ADSL Max

It wasn't long ago that 512Kb broadband was considered to be fast, but now technology has pushed these speeds higher. Yes, we have had 1Mb and 2Mb introduced, but the latest new addition to the broadband family is ADSL Max - which allows us to have a broadband connection of up to 8Mb - 160 times faster than a standard dial-up connection. These fast speeds mean you can watch TV and play games in real time online. You can also download large files and music videos in a few seconds, as opposed to the minutes it took on dialup. ADSL Max is available to just just under 99% of the country, so it is likely that your exchange is ADSL Max enabled.

If you have some questions regarding ADSL Max, then it is likely it is answered below;

What is ADSL Max?

ADSL MAX is a new higher speed service from BT Wholesale. Max provides download speeds of up to 8Mb with upload speeds increasing from 256Kb (standard ADSL) up to 448 Kb (Max).

Will my existing ADSL equipment work with ADSL Max?

Most ADSL equipment (modems and routers) is likely to work with ADSL Max. Users with routers are likely to find fewer problems when upgrading to Max services than users with USB modems. USB modem users should check the modem's manufacturer website to see if they can support up to 8Mb broadband

What speed can I expect from ADSL MAX? Will it be 8Mb?

Our up to 8Mb broadband options uses new technology (Max) to automatically provide the fastest speed your phone line can physically support up to 8Mb. This will be the same speed that any other BT Wholesale based ISP can offer. The actual speed you will receive depends on a number of factors:

• Principally how close you live to your phone exchange (the nearer you are the faster the speed you can expect).
• Quality of the actual copper phone line

There are also other things that can affect your connection speed - such as the length and quality of any phone wiring extensions in your home, the age and type of your modem, the speed of your computer, and whether the broadband filters you have are correctly installed.

The following guide shows the approximate proportion of lines that get what speeds.

For an estimate on your maximum line speed please go to the availability checker by clicking here and enter your phone number.

Will the ADSL Max packages run at its maximum speed all the time?

Your speed may change throughout the day. It will slow down during peak times or when other broadband users connected to the same exchange as you. Again, this will be true of any BT Wholesale based ISP.

What is the upload speed of ADSL Max?

Again upload speed may vary according to line rate. It will typically be up to 448kbps.

Is there anything I can do to improve my download speed at home?

There are several ways you can improve your line speed:

• To obtain optimum speed it is imperative that you have a broadband filter on every BT phone socket including Sky box, alarm and fax device.
• Minimise the phone extension cabling in your household.
• Ethernet routers tend to perform better than USB modems, so it may be beneficial to upgrade to a router.
• Restart your modem/router when experiencing performance issues.

Speeds will vary through out the day. They are likely to slow in the evenings, as the number of users on your local exchange increases.


If you have any further questions, then please feel free to contact us