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Technical News & Discussion => Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion => Topic started by: Technical Ben on Feb 01, 2010, 21:38:50

Title: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Technical Ben on Feb 01, 2010, 21:38:50
Turns out BT have dropped the 21CN WBC switchover, that was planned for march, off a cliff. To make it worse, my exchange is now getting congested.
Not had much of a problem myself yet.
Plusnet now says (and verified on Samknows) VP capacity at this exchange is currently showing as Red.
BT have advised that no current planned date for WBC on 21CN exists

I was all geared up for 24mb internet in a couple of months. Also the better price, and bandwidth. I guess the Martch deadline was just the blanket deadline for the country switchover. We know that was never going to happen.  :bawl:
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Simon on Feb 01, 2010, 22:08:33
Sorry to hear that, Ben.  :(
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: colonelsun on Feb 01, 2010, 22:09:07
I feel for you. Sorry Ben.

I have no idea if my exchange will get upgraded or even BT knows it still exists but lately i've been telling myself to believe the worst and nothing will happen.

Less disappointment that way.
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Glenn on Feb 01, 2010, 22:12:42
Dave, mine is in the same situation, it has the slowest throughput of all 3 exchanges that serve my area :(
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: colonelsun on Feb 01, 2010, 22:41:09
Quote from: Glenn on Feb 01, 2010, 22:12:42
Dave, mine is in the same situation, it has the slowest throughput of all 3 exchanges that serve my area :(

Glenn....we're in the same boat. Our only crime is living somewhere BT have no intention of bringing into the 21st century. I just keep on telling myself that at least i have broadband and a good ISP in IDNET. But i think the ADSL & ADSL2 price differential is criminal and BT seems intent on keeping things that way.
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Rik on Feb 02, 2010, 09:12:09
BT really should be accountable, they certainly aren't to Ofcom. >:(
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: dujas on Feb 02, 2010, 13:39:39
I think if your exchange had a WBC date, then at least you can expect to be upgraded at some point before 2012. The question is what about those exchanges that were never given a WBC date, to what percentage of UK households, does BT intend to make 21CN ADSL2+ available?
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Rik on Feb 02, 2010, 13:41:03
I wish we knew. Dates have been set and put back, dates have been set and withdrawn. BT are, quite literally, a law unto themselves on the issue. :(
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: dujas on Feb 02, 2010, 13:47:18
This is where I find Ofcom and the Government useless. Future plans of what could happen in 2017 is fine, but what about the here and now...
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Rik on Feb 02, 2010, 13:50:24
What makes you think the future plans will be any better, sadly I fear that they will be as ill-conceived and engineered as WBC. :(
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: dujas on Feb 02, 2010, 16:19:54
I fear they'll be purely focused on headline grabbing speeds and low consumer prices, with little consideration of widespread availability and transit infrastructure.

What I meant previously was that, why is the regulator not poking BT to update the public with their plans for an infrastructure that our politicians believe is so critical for the UK economy and future jobs. 21CN WBC is already a year behind schedule and now numerous 2010 exchange dates have been scrubbed, let alone what's happening with the PSTN update?
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Den on Feb 02, 2010, 17:44:38
Our nearest exchange has had it's wbc date removed, this seemed to happen at about the same time has the main exchange about 4 miles away in Wrexham was enabled (lucky Niall).    :eek4:
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Rik on Feb 02, 2010, 17:47:06
Quote from: dujas on Feb 02, 2010, 16:19:54
What I meant previously was that, why is the regulator not poking BT to update the public with their plans for an infrastructure that our politicians believe is so critical for the UK economy and future jobs. 21CN WBC is already a year behind schedule and now numerous 2010 exchange dates have been scrubbed, let alone what's happening with the PSTN update?

I couldn't agree more, as so often seems to be the case, the regulator appears to work for the industry, not the consumer.
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Rik on Feb 02, 2010, 17:47:26
Quote from: Den on Feb 02, 2010, 17:44:38
Our nearest exchange has had it's wbc date removed, this seemed to happen at about the same time has the main exchange about 4 miles away in Wrexham was enabled (lucky Niall).    :eek4:

You're one of many, Den.
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Glenn on Feb 02, 2010, 17:53:35
Mine never had one to be removed  >:(
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: quandam on Feb 02, 2010, 19:21:58
Quote from: Glenn on Feb 02, 2010, 17:53:35
Mine never had one to be removed  >:(

Glenn

You and me both! :( Possible that my exchange won't even get a mention on Sam Knows for at least another 5 years. :eek4: Suppose if the exchange does not get congested (unlikely here in my village) we can tick over on reasonable speeds :fingers:
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Glenn on Feb 02, 2010, 19:23:50
Only just above 2mbs for me Q
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: dujas on Feb 02, 2010, 19:44:40
A double blow as it seems the exchange being upgraded to 21CN is a prerequisite for BT's FTTC/FTTH roll-out in the local area.
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Glenn on Feb 02, 2010, 19:50:00
My exchange has 21CN, just not WBC.
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: colonelsun on Feb 02, 2010, 20:38:03
Local business, in my area, was supposed to be the driving force for the upgrade of rural exchanges. We all had a slap up champagne dinner at the mayor's office and he, and the local council, pledged to pressure BT not to keep us in the second class business lane.

One year and a half later all has gone quiet. Any talk of pressuring BT has gone, local residents who were led to believe they would be piggy backing on the success of local business and receiving upgrades think they've been conned and in some areas of our county it is quicker to use the phone than a BT based broadband package. Our councillors find it increasingly difficult to sell our area as a viable business destination in Europe because most Europeans don't stop laughing for long enough once they've seen our broadband infrastructure and delivery results.
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Saad on Feb 03, 2010, 03:02:38
Very weird. The Aberdeen North exchange (http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/NSNTH) also was originally meant to have 21CN WBC by mid-May 2009 if I remember correctly. By it seems that BT has dropped the exchange from being upgraded. I guess it not just small towns and villages but also cities as well that's being ignored by BT.

The maddening thing is that in another part of Aberdeen, the Aberdeen Denburn Exchange (http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/NSDEN) does have 21CN WBC enabled. That particular exchange is only 1.6 miles away (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=AB251LX&daddr=AB243YD&geocode=Fa0PaAMdsN7f_ykr_9h_GA6ESDHs2EuJNAbdAw%3BFSBJaAMdfLzf_ym3WSZNAg6ESDFuQ2T0Gqc1Xw&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=57.154825,-2.104765&sspn=0.028583,0.059137&ie=UTF8&ll=57.158775,-2.107916&spn=0.02858,0.059137&z=14) from the exchange I'm using. I can't understand why some parts of Aberdeen City has 21CN WBC (Aberdeen West, Aberdeen Lochnagar, Aberdeen Kincorth, Aberdeen Denburn, Aberdeen Balgownie), but other equally populated parts don't (Aberdeen Ashgrove, Aberdeen Bieldside, Aberdeen Bucksburn, Aberdeen Culter, Aberdeen Dyce, Aberdeen Kingswells, Aberdeen North).  :mad: :mad:
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Gary on Feb 03, 2010, 07:29:04
Quote from: Glenn on Feb 02, 2010, 17:53:35
Mine never had one to be removed  >:(
Same here Glenn , another rural location ignored, we have a 21cn date for Q1 2011 but no date for WBC, but as has been said putting the equipment in when we have such a small population and minimal business, most are home based, the shops you can count on one hand, makes it just not a big enough draw for the investment. That also goes for any other provider, so a rescue by LLU is as likely as WBC :(
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: TheMonkey on Feb 03, 2010, 13:30:42
I was going to get the 21CN WBC Q3 09.

Guess what...................  :bawl:
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Rik on Feb 03, 2010, 15:28:25
BT are living in the past...
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Glenn on Feb 03, 2010, 15:32:02
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsCyC1dZiN8
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: rgt247 on Feb 03, 2010, 18:12:46
My exchange has recently not got a date. It was 31/3/11 but now has a red cross on Samknows. However http://adsl24.co.uk/checker/  Quote "Your exchange is due to be enabled for the ADSL2+ (up to 24 Mb) service between 1st Apr 2010 and 31st Mar 2011."

On http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/adslchecker.php Quote "21CN WBC (Broadband)     RFS date 30.03.11"

So who is right ? Has BT recently updated there records ?
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Glenn on Feb 03, 2010, 18:15:40
Your guess is as good as mine Rich
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Rik on Feb 03, 2010, 18:17:58
For a definitive answer, Rich, drop support an email. All the 'public' information is dependent on BT putting out the data and individual sites keeping them up to date.
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: dujas on Feb 03, 2010, 18:30:52
Plusnet (http://usertools.plus.net/exchanges/) exchange checker and Samknows are up-to-date. ADSL24 and Kitz are using the old dates announced back in 2008.
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: rgt247 on Feb 03, 2010, 18:30:58
I am still expecting to wait to 2011. I am in no rush the 8Mb service is brilliant. But it would be good to know what 21000Kbps feels like.

According to http://www.farina1.com/adsl/ with my line stats I can expect 21000Kbps . Quote "With ADSL2+ the maximum IP throughput (result from a speedtest) is likely to be around: 18584 Kbps"  ;D

Plusnet has no date for Adsl2   :shake:
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: Rik on Feb 03, 2010, 18:31:47
I can only dream.  :'( :)
Title: Re: My exchange takes a blow...
Post by: rgt247 on Feb 03, 2010, 18:39:41
Quote from: dujas on Feb 03, 2010, 18:30:52
Plusnet (http://usertools.plus.net/exchanges/) exchange checker and Samknows are up-to-date. ADSL24 and Kitz are using the old dates announced back in 2008.

Cheers  :thumb:

I will keep an eye on Plusnet and Samknows site.  :thnks: