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Tuesday 17th June 2003

Something's Happening...

Copper cable is being run in the ducts along Bridlington Crescent, Monkston.

Belden 200/0.5 80μm CW1171 is being installed. (That's a 200 pair cable with a conductor diameter of 0.5mm, 91Ω per km, 53nF per km.)

The work is being carried out by Skanska.

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247 Members

I'm currently living in Willen Park and I've been thwarted by the usual problem of being wired to an exchange on the opposite side of Milton Keynes (Bradwell Abbey).

I've obviously as eager as the next guy, so please could you add me to the list for the Council's Wireless Pilot.

Many thanks,

Ben

[Sign up here http://www.anotherurl.com/bbreg/
The telephone exchange for the area BT call "Bradwell Abbey" is sited at Fishermead.]

I live in Crowborough Lane in Kents Hill - I'm at the southern end (near the Church, school and shop). When I try BT's availability checker I get the "over 5.5km so you're too far away" message.

I'm sure I've read comments from others in this group saying that they're in the same road and have got ADSL (or have I got that totally wrong) - are you at the northern (Monkston) end of Crowborough Lane?

Does anyone have any recommendations for me? Will I come into range when BT change the acceptance criteria? Will I be ok for the wireless trial? Am I one of the people that needs to join a group angling for a change to the Woburn Sands exchange?

I try to keep up to date with (and understand) everything that's put on the web pages, bulletin board and email archive but if anyone would mind helping a novice, I'll be grateful.

Regards,

Lee (currently suffering at around 38kbps)

[There are 6 residents in Crowbourgh Lane that have tried for, and failed to get, Broadband - the house numbers are widely dispersed. It looks like the area is marginal for Broadband.

Any questions... just ask.]

I suspect that you (Lee, in entry above) have a different exchange from the others in your road. In MK, as I understand it, BT can attach any house to any exchange and frequently you get neighbours with lines to different ones.

[BT prefer to have service areas supplied by a specific exchange. Exceptionally they will "Trans Parent".]

I have a colleague who has two lines to different exchanges in the same house.

I also guess that like me you are on the Woburn exchange (your number starts with 58?). I am just on the limit and was recently turned down for ADSL due to line length. We may both be eligible for the rADSL that's currently being trailed though, which extends the range considerably.

Regards,

Damon

I live halfway down Crowborough Lane and have two lines. My personal line fails the distance test (01908 60****), but an ISDN2 line put in by my employer (01908 39****) is capable of being upgraded to ADSL. At least that's what the line test number told me a few months ago.

If these lines are in the same exchange (I seem to recall the engineer that installed the ISDN said it was in Fishermead) then it depends who pays the bill as to whether you can get ADSL in Kent's Hill or not!

Graeme Miller

Being next to the Hilton in Kents Hill which exchange would you say I am nearest?

Chris

[You would be closer to Woburn sands. To get BT to "Trans Parent" you would need a group of residents.]

[Re Cameron's Happy Day At Home reported yesterday...]

We hate BT, we hate bt...lol

Well I am on Kents Hill and been here for 2 years. Great I thought quick connections here we come.

Order form filled, line test ok, BT booked install day and now we wait the count down...ha ha

As per Camaron, waited all day. booked a holiday from work and yes late in the day and a quick call to only be told.

Oh we are sorry but you are to far away to have it...bla bla bla.

We hate bt ,we hate bt.

Mind you its raining now so is that a good sign or bad? lol

Richard

[Good as the Skanska van has trundled all the way along Bridlington Crescent! That lovely copper is waiting to be connected up!]

I have been trying desperately to get broadband from the Bradwell Abbey Exchange but have had no luck whatsoever.

I have had a new 'shorter distance' phone line installed especially for the purpose which met the distance criteria but failed on line quality - so like your good self I am at my wits end. I work from home a great deal and my company will support Broadband (and even better will pay for it !!). I am being put under a lot of pressure to stop incurring enormous dial up costs but to no avail. Mid Band just doesn't give me enough time at 128kbps.

I was little heartened to see that its not just me that's fed up with being in this predicament. It permanently amazes me that a new town like MK has no broadband access in many areas. I'm just crossing my fingers to see if the extended reach at Bradwell Abbey helps me to get service. Do you have any info on it at all ?

[More on the extended reach here:
http://www.adslguide.org.uk/newsarchive.asp?item=1156]

Many thanks
Sarah, Crowborough Lane, Kents Hill

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