Vortex4 wrote:
It frustrates me that my next door neighbour gets 5Mbps + ADSL downloads
via a "talktalk" connection; when I get only ~3Mbps with a dedicated BT
Business Broadband connection coming from the same exchange and
telegraph pole.

An obvious difference is that neighbours master socket and router are
about 2 metres from the point where the cable enters the house; and in
my case the internal wiring takes a convoluted route of about 20
metres, crossing and running alongside mains cables....with prehistoric
telephone wire


It may be obvious, but I doubt its the reason.


I can easily replace this cable segment with a new cable directly from
BT's choccy block where the wire enters the house to my master
socket....that almost completely avoids mains wiring and other sources
of interference.


never a wrong thing to do.

My question: I want to use the best grade of wire available to do this.
Can anybody recommend what would be best? Will screened twisted pair
instrumentation cable, or CAT 6 be any better than ordinary telephone
wire for this purpose?


dunno., CAT5 is as good as the telephone cable for sure., But I don't
see it making up the sort of differences you are seeing.


All opinoins will be gratefully received.