : (most BT droids will try & sell you HH anyway). If you
have
> : tried to order from BTO then by all means try another
ISP
> : (BT Openworld appears to be stuck in the old pre RADSL &
> : stick to the older limits, 3.5k) & you may be lucky..
>
> They quote our postcode as enabled, despite the 17070 test
of
> 4.86km.
Enabled means your local exchange is enabled, so all the
network fed from that exchange has the potential of carrying
ADSL. RADSL has a theoretical line limit of 5.5km...
> : If you line is ok for normal voice communications
>
> Clear as a bell.
>
> : Even if they did get you working if/when you have
problems
> : (not necessarily RADSL related) when the engineer does
the
> : line test after completing the task (as they all should)
&
> : finds you out of spec BT will (not maybe, not if, it's
will)
> : withdraw the ADSL service.
>
>
> THey wil remove iit even if it works? That's truly
> ridiculous, especially as they keep bombaring me with
> information on how in 15 days I could be using ADSL!
Yes they will as the line will not be up to the minimum
specified standards. As fro the second part of your
paragraph, I thought you've been turned down & now you're
stating that you are being offered RADSL in the next 15
days????
B-)
Mark
Yep I reported a noise fault on my line when it failed (I had previously
passed a line test for a trial for ADSL so knew it should have passed).
The engineer was very sure the line was fine for a while and kept telling me
how my line was the clearest he had tested for ages. I insisted he checked
it again then eventually he said "hmm wait a minute" and unplugged my sky
phone line, "ah there's a loopback fault on that".
Re ordered ADSL and it passed.
The engineer did mention that some cordless phones cause quite a few
problems too so if I was you I would just plug in a standard basic phone for
the few days around the linetest.
"Aaron Turner" <ag...@york.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:a79nq8$ma8$1...@pump1.york.ac.uk...
Aaron Turner
: Enabled means your local exchange is enabled,
Not very impressive information they provide then!
: RADSL has a theoretical line limit of 5.5km...
Yep. That would be fine with me.
: Yes they will as the line will not be up to the minimum
: specified standards. As fro the second part of your
: paragraph, I thought you've been turned down & now you're
: stating that you are being offered RADSL in the next 15
: days????
The line failed the test. They day after it failed we were
sent advertising information telling us how wonderful
ADSL from BTO is and inviting us to sign up.
Aaron Turner
Aaron Turner
Organization:
Mark <_dont...@hotmail.com> wrote:
: The engineer did mention that some cordless phones cause quite a few
: problems too so if I was you I would just plug in a standard basic phone for
: the few days around the linetest.
Assuming I can get them to retest!
Aaron
Kráftéé
"Aaron Turner" <ag...@york.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:a7akgr$42u$1...@pump1.york.ac.uk...
Argh....makes sense now....
Best of luck with the new order...
B-)
Aaron Turner
Organization:
Kráftéé <Kra...@invalidntlworld.com> wrote:
: Argh....makes sense now....
: Best of luck with the new order...
Got to place it yet. I wanted to examine the options first!
Aaron Turner
Aaron Turner
Organization:
Well last week I was 4.86km from the exchange. This week I seem to
be 5.10km away! Same distance if I disconnect cordless phone etc or not.
I used to work in the telcomms area, but it's all changed now since
they stopped using the heliographs they used in my day :-)
Aaron Turner
Richard Horton
"Aaron Turner" <ag...@york.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:a7ckup$t23$5...@pump1.york.ac.uk...
Hopefully someone will correct me if I am wrong but the calculation of
distance by the line test thingyies (which when I last met one was a
vanderhoff or a PDP-11 ;>) is partly a function of the resistance on the
line - and as this can vary with tension, heath etc its not very reliable as
is there as a guide not a definitive answer (the only definitive answer
would be to take hold of the cable at the exchange end and pull until you
end up with a phone socket flying into the exchange ;> )
--
All opinions, unless otherwise stated are my own and not those of my
employer.
Richard Horton
Newport Networks Ltd.
"Users are like a virus, each causing a thousand tiny crises until the host
finally dies"
Mark
"Aaron Turner" <ag...@york.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:a7akj6$42u$2...@pump1.york.ac.uk...
Aaron Turner
Organization:
Richard Horton <richard.ho...@newport-networks.com> wrote:
: Hopefully someone will correct me if I am wrong but the calculation of
: distance by the line test thingyies (which when I last met one was a
: vanderhoff or a PDP-11 ;>) is partly a function of the resistance on the
: line
It is as far as I know. (I was slightly joking!)
Aaron Turner