iPlayer says no

peasblossom · May 25, 2011, 17:18:39

Or at least it tries to. So, there I am, watching Dr Who, as you do, and it announces that there isn't enough bandwidth. To be fair, it doesn't do as badly as it used to but it still stops and starts quite a lot. Thoughts? (I am with IDNet.)

.Griff. · May 25, 2011, 17:20:57

What result do you get from this - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/diagnostics ?

peasblossom · May 25, 2011, 17:41:33

Had to swop to Chrome to do that. Anyway, it says yes to radio and no to TV. Hmm. The scores on the doors are: 341kbps, 345, 334 and 344. I need at least twice that. So there's my answer.

.Griff. · May 25, 2011, 17:44:35

Are you using a wirless or wired connection to your router?

Try running the BT Speedtest - http://speedtester.bt.com/

Two things to look for.. Your download speed and your "IP Profile"

pctech · May 25, 2011, 17:54:46

Also check you don't have any uploads or downloads currently going on (or anyone using your connection doesn't either)

peasblossom · May 25, 2011, 18:17:13

For some reason known only to itself, I can't use that BT test page. I have Java, it is enabled on both browsers but that site says it isn't.

It's a wired router, right next to computer.

.Griff. · May 25, 2011, 18:18:13

Regarding Java you could try this - http://www.java.com/en/download/testjava.jsp

pctech · May 25, 2011, 18:20:01

Or you could have a few versions/updates that are conflicting.

peasblossom · May 27, 2011, 10:06:00

Turns out I needed to install a java plugin. I've now tested it and the results are:

best speed; 248kbps

IP profile: 350kbps

500kbps is max speed achievable and range is 100 -500 kbps.

Gary · May 27, 2011, 10:11:45

Quote from: peasblossom on May 27, 2011, 10:06:00
Turns out I needed to install a java plugin. I've now tested it and the results are:

best speed; 248kbps

IP profile: 350kbps

500kbps is max speed achievable and range is 100 -500 kbps.

Could you give us your router stats?

peasblossom · May 27, 2011, 13:17:22

Not sure what a router stat looks like but here are all the figures:

1. Best Effort Test: -provides background information.

Download Speed
215 Kbps

0 Kbps   500 Kbps
Max Achievable Speed

Download speed achieved during the test was - 215 Kbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speeds is 100-500 Kbps.
Additional Information:
Your DSL Connection Rate :568 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 1104 Kbps(UP-STREAM)
IP Profile for your line is - 350 Kbps
The throughput of Best Efforts (BE) classes achieved during the test is - 10.57:22.68:66.98 (SBE:NBE:PBE)
These figures represent the ratio while sententiously passing Sub BE, Normal BE and Priority BE marked traffic.

The results of this test will vary depending on the way your ISP has decided to use these traffic classes.

2. Upstream Test: -provides background information.

Upload Speed
607 Kbps

0 Kbps   1104 Kbps
Max Achievable Speed

>Upload speed achieved during the test was - 607 Kbps
Additional Information:
Upstream Rate IP profile on your line is - 1104 Kbps

Steve · May 27, 2011, 14:16:07

Those are the BT speedtest results , we need the stats from the router , we can help you find them if you tell us the 'make' of the box plugged into the phone socket.

peasblossom · May 27, 2011, 16:37:22

It's a Belkin G wireless (though not set up to be) modem router. (I use Ubuntu, btw. That may affect how you want to proceed with this question. Or not.)

Steve · May 27, 2011, 16:57:59

Any use http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/frogstats.php#3

peasblossom · May 27, 2011, 17:41:07

Data rate:

Downstream: 568kb Output: 128

Upstream 1104kb Output: 177

Are those the figures you're after?

Rik · May 27, 2011, 17:45:25

Did it give attenuation and noise margin?

Rik · May 27, 2011, 18:07:43

I've checked with support. Your noise margin is 36db, your attenuation 28.2db. You've been put on a banded downstream profile due to frequent resyncs, which appear to be caused by a high error rate on your line.

Where is the router connected, eg master socket, hard-wired extension socket or 'flying lead' extension? Do you have an NTE5 master, the type where the bottom part of the faceplate can be removed?

If you do, we need you to move the router to the test socket behind that faceplate, thus eliminating all other devices and wiring in the house. You'll need to keep it there for a few days to find out if it solves the problem. Try a new filter and, if you can, try an alternative router. Don't keep changing things, the exchange will see that as instability, so try to make any changes as all embracing as possible.

If you have a MW, battery powered, radio, detune it so that all you can hear is white noise, then follow the path of the phone line from where it enters the property to the router. Any increase in volume is a sign of interference, so check what's in the vicinity if it happens.

peasblossom · May 27, 2011, 18:09:53

I see you have the numbers. My router is directly plugged into my computer as they are side by side. I've got a splitter on the phone socket.

Rik · May 27, 2011, 18:10:43

Really bad. See above.

peasblossom · May 27, 2011, 18:13:09

Soz, re-wrote my post before Rik replied. I'd asked if it was good, bad, or really bad.

Rik · May 27, 2011, 18:14:39

Quote from: peasblossom on May 27, 2011, 18:09:53
I see you have the numbers. My router is directly plugged into my computer as they are side by side. I've got a splitter on the phone socket.

Is that the master socket, though? What else is connected to the line, eg phone, Sky box etc.

Steve · May 27, 2011, 18:16:21

BT don't like noisy or high error rate lines, they come done very hard with the automated exchange equipment, the end result is your down to a crawl but BT's happy to to not have to resend you data you've already requested many times over.

peasblossom · May 27, 2011, 18:17:29

Just my phone.

Rik · May 27, 2011, 18:21:42

DECT or wired? If DECT, trying unplugging it and disconnecting from the line. I know all this testing is tedious, I've been doing it myself for the past couple of weeks, but it's the only way to reach resolution without it costing you £200 or so for a 'no fault' BT visit.

peasblossom · May 27, 2011, 18:25:12

Wired. Gave up with cordless sometime ago.

Rik · May 27, 2011, 18:26:20

OK, so are you at the master socket, do you have any extensions? Do you have a MW radio?

peasblossom · May 27, 2011, 18:30:01

I've got an FM/MW radio. It's about a metre away and it's been switched off while I've tested the speed.

Rik · May 27, 2011, 18:32:39

Is it battery powered? If so, follow the procedure I've given above, see if anything is generating noise. Apart from things like central heating, washing machines etc, computer power supplies, and those of their peripherals, are often guilty of the problem.

peasblossom · May 27, 2011, 18:34:17

Nope, not battery powered.

Rik · May 27, 2011, 18:37:16

Could you borrow one? Do you have any extensions?

peasblossom · May 27, 2011, 18:41:03

Would microwaves or fridges affect it? I can turn my radio into a battery powered one but I hope I'd not have to leave it that way. Would I?

Rik · May 27, 2011, 18:42:12

No, it's so you can do the test without the radio's own power supply being an issue. Any electrical equipment can generate noise, the microwaves themselves won't, but there may be harmonics.

peasblossom · May 27, 2011, 18:43:42

I'll do that then, but tomorrow I think.

Rik · May 27, 2011, 18:44:02

We'll be here.

peasblossom · May 28, 2011, 10:48:10

I've tested it with both radio and phone unplugged. (Phone will not work with any other cable than the one BT supply. I have tried and they were right.)

Made not a scrap of difference to the noise or attenuation results. Upload speed 932 kpbs though. Download speed 238kbps.

Rik · May 28, 2011, 10:59:29

Turning off the radio was not the intent, the idea was to use it in battery-powered mode to see if you can detect any local RF noise sources.

peasblossom · May 28, 2011, 11:16:38

It turns out I've nowhere near enough batteries for that radio but I can get radio on my mobile. Is that OK? Upstream noise briefly rose to 7.

Rik · May 28, 2011, 11:22:10

The phone is not ideal as it's emitting it's own noise, however, it's better than nothing. What was the NM before you checked with the phone?

peasblossom · May 28, 2011, 11:25:21

I checked it a couple of times while I had the phone in that mode and that noise margin figure went up to 7 once. That's what I should've said.

Rik · May 28, 2011, 11:30:09

But what was the NM before?

peasblossom · May 28, 2011, 11:31:20

6.

Rik · May 28, 2011, 11:34:33

So probably just a mild fluctuation. I assume nothing showed on the d/s side, no noise on the radio, no changes in NM? If you're satisfied it's not your equipment, all you can do is ask support to test the line, but the chances are you face a BT engineering visit with the risk of an up to £200 charge.

peasblossom · May 28, 2011, 11:38:43

Well, if that' the only way of fixing it... But yeah, £200 sobs. Ouch.

peasblossom · Jun 02, 2011, 09:25:59

Next up on the testing list is try another router. Now, this is probably a silly question, but even if I got the same make and model, would I need to register it?

Rik · Jun 02, 2011, 09:26:43

With whom?

peasblossom · Jun 02, 2011, 09:36:38

IDNet/the company who make the thing.

Rik · Jun 02, 2011, 09:40:46

No to both.

peasblossom · Jun 02, 2011, 09:47:51

Ta.

peasblossom · Jun 21, 2011, 17:56:58

Right. To add to the collective wisdom (kind of... OK you already knew this stuff) my broadband has recovered. Noise margin in single figures, download and upload speeds up. 'How' I hear you ask. Well, erm, I used to switch the router off* so BT thought it had an unstable connection. So...

(*There are those who reckon it shouldn't matter whether you do this but it seems to have done in this case so on it stays.)

Rik · Jun 21, 2011, 17:58:11

It's definitely better never to give BT's DLM the chance to misinterpret.

Lance · Jun 21, 2011, 18:01:00

Its why we always advise to leave it on.

peasblossom · Jun 21, 2011, 18:06:15

Well I know that now!