Buckfastleigh Broadband

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ADSL?
ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber line - a technology that provides fast data transfer rates over ordinary copper telephone lines - called Asymmetric because it is aimed at those users who download (receive) more than they upload (send). Most of the services on this site are broadly ADSL equivalent - i.e they provide a similar service but using a different technology - some are more symmetric and some more Asymmetric. The most common forms tend to have an advertised download speed of 512 kbps and an upload of @ 128kbps - though speeds on some of the systems available can go as high as 8Mbps down and 640kbps up. Make sure when choosing a solution that you get the right speeds for your needs, for the majority of people an asymmetric solution is fine, if however you plan to constantly transmit large amounts of data - this may not be ideal.

How does ADSL work?
ADSL operates over a normal copper wire telephone line in areas where BT has enabled local telephone exchanges for high-speed ADSL data services. The ADSL signal is carried by two ADSL modems, one at the customer's premises and one at the local telephone exchange. The technology allows far greater data transmission rates than were possible in the past. A series of splitters (filters), one or more at the customer's premises and one at the BT telephone exchange, separate the analogue (telephone) signal from the ADSL signal. This means that telephone calls can be made at the same time that data is being sent or received.
The service is only available on analogue phone lines, which are also called PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) or POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines.

Do I still have to pay BT telephone line rental fees if I get ADSL?
Yes. BT's telephone billing, (line rental and call charges) are unrelated to your ADSL service.

I do not have a telephone line provided by BT, can I have ADSL?
No. At the moment you must have a BT analogue phone line. If your line is ISDN you must arrange for BT to convert it back to analogue before you place an order with your ISP.

What does contention mean?
Contention Ratio - Basically it is how many people 'share' the bandwidth advertised - e.g. 20:1 means that the same 'capacity' is sold to up to 20 users - though it would be very unusual for everybody to use it at the same time. It should be noted that the speeds advertised are the peak figures - during busy periods you may not achieve this speed - the lower the Contention ratio the more likely you are to get the advertised speed and generally the more expensive the service. A contention ratio of 1:1 indicates that you have sole use and if you are not using it nobody is - therefore one can expect to pay considerably more for this. There are many methods of measuring the contention ratio and sometimes suppliers may inadvertently calculate it by an inappropriate method, which may give an artificially low figure. The 50:1 (50 Users sharing bandwidth) contention ratio is considered suitable for the home user, or very small office, and the 20:1(20 Users sharing bandwidth) ratio is generally more suitable for the business user.

I am currently using ISDN, can I have ADSL self-install on my existing line?
No. When you order the A suitable ISP ADSL service you will be given the opportunity to request the conversion of your ISDN line. We can arrange the conversion through BT and it will take place at the same time as the set up of your ADSL service. A fee is charged by BT for this service and will be added directly to your phone bill.

What do I need in order to have my existing telephone line upgraded to an ADSL service?
There are a number of factors that will determine whether you will be able to take advantage of ADSL. Firstly, you must be a BT subscriber with a valid contract for the use of a BT analogue phone line in an ADSL enabled area. Secondly, there must be no incompatible services on your PSTN (analogue) line.

This site is no longer maintained and is provided for reference only. Contact: info@buckfastleigh.net