This topic

Speed

picktech — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:41:04 GMT

Hi all just wondering why Bt only give you the guarantee speed and not what they said when you signed up, if they are not going to do as they say ie the higher speed then be honest and say so,

false selling I would call it, done all the things it says in the help section but still only get the guarantee speed ie the lower speed, it stinks wonder if Bt stands for Bad Treatment,

Re: Speed

WSH — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:44:48 GMT

Is that on FTTP or FTTC?

Re: Speed

picktech — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:52:28 GMT

FTTC i think there is a green Bt cabinet at top of street I an about 3mile away from Bt exchange

Re: Speed

chrisjp — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:57:45 GMT

I'm on FTTC and I get a higher speed than the minimum guaranteed when I signed up. I always thought that BT were quite careful, with their guaranteed speeds being conservative.
So if you're getting lower speed than the guarantee when you signed up, this is a cause for some investigation as a possible fault.

Re: Speed

WSH — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:58:32 GMT

Well, there is a cabinet at the top of my street as well, but I’m on FTTP so it will not come through that.

Might be an idea to look at the paperwork and see what are you actually on.

FTTC is subject to that many variables, outside of BT’s control, that presumably they can only quote a minimum and maximum. For example, even extreme temperatures can affect a copper line.

I expect the guarantee is merely minimum.

Usually, it’s clearly stated in the small print.

Similar with the minimum and maximum quoted here:

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

FTTP doesn’t have the same problems and tends to be what it says on the tin.

I will also add that if you are measuring that over a wireless connection instead of a wired one, then all bets are off anyway. Wireless has always been a bag of pants, always will be.

Re: Speed

gg30340 — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:08:05 GMT

On FTTC the speed that you get is dependent on the distance you are from the cabinet not the exchange.

The package you buy shows the maximum that is possible on that package but it is dependant on the proviso above.

Because BT have no control over how far away from the cabinet you live all they can do is give a guaranteed minimum speed for the package you have which takes into account the distance from the cabinet and other variables such as the standard of the line. You may get a speed above that minimum speed but that can not be guaranteed.

You will have been given that information regarding the minimum speed when you ordered the package.

Re: Speed

picktech — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:09:14 GMT

The link doesn’t work but thanks for trying to help, BT must know about the variable or at least have an idea I did have trouble with the chipset my line was connected to in the cabinet at the top of the street a few years ago,

Re: Speed

picktech — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:11:17 GMT

I am only 3 hundred yards away I would say

Re: Speed

WSH — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:30:52 GMT

The link works for me. I've just tested it.

Try a different browser. Just click on it, put your phone number in and it will show what is possible on your line.

Edit: As gg30340 said, distance makes a big difference with FTTC. 300m will be down to about 60Mb/s I think, even on a good line. I would post the graph for you but images are subject to quarantine until a mod or a CL releases them, so you won't see it until tomorrow morning.

Re: Speed

picktech — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:14:43 GMT

Hi thank you but don’t have a phone number as I gave it up as we have mobiles

Re: Speed

gg30340 — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:16:45 GMT

Yes BT will be aware when checking the line and that is why they guarantee the minimum speed.

BT can not get you faster speeds than what your line can support and the distance from the cabinet is the biggest reason for speeds lower than the maximum speed of the package. That is due to physics and other than moving either the cabinet closer to you or you moving closer to the cabinet there is nothing that can be done about that unless you are able to get Fibre To The Premises (FTTP).

If it falls below the guaranteed speed BT will endeavour to rectify that and if they can not you are free to leave the contract without penalty.

Re: Speed

WSH — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:20:48 GMT

You can put your address in or the UPRN. UPRN is more accurate, I think.

You can find your UPRN here:

https://www.findmyaddress.co.uk/search

Re: Speed

gg30340 — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:28:23 GMT

See chart regarding speed in relation to distance on a perfect line You will be VDSL2 which shows you should be getting somewhere about 45 Mbps if your line is perfect.

Re: Speed

picktech — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:52:36 GMT

It is fiber 2 I am on and I get 45Mbs and it's not always that

Re: Speed

WSH — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 21:04:29 GMT

Well, as gg30340 said then, it's primarily the distance. This is why looking at that checker I posted is useful. It will give you an idea of what the line is capable of. If you are significantly below the minimum on there then you have a fault.

As I said, the big plus of FTTP (Full Fibre) is that it does not suffer from that problem and you get what it says on the tin. I'd upgrade when you get the chance.

Re: Speed

iniltous — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 21:53:43 GMT

It’s not clear to me what your actual complaint is , but this explanation may cover it ,

Fibre 2 is a 80Mb service , that what the FTTC system on a short enough line will deliver, the advertising authorities didn’t like the ‘upto 80Mb’ advertising that used to exist so they said you have to use the figure an average customer gets , so BT work out the speed an average BT customer on F2 gets , and that comes out at 67Mb (that’s an average of all lines on BT F2 , short lines getting 80Mb and long lines getting 58Mb and everything in between ) ,so 67Mb is what has to go on the advertising headline , but it’s pointless figure , if you live near your FTTC cabinet you probably get much better than 67Mb , probably the full 80 Mb , that’s me , I’m only 120m away from my cabinet and get 80Mb , but the advertising still said 67Mb even for me , if someone lives a long way away , they may get 56Mb , way less than the advertised 67Mb , but 67Mb is in the advert for them

That’s why BT also give you a bespoke estimate based on your actual location, this speed is accurate for your address , the minimum speed guarantee generally is 10% lower , so if your bespoke estimate is 65Mb , your minimum speed guarantee is around 58.5Mb , if you live near the cabinet , the bespoke estimate may be 80Mb , so the minimum speed guarantee is 72Mb , live very far away , and the bespoke estimate may be 50Mb the MSG is 45Mb , this is the figure to take notice of , you don’t need to care about the 67Mb average, you may not be an average distance from your cabinet.

You call it false advertising, but this is the way the authorities demand speeds are advised, FTTC is what’s called ‘rate adaptive’ , it basically means longer line , slower speed , FTTP doesn’t suffer from this , the line length is irrelevant with full fibre .

Re: Speed

WSH — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 21:52:23 GMT

@iniltous While on the subject, could you answer a question for me please. Is that guarantee figure what is meant on the checker by the "handback threshold" speed?

Re: Speed

iniltous — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 22:22:01 GMT

My understanding is they are not the same , but in reality they may only be a very slight difference between what the ISP gives as the MSG and the BTw/Openreach downstream handback threshold is , you should expect them to be effectively the same if they are not there probably is an issue.

The handback threshold is what the FTTC ‘system’ has the line syncing at , if (when checked ) it’s significant lower than the MSG the customer initially was given it could indicate a line fault , and if reported something for OR to look at , if the handover is higher than the ISP throughput and the customer complains to the ISP their speed is lower than expected or below MSG , it could be the ISP backhaul that is congested and not the line at fault ….so assuming no line fault and no ISP congestion both figures will be broadly similar, the MSG slightly lower to allow for overheads .

It shows why not reporting a line fault can cause issues later on , if a line is (for example) capable of 80Mb , the MSG/Handback both around 72-74Mb , but the line develops a fault , and the sync falls to 60Mb to stabilise the line but it’s never reported , over time the handback falls to the new reality of 60Mb , the MSG follows ,at the next renewal customer complains that the MSG is now only 50Mb when it used to be 70+ , if the line fault is removed , the sync and handback increases back to where it once was , and the MSG follows , ISP bases their MSG on the handover threshold at the time the contract is struck .

Re: Speed

WSH — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 22:24:46 GMT

Yes, I've never been sure if they were the same, as there seemed to be a discrepancy. Thanks for that.