IDNetters Forums

Technical News & Discussion => Broadband, Internet & General Computer News & Discussion => Topic started by: Adam on Apr 13, 2010, 01:49:25

Title: WBC Availability
Post by: Adam on Apr 13, 2010, 01:49:25
I have been regularly checking my exchange for WBC availability via Samknows and BTwholesale for some time, with no date in sight for my exchange. After much deliberation I decided to move to Opal LLU earlier this month, with the understanding that I would return if WBC or FTTC became available at my exchange. The service has thus far been good and the 'reseller' excellent, though the line is still new and requires some tweaking to improve throughput. The speed is not what I expected, the improvement is from 4000-6000kbps to a solid 8000kbps, with throughput of around 5600kbps, but I digress.

I decided to check availability again, just out of interest. Samknows shows no date or plans, as I expected, but the BTwholesale checker now has a date for WBC to be enabled on the exchange (31-March-2011). Perfect timing. ::)

Adam
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: DorsetBoy on Apr 13, 2010, 06:38:20
SamKnows no longer posts the upgrade info as it was so inaccurate. ;)
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: adamr8965 on Apr 13, 2010, 20:40:00
i've had llu on my exchange for months now, sam knows still doesnt show this.
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 09:21:46
Sam(doesn't always)Knows. ;)
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Gary on Apr 14, 2010, 09:29:54
Quote from: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 09:21:46
Sam(doesn't always)Knows. ;)
Nor does BT  ;D
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 09:31:06
Did they ever? :whistle:
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Gary on Apr 14, 2010, 09:34:36
Quote from: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 09:31:06
Did they ever? :whistle:
;D
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: adamr8965 on Apr 14, 2010, 13:37:32
Sam knows nothing!!!!
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Tacitus on Apr 14, 2010, 16:26:30
Quote from: Adam on Apr 13, 2010, 01:49:25
........ but the BTwholesale checker now has a date for WBC to be enabled on the exchange........

Where do you find the BTwholesale checker?  I've tried Googling for it but all I can find is the standard 'Can I get ADSL' one.  :)

Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 16:57:45
I've never known...
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: DorsetBoy on Apr 14, 2010, 17:16:15
>> http://www.btwholesale.com/pages/static/Community/Broadband_Community/21CN_Broadband_Availability.html  << Download the list on the right.
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 17:21:41
Thanks, Dorset.
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Ray on Apr 14, 2010, 17:26:07
My exchange isn't listed,  :bawl:
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 17:29:08
When I get fibre, Ray, you can have some of mine.  :evil:
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Ray on Apr 14, 2010, 17:34:51
 :thumb:
Which Millenium will that be? Rik,  ;D
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Glenn on Apr 14, 2010, 17:35:39
Mine has never been listed Ray, but it is on the FTTC rollout
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 17:41:15
Quote from: Ray on Apr 14, 2010, 17:34:51
:thumb:
Which Millenium will that be? Rik,  ;D

I'm hoping within the next two years, Ray, according to BT it's scheduled for the end of this year.
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: zappaDPJ on Apr 14, 2010, 17:41:28
As a matter of interest is IDNet likely to have details of their FTTC roll out and the costs involved?
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 17:44:16
I've not seen them publicly, Zap, and with only one customer connected so far, I believe, it's very much at the exploratory stage.
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: zappaDPJ on Apr 14, 2010, 17:49:17
That's one lucky customer!
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 17:51:17
It was so nearly two...
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: zappaDPJ on Apr 14, 2010, 17:54:25
Intriguing... was there a problem?
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 17:55:13
Yes, the fibre didn't go to the necessary cabinet, even though the exchange was enabled. Very BT. :(
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: DorsetBoy on Apr 14, 2010, 17:55:23
You can always ask BT direct ( they hate this bit  :evil: :evil: but have to answer).....

Go here   >>>  http://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/loadReason.do

Select '(@) I have a general enquiry'  from the menu and fill out the enquiry form.  ;D
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 17:57:40
 ;D
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: zappaDPJ on Apr 14, 2010, 18:02:14
Quote from: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 17:55:13
Yes, the fibre didn't go to the necessary cabinet, even though the exchange was enabled. Very BT. :(

Sounds a similar situation to me, there are a number of properties already connected in my street but they are not taking any further orders for another 8 weeks. I still don't know if it's due to a planning problem, capacity or the family of pixies that live inside the cabinet  :sigh:
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 18:07:03
Indeed.  :(
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Glenn on Apr 14, 2010, 18:11:56
The 3rd option is most beliveable
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 18:15:13
 ;D
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: adamr8965 on Apr 14, 2010, 18:48:51
4th option, live next to exchange and plug a ethernet cable into the 1gbps core. :whistle:
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Rik on Apr 14, 2010, 18:50:04
Nice idea, but I think they'd notice, Adam. :)
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: Tacitus on Apr 14, 2010, 18:50:26
Quote from: DorsetBoy on Apr 14, 2010, 17:16:15
>> http://www.btwholesale.com/pages/static/Community/Broadband_Community/21CN_Broadband_Availability.html  << Download the list on the right.

Thanks.  Needless to say my exchange is not on the list neither are a couple of  towns inside a 10 mile radius; one with a population of some 60K and the other around 300K.  Given my exchange has around 4800 subscribers I'm not altogether surprised, but I'd have thought the others would have made it.  

Seems very arbitrary which ones they upgrade.  Time to call Rutland Telecom....

Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: adamr8965 on Apr 14, 2010, 18:53:45
who bt or idnet with my usage?
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: dujas on Apr 21, 2010, 11:15:48
BT Wholesale has announced (http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/4218-bt-add-further-148-exchanges-to-wbc-24mbps-service.html) another 148 exchanges for upgrades to WBC ADSL2+ by 31/03/2011, full list here (http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/4219-bt-wbc-exchanges-to-be-enabled-by-31st-march-2011.html).

For my locality, Talktalk (http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/4217-talktalk-to-increase-capacity-and-coverage.html) are now set to unbundle my exchange before BT offer WBC  ::)
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: pdu on Apr 21, 2010, 18:52:34
Frankly, talktalk could offer to run 1gbps fibre to my home and I'd still take adsl1 from a decent isp any day :)
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: pctech on Apr 21, 2010, 22:58:20
Yep too true.

My landline is with the phone coop and they offered me an unbundled deal of phone and broadband (with 40GB allowance) for 22.99 a month.

I asked who they use for broadband and they said Opal telecom (carphone warehouse owned and same network as used by TalkTalk I think) so I politely declined and explained why.
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: psp83 on Apr 21, 2010, 23:27:19
Talk Talk isn't that bad around this area, I know a few people on there LLU and get good speeds & pings 24/7..
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: gromit on Apr 23, 2010, 20:32:46
I didn't realise there were Opal resellers!
Dare I ask who they are?
Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: pctech on Apr 24, 2010, 18:10:21
One I asked is The Phone Co-op www.phone.coop whom my landline is now with (BT Openreach maintained though of course) so I can get a bit back on what I have to spend each year.

Title: Re: WBC Availability
Post by: pctech on Apr 24, 2010, 19:29:28
Let me give a fuller explanation (had to go as needed food) Phone co-op use BT for the voice function (as most do) and either Opal or Murphx for broadband (I presume they will use Opal if they have equipment in your exchange or Murphx if they dont)