7 ms·

So does BT (In the UK) http://www.btwifi.co.uk/ http://www.btwifi.co.uk/ It's a good feature. The open wifi is separated from your wifi, and it doesn't use yo

So does BT (In the UK) http://www.btwifi.co.uk/ http://www.btwifi.co.uk/ It's a good feature. The open wifi is separated from your wifi, and it doesn't use your bandwidth. Plus - If you have BT wifi, you get to use all those hotspots for free.

pktgen 13y ago
I question "doesn't use your bandwidth." BT is a DSL provider. Your circuit is provisioned for the speed you pay for, and the maximum attainable speed is limited based on distance from the DSLAM as well as other factors (copper gauge, copper condition, etc.). If you're paying for the highest speed BT offers at your location and you're near the limit for that speed, they don't have any capability to overprovision a few extra mbps on that circuit for guest Wi-Fi use. The closest they can do is provision a new circuit entirely, but that isn't a very cost-effective solution just to provide Wi-Fi as it requires another physical pair, another DSLAM port, and more expensive CPE that can support 2 pairs. Comcast on the other hand is a cable provider and due to the shared architecture of DOCSIS, can conceivably do that. In fact, since they're saying guest Wi-Fi users will not impact your connection speed, I am betting that is exactly what they are doing - guest Wi-Fi users probably have access to any unused capacity on the node. * maybe they have FTTP in some areas (like pretty much every telco) in which case this won't apply. And I know they have FTTC in many areas too, but that's still xDSL and these shortcomings still apply (just to a lesser extent since the loops are much shorter).
- justincormack 13y ago
  Also you have to use their crappy router with DNS hijacking.
  - pktgen 13y ago
    Heh. Is there such a thing as a consumer ISP-supplied router that isn't a total POS? Does BT not let you override their DNS servers? I don't know why ISPs seem to think DNS hijacking is such a good idea. I find it hard to believe they could make any substantial amount of money on it, it just pisses people off.
    - cbhl 13y ago
      The average customer probably doesn't know what DNS is, let alone that switching to a server that doesn't to DNS hijacking will make the <ISP> search pages go away.
    - mpclark 13y ago
      I'm pretty sure it is to do with keeping the volume of support calls down; they try to lock down everything they can.
    - codfrantic 13y ago
      Here in the Netherlands XS4ALL provides me with a AVM Fritzbox 7390 on my fiber connection (100/100 $75), quite a nice piece of kit ($311,- retail if I look it up today)
- alexkus 13y ago
  For "doesn't use your bandwidth" read:- * The public wifi usage doesn't eat up any of the private bandwidth allowance * The public wifi is limited to 512kbps but private usage gets precedence (meaning that the bandwidth available for public wifi could be 0kbps at any point in time)

pktgen 13y ago

I question "doesn't use your bandwidth." BT is a DSL provider. Your circuit is provisioned for the speed you pay for, and the maximum attainable speed is limited based on distance from the DSLAM as well as other factors (copper gauge, copper condition, etc.). If you're paying for the highest speed BT offers at your location and you're near the limit for that speed, they don't have any capability to overprovision a few extra mbps on that circuit for guest Wi-Fi use. The closest they can do is provision a new circuit entirely, but that isn't a very cost-effective solution just to provide Wi-Fi as it requires another physical pair, another DSLAM port, and more expensive CPE that can support 2 pairs. Comcast on the other hand is a cable provider and due to the shared architecture of DOCSIS, can conceivably do that. In fact, since they're saying guest Wi-Fi users will not impact your connection speed, I am betting that is exactly what they are doing - guest Wi-Fi users probably have access to any unused capacity on the node. * maybe they have FTTP in some areas (like pretty much every telco) in which case this won't apply. And I know they have FTTC in many areas too, but that's still xDSL and these shortcomings still apply (just to a lesser extent since the loops are much shorter).

justincormack 13y ago
Also you have to use their crappy router with DNS hijacking.
- pktgen 13y ago
  Heh. Is there such a thing as a consumer ISP-supplied router that isn't a total POS? Does BT not let you override their DNS servers? I don't know why ISPs seem to think DNS hijacking is such a good idea. I find it hard to believe they could make any substantial amount of money on it, it just pisses people off.
  - cbhl 13y ago
    The average customer probably doesn't know what DNS is, let alone that switching to a server that doesn't to DNS hijacking will make the <ISP> search pages go away.
  - mpclark 13y ago
    I'm pretty sure it is to do with keeping the volume of support calls down; they try to lock down everything they can.
  - codfrantic 13y ago
    Here in the Netherlands XS4ALL provides me with a AVM Fritzbox 7390 on my fiber connection (100/100 $75), quite a nice piece of kit ($311,- retail if I look it up today)
alexkus 13y ago
For "doesn't use your bandwidth" read:- * The public wifi usage doesn't eat up any of the private bandwidth allowance * The public wifi is limited to 512kbps but private usage gets precedence (meaning that the bandwidth available for public wifi could be 0kbps at any point in time)