Router Firmware Upgrade - Sync Speed Nosedives...

[RCS2K4]

Evening all,

I'm getting a little fed up with IDNET/BT as of late. You've probably seen it before, but over the last few days i've not only switched router, but changed the fimrware on it 2-3 times over a few days. Everytime I so this, the router re-sets. It also re-boots if i modify any Wifi security options.

Thing is, everytime I do this, my exchange thinks i've had a line fault or something, as the sync speed progressively gets worse. It's been stable at 16MB sync for 6+ months, but is currently stuck at 11.3MB, with IDNET saying earlier they can't do anything about it???

It also doesnt seam to go back up to where it used to be neither. Is there anything I can do to get it back to where it used to be, or is it stuck like this?

[lozcart]

I expect your target noise margin has been altered by BT due to your disconnections therefore making you sync at a slower speed.

If you can hold sync for a few days you should see the margin drop and therefore your sync speed rise back to where it was.

[Steve]

I agree some connection stability would seem the way forward if that's achievable.

[RCS2K4]

Router stats:

System Up Time 00:26:02
Port Status TxPkts RxPkts Collisions Tx B/s Rx B/s Up Time
WAN PPPoA 18378 31735 0 1742 28999 00:25:18
LAN 10M/100M 33330 18899 0 28684 1331 00:25:58
WLAN 11M/54M/300M 0 0 0 0 0 00:25:45


ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 11240 kbps 644 kbps
Line Attenuation 27.4 db 13.8 db
Noise Margin 3.7 db 4.4 db

Whats the culprit? The noise margin (eh?). Why does the exchange not go back to what it's been using for the past 6+ months if it knows it held a sync for the whole time with no failure???

[lozcart]

Whats the culprit? The noise margin (eh?). Why does the exchange not go back to what it's been using for the past 6+ months if it knows it held a sync for the whole time with no failure???

That's BT for you 

Your noise margin seems fine I wonder if interleaving has kicked in on your line?

[Rik]

I would suggest you run Routerstats over a 24 hour period and see what's happening to that noise margin:

http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/moreinternet/files.htm

What router were you using before the Netgear?

[esh]

I had a Netgear that crashed all the time, it was a useless piece of trash. That said, despite the frequent crashes/reboots (including the wireless settings) I never had my sync speed drop, but that's probably because I'm on ADSL1 and the connection is up 24/7 either way.

Basically, as I understand, the ADSL2 sync controller at the exchange that is operated by BT is on an itchy trigger finger and there is no way for an ISP to reset or change this currently. In this sense, you are at BT's mercy, and constant resetting is just - unfortunately - making a rod for your own back.

Good luck.

[RCS2K4]

I would suggest you run Routerstats over a 24 hour period and see what's happening to that noise margin:

http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/moreinternet/files.htm

What router were you using before the Netgear?

Before the Netgear DGND3300 I was using a Linksys WAG160N. It's the constant firmware issues on the Netgear router that have mean I needed to re-flash from version to version. Silly thing, lol.

However, to update my OP, the router's reporting just over 60 hours of uptime on the ADSL2+ connection, but I aint seeing a speed increase. Sync rate's back up to where it should be (Just a whisker under 17,000 Kbps), but thruput is low, but I think BT's limiting it. The speedtester.bt.com site says my profile is 10500 - Speeds are considerd "OK" anywhere between 1225 and 10500 - It will really allow it to go that low before considering it a problem???

My ping times to sites are also worse. Where as I would usually ping the MK server on speedtest.net at <25Ms, it's now in-excess of 100. Ping times to my favourite TF2 Server is also 3-5 times greater than what it used to be. Leading me onto the possible culprit...

...after having a quick play around with DMT Tool, it reports that my connection type is ADSL2+ Interleaved Path. Great.

Is there anything I can do to turn off interleaved path, and get the BT speed profile to move - Or does it take more than 2.5 days with a steady connection to change it?

Router stats:

Port Status TxPkts RxPkts Collisions Tx B/s Rx B/s Up Time
WAN PPPoA 343208 644641 0 109 4091 61:37:04
LAN 10M/100M 832437 442760 0 4480 210 61:39:30
WLAN 11M/54M/300M 0 0 0 0 0 61:38:17

ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 16923 kbps 1066 kbps
Line Attenuation 27.4 db 13.8 db
Noise Margin 3.8 db 4.2 db

[Rik]

It can take up to five days for a profile to change, you'll need to ask support to get interleaving turned off. Your noise margin, though, suggests you still have a problem if that was taken around the time of your post.