2 PC's connection Probs

Stu · Feb 17, 2007, 19:32:38

Hi i have 2 pc's connected, they used to be fine until a few weeks ago when if both were on there would be massive connection slowdown, even if just connected to 1 website on each PC. Any ideas why? (i havnt changed anything router wise before the probs.)

Also since i have come to IDNET (5 months about) i notice my pings are higher than when i was on 2mb connection, about 20-30 higher.

Home Max package

Thanks very much
Stu

DorsetBoy · Feb 17, 2007, 19:53:13

The ping issue has been hitting everyone on and off for a while now,that should be sorted in the next week or two as IDNET are bringing a new central on line.

How are you connecting your PC's? Is it one connection and the PC's networked or a router and two ports?.

Stu · Feb 17, 2007, 20:34:19

Its 2 Pc's + Laptop now and then connected to a 4 port router. It was fine before and i dont think ive changed anything.

Rik · Feb 18, 2007, 01:24:34

Quote from: Stu on Feb 17, 2007, 19:32:38
Also since i have come to IDNET (5 months about) i notice my pings are higher than when i was on 2mb connection, about 20-30 higher.

Hi Stu

Apart from the ping problems that Dorset mentioned, there is a very good chance that you have interleaving turned on with Max, and that will increase ping times by about 20ms. Check with CS on Monday.

Your slowdown problem is an odd one. The first question to be asked is have you changed any software lately, updated anything from MS (I am assuming Windows boxes), especially have you changed browser, eg IE6 to IE7?

What AV software doe you use, what software firewall - have these changed? Have you run a full virus scan on all machines and also a malware scan?

Are you connecting wirelessly or through cables? What's the make and model of your router? Have you checked for firmware updates?

Can you post your line stats, and do a test at the BT speedtest, reporting back with the result, including the IP Profile:

http://test.speedtester.bt.com:50301/

Stu · Feb 18, 2007, 19:20:09

It seems ok now, i did some virus, spy/adware scans + defrag. And sent an email to CS. maybe they sorted it.

Rik · Feb 19, 2007, 11:10:59

Well, they could sort interleaving (though that would be unusually fast as it's actually done by BT), but the other half of the problem definitely sounded like your network setup. Weird, but then we are talking about computers!

Stu · Feb 20, 2007, 10:55:02

CS has emailed me asking if i would like them to sort interleaving

"It is possible your higher pings are related to Interleaving being
enabled on your line. BT initiate interleaving if your line is unstable
however it can cause higher pings. We can turn this off for you however
it may cause drops in connection to occur."

"Please confirm if you would like us to go ahead."

Do you think i should do it?

Rik · Feb 20, 2007, 11:00:00

It's a judgement call, Stu. If the pings are bothering you, then try getting the interleaving turned off. If they're not bothering you, interleaving does improve line stability. It might be worth asking if there's a charge involved in the switch before you make your mind up.

Lance · Feb 20, 2007, 12:00:14

When I had mine turned off in Novemeber I didn't have to pay anything. My line has also remained stable but if you get a fair bit of noise on the line this may not be the case for you.

Stu · Feb 22, 2007, 09:27:36

Whats this i hear about having a filter on my skybox? i dont think i ever have had one.

Lance · Feb 22, 2007, 09:53:20

I think we have found the problem then! Where your sky box plugs into the telephone socket, you need to make sure it plugs into another filter, not straight into the wall. That may be what has been causing noise on your line and therefore causing your line to lose sync.

Rik · Feb 22, 2007, 10:03:44

Quote from: Stu on Feb 22, 2007, 09:27:36
Whats this i hear about having a filter on my skybox? i dont think i ever have had one.

Anything which plugs into the phone line on the analogue side, eg phones, faxes, analogue modems (which includes Sky boxes) and alarm systems (which will be hard-wired) must be filtered, Stu. As Lance says, if you have an unfiltered Sky box connected, that would explain everything.

Sky boxes often benefit from double filtering, ie two filters in series. I have one at the socket where the Sky 'extension' and the phone plug in, and a second at the end of the Sky extension, which the box plugs into. It's not unknown for a bad Sky box to actually put enough noise on the line to affect a number of people on the same cable.

Inactive · Feb 22, 2007, 10:38:59

Just to add, that only applies if you have your Sky Box connected to the money extracting phone line that connects to Sky.

I don't.

Lance · Feb 22, 2007, 10:44:05

Would I be right in thinking that it has to be connected for the first year?

Rik · Feb 22, 2007, 10:46:28

If the box is subsidised, ie supplied by Sky, yes. If it's a multi-room sub, both boxes have to be connected at all times.

Inactive · Feb 22, 2007, 10:50:59

Only for the first 12 months for the first box, it then becomes the property of the subscriber, the multi room box should be connected at all times, but many are not.

Stu · Feb 22, 2007, 11:14:29

Just to add - i dont have the sky box connected to the telephone line. only when ordering a movie from box office, which is never

Inactive · Feb 22, 2007, 11:30:31

Quote from: Stu on Feb 22, 2007, 11:14:29
Just to add - i dont have the sky box connected to the telephone line. only when ordering a movie from box office, which is never

That's good Stu, that rules that out then.

Lance · Feb 22, 2007, 12:31:30

It's not good! It means we still don't know the cause of the slowdown! Back to square 1...

Stu · Feb 22, 2007, 17:36:43

Dunno if this helps but i use an extension from the main phone socket to the room with the filter +phone+router. So only 1 filter for phone+ router, not for the socket+extention

Also the filter is 1 i got with something like the router or a modem a while back, so it could be causing trouble, exept the problems ive been having are only faily recent.

Rik · Feb 22, 2007, 17:46:51

Hi Stu

Filters can fail, and the ones supplied in the box are not generally of the highest quality. I use, and recommend the ADSL Nation Xf-1e. Filters aside, what sort of extension lead is it, round or flat?

Flat extensions don't use twisted pairs and so can dramatically increase noise pickup. Look on them as a big aerial.

I can't remember, sorry, but have you tried connecting at the test socket?

Stu · Feb 22, 2007, 20:47:28

The extension is flat,

What do u mean test socket?

Stu · Feb 22, 2007, 20:52:30

There is defo something wrong, even with just this PC on the connection is slow.

Maybe i can pinpoint it to when we had to switch the extension and filter about 6 weeks ago. but i believe these problems have been only there for about 3 weeks. ho hum

Nerval · Feb 22, 2007, 21:14:56

Quote from: Stu on Feb 22, 2007, 20:47:28
What do u mean test socket?

If you go to the BT socket connected to the wires that come into your house and unscrew the 2 screws on the front, you can remove the little plate.
Underneath this you will see the "test socket". Try plugging into this and see if the problem is still there. Using this socket cuts out all the wiring in the house, so if it works IN the test socket, but not on your extension, then you know your extension wiring is at fault.

Lance · Feb 23, 2007, 08:54:00

In addition to Nerval's post, you only have a test socket if you have a NTE5 faceplate which is the type where the bottom third detaches. I have the older type, where if I unscrew it the entire front comes off which means I don't have a test socket.