Our exchange is due to get broadband on 5 May. However, we get a "very
unlikely" rating from the Availability Checker due to the length of our
line. Is there a best modem I can look out for as part of an ISP package in
order to maximise our chances of getting a usable service on a long line?

Trevor Morris wrote:
> Our exchange is due to get broadband on 5 May. However, we get a
> "very unlikely" rating from the Availability Checker due to the
> length of our line. Is there a best modem I can look out for as part
> of an ISP package in order to maximise our chances of getting a
> usable service on a long line?

I've heard good reports about the Zyxel range, but they are not cheap....

"kraftee" <kraftee@spamoff&die> wrote in message
news:425975d4$0$42297$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
> Trevor Morris wrote:
>> Our exchange is due to get broadband on 5 May. However, we get a
>> "very unlikely" rating from the Availability Checker due to the
>> length of our line. Is there a best modem I can look out for as part
>> of an ISP package in order to maximise our chances of getting a
>> usable service on a long line?
>
> I've heard good reports about the Zyxel range, but they are not cheap....

Thanks for the tip - and as to price, a quick search shows their model 623R
(USB + Ethernet) on offer from what seems a reasonable £35 to over £100,
both plus VAT.

I've found that Speedtouch router/modems are absolutely rock-solid. Am
running at 67dB at nearly 6km on a 510 with no probs.

In article <1113217587.433833.30250@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups. com>,
Osiris <temahassan@gmail.com> writes
>I've found that Speedtouch router/modems are absolutely rock-solid. Am
>running at 67dB at nearly 6km on a 510 with no probs.
>

I can support these comments.

My Speedtouch 510 router/4 port ethernet supports 512 Kbps rock steady.
The gain is 60 dB down and 31.5 dB up. The SNR is reported as 13.5 dB
down and 18.0 dB up. My line is 8.2 Km from the exchange.

Whether I can support a 1 Mbps connection is a moot point, and likely to
be very marginal.
--
John Clark

On Sun, 10 Apr 2005 16:41:44 GMT, "Trevor Morris"
<trevor.morris42@DELETETHIStesco.net> wrote:

> However, we get a "very
>unlikely" rating from the Availability Checker due to the length of our
>line. Is there a best modem I can look out for as part of an ISP package in
>order to maximise our chances of getting a usable service on a long line?

going for a Home250 service from Zen will maximise your chances, get a
modem or router that reports statistics then you'll know if an upgrade
will be practical.

Phil
Tiscali - dialup speeds at Broadband prices :-)

--

"Phil Thompson" <phil.thompson@spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:hg7l51h42viahnd1rjofeeiq7miq819de2@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 10 Apr 2005 16:41:44 GMT, "Trevor Morris"
> <trevor.morris42@DELETETHIStesco.net> wrote:
>
>> However, we get a "very
>>unlikely" rating from the Availability Checker due to the length of our
>>line. Is there a best modem I can look out for as part of an ISP package
>>in
>>order to maximise our chances of getting a usable service on a long line?
>
> going for a Home250 service from Zen will maximise your chances, get a
> modem or router that reports statistics then you'll know if an upgrade
> will be practical.
>
> Phil

Thanks to all for your advice and data - I will probably try the Zen 250
service with a Speedtouch 530 modem and see what happens.
Trevor Morris

For what it is worth, I am going through the same exercise with Zen at
this very moment. My line failed last Autumn and I still get the
"very unlikely" message. I am aware that several sections of the cable
that winds its tortuous route around the countryside to our house have
been replaced over recent weeks so I contacted Zen by telephone and
they checked my line and the results suggested it was worth having a
go again. I chose Zen because if you buy your hardware from them and
they cannot provide an ADSL service then they will take the hardware
back and refund all charges. Their advice was to try the more
expensive Draytek 2600 Vigor+ and go straight for the 512 service as
they claimed the technical requirements are almost identical. If that
fails they will try 256 without charge. Activation day is set for
next Tuesday so watch this space....


>Thanks to all for your advice and data - I will probably try the Zen 250
>service with a Speedtouch 530 modem and see what happens.
>Trevor Morris
>

In article <v6lp51lm15uqgu487tlie1i28otktgufta@4ax.com>,
chris@nospam.willsher.clara.co.uk says...
> Their advice was to try the more
> expensive Draytek 2600 Vigor+

Not the best advice imo. I'd have gone for Alcatel equipment - a
speedtouch if you will. Alcatel (and to a lesser extent, Fujitsu)
supply the kit that you will be synching with in the exchange.

In article <tyEPHWAc5oWCFwkY@consltec.demon.co.uk>,
fredclark@consltec.demon.co.uk says...

> My Speedtouch 510 router/4 port ethernet supports 512 Kbps rock steady.
> The gain is 60 dB down and 31.5 dB up. The SNR is reported as 13.5 dB
> down and 18.0 dB up. My line is 8.2 Km from the exchange.
>
> Whether I can support a 1 Mbps connection is a moot point, and likely to
> be very marginal.
>

Hi I have a friend who wants to get broadband, though due to
distance from her exchange BT say that it is doubtful that she can get
it. BT a year or so replaced the complete copper overheads between her
and the exchange, as her dialup was so poor. It still is not good, best
connection generally being 30,600 or so. I suspect that she may be a
little further from her exchange than you are from yours. Do you know
what dialup connection speed you can get, just as a point for
comparison?

--
Many thanks,

Will.