How can you tell what speed your connection is?

[Dutchy]

Ringing around for a good ISP provider today and they got me thinking that while Ive been paying for ADSL2 via Telstra Im not gettin ADSL speeds, Internode and Adam said for my address they could only offer ADSL1. Which has got me wondering if Im on ADSL1 with Telstra - I actually hope I am cause I want to change providers and dont want to be forced staying with Telstra cause they are the only ones who can provide ADSL2 to me....

So is there anyway I can tell what my current speeds are?

[devilsadvocate]

Try this one:
http://www.ozspeedtest.com/

[dedja]

For ***** sake, get off BigPond ... you are only contributing to Tel$tra's profits with little benefit to you.

Every other ISP will be better value for money.

From you post you state that you're on ADSL2, so here's a rundown of the various speeds.

Even though ADSL1 is capable of 8Mbps download, Tel$tra will usually cap at 1.5Mbps, sometimes at 3Mpbs, and rarely at 8Mpbs.

ADSL2 is capable of 12Mbps but the actual speed is anything from 1.5Mbps, depending on line condition, distance from the exchange, etc.

ADSL2+ is capable of 24Mbps, but with the same caveats as ADSL2.

If there is shitty copper and lot's of it between you and the exchange then there is basically nothing you can do.

Use DA's link and run it a few times to confirm. If it is between 1.5 and 12Mpbs then technically you are on ADSL2.

If you know what exchange you're on then it's easy to work out what speed to expect ... refer to the graph here http://www.internode.on.net/residential ... rformance/

Depending on where you are located, even changing ISPs may not get you better speeds if you are utilising Tel$tra's wholesale infrastructure (end to end equipment and the copper in between) ... my ISP is Internode but it's on Tel$tra's inftrastructure, and I can only reliably get 1.5Mbps on that service. Tel$tra are refusing to let Internode into their exchange and DSLAMs in my area which would enable me to get near full ADSL2+ speeds, but hey, that's wholesale telco gouging for you!

It's all quite simple really!

[Dutchy]

Thats exactly why Im asking, cause I want to get away from telstra, my contract has finished so nothing stopping me now. If I get the same speeds as I have now with another provider, even if it is ADSL1 Ill do it....thanks for the link DW, Im shaped until tomorrow night but will use it then and Ill have more of an idea which was to head

I rang Adam and Internode today, both doubt Ill get ADSL2 here, if they cant how do Telstra? Sorry Im dumb with this stuff, but trying to get better...

[dedja]

Thats exactly why Im asking, cause I want to get away from telstra, my contract has finished so nothing stopping me now. If I get the same speeds as I have now with another provider, even if it is ADSL1 Ill do it....thanks for the link DW, Im shaped until tomorrow night but will use it then and Ill have more of an idea which was to head

I rang Adam and Internode today, both doubt Ill get ADSL2 here, if they cant how do Telstra? Sorry Im dumb with this stuff, but trying to get better...

It's called a monopoly ... control the wholesale market and restrict all retailers except yourself. Welcome to telecommunications in Australia.

That's why the government wants to split Tel$tra in 2 ... wholesale and retail.

[Dutchy]

Hmmm so I could be getting full ADSL2 at the moment with Telstra but if I want to move I need to take a lower speed as others cant provide ADSL2?

[dedja]

Hmmm so I could be getting full ADSL2 at the moment with Telstra but if I want to move I need to take a lower speed as others cant provide ADSL2?

Yes, that's possible.

The best thing to do is apply for a service with one of the other ISPs and they will confirm what ADSL service you are capable of receiving on your line after performing their checks and liaising with Tel$tra.

Use Internode's online coverage checker to see what your phone line is capable of, but remember that there is no guarantee that you can receive the services listed from Internode until the provisioning checks are performed. https://secure.internode.on.net/webtool ... dsl-finder

Run you phone number through it and let us know what it comes up with.

[Kahuna]

Ringing around for a good ISP provider today and they got me thinking that while Ive been paying for ADSL2 via Telstra Im not gettin ADSL speeds

How far are you from the local exchange?

[The Sleeping Giant]

Here ya go Dutchy. http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/

You should find something that suits you there.

[Psyber]

I have in theory an ADSL2+ service with Internode on the Stirling exchange, but because of the distance and the state of the copper, 7 Mbps is the best I have achieved - 6.4 Mbps is most usual.
I've had a few problems with drop outs, and, after some time spent working through the problems with technical support, they have set my speed to an 8Mbps cap on the grounds that setting it higher won't get me more speed but will make it less stable. As I'd never had more than 1.5Mbps available where I lived before I'm happy with 6.4Mbps.

Part of the problem was the linking my land line service to my VOIP service handset through the modem so I could answer either from one hand set.
That was theoretically viable, and even recommended in the manual with the Billion modem, but introduces another level of complexity in the wiring.
Keeping them totally separate has helped the stability too - I just wish it hadn't taken 9 months to sort out by trial and error, but credit to Internode that they kept working at it rather than fob me off...

Re: state of the copper..
When moving into a house in Melbourne in 2004, I had been tipped off about this problem, and so I got a land line through Telstra and implied I intended to sign up with Bigpond, so Telstra tested the line then sent someone out to switch me to another line at the footpath junction. I had a look over his shoulder at the extensive copper oxide mass in there and wondered that anything worked. My theory was that Telstra intended to let the copper rot because they are obliged to let competitors access it and to either force us all on to wireless services, or complete the fibre to the home once they had secured the monopoly. Once I had a working line I signed up with iiNet instead. I'd have done the same coming here but Telstra had introduced a clause in their basic land line package contract saying it could not be used with any ADSL provider but BigPond, and I didn't want to pay more for the land line I rarely used.

The move to wireless would also benefit Telstra by achieving timed local calls - something they have always wanted, but no federal government has been prepared to give them.

[Dutchy]

Run you phone number through it and let us know what it comes up with.

Services available in the Brighton, SA exchange area:

Internode Easy Broadband
Internode Easy Naked - Limited or No Ports Available
Extreme ADSL2+ - Limited or No Ports Available
NakedExtreme ADSL2+ - Limited or No Ports Available
ADSL Standard and ADSL Fast

This is what they told me yesterday, that I might be wating for a long time until a port becomes available.....Im 6km's from the Brighton exchange, apparently thats an issue also..

[Dutchy]

OK looks like Im on ADSL1 - got this from my plan details - 1500/256kbps so that wouldnt be ADSL2 would it?

Thats good news though cause Im happy to transfer to another ISP at the current speed I have...all this time I thought i was on ADSL2

will do the test when I get home to confirm and then change over, just have to decide internode or adam

[Lunchcutter]

This is what I get

Your line speed is 13.78 Mbps (13778 kbps).
Your download speed is 1.68 MB/s (1722 KB/s).

and that's through bigpond from modbury exchange down the hill 6 ks

[dedja]

Dutchy, because of the lack of ports at your exchange be sure to ask Adam or Internode that you will get a guaranteed ADSL1 service if you churn to them.

The reason is that tel$tra could theoretically release the port you're currently on and some other customer pick it up before your new ISP does.

Anyway, apply with that caveat and all should be OK.

[Dutchy]

Yep will check that thanks Dedja

just ran the test at home -

Broadband Speed Test Results

Test run on 22/12/2009 @ 02:54 PM

Mirror: Telstra Bigpond
Data: 3 MB
Test Time: 19.28 secs

Your line speed is 1.27 Mbps (1271 kbps).
Your download speed is 159 KB/s (0.16 MB/s).

Def only ADSL..

[RoosterMarty]

www.adsl2exchanges.com is not a bad site to check out as well, you can see if there are RIMs or Pair Gains in the area which can stop you from getting ADSL2+.

Also 1500/256 is ADSL1.

[dedja]

Yes, that is ADSL1 (1.5 Mbps down, 256K up)

[Dutchy]

Thanks all for the advice, very helpful, will be ditching Telstra for good tomorrow

[Kahuna]

Reread your original post and explain to me why you so desperately need to ditch Telstra in light of the information you have received in this thread.

[Westsider]

Reread your original post and explain to me why you so desperately need to ditch Telstra in light of the information you have received in this thread.

Because telstra are way way way way way way x 409532994325 expensive compared to other providers.