Broadband for Milton Keynes

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Wednesday 15th October 

Today's mail-shot

This email is being sent to all 580 members of the MK Broadband Action Group.

1, MK Council's Wireless Pilot - Update

Residents are now getting connected. An initial group of 9 test sites were connected two weeks ago. The remaining 200 "trialists" are being surveyed and equipment installed.

The council have now closed the register for new broadband applications.

2, BT Broadband availability checker

The frustration with the various web based broadband checkers continues.
Our point of contact with BT, Serena, suggests we use
http://www.bt.com/broadband/

3, Two Mile Ash, Great Holm and Crownhill are now being leafleted.

4, Richard and I completed Loughton this week. We've found Broadband coverage there to be very patchy.
http://www.bb4mk.co.uk/loughton_coverage.htm

5, We'll be having our informal pint this Thursday at 20:30 at the Crosskeys in Woolstone. (The Swan is out of commission this week.)

6, Email List

If you have not done so already, you may want to join our email list:
http://metahusky.net/mailman/listinfo/monkston
This gives you an opportunity to communicate directly with other group members.
 

My Inbox

I am one of the lucky ones able to receive BB (Bradwell Common). However, I have a customer in Great Linford who can't and would dearly love it but he is "Too Far From the Exchange".

My question is this and has anyone ever asked it. It is based on a broad but not in depth knowledge of telecommunications:

Is there any reason (technical or otherwise) on this earth why BT can't put repeaters / line amplifiers etc at a central point in each estate and feed these to the main exchange?? A kind of sub-station.

Kind regards

Tony

[I've forwarded your question to Serena at BT]

 
I have just moved from Tring, where I had broadband via AOL.

I asked AOL to transfer it to Ulverscroft, Monkston and it was rejected due to the distance from the exchange. I have had to downgrade again.

Regards

Stephen
 
Please add my name to your list, it is far behind refer to broadband in UK.

In Japan we are talking already 26M ADSL.

When we talk about BT broad band, What sort of speed are we talking about?

[512kbps, 1Mbps or 2Mbps (Downstream rates.)]

Our office is in Crownhill , modern industrial Estate but still not able to get ADSL so we connected ISDN.

I tried to get ISDN for my home but even ISDN , BT said not able to connect.

It is frustrating life to use computer now a days

[I know how you feel. I was there!]

Support your activity. Thank you

Toshio, Loughton

 

I have tried to get ADSL, but I have been advised that the line length is outside the 5.5km of BT.

After speaking with the BT broadband team they have advised me that all of the other telephone lines in the street are capable of ADSL, apart from mine. I have tried everything to get this changed but they are very unhelpful. I believe that it is because I have moved house 3 times and have taken my number with me. I have spoken with a couple of neighbours and they use a range of Internet service providers.

Is there anything you can advise me on to get ADSL installed?
[Get in touch with Serena at BT]

Ryan, Bletchley

 
I have just had a conversation with Serena about availability of Broadband in Hopkins Close - MK Village.  She tells me that this is one of the "pockets" that make up the 4% of MK residents that are not "Green" for ADSL.

Ho hum, let's hope the council's wireless pilot works well.

David
 

Tuesday: Man with van came round, hoisted his meter in the air and said "Yes!"

Wednesday: NTL phoned to arrange installation date.

Can it really be happening?
Fingers crossed.

Neil, South West corner of Shenley Lodge

 

I guess everyone's getting bored of these emails, so I'll keep it short.

[Only in the sense of it that the perishing BT online checker was getting it wrong again!

If BT had their records straight, you would have had Broadband weeks ago!]

I'm in Welbeck Close, Monkston. The online checker says that I am too far away from the exchange to get ADSL. The BT engineer came out yesterday and did some tests.

The tests showed not only can I get ADSL but I can also have the 2Mb line as well.
 
So if you are having similar issues then try and get in contact with BT to get an engineer out to do these tests.

My ISP is Nildram.

Although I have been to the pub a few Thursdays now, I will be there to buy Nick a beer and maybe a few large shorts ;)

Thanks again to all.

Danny

 

I tried signing up for Broadband on the 24th Sep when the 60db rule came into force. I had a BT engineer come round the following week to check the line but, even though the ISP said I was now in the area ,the test said I was still too far from the exchange.

I have however sent my application for the wireless trial and hopefully will be accepted for that.

Regards

Chris, Two Mile Ash

 

Please could you keep me informed of news or events?

I have used the BT website to test if my phone number is capable of receiving ADSL but I have never been sure how accurate it is.  It has always been negative so I've not tried to connect using any other supplier.

I did however try my mother's phone number there, she lives in Bancroft Park.  The response told me that her phone was connected to the Wolverton exchange, and that she was too far away!!!!!

She can only be 2km away from Wolverton, the phone lines must be wired in a most inefficient way or the tool is completely wrong.

Martin, Walnut Tree

 

I had a line check several months ago when I first applied for broadband. The line loss was too great.

Do you know whether the "extended reach" (up to 60dB line loss) capability launched by BT has made a difference to availability in the area? [Not in Loughton. It has in Crownhill.] I've posed the same question on the BT site but as yet (2-3 weeks now) have not had a response. I've also enquired as to whether their database for availability queries has been updated (a check on my number still reports service unavailable).

Sign me up for your campaign.

Best regards
Jonathan, Loughton

 

Don't know what response you've had but wish you well.
As you say - a brand new city in the dark ages.
NTL said sorry - they only run an analogue service in MK!
Also AOL dial - up services seems to be getting worse by the day.
( I know - I should use another ISP!)
Keep up the good work

David, Loughton

 

Is there an ISP for broadband that actually knows Monkston can get broadband?
If so can you name them for us?

[Zen.. "very nice guys and they know all about the, as they put it, the MK10 problem."]

 
Wow!!! For the first time the BT Checker has told me that I can get ADSL at 512kb.

As I have had it for a few weeks now [with freedom2surf on the Extended Reach Pilot] perhaps BT are actually getting their act together now.

Margaret & Bradley
 

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