BleepingComputer.com: Slow Broadband Connection

I am having a similar situation, but from what information I got suggested thet the exchange had not been upgraded to accomodate the larger bandwidth being offered, add to that the distance from the exchange can play a significant role in low speeds.

There are ways to increase the performance of a systems networking hardware to improve speed, but the modifications will only offer a marginal increase in performance.

When you talk about the distance from exchange making a difference to signal strength surely you mean on a telephone exchange landline connection?. I can't see how an underground fibre-optic cable network like Virgin has can have anything more than a miniscule loss of signal strength whatever the distance to the main sender for that area, or am I misinformed?.

bluesjunior, on Apr 7 2008, 10:08 PM, said:

Hi bluesjunior
During the last semester at University we had a module on networks and communications; part of it was on optical fibre. The main outcome related to the question was that the distance form the exchange can have a negative effect on signal strength even through optical fibre. While it is a formidable communications medium it is not without its faults. The picture I made (MS paint) shows that as the distance from the exchange increases the signal strength decreases. This is mainly caused by noise or interference. To limit this problem, there are usually repeaters or amplifiers that clear the signal and resend it every few miles. However if you live next to the exchange there is no need for such hardware as the signal shouldn't degrade to such an extent to require repeaters. If the connection is slow and the system connecting is less that a couple of miles away; the problem would most likely be down to poor hardware at the exchange.