Help! My connection has hit the deck!

hells bells · Jun 01, 2010, 22:25:10

Well, pretty much so anyway. I can just about get from page to page.

It started about an hour ago. My speed suddenly dropped from about 0.9 Mb to this:

The noise margin has dropped from a steady 14.5/15 db to this:

ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 281 kbps 440 kbps
Line Attenuation 47.5 db 23.6 db
Noise Margin 5.4 db 8.8 db

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Helen.

Steve · Jun 01, 2010, 22:34:35

You have a few disconnections which has dropped your sync and my guess its due to 'noise' whether thats due to a fault on your line or inside I'm not sure . However you need to plug the router into the test socket,change the filter if you've got a spare, and then see if the margin improves,if it does that would imply the noise is your side of the line. If all stays the same I suggest give support a call they will need a recent BT speedtest and your router stats.

hells bells · Jun 01, 2010, 22:47:51

Thanks for getting back to me Steve,

The router is plugged straight into the test socket already and I have changed the filters around anticipating that you would suggest this! (I was with o2 for 8 months so I became a bit of an expert with that!)

There is a two metres of cabling from the computer to the router (shielded) and then another 2 metres of shielded cabling from the router to the test socket.
There is only one socket on this line and it has no other equipment plugged in (ie. Sky, telephone etc).

Just as a point to note, the router has been going mental flickering all evening.

The property I live in has 2 seperate lines. One downstairs on a seperate number and this one upstairs. My boyfriend, who has the line downstairs, and is also on IDNet, has experienced a 0.5Mb drop in speed over the last couple of days from 2.3 Mb to 1.8 Mb whereas my drop has been sudden.

Thank you again for this.

Steve · Jun 01, 2010, 22:57:26

I think get on to support so they can check the line seems too much of a coincidence if the boyfriend's having a similar issue as well . See if you get them a BT speedtest as well.

hells bells · Jun 01, 2010, 22:59:31

I will do.

Thanks for your help Steve. Have a great evening (or whats left of it anyway!)

hells bells · Jun 01, 2010, 23:07:46

OUCH! Not good at all!

Download speedachieved during the test was - 45 Kbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speedsis 50-250 Kbps.
Additional Information:
Your DSL Connection Rate :281 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 440 Kbps(UP-STREAM)
IP Profile for your line is - 135 Kbps

I will ring support tomorrow and hopefully we can get something sorted with it.

Thank you again for your help.
Helen.

Steve · Jun 01, 2010, 23:14:44

Its pretty poor but not unexpected.

Rik · Jun 02, 2010, 10:05:44

Classic low sync/low profile behaviour. Do you have a spare router, Helen?

hells bells · Jun 02, 2010, 23:45:32

I don't have another router unfortunately but then I only got this one (from IDNet) back in February!

I didn't get chance to ring support today as I was crazy busy at work but I'm going to speak to them tomorrow to see if they can do anything for me.

I've got the same problem tonight by the way. I'm really struggling to get from page to page.

Thank you for all of your help Steve and Rik!

hells bells · Jun 03, 2010, 19:47:27

Just to update you on my situation.

Still getting speaks of 0.1Mb.

I spoke to Simon at IDNet earlier, tried to connect with my boyfriend's router (oh yeah, I forgot about that one!) and it was still the same as it was before.

Basically my line is very poor and it isn't due to the router or filters. Simon has switched my package from ADSL+2 to ADSL Max to see if there is any difference to the quality then. I'm going to give it until next Thursday to see what happens to see where I go next. Its either BT engineer or cancel my contract and piggy back off my boyfriend's connection downstairs.

We'll see what happens next week!

Thanks for your continued assistance.
Helen.

Rik · Jun 04, 2010, 08:41:08

Have you done a quiet line test, Helen. If not, dial 17070 and select option 2. If you hear anything but a quiet background hiss or hum, report the issue as a voice fault (no mention of ADSL) to your line provider.

Baz · Jun 04, 2010, 08:47:20

sorry to hijack but ive often wondered Rik when you do the other options on 17070 test do you have to speak to any one.what is it ...ring back etc.

Rik · Jun 04, 2010, 08:59:58

Ring back does what you'd expect, Baz, Put the phone down and it will ring you back. The other tests require and engineer's code.

Technical Ben · Jun 04, 2010, 16:28:27

Quote from: Baz on Jun 04, 2010, 08:47:20
sorry to hijack but ive often wondered Rik when you do the other options on 17070 test do you have to speak to any one.what is it ...ring back etc.

I'd imagine little hamsters running about pressing numbers and swapping lines. But then again, I have an over-active imagination, and worked in a call centre.

Rik · Jun 04, 2010, 16:28:47

hells bells · Jun 04, 2010, 20:07:27

Its even worse on ADSL Max!!

I will try that number out tomorrow Rik. I can't tonight as I don't have a telephone (I only use the line for broadband, it isn't like I can use it for anything else!!) - I'll lend one from next door tomorrow.

Thanks again!
Helen.

Rik · Jun 04, 2010, 20:08:17

I hope you find a lot of noise, Helen, that would be an easy thing to fix.

hells bells · Jun 04, 2010, 20:23:16

Good news and bad news.

Good news - My neighbour just went out in the garden so I asked if I could borrow their phone!

Bad news - I have a quiet line!

I'm going to see whether the line settles down by Monday. If not I might as well cancel my contract, cancel my BT line rental (as I only use it for Broadband!), get a wireless router and piggy back off my boyfriend's connection downstairs. He is on IDNet too so I'm sure it'll be able to handle it!

Its a shame, I have a lot of faith in IDNet as they've given me a good service for what I can get but if my line is so bad there is no point in keeping it.
I can't believe I've dropped from 0.9 Mb down, 0.5 Mb up to 0.1 Mb down, 0.2 up in a matter of days!! BT have a lot to answer to!

hells bells · Jun 04, 2010, 21:03:39

Just noticed my router stats!!

ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 288 kbps 288 kbps
Line Attenuation 45.0 db 24.0 db
Noise Margin 21.7 db 17.0 db

The noise margin is usually around 14-15 db but obviously not tonight!!

Adam · Jun 04, 2010, 21:08:28

Try reconnecting, your sync should increase as your noise margin is high.

Steve · Jun 04, 2010, 21:10:41

That should be good news,you've gone back to adslmax I believe, so there's now a bit of margin you can lose in exchange for an increase in sync. Hopefully it will sort itself out in a few days, if not, see if support can give BT a nudge early next week.

hells bells · Jun 04, 2010, 21:17:03

Hi Adam,
I've just tried that and although the upstream noise margin has reduced slightly it hasn't done anything else.

ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 288 kbps 288 kbps
Line Attenuation 45.0 db 24.0 db
Noise Margin 21.8 db 15.0 db

I'm going to give it a few days for ADSL Max to settle and see what happens.
Fingers crossed!

Thanks for your help guys. Better go and get something to eat now! I'm starving!

Adam · Jun 04, 2010, 21:18:21

21db is a oddly high target margin, with any luck it should indeed settle down over time.

Steve · Jun 04, 2010, 21:25:41

I am guessing that you've still got a banded profile(WBC) even though you've been remodulated back to adslmax but since it seems to be less fussy about noise hopefully you'll gain a bit of downstream sync eventually.

PS 288 is the highest sync of the lowest band

Rik · Jun 05, 2010, 09:00:36

Even the upstream sync is low, though, Steve. That sounds like one cranky line to me. Trying bringing your boyfriend's router up and connect it to your line, Helen.