How do you know if you are on ADSL2 or ADSL2+ ?

How do you know if you are on ADSL2 or ADSL2+ ? I called Sky today and they said they have put me on it but the speeds tell me different, I was getting 9Mbps downstream and 1111 upstream.
Now I am getting Downstream Connection 9465 and I have lost out in the upstream 798.
which is giving me speeds of 8.12Mbps download and 0.68Mbps upload I used to get 1.16Mbps upload download isn't much better than before. So I am guessing I am on ADSL MAX am I correct? on the router webpage it just says

ADSL Firmware VersionA2pD035o.d24

From what I think I know (which on any given day is very questionable ), ADSL is a fixed line broadband technology. ADSL offers high speed access over the same existing copper network in parallel with existing telephone lines.

ADSL2 can offer a maximum download speed of 12 Mbps. ADSL2+ can offer a maximum download speed of 24 Mbps. But this in no way guarantees you will get those speeds. Even though you might have signed up for 24 Mbps ADSL2+, it's very unlikely you will actually get that speed.

Many ISPs use what's called a contention ratio. The first 5,000 or 20,000 customers (or however many the ISP has established) to log in to ADSL2+ will be connected and share at 24 Mbps. The next 5,000 or 20,000 customers may be throttled at 18Mbps. The next group of customers at 12Mbps and so on until the last people to log in may only get 1.5 - 3 Mbps.

Some other factors affecting speed include:

(1) Your physical distance from your closest ISP exchange server. According to a friend who is an installer for AT&T installing their U-verse internet service, U-verse is ADSL2+ because it offers speeds up to 24 Mbps. But a customer who gets the Max Turbo 24 Mbps package, and lives 10 miles from the nearest exchange server, may never get more than 18 Mbps. Physical distance can be that limiting.

(2) The condition of your copper wiring

(3) Electrical interference on your copper wiring. It could be external or internal within your house.

(4) Destination server’s bandwidth and performance. (Example: When you access sevenforums.com, the server where Seven Forums is hosted and the connection bandwidth, and bandwidth usage and server performance will also affect your speed)

I'm not familiar with Sky so all of the above is pretty much speculation on my part. If they say you're supposed to be getting 24 Mbps then I think you're most likely on ADSL2+ service. I have the AT&T U-verse 12 Mbps download and 1.5 Mbps advertised service. On any given day I get about half that. AT&T has a bold disclaimer for all their internet packages: Speed claim(s) represent maximum downstream and/or upstream speed capabilities which may vary and are not guaranteed.

marsmimar said:

From what I think I know (which on any given day is very questionable ), ADSL is a fixed line broadband technology. ADSL offers high speed access over the same existing copper network in parallel with existing telephone lines.

ADSL2 can offer a maximum download speed of 12 Mbps. ADSL2+ can offer a maximum download speed of 24 Mbps. But this in no way guarantees you will get those speeds. Even though you might have signed up for 24 Mbps ADSL2+, it's very unlikely you will actually get that speed.

Many ISPs use what's called a contention ratio. The first 5,000 or 20,000 customers (or however many the ISP has established) to log in to ADSL2+ will be connected and share at 24 Mbps. The next 5,000 or 20,000 customers may be throttled at 18Mbps. The next group of customers at 12Mbps and so on until the last people to log in may only get 1.5 - 3 Mbps.

Some other factors affecting speed include:

(1) Your physical distance from your closest ISP exchange server. According to a friend who is an installer for AT&T installing their U-verse internet service, U-verse is ADSL2+ because it offers speeds up to 24 Mbps. But a customer who gets the Max Turbo 24 Mbps package, and lives 10 miles from the nearest exchange server, may never get more than 18 Mbps. Physical distance can be that limiting.

(2) The condition of your copper wiring

(3) Electrical interference on your copper wiring. It could be external or internal within your house.

(4) Destination server’s bandwidth and performance. (Example: When you access sevenforums.com, the server where Seven Forums is hosted and the connection bandwidth, and bandwidth usage and server performance will also affect your speed)

I'm not familiar with Sky so all of the above is pretty much speculation on my part. If they say you're supposed to be getting 24 Mbps then I think you're most likely on ADSL2+ service. I have the AT&T U-verse 12 Mbps download and 1.5 Mbps advertised service. On any given day I get about half that. AT&T has a bold disclaimer for all their internet packages: Speed claim(s) represent maximum downstream and/or upstream speed capabilities which may vary and are not guaranteed.

Thank you very much for the explanation and yes they do tell you that you may not get the maximum speed but they guarantee no limits to your downloads whatsoever no matter how much you download and also don't slow you down at peektimes and when you take it out they tell you what speed to expect, mine is set to 10.2Mbps download and an upload of 1.3Mbps but now they are going back on their word when they incresed the dowload stream I lost in the uploadstream 798 as opossed to 1111 upstream. He said that was the maximum the line could handle which I told him was rubbish as I had been getting over 1Meg upload constantly never under it once until they changed it they said to give it 10 days as my line is being monitored, I will give them their 10 days but I can tell you this if they don't come across with what they said i will be on the phone until it's sorted.

When I got my 12 Mbps U-verse service it was actually an upgrade from AT&T's 6 Mbps package. So I knew my interior lines were able to handle 6 Mbps. When the 12 Mbps package was giving me only 2 Mbps download and only 768 Kbps upload, I knew there was a problem. AT&T insisted it was my problem. Turned out AT&T had a junction box on the street that needed to have its wiring upgraded.

Don't let Sky give you the run around.

marsmimar said:

When I got my 12 Mbps U-verse service it was actually an upgrade from AT&T's 6 Mbps package. So I knew my interior lines were able to handle 6 Mbps. When the 12 Mbps package was giving me only 2 Mbps download and only 768 Kbps upload, I knew there was a problem. AT&T insisted it was my problem. Turned out AT&T had a junction box on the street that needed to have its wiring upgraded.

Don't let Sky give you the run around.

Don't worry I won't I found him quite cheeky he started laughing and told me to move closer to the exchange, I can assure you mate I will have the last laugh. Thanks again buddy.