t1mmie wrote:

> Just move house and cancel your direct debits - problem solved!
> :D

It really is that simple.

Shame about BT "pibs" but this is why they get people into contracts I assume :(

Well, I tried.  My hub phone keeps going wrong so I complained.  They told me it wasn't compatible with the current hub, but didn't want to budge on supplying a new one.

So I told them I wanted out, but the problem is that the mobile broadband thing is with them too and they wouldn't let me however much fuss I made.

Anyway, means it's still November before I can transfer.  But all the stuff I'm reading about Freeola's service has convinced me I'm going straight here when I can quit BT.

I'll have a go.  They did sound pretty adamant that I'd have to pay yesterday though.

Great.

BT extended my Broadband contract by 18 months, not 12 when they 'offered' me the mobile internet.  Now I have to wait till November or pay a couple of hundred quid to cancel early.

Come November I'll grab my MAC code and take my business to Freeola for sure now.

Testing speed isn't too important, I've done that enough times and know the speed is pretty much spot on with or without using the master socket since taking out the ring wire and installing the iplate.

Ran the Freeola checker again:
Estimated ADSL2+ Upgrade Date: Upgraded. Freeola will perform ADSL2+ upgrades shortly.
Expected ADSL2+ Broadband Speed: 1Mbps

Oh dear!

Surely BT could put some sort of relay exchange in where properties were far enough from the exchange to give these low speeds?  How do other countries like Spain seem to manage when they have houses so far apart from each other?

Looks like I'll have to test the master socket later (need to move the computer table), kids need looking after and dinner requires eating!

Just long enough to get the connection speed and attenuation figures.



*warning*
Don't restart your router too often in a short space of time - else you will upset BT and get a Target SNR of 15db that will slow you down even more!!!

...and I thought my line was long(ish) !

61db is very long. 63 is often the maximum most routers bother to display!

It's still worth checking the same stats while plugged directly into the TEST socket behind the removable faceplate if you have a modern BT Master Socket.  There's still the chance your internal wiring is dragging things down so it's worth testing.

Looks like your Target SNR has been raised to 12db to stabilise your line at the expense of speed at some time in the past. So it's possible this could be improved if you now have a stable line.

I've read that the 'new' IPSC connections Freeola have allow easier control of this with 'stability management' settings.
Perhaps Freeola can shed some more light on this as changing this could help you?



^{Search Freeola Chat}

Thanks Hmmm..., I haven't been on my own home PC for a while, too busy working!  I'm trying it tonight though.

Also found This Home Hub guide for using it with another ISP so that sounds like it could work, as you mentioned it might.

Still have to wait a while to get out of the BT contract, but at least I know Freeola is looking like one of the best options for me now and even with the second option I'll save £9 or so a month (and get a free website and hosting for a while).

pb - if you can find the line attenuation and current sync (connection speed) from your router it would be helpful for you.

i.e. if your attenuation is 30db then you are on a decent line and you could get full sync (8128), as it gets longer (higher attenuation) then the speed will fall. This graph maps attenuation to line rate(sync) and shows how things work.


Are you able to login to your routers interface?

It looks like the default userid and password are both 'admin' - login here: http://192.168.1.254
Select Broadband Connection on the left of the main screen, select DSL Connection and finally select Details at the top right of the page.

Or this page should take you straight there: http://192.168.1.254/cgi/b/dsl/dt/?ce=1&be=0&l0=1&l1=0

It looks like the HomeHub (or at least some of them) is a re-branded Thomson model so it might be worth using.


Routers aren't really tied down to OS. The reason Freeola's normal free kit isn't compatible with Vista is because it's a USB Modem (which does require s/w) and not a stand alone router.
The alternative 1 port router ButchML offered doesn't sound like it's what you are after.

Freeola do sell this ZyXEL which may suit you? But doesn't have the USB input?

My earlier router link covers things, but my longish line (attenuation 51db) works best with a Broadcom chipset based router. So I'm a fan of the Speedtouch 585v6. Some of the Netgear range also use Broadcom (DG834v4 and DG834GT for example).

If you want to change your router you will have more choice if you change to a network connected external HDD or plug your current HDD into a PC and 'share' it on the network.




^{Search Freeola Chat}

Hmmm... wrote:
> *shocked* that ButchML linked to 'BT'... :¬(

Only for reference, plus as we don't actually sell this router we have no page listing all the info pb might be looking for :)

I also cba to search through countless pages of Google (other search engines are available) to find a page with everything that may be needed.

Think you may have mis-read the information about the hardware pb, the free modem we offer to new customers isn't Vista compatible as the USB drivers we have for it only work up to, and including, XP. However, we do offer a free 1 port router as a replacement for those customers who do not want or are otherwise unable to use the 105. As you can see this is just a basic 1 port router with no USB inputs.

We currently do not stock any routers in our shop that have such a feature. Being in charge of the items we sell, I have looked into this in the past but, unfortunately, with the prices we were getting at the time this was not really a workable option.

As a rule, any ADSL router not tied or locked down to another ISP will work with Freeola. Some may be more complicated to set-up than others but we are always willing to give it a go!