[Treble]

What if anything is the difference between LLU and non LLU broadband?

Stability? Speed? Nothing?

I'm just curious.

Would I get a better service/connection from BT directly, than from, for example Sky or Talktalk?

[Jittlov]

Non-LLU means that a provider rents a connection from BT Wholesale and then sub-lets it to you.

LLU is where a provider takes over the running of the line from BT, this usually involves connecting your line to the provider's own equipment in the telephone exchange. BT are still responsible for the line between your house and the exchange.

A few years ago the only way to get speeds over 8mb was to go LLU. Now that BT have upgraded, the only major difference between the two is price. LLU is almost always cheaper.

As for who is better? They are no better or worse than each other in terms of service quality, but you'll generally find that non-LLU services have more download restrictions than LLU services.

[alcockell]

Also depends on the backhaul from the exchange - some wholesale LLU providers (such as Tiscali/Talktalk) had a tendency to oversubscribe their backhaul (comms from the exchange to the ISP's core networks), and I personally remember when my connection was LLU'd at one point (Eclipse were using LLU connections until BT proved to be a better wholesale provider and had rolled out ADSL2). A mistake was made when Tiscali accidentally put traffic management on their wholesale lines, choking me to sub-ISDN speeds. I tracked down who was providing my line and complained to both them AND Eclipse... was NOT impressed as my sync speed was the full 8Mbps afforded at the time, and had in no way hammered my connection.

Was around the time that Tiscali was collapsing.

[beerhunter2]

Originally Posted by Treble

Would I get a better service/connection from BT directly, than from, for example Sky or Talktalk?

BT. Sky Connect has a dreadful reputation for performance.

[BKM]

Originally Posted by beerhunter2

BT. Sky Connect has a dreadful reputation for performance.

However Sky LLU Broadband is, in almost all cases, better than BT's!!!!

[The Sack]

Originally Posted by BKM

However Sky LLU Broadband is, in almost all cases, better than BT's!!!!

Depends if you are on an exchange thats recived the 21cn upgrades and now provides ADSL2+ as standard, if you are then there will be little difference in the actual performance. On price however for an ADSL based package Sky cant be beat i dont think, i was certainly happy when i was with them.

[finbaar]

I get twice the speed for half the price with Talk Talk when compared to BT. My connection speed is typically around 14 and I have never had an isuue, Mind you I never had an issue with BT either other than the price as my bill for Option 3 and phone calls was about £41 per month.

[Steven L Hunter]

I dont know why bt are not being more competitive the prices are extortionate I want to have their services but simply cannot afford to have them so go with other providers.

[madnes]

Originally Posted by Steven L Hunter

I dont know why bt are not being more competitive the prices are extortionate I want to have their services but simply cannot afford to have them so go with other providers.

In my opinion. BT go by reputation only. They are expensive and rearly offer decent deals.

[iniltous]

Originally Posted by finbaar

I get twice the speed for half the price with Talk Talk when compared to BT. My connection speed is typically around 14 and I have never had an isuue, Mind you I never had an issue with BT either other than the price as my bill for Option 3 and phone calls was about £41 per month.

Half the price may be true, but not twice the speed, you were probably on an upto 8 meg service with BT and an upto 20/24 meg service with TT, BT 'standard' broadband is now the same (upto 20 meg) so if you stayed with BT chances are you would have been upgraded for free and would be getting the same speed from BT as you are getting from TT,BT upto 8 meg is a legacy product and it won't be long before everyone is migrated onto newer kit and the old stuff recovered from the exchanges

[burnt toast]

With BT and non- LLU there is also sometimes a problem with exchange congestion. And they won't always admit to it either telling you that it's all great. I eventually found out that the exchange where I used to live was congested only by emailing the MD of BT who admitted it. So I moved to BE and LLU.