Pains of ADSL2+

[tehidyman]

In the period up to the end of June my average BT download speed was 3275kbps.  Sync was 4320 kbps and margin between 4 & 6 db with atten 52/3db.  After "upgrade" to ADSL2+ my download speed eventually settled at between 2499 and 2460 kbps. Initially I got over 4000kbps.  In an attempt to recover some of my lost download speed I was switched to ADSL max. New sync rate was 4032 kbps atte 51db. Initially there was no change in download speed but some loss of upload speed.  After 15 days my download speed improved to just over 3000 kbps and stayed at that level for many days.  However after a recent power interrupt my download speed dropped back to 2439 kbps (assured rate profile of 3291 kbps.) My sync was now 4000 kbps attn. 52db and margin 9db.  This is getting very frustrating . Do I have to wait another 15 days for the speed to improve? Can I expect that every power cut will produce the same problem? And will it drop when I turn my router on again after holiday.

I use a Netgear 834G v3 router, I do have a spare router a BT/2-wire2700HGV that I tried when on ADSL1 but it was not as stable as my Netgear. Though I did not try any advanced settings.

Any suggestions as to how I might proceed.  I had thought of leaving ID net for a month and then rejoining hopefully on my old type of connection, as I understand that I cannot go back with IDnet.

[Steve]

If it remains stable hopefully the margin will drop and you will improve you downstream sync , you can't go back as it's an exchange switch by BT , who most likely will have stripped the exchange of the old equipment

[Rik]

First thing, don't leave the router on while your away, power off, then unplug from the phone socket.

You won't be connected to a DSLAM even if you move ISPs, once BT put MSANs into an exchange, that's what they connect people too.

From what you say, you are one of the unfortunate people who has a line for which ADSL2+ is too sensitive. Re-modulating people to ADSL1 usually does the trick, but I sense your router has been unstable (it is quite old) and that's forced the target margin up to compensate. That extra 3db will be costing you 5-700k in sync speed. On top of that, it looks like the profile's been depressed, that will take up to 5 days to recover.

Can you run a BT speedtest and post the results back here?

[Rik]

Oh, and afterthought - don't keep trying to re-boot the router in the hope it will improve things, it will probably make them worse. FWIW, I run y router off a UPS to avoid this kind of issue.

[klipp]

In my experience, the 14 days to lower NM is often far less if you can keep your connection going.  I recently had huge router issues resulting in my NM rising to 15db, but after 2 days of buying a new router it dropped back to 6db.  That said I think I might have been moved back to ADSL max but I'm not certain.

[Rik]

What's your upstream sync rate?

[tehidyman]

What's your upstream sync rate?

768kbps, atten. 15.5db and margin 11db

[Rik]

Can you run a BT test for me.

[tehidyman]

Can you run a BT test for me.

Config. d'load speed 3291k, D'load 2721kbps, DSL con. rate 4000 down and 768 up, IP profile 3291, BE Classes 19.4:24.67: 55.93

[Rik]

Odd, a profile of 3291 isn't on the official list. Let me ask some questions.

[Rik]

It seems the BT test is giving out more 'subtle' profiles than the list, but IDNet see your profile as 3500. To get the NM down, you are going to have to be patient, the only explanation I can offer for the speed to profile variation isa hot VP or congested exchange.

[tehidyman]

Oh, and afterthought - don't keep trying to re-boot the router in the hope it will improve things, it will probably make them worse. FWIW, I run y router off a UPS to avoid this kind of issue.

Can you recommend a suitable UPS please.

[Rik]

Something like this:

http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=396826&CatId=1416

or, for greater protection:

http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=79659&CatId=1416

[tehidyman]

Thanks for recommendations on UPS. Have placed order for the second item.

[Rik]

I swear by APC, I have four of them.

[tehidyman]

Disconnecting my router to install the UPS on 23rd Aug has resulted in a (ADSL Max)  BT test (today) download speed of 1981kbps, IP 2742kbps, DSL 3104 down and 736 up. Router stats are margin 11db attenuation 52db. This speed is lower than I settled at on ADSL2+. Support say be patient but as I go away fairly regularly I presume I will encounter this  every time I reconnect.  Is it likely that if I ask to be upgraded back to ADSL2+ I will encounter the same problem and is it likely that my Netgear router (834G v3) contributes to this problem?   

[Rik]

Yes and yes.

[tehidyman]

Yes and yes.

What might be the best router  for this situation?

[Rik]

I'd go for a 2-Wire 2700, preferably with v5 firmware.

[tehidyman]

I'd go for a 2-Wire 2700, preferably with v5 firmware.

I have an unused 2-wire - can I find out what firmware without installing it?  I am worried that if I install it I will go down more. It states it is a BT 2700HGV on the label but I can't see anything about firmware.

[Rik]

Plug it into the machine and check, just don't connect it to the phoneline.

[tehidyman]

Plug it into the machine and check, just don't connect it to the phoneline.

I'm out of my depth here I have connected router to mains and powered up. I assumed I should connect it to the computer via the Ethernet cable  but not remove the cable from phone to Netgear.  Cannot work out where to go next.

[Rik]

You've got it. Just move the ethernet cable across.

[tehidyman]

Firmware Version:     6.1.1.48.1-enh.tm
Is this OK to proceed with or where do I go from here?

[Steve]

I 'm not a 2700 user however the setup instructions are here http://bt2700hgv.tripod.com/063.htm

[tehidyman]

After my last post on this topic I tried the 2-wire which synced even lower so went back to my Netgear.  According to BT my IP profile was 2194,kbps, download speed 1475 kbps and DSL down 3168 kbps up 736 kbps. 10 days later things improved slightly.  IP profile 2742 kbps download 2058 kbps DSL down 3104 kbps and up 768 kbps. After another 10 days my IP profile is still 2742 kbps download 2068 kbps but my DSL down is 6303 kbps and up 888 kbps, however test speeds were still 2068 kbps down and up 612 kbps. My router Stats are still Sync 3104 kbps down and 768 kbps up with margin 12 db and atten. 51 db.  The BT test reported as inconclusive and advised running test 3.  However the suggested procedure did not seem to match my screens, the FAQ's were no help and Idnet help said don't bother.

I am confused by the fact that my DSL of 6303 kbps is different to my sync rate of 3104 kbps. Looking back over past notes they have been the same.  Can I expect BT to increase my sync rate or should I risk a router reboot? Or any other suggestions bearing in mind that before I changed to Max I was getting 2450kbps.

[Rik]

Don't trust the BT tester at the moment, it's giving some weird numbers out. Go by what your router says.

[tehidyman]

Don't trust the BT tester at the moment, it's giving some weird numbers out. Go by what your router says.

oh dear - the light at the end of the tunnel just went out.

[Rik]

I had a test this morning which showed a profile and throughput faster than my apparent sync speed, which was more than 1M below the actual speed. BT seem to be getting data from the wrong place for some reason.