Very poor download speed (~30kbps) on HomeMax Package.

[Jimbo]

 Hello all,

I'm new to this forum and this is my first post, sadly it is not a one of good news.  I recently moved to IDnet about 2 weeks ago.  Since then I have had mixed results, most likely down to the 10 days or so it takes for the line to settle.  The last few days have seen me able to download at roughly 100kbps, which I was happy about. 

However, last night and today has been a real pain.  No matter what I try, I can not download faster than 30kbps.  If I try to browse the web, whlist the download is in progress, it crawls along as if the connection is maxed out.   

Now I have emailed technical support, but I thought I would ask here as well to see if anyone had any ideas.  I have the following details availble.

After running the test at http://speedtester.bt.com/ it gave me the following results:-

IP profile for your line is - 250 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 1472 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 167 kbps

Does this seem a little low to people?  I spoke to a person on another forum who said, "it looks like your BRAS profile is set to 250kbps".  I take it that this is meant to be higher? 

I have done the usual, update firmware on the router, swap filters, check for Viruses (Nod32) and Spyware.  Also deleted my browser cahce (IE7 and Firefox).  The problem also occurs when I use a download manager with many connections, such as GetRight.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[AvengerUK]

it looks like something has badly affected your BRAS. It will reset itself to the max, but that will take 3 days of stability im afriad.

[Rik]

IP profile for your line is - 250 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 1472 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 167 kbps

That sync speed would give you a profile of 1000kbps, Jimbo, roughly equivalent to a fixed-rate 1Mbps connection. However, as Avenger says, something has affected your profile and pushed it down to 250kbps. That something is likely to be a noisy line, which has forced your router/modem to re-sync at regular intervals and BT's line monitoring equipment is trying to stabilise things by lowering your speed. Unless you keep a solid connection at your current sync speed for 3 days, the profile will remain where it is.

Do you have a lot of phone extensions in the house, is every device connected to the line filtered, eg phones, fax machines, Sky boxes etc?

Can you provide some line stats for us, details of how to do so can be found here.

[AvengerUK]

Is everything on the line supposed to be filtered? I only use on filter for two phones and the adsl!

[Rik]

Anything which plugs in needs to be filtered, Avenger. The only thing which isn't is the ADSL signal, that side of the 'soap on a rope' is actually a straight 'pass through'.

[Jimbo]

it looks like something has badly affected your BRAS. It will reset itself to the max, but that will take 3 days of stability im afriad.

3 days. yikes!  I wonder how this has happened?  Thanks for the reply though.  At least it will return to normal.

[Rik]

It will, Jimbo, but only if your line stabilises. You need to check your internal wiring, the devices plugged in etc to ensure you get the best signal you can.

[Jimbo]

That sync speed would give you a profile of 1000kbps, Jimbo, roughly equivalent to a fixed-rate 1Mbps connection. However, as Avenger says, something has affected your profile and pushed it down to 250kbps. That something is likely to be a noisy line, which has forced your router/modem to re-sync at regular intervals and BT's line monitoring equipment is trying to stabilise things by lowering your speed. Unless you keep a solid connection at your current sync speed for 3 days, the profile will remain where it is.

Do you have a lot of phone extensions in the house, is every device connected to the line filtered, eg phones, fax machines, Sky boxes etc?

Can you provide some line stats for us, details of how to do so can be found here.

Thankyou for the reply also.  In response to your questions,

My line is quite bad, I really want to know actually (on a side note) if there is anything I can do about this?  Perhaps get BT to put in a better line?  But anyway, back on topic.  I will try and keep the router up for 3 days, however, because of the line I sometimes have problems where the line drops by itself (usually on an evening) but I will try my best to keep it going.

I have x3 phone points in the house.  Two of which are in use, the third has nothing connected to it.  The two which are in use both have ADSL filters.  The one in my room with the router, the other in the corridor with the telephone.  I have read up on replacing the master socket with a different faceplate.  I may try this sometime however it is awkward as the master socket is quite far away from my actual PC setup.  I do not have any fax machines or sky boxes.

Thanks for the link.  I have the following stats (from my router).  These seem to vary from being really good, to being quite poor.  Tonight they are showing as:-

Downstream
-----------
SNR Margin - 5.5dB (Sometimes this is around 10dB)
Line Attenuation - 43.5dB  (Sometimes this is around 40dB)
CRC Errors - 22
Latency - Interleave

Upstream
---------
SNR Margin - 9.0dB
Line Attenuation - 31.5dB
CRC Errors - 0
Latency - Interleave

I am running a Billion BiPAC 7402VGP router.  Looking at those stats they seem very poor at the minute. 

[Jimbo]

It will, Jimbo, but only if your line stabilises. You need to check your internal wiring, the devices plugged in etc to ensure you get the best signal you can.

Hi, thanks for the help.  The wiring in the house is brand new as it's all been renovated.  I honestly think it is just the line into the house which is rubbish, but I don't know what I can do to fix this problem. 

Thanks.

[Rik]

My line is quite bad, I really want to know actually (on a side note) if there is anything I can do about this?  Perhaps get BT to put in a better line?

BT don't tend to rush around with big drums of new cable, sadly, and I am first in the queue when they start to. However, your stats are actually better than mine, and I have a stable profile of 2500, 3000 if the wind is in the right direction! Hence, I believe that your problems, literally, start at home.

I have x3 phone points in the house.  Two of which are in use, the third has nothing connected to it.  The two which are in use both have ADSL filters.  The one in my room with the router, the other in the corridor with the telephone.  I have read up on replacing the master socket with a different faceplate.  I may try this sometime however it is awkward as the master socket is quite far away from my actual PC setup.  I do not have any fax machines or sky boxes.

No Sky boxes is always good news! How is the wiring run, is it BT installed and off a master socket (and is that master socket an NTE5, the type where you can remove the bottom 2/3rds of the faceplate)? If you do have an NTE5, is it feasible to move the router to the master socket, take off the faceplate and connect to the test socket behind it. (One way of achieving this, if you don't want to shift the computer, is to move the router to the socket and run a long ethernet cable to the computer, you can have a maximum of 100 metres.)

Thanks for the link.  I have the following stats (from my router).  These seem to vary from being really good, to being quite poor.  Tonight they are showing as:-

Downstream
-----------
SNR Margin - 5.5dB (Sometimes this is around 10dB)
Line Attenuation - 43.5dB  (Sometimes this is around 40dB)
CRC Errors - 22
Latency - Interleave

Upstream
---------
SNR Margin - 9.0dB
Line Attenuation - 31.5dB
CRC Errors - 0
Latency - Interleave

You have quite low d/s attenuation, and should be able to get much better figures. I get my 2500 profile with 55db attenuation. Your u/s nouse margin is very low, I'd expect it to be in the 20s.

At this point, I'd strongly suspect a wiring fault in the house, or bad wiring practice, eg running the phone line parallel to the mains wiring. The fact your line drops at night is to be expected, noise increases then - particularly if your line runs overhead.

Check your own wiring as much as you can then call CS, who can get BT to send an engineer out. Be aware, though, that if he finds the fault to be in your internal wiring, ie after the master socket, you will incur a charge.

[Lance]

One more thing which can be done is the removal of the ring wire (normally orange/white I think), which connects to terminal three in your telephone sockets. Some people find disconnecting this yields great improvements.

[Rik]

I was going to get to that, Lance, honest.

[Jimbo]

BT don't tend to rush around with big drums of new cable, sadly, and I am first in the queue when they start to. However, your stats are actually better than mine, and I have a stable profile of 2500, 3000 if the wind is in the right direction! Hence, I believe that your problems, literally, start at home.

No Sky boxes is always good news! How is the wiring run, is it BT installed and off a master socket (and is that master socket an NTE5, the type where you can remove the bottom 2/3rds of the faceplate)? If you do have an NTE5, is it feasible to move the router to the master socket, take off the faceplate and connect to the test socket behind it. (One way of achieving this, if you don't want to shift the computer, is to move the router to the socket and run a long ethernet cable to the computer, you can have a maximum of 100 metres.)

You have quite low d/s attenuation, and should be able to get much better figures. I get my 2500 profile with 55db attenuation. Your u/s nouse margin is very low, I'd expect it to be in the 20s.

At this point, I'd strongly suspect a wiring fault in the house, or bad wiring practice, eg running the phone line parallel to the mains wiring. The fact your line drops at night is to be expected, noise increases then - particularly if your line runs overhead.

Check your own wiring as much as you can then call CS, who can get BT to send an engineer out. Be aware, though, that if he finds the fault to be in your internal wiring, ie after the master socket, you will incur a charge.

Appreciate the help mate.  I have literally just put an order in for the following (we must of been thinking the same thing):-

http://www.adslnation.com/products/xte2005.php

I'm now looking at getting a wireless card, shifting my router down to the master socket, and running that through the new faceplate (I can live with slower file transfers on the network for better internet connection/speeds).  After reading around it would appear pretty much everyone who has done this "mod" because of poor ADSL stats has seen an improvement.   So here's hoping!

The line does run overhead as well.  But who are CS?    Is that IDNet customer services?

Thanks again.

[Jimbo]

One more thing which can be done is the removal of the ring wire (normally orange/white I think), which connects to terminal three in your telephone sockets. Some people find disconnecting this yields great improvements.

Hi Lance,

I did not know about this, is it simply a case of taking all the front faceplates off and looking for this wire?

Thanks.

[Lance]

I can only speak as someone without an NTE5 faceplate...

The simple answer is... Yes!

When I did it I simply unscrewed my socket faceplate, locate the cable feeding to terminal 3 (they were numbered on mine) and pulled it out. Personally, it diodn't bring me much improvement but I know some people have had truely massive jumps in performance. I think the main reason is that this wire can cause problems is because it can at as a antenna introducing more noise on the line.

[Rik]

Is that IDNet customer services?

Yup!

The thing about the bell wire trick is to disconnect at the master and all extension sockets. It's the wire on terminal 3, usually orange/white, but not always, so go by the terminal number. Check while you're there that the wiring is using a pair, eg blue/white, white/blue, if it's not, that would unbalance the line and cause more noise pickup.

[Lance]

It's the wire on terminal 3, usually orange/white, but not always, so go by the terminal number.

That's why I was careful not to just give the colour! Sound advice again about checking the other wires while you're there.

I was going to get to that, Lance, honest.

[Jimbo]

Thanks again, all good info!

So am I right in saying that because I have the NTE5 box I won't have this "ring wire"?  Or can I have that and the NTE5 box as well?

I'll have a look anyway when me and my dad fit the new faceplate for an orange/white wire on terminal 3.   I'll also check the wiring is paired.  Does that mean for each terminal there should be two sets of wires attatched?

Sorry if I'm coming across "dumb".  I just want to make sure I know what you guys are on about.

Thanks.

[Lance]

You can/do have a ring wire in the NTE5 box, but because I don't have one I don't know if the process is the same, although I would imagine it is.

Not sure about the second question... I'll leave that one for Rik!

[Rik]

You're not coming across 'dumb', Jimbo, if we haven't made ourselves clear it's best to ask.

1) NTE5 or not doesn't affect whether you will have a ring/bell wire, it just means you have a test socket and can fit the ADSL Nation alternative.

2) The ring wire is always on terminal three at all sockets, the colour will depend on a number of things, but the BT 'standard' is orange/white.

3)  Paired wires refers to the cable construction. A standard phone wire will have three pairs: blue/white, white blue; orange/white, white orange and green/white, white green. Usually (again) the blue/white, white/blue pair is used when there's only a single line. The cable is constructed with the pairs twisted around each other. This cancels out much of the noise pick up. However, if it's a split pair, say blue/white and green/white, the noise cancellation is not present and you will get a poor signal. In effect, your wiring becomes a big aerial, picking up electrical noise an MW radio, which is the spectrum the ADSL signals are in. So you only need single wires on terminals 2 & 5 of each socket, but they need to be a pair.

[Jimbo]

Great stuff.  I appreciate the help with this one.

So some things for me to try:-

• Fit new faceplate to the NTE5 box.  Move Router.
• Check and remove Bell Wire (Orange/White on Terminal 3) from all sockets... or is it only the master socket which has it?
• Check wiring for pairing.  If it is not paired is it easy to fix/do?

.... make cup of coffee and enjoy hopefully better internet. lol. 

Oh, and don't reset my router for 3 days to make sure the speed is back to full.

Thanks for all the help again!

[Rik]

You're OK to reset the router, but don't do it more than nine times an hour. Apparently, 10 or more re-syncs trip the BT line management software.

Glad we could help, or at least start to help...

[Lance]

In answer to your question, which Rik missed , i think you will have a bell wire on all sockets.

Glad we could be of help to you. Let us know how you get on.

[MoHux]

Rik, for non-techies I think you would do well to not mention 'check for pairs'.

I don't see how you could make it clearer, but I found it confusing, and I knew what it was. 

[Rik]

I take your point, Mo, it's not the easiest of concepts to try and explain. However, wiring that has not been installed by BT, eg by builders or DIY, quite often will not be wired correctly and that can have a dramatic effect on ADSL, particularly Max.

From the figures Jimbo has posted, I have a strong feeling that his wiring is implicated in the problems he's been experiencing. I guess I need to think of a better way of describing things, possibly using some photos to illustrate the concept?

[Jimbo]

I take your point, Mo, it's not the easiest of concepts to try and explain. However, wiring that has not been installed by BT, eg by builders or DIY, quite often will not be wired correctly and that can have a dramatic effect on ADSL, particularly Max.

From the figures Jimbo has posted, I have a strong feeling that his wiring is implicated in the problems he's been experiencing. I guess I need to think of a better way of describing things, possibly using some photos to illustrate the concept?

Oooh funny you should mention that, I do believe the whole electrical wiring was installed by an "electrician".  So not a BT engineer, so perhaps this has not been wired correctly.  I will be checking soon though.  Watch this space for an update. 

[Rik]

Oooh funny you should mention that, I do believe the whole electrical wiring was installed by an "electrician".

Often the worst, they like to use different colours to phone engineers, preferably blue and brown!

[Jimbo]

Thanks Rik.

Well tonight it lost sync and had to re-sync itself.  On doing so it has the following stats:-

SNR Margin - 10dB  (So almost double yesterdays value!)
Attenuation - 32dB (Much better than yesterdays also)

However, what still worries me is the sync speed:-

Upstream - 448000
Downstream - 384000

My downstream is slower than the upload speed.    Obviously this must be because of my problem, and will hopefully clear within the 3 days as discussed.  So good stats tonight but still the dog slow speed. hey ho! 

[Rik]

Hi Jimbo

That's your sync speed that's low, not your profile, so it won't automatically improve over three days. For you to get such a low sync suggests there is a huge amount of noise on your line or some other fault. Can you check at the test socket, if it's as low there, you need to call IDNet and get them to get a BT engineer out to you.

[Jimbo]

Hi Jimbo

That's your sync speed that's low, not your profile, so it won't automatically improve over three days. For you to get such a low sync suggests there is a huge amount of noise on your line or some other fault. Can you check at the test socket, if it's as low there, you need to call IDNet and get them to get a BT engineer out to you.

Hi mate, again thanks for the help.

I'll test it tonight as my new Wireless card should be coming today, which means I'll be able to move my router to the Master Socket.  Will post back with the results if that's ok.

Thanks.

[Rik]

Toes crossed for you mate. If things do improve, it means you have a wiring problem, but then at least you will know what to look for. Do remember, not wishing to teach my grannie etc, to use the test socket behind the faceplate, not the master socket. When you remove the faceplate, you should disconnect all internal wiring.

Let us know how it goes.

[Lance]

When you remove the faceplate, you should disconnect all internal wiring.

What Rik means is that when you remove the faceplate to access the test socket, this automatically disconnects the internal wiring. Just to save any confusion

[Rik]

Thanks, Lance, having one machine running behind me re-installing Windows, then dashing back to this one to post in here, I am confused.

It might just be, also, that if the socket wasn't properly installed, the extension wiring is not connected to the faceplate, but is hard-wired - let's not go there yet though...

[Lance]

It might just be, also, that if the socket wasn't properly installed, the extension wiring is not connected to the faceplate, but is hard-wired - let's not go there yet though...

Out of interest, if it was hard-wired would BT sort this free of charge as it's before the test socket? Or would they charge as it hadn't been wired by them? I suspect that a test case may be required to work that one out!

[Rik]

I think that 'regularisation of master socket' is done for free, but don't quote me on that.

[Jimbo]

Well good news and bad.

Good news, my new sync results are:-

Upstream - 448000
Downstream - 2496000

SNR Margin - 7.0 dB    
Line Attenuation - 52.5 dB

compared to the old resulst of:-

Upstream - 448000
Downstream - 384000

Seems much better.  However, downloads are still not going over 30kbps? V.strange!!

Also looks like I'm going to have to buy a better network card.  You would of thought a wireless G+ card would be able to connect to a router about 3 rooms away.  Nope!  I've had a hell of a time getting connected.  But finally I'm on, managed to check the stats.  So it looks like a wiring problem.  But why my bad download speed??? Today would make it the 3rd day and it hasn't rectified itself.

[Lance]

Although today is your third day, it may be the case it is three full days needed for the profile update. See here.

Also, it may be that because you re-synced at only 384k yesterday the three days at the higher sync rate was broken hence no update for your profile. Again, I'm afraid I can be sure on that. 

My suggestion would be that you now leave your router plugged in and turned on for three days. Hopefully it will maintain sync at 2496k which should give a profile of 2000. After three days you should notice the higher profile translating to higher download speeds.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help 

[Jimbo]

Although today is your third day, it may be the case it is three full days needed for the profile update. See here.

Also, it may be that because you re-synced at only 384k yesterday the three days at the higher sync rate was broken hence no update for your profile. Again, I'm afraid I can be sure on that. 

My suggestion would be that you now leave your router plugged in and turned on for three days. Hopefully it will maintain sync at 2496k which should give a profile of 2000. After three days you should notice the higher profile translating to higher download speeds.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help 

Lol I've just moved it back. d'oh!  Basically the wireless card was so bad I've taken it out and I'm taking it back tomorrow.  SOOO i've reverted the setup back to what I used to have (I can't be without as I have a lot of final year Uni work to do).  Will have to try the Router back down at the master socket for 3 days when I get my new wireless card in (so at least I can get on the net).

[Lance]

What is your sync now you have moved it back then, Jimbo?

[Jimbo]

What is your sync now you have moved it back then, Jimbo?

Hi Lance,

Now that it's back in it's orginal place it's sync'd at:-

Downstream - 608000

(Slightly faster than yesterdays 384000) but obviously no where near the speed down at the test socket.

Thanks mate.

[Lance]

That shows it is definitely an internal wiring problem then, and at that sync you will get a profile of 500k. I don't think you will get a profile which is any good until you get your new wireless network card unfortunately.

Hope you're getting through your uni work OK, must be stressful with deadlines approaching! My girlfriend finished her uni course last year, after studing Socialogy, so I know what it can be like having lots of work to do after seeing her do it!

[Rik]

I know what it can be like having lots of work to do after seeing her do it!

You must have read 'Three Men in a Boat', Lance.

Jimbo: The results clearly show you have a problem with your internal wiring. The bad news is that you are not just going to be able to plug into the master socket to improve matters, either the wiring will have to be sorted or you will need to fit a filtered face-plate. Let us know if you need more advice in this respect.

[Jimbo]

Cheers Rik and Lance.

Yeah, I've got more assignments than I know what to do with.    But I'll get there... hopefully. lol.  I'm doing a Computing Studies degree.  4 year course as well.  Can't wait to finish! 

I've just spoken to the place this morning about the wireless card.  That is being refunded and I'll order my new one very soon.  Meanwhile today, I'm off to pick up the filtered faceplate for the NTE5 box.  (That arrived the other day but I was out).

Rik, is it ok if I post a picture up of inside the Master Socket showing the wires for you (or anybody) just to look at for me.  Would that be ok?  Just so you can clarify what I'm looking at.  I had a quick look last night and it would appear I have an orange wire going to terminal three.  I'll get a picture today and upload it.

Thanks again!

[Rik]

Hi Jimbo

If you hit additional options when posting, you'll see the ability to upload a file. Maximum size is 512MB. Give us your image and we shall give you our judgement.

Ideally, take one pic of the back of the face plate and one of the exposed socket on the wall (I want to see where the wires are there).

Trust me, when you reach my end of the age spectrum, 4 years is a mere blink of an eye.

[Lance]

Feel free to post the picture, Jimbo, I am more than happy to take a look. As I'm sure Rik will be as well.

Hopefully, with your ring wire disconnected and filtered face plate fitted we will have your line in tip-top condition!

EDIT: Must finish posting quicker and not let Rik beat me!

[Rik]

LOL. I know just what you mean, Lance.

[Jimbo]

Here we go chaps.  First two pictures are of the master socket.  The third, shows the connections from the next normal socket in the loop (I have x3 in the house).  Looks like there is indeed this Ring Wire, and also it looks like the wiring is paired as well.  But let me know what you guys make of them.

Cheers.

Master Socket



1st Socket

[Rik]

Hi Jimbo

Well, the wiring uses the standard colours anyway. The cable doesn't look like BT cable to me, but they may have changed the design since I last saw a reel. Remove the wire on terminal three at all sockets, that should begin to help. Try and look inside the cable, where the insulation is slit, and see if the colour pairs do twist around each other. If they do, and removing the ring wire doesn't help, then a filtered faceplate would be your next cheapest option.

[Jimbo]

Haha you beauty! 

Removed the Ring wire from all the sockets, new stats are:-

Upstream - 448000
Downstream - 2048000

SNR - 9.5dB
Attenuation - 44dB



Now just to fit the new faceplate and i'll be zooming along. lol.

Thanks all!

[Rik]

Good news, Jimbo, just goes to show what a pesky nuisance that ring wire can be.

However... your attenuation has also improved dramatically, which does suggest there are other issues afoot, probably in your internal wiring still.

[Jimbo]

Good news, Jimbo, just goes to show what a pesky nuisance that ring wire can be.

However... your attenuation has also improved dramatically, which does suggest there are other issues afoot, probably in your internal wiring still.

Thanks mate, I'm hoping that when I move the router to the master socket they will improve even more.  I still have the download speed issue, but like you mentioned, perhaps it needs 3-4 days now at the higher sync rate to adapt?

I tell you one thing though, this is been a far happier experience than with my last ISP.  They just didn't want to know.  Do people on here actually work for IDNet?  I mean to ask that earlier.  Or is it just knowledgeable folk?

[Rik]

Indeed, Jimbo, the critical thing is to try and avoid a low-sync event for the three days and, on the fourth, your profile should be a lot better. Toes crossed.

We don't work for IDNet, we're just customers like you. You may see Simon or Tim posting occasionally, they're the MDs of the company. The rest of us are just a crowd of happy customers. If we can help someone out along the way, it makes the day a bit brighter.

[Lance]

I'm glad removing the ring wire has helped, Jimbo! Get that filtered faceplate on to eliminate the internal wiring and hopefully your sync will rise even more. 

It may be worth rebooting your router between 6am and 7am. Many people find that if they resync at this time they get a slightly higher sync rate. Obviously though, being a uni student I'm assuming that you won't do this as it's far too earlier for you!   

BTW, mine and Rik's support invoices are in the post and will be with you shortly

[Jimbo]

I'm glad removing the ring wire has helped, Jimbo! Get that filtered faceplate on to eliminate the internal wiring and hopefully your sync will rise even more. 

It may be worth rebooting your router between 6am and 7am. Many people find that if they resync at this time they get a slightly higher sync rate. Obviously though, being a uni student I'm assuming that you won't do this as it's far too earlier for you!   

BTW, mine and Rik's support invoices are in the post and will be with you shortly

Haha uh-oh!  Do you accept IOU's? 

Lol I don't even know what 7am looks like.   If I'm ever up at that time, I'll try it out.

Thanks.

[Jimbo]

Hello!

It would seem my problems have sadly returned. 

Last night I had issues connecting, however, after reading a few other peoples posts it would appear there were issues regarding upgrades and stuff, so everything is ok now with regards to that.

My problem now though is again, my download speeds.  I have been reading through "Rik's Optimisation Guide" which has helped me setup my PC better.  The MTU (1500 -> 1472) and also I have been able to increase my RWIN size (257020 -> 261280).

I have recently been downloading at ~180kbps but today I am sadly stuck at ~50kbps.  I have tried to run the bt.speedtest again but have ran into problems.  It constantly times out and won't finish (this was prior to any tweaks and after) and reports my download throuhput as 500k.



Am I looking at another 3 day wait for an improvement?

Router Stats
Upstream = 448000
Downstream = 2784000

Downstream    
SNR Margin = 7.5 dB       
Line Attenuation = 55.0 dB    

Upstream
SNR Margin = 15 dB
Line Attenuation = 31.5 dB


Thanks once more.  All the best.  (Note:  I still have not moved the router or fitted the filtered faceplate.  I plan to power down the router for 12hrs+ tonight and then re-sync at the Test Socket tomorrow)

[Rik]

Sadly, Jimbo, I think you are looking at a three-day wait for things to improve again.

The BT tester regularly sulks, best time seems to be 5-7am.

Does your router log re-syncs? My instinct is that you have had a few, one of which was low enough to hit your profile (or you've had a lot, which would have the same effect).

It might be worth giving support a call on Monday, they should be able to see all your logins, and that would give a clear idea of what is happening.

[Lance]

From simply looking at your downstream sync of 2784k, I would suggest that something happened on your line which caused the exchange to think there was an error and lower your profile according. It would seem you have since been able to reconnect at a higher sync and therefore have to play the three day waiting game.

If you see your stats increase significantly when you use the test socket, I would get the new faceplate fitted sooner rather than later!

Post your stats tomorrow once you are connected to the test socket.

Lance

[Rik]

Can't argue with a single word, Lance.

[Jimbo]

Nice one chaps.

Always a pleasure!  Will report back tomorrow. 


Have a good weekend! 

[Rik]

And you, Jimbo. Hope the profile comes back up quickly (I have seen it happen in an hour or so...). Off to watch rugby now.

[Lance]

Can't argue with a single word, Lance.

Have a good weekend! 

You too mate!

[Jimbo]

Hmm very strange indeed.

So I've just moved the Router this morning after being switched off for 12+ hrs.  I have connected it to the Test socket and literally within 5 minutes, I've had the line drop 4 times now. 

The stats on the first connection were good, my sync speed was nearly 3mb.  However, after the first 3 line drops it settled at a little less:-

Upstream - 448000
Downstream - 2656000

Downstream    
SNR Margin - 8.0 dB    
Line Attenuation - 49.5 dB    

Upstream
SNR Margin - 16db
Line Attenuation - 31.5db

====================

On the fourth re-sync though it's completley dropped.

Upstream - 448000
Downstream - 1632000 

Downstream    
SNR Margin - 13.5 dB    
Line Attenuation - 50.0 dB    

Upstream
SNR Margin - 16db
Line Attenuation - 31.5db

Talk about stress! Lol!    So how come it appears to be worse?  I'm by-passing my internal wiring.  I'm in two minds whether to leave it for the day or shift it back...

Cheers!

***EDIT****
Just had to restart the Router to implement some config changes.  Now it's re-sync'd back at nearly 3mb. 

SNR Margin - 8.5db
Line Attenuation - 49db

Let's see if it manages to stay at that!

[Rik]

Given it's behaving like that at the test socket, give support a call tomorrow and they can set up a visit from an ADSL-trained BT engineer. It sounds very much like you have a line fault.

[Jimbo]

Given it's behaving like that at the test socket, give support a call tomorrow and they can set up a visit from an ADSL-trained BT engineer. It sounds very much like you have a line fault.

Ok, will do, cheers Rik.

[Rik]

Do make sure you tell them you are connected at the test socket. If possible, get a BT speed test done as well. It all helps.