BT I-Plate review

You may have noticed the words 'up to' preceding the quoted speed of your broadband package.

Whether it's 'up to' 2Mbit, 8Mbit or 24Mbit/sec, the actual speed at which data moves over your line will be much lower than this figure. In our recent survey of 22,000 users, those with '8Mbit' tariffs reported average speeds of just under half that. To run your own speed test, head to one of the various broadband test sites, such as www.speedtest.net or www.thinkbroadband.com, and choose the server closest to you. It's worth repeating the check at different times of day.

If you're disappointed with the actual speeds you're getting, you could consider upgrading your package or changing your ISP, but neither is certain to produce an improvement. Here's something else to try. Assuming you have ADSL (broadband over an existing phone line) rather than cable (only available from Virgin Media over a new fibre optic line), you might be able to get a speed boost by installing BT's new I-Plate. It fits onto your BT master socket and filters out interference from your TV, lights and other electrical equipment. You'll still need to use separate ADSL filters on your extension sockets.

The I-Plate is only compatible with NTE5 master sockets. If you're not sure what type you have, head to www.tamarshop.co.uk, search for 'i-plate' and check the photos. Essentially, the socket should have a removable lower half and a BT logo.

Fitting the I-Plate takes less than a minute. All you have to do is remove the two existing screws, pull the faceplate forward, insert the I-Plate in the middle and screw everything back together.

BT's survey of 36,000 lines showed that 70% benefited from installing an I-Plate, with increases of up to 4Mbit/sec, although 1.5Mbit/sec was the average boost. We only had one line to test it on, with an 8Mbit ADSL package that normally runs at a less than impressive 2.5Mbit/sec. It showed no improvement at all. In fact, I-Plate made it slower.

This unscientific test in no way negates BT's claim that you're quite likely to benefit. However, it does highlight the fact that there are no guarantees. If you're happy to gamble a few quid for the possibility of faster Internet, give it a go.

Author: Jim Martin