BT Openzone?

[g0cak]

With my recent up-grade to Wi Fi package the hub came configured to include a secured connection (for my personal use) and a BT Openzone connection. So I'm somewhat confused at this setup and have a number of questions I cannot necessarily find in the FAQ's and self-help section. So here goes: -

1) Will the performance of my broadband be compromised with using my secure connection and others using my Openzone connection at the same time?

2) Will my download allocation be compromised by someone using my Openzone connection?

3) How many users can gain Internet access through these connections at any one time?

4) Will the effective Wi Fi range be compromised by such traffic?

Thank you......

[markp · Accepted solution]

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1) Will the performance of my broadband be compromised with using my secure connection and others using my Openzone connection at the same time?

The openzone signal is completely separate to your secured signal and will not compromise it.

2) Will my download allocation be compromised by someone using my Openzone connection?

Anyone using openzone do not use your allocation for broadband usage.

3) How many users can gain Internet access through these connections at any one time?

There can only be about 3 people connected to the openzone signal at anyone time.

4) Will the effective Wi Fi range be compromised by such traffic?

The wifi range is not affected.

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[g0cak]

I very much appreciate your help markp, thank you, you've put my mind at rest.

[MHC]

Sorry but you are WRONG on point 1.

The performance will be compromised by Openzone usage.

If you have a maximum download throughput of 8Mb and are using all of that for a large download and a couple of Openzone users make a connection and also decide to make some large downloads then they will take up to 2Mb of bandwidth and  the original 8Mb would be reduced to 6Mb.   

Additional bandwidth cannot be conjured up from nowhere and Openzone will take it from that available.

[Fiona]

Hi

There is information on our help and support files which explains What sort of capacity can visitors utilise with the BT Openzone service. It says that Traffic has been prioritised so that business customer data takes priority over visitor data and visitor traffic is limited to a downstream maximum of 512kbps. This bandwidth restriction ensures that a high quality experience is maintained for the hub owner's private use.

For more information on the Openzone Service and the Hub we have the frequently asked questions in our Wi-fi help and support files.

Kind Regards

Fiona

BT Business Forum Moderator

[a-hill]

1) Openzone uses up to 512kbps of your overall connection, this is shared with Openzone and not soley allocated to them, so when Openzone isn't in use you will have the 512kbps as well. As stated it's completely separate and users are actually tunneled via VPN direct to openzone and don't utilize your actual connection path.

2) If someone is uploading a heavy amount consistently via Openzone, this will have an affect on your performance.

3) Max users is 13 (it states this in the Openzone section of the router next to Max Clients).

4) It won't affect your range. I tested this with a wireless analyser, and signal strength at distance to the default wireless connection was consistent with Openzone enabled and disabled.