What speed downloads will I get with broadband?

We will give you the fastest speed your BT phone line can sustain, up to a maximum of 24Mbps. Actual speeds will vary to give you the best speed possible to ensure a reliable service. Speed can be dependent on a number of factors like the quality of wiring in your property and the distance from your local telephone exchange. Anything above 2Megabits per second broadband connection speeds will provide superb speeds for browsing the internet and downloading large files. To find out what connection speed your line is likely to provide, take your Broadband Speed Test.

We aim to provide you with the best performance possible as we take our connectivity ONLY from BT to give the most direct (and therefore fastest and most reliable) connections onto the Internet.

However in order to achieve the best speeds that your line can handle, you will need to take the following factors into consideration:

Contention Ratios

This is probably the single most important factor affecting your download speed. Residential packages are contended at 50:1 whereas the Business services are contended at 20:1. The lower the ratio means fewer connections are being shared and the overall link speed resulting in generally higher speeds and more consistent performance.

Remote Site Speed

The remote site you are downloading from may be busy and unable to supply the download at full speed. In addition some sites will actually use traffic shaping to restrict the speed at which single users can download from their site to help ensure a fair level of service for all their users.

Network Congestion

Sometimes the interconnecting networks are unable to cope with the levels of traffic at peak times causing some slowdown.

Other Applications

You may be running other applications (for instance checking your mail etc.) at the same time which can degrade download performance.

Other Users

If you have more than one machine through your broadband connection (for instance if you are on a network), if someone else is also using the connection it will cause your download to be slower than you might expect.

ADSL Link Distance

If you are a long way from the exchange it is possible that BT have installed your circuit using RADSL - this technology is only available for 500 Kbit/s circuits and is used to extend the maximum range for broadband services. However, it can be a cause of degrade in performance especially on upload speed. Unfortunately there is very little that can be done as without it you would not be able to receive broadband services at all!

ADSL Equipment

Ensure you are using the latest drivers for your ADSL equipment and operating system. We have seen this to be important most frequently with ADSL modems connected via USB. Also with USB modems you are best not to use unpowered USB hubs - instead connect direct to your computer or via a powered USB hub.

If you have any questions please contact the support team.

How is broadband different from dial-up?

A broadband connection is much faster than dial up and also allows you to make phone calls whilst online. With our broadband service there is no time limit for staying online.

Do you have a fair usage policy?

Yes, you can view our Fair Usage Policy here. Please be aware that the vast majority of customers will be unaffected by our Fair Usage Policy and the purpose of the policy is to prevent a tiny minority of extremely high users impacting the service of the rest of our customers.

How fast will my connection be?

Simply enter your telephone number in the broadband availability checker and we'll test your line and give you an indication of the download speed that it will support based on an estimate of line length. Due to line quality issues which only become apparent once your service is activated, the maximum speed may be below the original indication provided prior to ordering.

During the first ten days of service your line will fluctuate and you may get intermittent connection issues as it is tested to determine the fastest speed that it will support. You are more likely to stabilise at a higher speed if you leave your router on continuously or connect to the broadband service as much as possible. We recommend connecting your ADSL router to a Master Socket (where available) to maximise performance and stability.

How do I check my broadband connection speed?

When checking your broadband connection speed, there are two speeds that you need to take into account:

Line speed is the theoretical maximum speed that your line is capable of supporting. It varies depending on a number of factors including line quality, proximity to local exchange, age/type of modem and whether the broadband micro-filters are installed correctly.

Throughput speed is the line speed experienced in practical terms. This changes at varying intervals and is dependent on the current volume of Business Broadband network traffic. At peak times, the speed may be significantly reduced. Throughput speed can also be affected by the individual speeds of websites you visit.

Throughput speed or actual (as opposed to maximum) line speed can be measured via an online speed checker.

BT Speed Tester

Note that because speed varies constantly, these types of test provide only a snapshot of your download speed at the time you run the test.

If you are experiencing a slow throughput speed, it is likely to be temporary and not caused by a fault with the service.

What can I do to increase the speed of my connection?

The following points may help to improve your broadband speed;

1. If your router or computer is old then upgrading them may improve your speed.
2. If you connect wirelessly then make sure your connection is secure so that no one else can be using your connection and try plugging your computer directly to your router.
3. Make sure you have a micro filter connected to each telephone point.
4. Use an iPlate to avoid line interference from other devices.

Is there a minimum contract period?

Yes. The minimum term can vary and is dependent on which package you sign up to. They range from 1 month, 3 month and 12 month contracts.

How much does broadband activation cost?

Broadband activation on a land line that does already have broadband installed on it costs £44 plus VAT.

How much does broadband migration cost?

Migration of an existing broadband service from another non LLU broadband provider costs £11 + VAT.
Migration of an LLU (Local Loop Unbundled) service costs £44 plus VAT.

If you wish to migrate, you will need a MAC code from your current provider.

How do I get my ADSL activation date?

Once we have received your order, we will check if your local BT broadband enabled exchange has a circuit to our pop (point of presence) router. If not, we will order a vp (virtual path) from BT to link up your exchange. BT require 5 - 10 days to provide this service. Once we have a circuit to your exchange in place, BT will arrange an appropriate activation date. BT require a minimum of 5 working days from the acceptance of the order to activate your telephone line for ADSL.

How much does ADSL activation cost?

The cost for the ADSL activation is £44 (Sterling) plus VAT.

Do I need a modem for ADSL?

Yes, an ASDL modem is required for broadband.

Do I need a Britsh Telecom phone line?

Yes, Firenet Broadbroad service is only available through a BT phone. At present we do not support other networks.

Do I need a second phone line?

No, Broadband uses the same British Telecom phone line as the one already installed. The internet can be accessed while the phone is already in use.

How much does broadband migration cost?

Migration of an existing broadband service from another non LLU broadband provider costs £11 + VAT.
Migration of an LLU (Local Loop Unbundled) service costs £44 plus VAT.

If you wish to migrate, you will need a MAC code from your current provider.

What is ADSL?

ADSL is an acronym for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line and it is a technology that makes use of the copper phone line to your home or business to provide a high-speed data connection.

As well as offering faster speeds on a line, ADSL2 also makes it possible to use two phone lines for a single connection.

What is ADSL2?

ADSL2 works on the same principles, but uses an advanced form of the technology to cope with faster speeds. It requires new equipment at both ends of the connection. This means that ADSL2 will only be available in an area once the local telephone exchange has been upgraded. Customers who want to use ADSL2 services will then need a new modem router.

As with standard ADSL, ADSL 2 is still affected by the distance between the customer and the local telephone exchange. This is because the signal degrades more the further it has to travel over copper lines. Customers who live further away from the exchange will usually get slower speeds.

How does it work?

A filter (plugs into your telephone wall socket/s) will be required for each telephone/fax in use on the same telephone service so as to filter out the low frequency signals for your telephone calls. This means your telephone service can be used any time, as normal for voice calls.

Your ADSL modem (that Firenet can supply or recommend) plugs directly into a telephone wall socket (without a low frequency filter) and there is an internal high frequency filter in the modem that filters out the data only.

This means your data/Internet service is "always on" and there is no longer a need to "dial up" each time you require access to data/Internet services.

What is the benefit of ADSL?

ADSL provides both data and voice over the same pair of copper wires that your telephone service is on meaning you can run both data and make telephone calls at the same time. Better still is the fact that your data is "always on" meaning you no longer have to dial up to the Internet each time you want to use the service, it is available 24 x 7.

Can I get ADSL to my home/business?

Enter your BT line number into the Broadband Availability checker on the Firenet homepage, which will check your line to see if you can have ADSL broadband. Once the availability of ADSL to your premises has been confirmed it will still need to be qualified and is dependent on such things as the distance that you are located from the exchange and the quality of the copper cable in place.

Do I need a modem for ADSL?

Yes, an ASDL modem is required for broadband.

Server Details

ADSL Settings

DNS Servers

Firenet Email Servers

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