Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 01 Mar 18 - 05:18 PM

Take a look at Google Duo.

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 01 Mar 18 - 03:38 PM

My 10-year-old MacBook got dropped from Skype support some time last year and I won't get it back till I can find something that will run a more up-to-date OS.

Face-Time has been suggested as an alternative but requires an Apple ID. I must have had one once, but "forgotten password" only gets me to an endless loop.

My partner, currently in New Zealand, accidentally discovered that Facebook Messenger or Chat facility allows computer-to-computer talk for free (phone symbol on the blue bar atop Personal Message panel). With video switched off, conversation was possible, if occasionally a bit distorted, even on my (recently) 1Mb BT Broadband "service".
Ross

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: Mr Red
Date: 01 Mar 18 - 04:34 AM

The problem with BT (notso) HotSpots is:

1) you have to share airspace with a lot of other Wifi routers in an urban setting. It is sorted by allocating channels but IME there can be 4 or 5 routers using the same channel, despite some channels not being used - maybe out of range of me, but competing with routers that are visible. I guess.

2) You have to share bandwidth with the owner (renter) of the router and they should get priority.

3) BT know you are a "parasite" so may be controlling how much you use.

4) BT (notso) HotSpots switch routers or decide to curtail you in random ways. Forcing you to Log-in again.

All in all a poor service given their bragging about millions of (notso) HotSpots. But I can get 144 Mb WiFi often, and nothing on internet. But when the router owner isn't watching TV (assumed) I get a very fast upload. My philosophy is to be happy using BT for free as payback for when they cut me off without warning. (Dot get me started).

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 27 Feb 18 - 07:04 AM

Hotspots afford you very little bandwidth. I find them almost always next to useless. When out and about, as soon as I turn off wifi and switch to 4G, life becomes a breeze. Pay a bit more and get some data!

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: Mr Red
Date: 27 Feb 18 - 06:20 AM

I reckon that the BT version 5 router is crap, with a very limited range.

BT are bragging they can give you WiFi in every room in the house. Or your money back.

Not sure what they mean by that but it is either: 1) a phased array aerial that points to every receiver in sequence (probably slowing things down) or 2) they have a back-up tactic of giving you extenders.

I use the GF's (notso) HotSpot Log-in because a) it is free and b) I have a longstanding beef with BT and c) I am a cheapskate. The (notso) HotSpot is crap. Worth every penny I pay though. And has the added advantage of limiting my time wasting happytapping.

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: Nick
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 07:49 PM

I live in a village but luckily close to the exchange. I get a consistent 78mb download and about 20mb up. No grumbles.

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 07:04 PM

I'm forever doing things like that, Kenny. I even have two T-Link range extenders in strategic places as we live in a house with two-foot-thick walls (I got the extenders cheap), and they constantly have to be rebooted. I reckon that the BT version 5 router is crap, with a very limited range. I lose blobs even if I go into the kitchen with the door open. But BT are forever giving me the BT Sport app cheap or free on which I can watch all the Champions League games and a big wodge of the Premier League, so I'm not leavin'! On top of that I have the Sky Mobile Sports app which Mrs Steve buys me as a rolling Christmas present, which covers nearly all the Premier League games I could ever wish for. Now you know why I'm always so cheerful!

Considering some of the single-figure megabyteage I'm reading about here, I suppose I shouldn't moan...

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 04:43 PM

Steve
switch the router off for a couple of minutes then back on again. My bank told me that when I couldn't log in ..... it seems to work and increase the speed and clean up the memory

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 03:31 PM

My experience with BT down the years is that they start by giving you a decent speed, then it goes down and down... this may sound like a luxury I shouldn't be complaining about to you, but two years ago I was getting 30MB-plus. Two weeks ago, I checked it, and it was down to 19. I phoned to complain, and the lovely bloke in dim and distant Outer Gondwanaland (or was it the far side of Venus) almost instantly got me back up to 28. What you start with is not what you will keep with BT. Caveat emptor!

I have a big data allowance thanks to my frequent historical angry dealings with the ratbags at Vodafone (they always try to mollify me), and I find that 4G is far better than any hotspot (it's more secure too). I can tether my iPad to my iPhone and I'm away. Mind you, I don't use it to watch films or telly. It works a treat with FaceTime and, presumably, other video calling setups (Google Duo is worth looking into). Not a lot of use for your Ma unfortunately...and definitely not for regular use if you have, say, less than a couple of gigs of data per month.

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: Stanron
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 11:31 AM

After reading this thread I thought I'd check my internet speed. In the last few days I changed from 3 to O2 mobile broadband and thought that O2 seemed slow. First time I got

0.95 down and 0.3 up.

The second time it was worse. I'm stuck with O2 until the credit expires. Then I'll look for something better.

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 11:02 AM

I am on 1Mb 'broadband in the West of Ireland, uploads 0.1 Mb. It requires a lot of patience and downloads often cut because of the slow response (try updating Photoshop and related Creative cloud apps. It's a nightmare).

I wouldn't even dream of hooking up a tellie to that.

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: Mr Red
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 10:34 AM

her upload is about 380Kb - it always is slower than the dnload. Though some days it is 0, when everything is. Rare but usually when you have started something.

Looks like STD TV might be OK if it doesn't start buffering & skipping. Can't say on my experience though.

AFAIK there is a gov rule that anything less than 1.8M dnload should command half price. Which is why they get above it but don't guarantee always. Her brother is a farmer and there are gov systems that only work on-line, and are mandatory for farmers. The two facts are not unconnected.

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: Mr Red
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 10:25 AM

My GF lives right at the end of the copper. She gets 1-3.5Mb. When I last tested.
They don't guarantee and won't sell her a Youview box. She doesn't use TV over the broadband, but if she did it would be crap.

I watch BT sport live on my laptop and there are days when it regularly skips back to a later stream, then jumps forward to the earliest one, if it doesn't freeze totally without returning. The latter seems to be more recent, because ever more people are using it nearer the exchange which is several miles away. There are times when I give up.
Their catch-up rather helpfully shows an image of the winners on the rostrum. Stupid (probably) or cynical tactic to move you to want to buy something you can't buy? (most likely).

Ironically about 100 yards away houses get the feed from the city and sales people don't understand this about the terrain. And Fastershire (BT & three county councils effort) will lay fibre optics down the lane (rat run - should be fun) and asked if she wanted it to the house. We are waiting - we may be some time!

Basically you will hate BT but no-one else will be able to better the service.

Have a nice day.

Subject: RE: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 09:32 AM

Skype According to Google
High-definition video calling requires an upload and download speed of at least 1.2 megabits per second. For a group video call, Skype requires a minimum download speed of 512Kbps and a minimum upload speed of 128Kbps. If you add more people to the video call, the download speed requirements increase.

Watching movies and streaming TV From ComparetheMarket.com
Service
Needed for
                non-HD       HD               Ultra HD
BBC iPlayer      1.5 Mbps    2.8 Mbps          Not available

Netflix         3.0 Mbps    5.0 Mbps             25 Mbps

Amazon Prime Instant Video
                0.9 Mbps   3.5 Mbps            25 Mbps
Now TV          2.5 Mbps    5 Mbps          Not available

YouTube          2 Mbps    6 Mbps               15 Mbps

Subject: Tech: What use is 1Mb-4Mb broadband UK ???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 09:07 AM

Just arranged BT broadband for my mum's address.
She can expect 1Mb-4Mb standard broadband.

She has no need for it as she has never used a computer, and won't learn now.
It's intended for me and the wife when we visit mum with laptops, tablets, etc..

Her house is a dead zone for mobile phones,
so Skype never works for more than a few seconds before freezing.
That's why we need broadband for when either me or the wife are at my mum's
and the other is at home or elsewhere near good wifi..

Will skype work reliably on such a low 1Mb-4Mb provision...???

I've also just bought her a new HD Smart TV,
will catchup on demand work effectively...???

More important, I'd hoped to eventually install strategic CCTV monitor cams
to keep an eye on mum's stairs and living room, etc, in case of falls or illness.
Again will these work with such pathetic broadband...???


cheers...