FTTP WI-FI Speed Expectations

[#1]

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@bill888 wrote:

You'd need to know make & model of the device. Then try and find the technical specs from the manufacturer's website!

gsmarena.com is also good site for smartphone specs.

For Windows computers, look up the wifi card in Device Manager. Then google the specs of the wifi card if it is not obvious whether it is Wifi-6 (AX), Wifi-5 (AC) etc.

I think Wifi-6 only started to appear in devices about 2-3 years ago, so don't be surprised if most of your devices are Wifi-5 (AC) spec.  If it can only use 2.4 GHz, then it is even older Wifi-4 (N) spec

All things being equal, Wifi-6 speeds may only be twice as fast as Wifi-5 speeds in practise.

imho, if the PS5 is only seeing 160 mbps over Wifi-5, don't expect Wifi-6 to deliver 900 Mbps !

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Thanks again for the advice.

I also managed to find this site too: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-tell-if-my-pc-has-wifi-6
And it does seem we only have one device compatible with Wi-Fi 6! Our handsets only came out in the last couple of years. 

With the neighbours FTTP Wi-Fi speeds topping 900mbs and an Openreach engineer choosing to test the connection over Wi-Fi, I just was under the impression the minimum speed (500mbs) was universal for FTTP and it has completely thrown me.

I only chose Fibre 900 for the kids. Like I said, I would've been happy with Fibre 145, and would have obviously been very pleasantly surprised had we received at least 500mbs - just what I thought we were paying for. My eldest agreed to chip in for the monthly payments. Sadly, he won't see the benefit. 

[#2]

fwiw, Plusnet were offering an unpublicised Fibre 300 upgrade, which was only a few quid more than Fibre 145.

One other tip is whether the Hub 2 is in the best location to serve the whole property?

eg. could you move the Hub 2 to the centre of the house and use a long ethernet cable to connect it to the Openreach ONT ?  This may improve speeds to those wifi devices which were a bit too far from the hub.  Solid internal walls tend to be the biggest killer of wifi speeds in my experience.

[#3]

fyi, latest news on smart hub 3 and 4 posted this morning:

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2023/05/bt-aspire-to-be-first-uk-isp-to-bundle-wifi-7-broadban... 

[#4]

Many thanks for the continued advice.

Like what has already been mentioned, the majority of my devices wouldn't be compatible with Wi-Fi 6, so that option would be pointless for now. I seemed to have unintentionally purchased the future last month. 

One lesson learned is to ask for advice here first and not customer services.

I seem to have had my fears confirmed that my Wi-Fi speeds are what they are, and the minimum speed guarantee doesn't protect FTTP Wi-Fi speeds - I was really under the illusion that they did based upon the advice I received prior to purchase from Plusnet themselves, neighbouring Wi-Fi speeds, and Openreach testing new service over Wi-Fi. Its difficult not to feel disillusioned. The highlighted sentence should be made clearer for all customers. 

Personally it wasn't about speed, it was about receiving what I believed I was paying for, along with the Plusnet's pre-contract verbal advice I could downgrade my tariff if need be.

Perhaps this is common knowledge on here within the community forums, but maybe not everyone frequents them, like myself. Reading reems of text isn't easy on the best of eyes. And the T&Cs are abysmally unclear.

I do appreciated the candour and honesty I have received here. I just wish I had received it pre-contract. The only solution is whether I can downgrade my tariff and contract as I was at first advised. I have a feeling that is unlikely too.  

Bottom line is I am out of solutions to my problem other than lumping it. 

[#5]

Thanks to some PM advice I have received, I hope someone from Plusnet customer services can help me further. 

Based upon being told pre-purchase via Plusnet chat that I could downgrade my package if my speeds were lower than the Minimum Speed Guarantee, without it being specified that Wi-Fi speeds aren't included in the guarantee, could someone from Plusnet assist me in discussing whether I could indeed lower my tariff or switch to BT?

Without keep playing the partially sighted card, this fact clearly effected my ability to pinpoint the written terms relating to the Minimum Speed Guarantee excluding Wifi speeds even on FTTP. Had Plusnet chat simply made this clear when I asked, I obviously wouldn't have chosen the highest tariff. I must add, for any customers, especially those with low vision, it surely should be made completely transparent what the Minimum Speed Guarantee covers you for.

For awareness sakes, for people in my situation, just writing a post like this can take over half an hour. It is infuriating, but not anyone's fault. It's not about pity; just seeking added support and knowing your customer. 

I have noticed the fee for BT Fibre 500 is currently £30.99 for me, whereas the Plusnet Fibre 500 price doesn't really differ too much from my current price for Fibre 900. 

I would be loath to leave after being with Plusnet for sometime and not having any real issues in the past. Apart from the Sales chat dept not being completely informative about the Minimum Speed Guarantee, I do rate the customer services very highly, especially when problem solving. 

I am currently in the process of receiving an automated compensation refund and want to ask whether any tariff change or switch would interrupt this process. 

If I could receive any further advice in this matter it would be greatly appreciated. 

[#6]

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@bullybeef73 wrote:

I just wish to bump this thread so my previous post can be escalated. Thank you in advance. 

Moderators Note

Bumping threads is against Forum rules

[#7]

Just wish to update Plusnet retentions have now put me on a lower, agreeable tariff. Many thanks for all the advice, particularly from @bill888