Uploading fails - Help with new connection

[mike136]

Hi,

before raising a technical ticket, I thought I'd try the forum, since it appears so good. 

I confess I'm a bit of a novice regarding SNR and line attenuation numbers and how they affect performance, any comments on the values given below would therefore be welcome.

I've just successfully connected a customer to IDNet (GW5 server) via a buffalo WBMR-G54 router (that worked fine with pipex earlier this year).  All settings as IDNet requested on their website.  MTU 1400 MRU 1492 the only settings on router that aren't specified on IDNet settings page.

PROBLEM: Google very slow to load (and intermittent).  BBC iPlayer doesn't run video and hangs Firefox.  Can't send emails out of Outlook Express (connects to server OK).  When testing connection using either speedtest.net or thinkbroadband the upload test does not commence.  Download speed 1.93 Mbps, ping 35ms were recorded.

Disabling the ESET firewall had NO effect on the above problems.

I tried many other websites and they loaded at an OK speed - I'd say around the 2Mbps mark, from experience.

I tested the PC on my own ADSL connection yesterday with NONE of these above problems - eliminating browser/ESET firewall issues (but not router, as I'm still on Sky - sorry!!).

From the router the following data were recorded:

Max Tx Power -38db
SNR  14db DS  25db US
L Att 3db DS  2db US
Sync 8128 kbps DS 448 kbps US

Again, the measured DS rate (speedtest.net) was consistently 1.9Mbps with ping of 35ms.

Q1. Is the sync rate of 8Mbps high (given that the suggested max for the line was 6.5Mbps)?  If the starting sync is too high can this cause problems.

Q2. Is being a new install a possible cause, will the 10 day training period settle it down?  However, I did a similar new connection last month with none of the problems above.

Q3.  Are the numbers from the router (SNR etc) normal?

Q4. The fact that the upload test doesn't work seems odd.  Can this explain the problems with Google, BBC iPlayer and sending emails??

Any answers would be most welcome before I start the one-by-one elimination process of changing filters/sockets/router etc!

many thanks
Mike

[Simon]

Hi Mike, and  

I'm not one of the best people to advise, but I believe that the recommended MTU setting is 1500, so I wonder if it might be worth trying that, as it's a relatively painless adjustment?

Someone more qualified then myself will be along soon to help you further. 

[Sebby]

To me, it sounds like an MTU issue. Try changing MTU to 1500 and see if that helps.

[Steve]

Welcome, looking at the downstream attenuation of 3 are you using a laptop in the exchange . The router stats look good hopefully changing the MTU as the others have said will solve the problem. If not check with idnet to see if there are any local exchange issues.

PS You probably need to perform a BT speedtest before contacting support.

[Lance]

As its a new connection, I would put money on it being a stuck 2mb profile. This is something which can be checked using the bt speedtest and corrected with a quick call or email to support. Also, as already suggested, increase the mtu.

[mike136]

Wow, thank you all for the prompt replies!

I will change the MTU on the router tomorrow, hopefully.

Q1. Do I need to run the TCPOptimizer program (that I've read about on this forum, and since used on my own PC) on the customer's PC as well as changing the router MTU setting?

I will  run a BT speed test if the problem persists and report to IDNet in case of the 2Mb profile concern.

He's not quite in the BT exchange, but only around 200 metres from it!

Thanks again
Mike

[Sebby]

You should set the MTU at 1500 (the maximum on the router) and then go about setting the MTU on computers after that. You don't need to run TCP Optimizer, but it does help in theory.

[Rik]

Hi Mike and welcome.

I agree with everyone else, that looks like a stick 2Mb profile, but try using an MTU of 1500 in the router and then experiment with 1500, 1458 or 1430 on the computer. TCPOptimizer just makes it easier to change things (make sure you select the right network adaptor, it loves to list Firewire ).

[mike136]

For all those interested:

Solved the problem regarding the new connection that stalled the upload test, did not stream iPlayer, failed to send emails and only had a D/S speed of 1.9Mbps.

1. As suggested I firstly upped the MTU to 1500 - no improvement.

2. I then swapped out the ADSL filters for ones I knew were good - no change either.

3. Swapped out the router (Buffalo WBMR-G54) for an older Dlink model - Bingo!

Ran BT test and it reported:

Your DSL connection rate: 8128 kbps(DOWN-STREAM),  448 kbps(UP-STREAM)
IP profile for your line is  7150 kbps
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was  6220 kbps

Dlink Router Status was:

SNR  14db DS  26db US
L Att 7db DS  4db US
Sync 8128 kbps DS 448 kbps US

I'm still a bit confused as to why a the Buffalo router (known to be good on a Pipex standard 2Meg ADSL connection) caused all the problems, particularly related to the uploading of data, along with only 1.9Mbps D/S speeds.

Q1. Are there other settings on a router that could influence the connection so dramatically?  As said before, all of the requested setting (in the 'Basic ADSL Settings' support guide - on IDNet website) along with a MTU of 1500 were used on the Buffalo router.

At the end of the day everyone's happy with the super fast connection, I'm just intrigued as to the problem still!

Many thanks to everyone.

Mike

[Rik]

Hi Mike

Unless you had some settings badly wrong, the router should have been OK, were VPI/VCI set at 0/38?

Some routers don't work well with Max, where they've been fine with fixed rate services, but on your line I would have thought a piece of wet string would suffice.

[Sebby]

Maybe a Buffalo firmware update will the solve the problem. Still, glad it's sorted.