Just run some pings for any gamer's who may be interested, and it seems o2 are, like Be*, using Fastpath because the ping's a shit low:
Originally Posted by One of my UK servers
C:\Documents and Settings\Matt>ping xcellweb.net
Pinging xcellweb.net [85.234.144.238] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 85.234.144.238: bytes=32 time=24ms TTL=58 Reply from 85.234.144.238: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=58 Reply from 85.234.144.238: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=58 Reply from 85.234.144.238: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=58
Ping statistics for 85.234.144.238: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 23ms, Maximum = 24ms, Average = 23ms
Originally Posted by One of my Holland media servers
C:\Documents and Settings\Matt>ping 83.149.101.8
Pinging 83.149.101.8 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 83.149.101.8: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=56 Reply from 83.149.101.8: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=56 Reply from 83.149.101.8: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=56 Reply from 83.149.101.8: bytes=32 time=28ms TTL=56
Ping statistics for 83.149.101.8: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 28ms, Maximum = 29ms, Average = 28ms
Originally Posted by One of my US hosting servers
C:\Documents and Settings\Matt>ping wirralnet.info
Pinging wirralnet.info [72.9.145.107] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 72.9.145.107: bytes=32 time=132ms TTL=46 Reply from 72.9.145.107: bytes=32 time=132ms TTL=46 Reply from 72.9.145.107: bytes=32 time=131ms TTL=46 Reply from 72.9.145.107: bytes=32 time=132ms TTL=46
Ping statistics for 72.9.145.107: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 131ms, Maximum = 132ms, Average = 131ms
And look how few hop's it takes to get to a server hosted in BlueSquare, which is in Berkshire:
Quote
Tracing route to xcellweb.net [85.234.144.238] over a maximum of 30 hops:
Just tried to send an email and it wasnt working; was recieving them fine, just not sending.
Anyway, I changed the port to 26 and it sent fine, so I am assuming o2 dont allow port 25 to be used for SMTP... nowadays that's pretty much okay, year's ago it would have been dodgy as not many mail server's allowed port 26.
Just got an email and text through to let me know it's now connected... better late then never I suppose lol, ive been using it for over an hour lmao!
Originally Posted by o2
Dear Matthew
Great news ‑ your line is now active with O2 Broadband.
So now you are ready to set‑up and start enjoying O2 Broadband ‑ simply plug in the O2 wireless box and you're away.
The set‑up is really easy, but of course if you've any questions please give us a call on 0800 230 0202 free from a landline, or if you have an O2 mobile dial your usual free O2 Customer Service number 202.
Well... for the last half hour or so, the Internet light on the router has been red... the DSL light green, but the internet light red. Which should mean no connectivity... but it was fine throughout, even restarted the media centre with it on red and no problems reconnecting.
Very weird, but since it never caused any problems I can't moan. Gone back to green now though gutted, cos it looked ded colourful with red, orange and green lights lmao
Basically, what had been happening since the changeover, was randomly, every now and again, the connection would drop out and take a few seconds to reconnect. It happened every few hour's, but at peak time's it did happen a bit more regular.
At first I thought oh well it will be the migration, as the connections do tend to need a few days to "train" to the line etc.. So I gave it over the weekend, but it was still doing it on Monday night.
So I decided to telephone customer services, especially as it was free.
Phoned them at about 18:30ish, had to wait in a queue, but only for about 15 seconds or so. Got through to an British Paskistani/Indian chap (could tell he was British as he did have a tinge of a Scottish accent, and spoke both clear and fluent English, not like the foreign call centre staff you get). He was very helpful, asked the security details etc, and then asked to explain the problem I was having and to take my time if nessecary (it's a free call, so this doesnt make them money).
Anyway, after listening to my explanation, he asked me a few further questions, and then advised me what he believed to be the problem and explained clearly what it is, what he would be doing to fix it etc... He seemed to be trained very well, knew what he was doing and was very clear.
He advised me that it was likely to be the noise tolerance on the line and that he could fix this by increasing the tolerance slightly, and I would see the router reboot itself any second. Sure enough, it did. He then explained to me that I was likely to see a marginal drop in speed, moreso on the downstream, due to the higher noise tolerance, but that it should resolve the problem and the connection should never drop out.
He also explained the factors that can cause this, such as underground cables being near electic cables (my flats have electic cables right next to the telephone wiring), older wires, older phone lines etc...
He then asked me if I had any further question's or issue's, which I didnt, so he advised me to phone up if it happened again, thanked me for calling and wished me a nice evening and happy internet surfing lol.
Altogether the call lasted just over 4 minutes from when I pressed call until I put it down, it cost me nothing, and I found the customer service representative very polite, easy to understand (beauty of UK call centres), and very clear and precise in explaining about what he believed was the problem and how he would attempt to rectify it.
Sure enough, the connection is 100% now, hasnt dropped since he made the change. The speed is a bit lower, only around 9.5Mbps tops now downstream and 1.1Mbps top upstream, but I am as happy as a pig in shit with them speeds, and it is really refreshing to experience such great customer service!!!
Now I can believe all the reviews that have been posted all over the internet. I dont think a single person on Digital Spy has had a problem with them yet, they are all raving off them, and there are lots making the leap.
Maybe, just maybe, o2 could be the "perfect" broadband supplier. Not only a rock solid connection with fast speeds, but great customer service to back it up!
Well done o2, I have a LOT of faith in these guy's now and trust me, all these excellent review's people are posting on the net, are very much true from my experience so far!!
Oh yeah, I saw the internet light on red again on Monday evening, even though the internet was 100% fine. Will post a photo of it, it's a weird one, but it's not causing problems; should have asked the guy really but forgot!
![[Linked Image]](http://photowirral.com/newsig.jpg)
said someone will call me
