BT Speedtester

[Tacitus]

Anyone tried the BT Speedtester this morning, following last nights outage?  For me it just gave a quick indication that my profile is 135 and then says it cannot complete the test and to contact my ISP.  I've tried it with two browsers and get the same result.

[Ray]

Just worked OK for me Tac.

[Tacitus]

Just worked OK for me Tac.

OK thanks.  I'll try it on a different machine.

[gyruss]

Fingers crossed you have not got a low profile like that, its very frustrating that is.

[Lance]

Although 135 is a valid profile 

[Tacitus]

Fingers crossed you have not got a low profile like that, its very frustrating that is.

Yes just checked on another machine - no idea why my 'normal' machine wouldn't work this time around.

Profile 135 download speed 91. The connection rate is 2656 but looking at the logs there was a lot of noise around 7:05 this morning - not sure if that's when the connection came back as the logs don't go back any further.  There was then around 10 minutes of instability with reconnections around every minute and the speed slowly rising from around 200 until it found a stable speed.

Basically the line is going from poor to bad to worse.....  

[Simon]

That doesn't really sound connected with last nights outage... 

[Rik]

I think your line is, literally, falling apart, Tac.

[Tacitus]

That doesn't really sound connected with last nights outage... 

Didn't think it was as the DSL connection was maintained.  I'm assuming that the profile should recover in a day or two.

[Rik]

Optimist.

[Tacitus]

Optimist.

So tell me the alternative oh wise one     Joking apart I could ask support to do a reset...  I was beginning to wonder about a new line or possibly exploring bonding, but I'm guessing that would cost an arm and a leg - probably both legs.

[Rik]

And a new ISP, Tac. Having a new line installed specifically for broadband might be an option.

[Tacitus]

And a new ISP, Tac. Having a new line installed specifically for broadband might be an option.

Wasn't really thinking of leaving iDNet, although I suppose the alternative of having a new line installed by (say) Zen and then seeing which proves the better line might be an option.  Silly as it sounds I suspect I may have one of the better lines at this end of the village.  If the exchange is starting to be congested which seems may be the case, I doubt there are any decent line pairs left.  What it probably needs is for BT to go over the line and remake the joints; simple enough operation but needless to say not cost-effective from BTs point of view.

I don't wonder people go over to TT and the cheap outfits and that iDNet find it difficult to prosper, despite giving good service.  Neuhoff over on TB is correct in that respect that BT are iDNet's Achilles heel, as we saw last night.  And, I doubt they will get any meaningful compensation.

This latest 'Race to Infinity' guff will simply reinforce the divide. 

[Rik]

Inevitably, Tac. (Mind you, that ad is misleading, more weaselling by BT.)

I wasn't thinking of getting a new line with a different ISP so much as ordering a line through IDNet (cheaper than BT) and specifying it's for ADSL.

[Tacitus]

Inevitably, Tac. (Mind you, that ad is misleading, more weaselling by BT.)

Agree Rik.  Unless probably 80% of subscribers on an exchange demand FTTC then BT will cite 'lack of demand'.

I wasn't thinking of getting a new line with a different ISP so much as ordering a line through IDNet (cheaper than BT) and specifying it's for ADSL.

What advantage would specifying it as broadband only give me?  Is it likely to result in a better quality line?  I would have thought it hit or miss whether the line was better or not.....

Mind you, I was in the Cotswolds at the weekend.  Broadband is really dire and mobile phone signals were more or less  non-existent.

[Rik]

I think it's possible to make conditional orders on phone lines, ie order it for ADSL and if it's not fit for purpose, you don't have to pay. That said, of course, we all know that BT consider anything above 100k as broadband.

[Tacitus]

I think it's possible to make conditional orders on phone lines, ie order it for ADSL and if it's not fit for purpose, you don't have to pay. That said, of course, we all know that BT consider anything above 100k as broadband.

Hmm, according to the speedtest I ran this morning the acceptable range of speeds started at 50k........

[Tacitus]

Hmm, according to the speedtest I ran this morning the acceptable range of speeds started at 50k........

Looks as though BTs DLM has remembered its manners and adjusted the profile back to something more reasonable.  Pretty quick I must admit since I was expecting it to take 24 hours or more.

Profile 2000 and download 1816 so currently no apparent congestion, either at the exchange or on iDNet's network.  PIngs normal (for me), at around 29ms.  This is probably as good as it gets.  For a while.  Maybe.  With luck...    Fingers crossed.

Maybe Miriam sprinkled some fairy dust on the line 

[Rik]

Big sync changes should produce fast profile changes, Tac. The important word is should, of course.

[Tacitus]

Big sync changes should produce fast profile changes, Tac. The important word is should, of course.

Like a lot of things with BT, what 'should' happen and what 'does' happen are usually two totally different things.   

[Rik]

 

Yes, but it keeps us on our toes...

[Bill]

Yes, but it keeps us on our toes...

Or on our knees

[Rik]

True, Bill.

Adopt the position.