Potential Customer - couple of questions

[Sebby]

[Simon]

I remember now, Myst!    I just wondered if there might be some traffic management going on with MAAF?  Pipex denied it when I was with them, but my move to IDNet proved there was some throttling in evidence.

[Sebby]

But the problem is sync, so it wouldn't be to do with madasafish (even if they are part of Tiscali!).

[Myst]

The service i was on allegedly did not throttle and was supposedly optimised for game traffic (my main use)

Will see soon enough any difference. Perhaps the biggest may be the ring wire one that Sebby has suggested.

[Simon]

Oh, OK.  I'll get me coat...! 

[Rik]

u wanna bet, i'm the most cackhanded person ever 

Don't cut the wire, Myst, use a small pair of pliers to gently pull it upwards and out of the connector.

[Myst]

Plate off, orange wire disconnected, connected direct into rear of plate and yes a definite improvement - just need to see if that remains once it connects as normal. will have to see if there is an orange wire upstairs and take that off as well when i resume to normal way.

strangely though running a test on speedtest shows no improvment

Router

ADSL Link                     Downstream                 Upstream
Connection Speed          3776 kbps          448 kbps
Line Attenuation            51 db                  14.5 db
Noise Margin                 10 db                         22 db

thanks guys

[Myst]

hmmm

Not so good hooking back up to the normal route

this is with both ring wires disconnected too. Would appear only way would be to run the cat cable up but i can't see that being an option

ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 2208 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 50 db 15 db
Noise Margin 9 db 21 db

[Sebby]

There's a good reason for those results, Myst. When you connect behind the faceplate on the master socket, that bypasses all the extension wiring. You saw an improvement, which provide it's the extension wiring that's responsible for causing you to sync lower. The removal of the ring wire at this point makes no difference as all the extension wiring has been bypassed.

To get similar results from an extension, you need to remove all ring wires, otherwise you will see absolutely no difference.

As I say, you have now proved that the extension wiring is picking up noise, so removing the ring wires should help you achieve similar results, but you must do every one of them.

By the way, with regards to the speed test you ran when you were sync'd at the improve rate, you won't see an improvement for about 3 days as the line profile needs to adjust.

[Myst]

Only have the 2 sockets - 1 master in hall and 2nd upstairs next to pc. both wires are out?
I can only put it down to the feed from the master socket to upstairs.

[Sebby]

Okay, if you're sure all ring wires are removed and the sync is not improved (when you have proved that you can get better by trying the test socket) it must indeed be the feed from the master to upstairs. What sort of cable is it?

[Myst]

Seems to be standard BT type from what i can tell - may be slightly more modern as the ring wire was orange & white.

[Sebby]

Hmm, strange. It might be worth replacing the wire with some twisted pair, but of course, there's no guarantee that'll sort it. It could be the socket itself, for example. Is it not possible to site the router at the master socket permanently? That way you could fit a filtered faceplate.

[Myst]

I would still have the issue or running a connection upstairs to pc - going wireless is no good for gaming

[Steve]

Is mains networking "homeplugs" an option for gaming.

[Myst]

No, unforunately the lag would have an effect still. perfectly fine for slow based stuff but FPS games do require a stable environment. strangely the 360 & Wii seem less affected even though they are wireless

[hairyman]

How about running an ethernet connection upstairs from yr router which should be on the mastersocket. This should be better at carrying a data signal than most telephone extension leads carrying a ADSL signal.

The ethernet is essentially a digital on /off signal whereas the ADSL signal carried over the phone line is an analog based signal ( basically a low frequency multiplexed radio signal ). Like most analog vs digital battles the digital wins when signals are sub optimal. ADSL is far more likely to get corrupted than ethernet when running around all our electrically noisy household gear and external radio noise from transmissions.

Analogue is fine when signals are high over noise ( near exchange / low attn on line)  or data rates low as in dial up modem tones down the line ( remember them ) or say Morse code at 30 words per minute.

I didnt think wireless connections to a router should introduce much delay as long as the connection is good though. Personally I just hate even the idea of broadcasting my data over a wireless system when there is a simple wired alternative. I will consult my wireless guru at work but I know he uses it for on line gaming.

Mains plug type links have a major problem if you already have electrically environment as the mains carries loads of noise from all over.

I know we can hear them ( mains plug ethernet)  on my shortwave radio when they are on and am sure I could block them completely if as a radio ham  I fired up a shortwave transmitter. Currently I only have receiving gear ham gear active here though.

[Steve]

I know my eldest son used to play wow via homeplugs but never did find out whether he had any latency issues or poor fps.

[Lance]

the most wireless adds is 1ms on your ping!

Would it be possible to remove the second socket completely, replace it with a network point and then put a new network socket in downstairs? Should be easy enough to get the cable down, just tie it to the cable already there and pull in through!

[Sebby]

Hairyman/Lance's suggestion is a good one. You'd be much better getting rid of the second socket. Fit a filtered faceplate at the master socket (this is my favourite) and run a network cable upstairs instead.

[Rik]

Just a thought, Myst, but what colours are the wires on terminals 2 & 5. I'm wondering if it's been wired with a split pair.

[Myst]

Not sure Rik would have to look over weekend

Thanks for all the replies guys, Lance its not just the ping - i could live with that, one or two on our server who are wireless suffer some serious lag, thats why i prefer to be hardwired.

To put the cable up i guess wouldnt be a real hardship as the current one is tacked over the doors and up the stairs that way. only issue its not an extension in the master socket but is actually hardwired behind it  I'm thinking i may if its possible get someone out to hardwire the Cat6 and follow the same route- it seems you can get some flat cable that maye be less obtrusive to she who must be obeyed.

failing that i've lived with what i have got for a few years so could continue along same way - if it wasn't for you guys here helping i would have been none the wiser. (thats a compliment, not a critiscm)

[Sebby]

I'm glad we were able to help. Let us know what you decide to do.

[Rik]

Hi Myst

Are you saying that there are no wires connected to the faceplate when you remove it?

[Myst]

There are two i think on the plate when i un screw it - there was also the orange ring wire, as there is/was upstairs. Both of which have been disconnected. I'm 99.9% certain i have no other BT sockets in the house. Thats why all i can think is that the current extension cable is not that good. I'm going to get some better quality type tomorrow and see if that makes a difference; if it does, great i'll just replace the existing. If not i'll have to have a rethink.