Moving to IDNet...

[Wivelrod]

Hello there!

I've just put a MAC request in with my ISP. I've found the service from them rather disappointing, especially since they began throttling connections or what ever it is.

I've been doing a fair bit of research on various ISPs and IDNet seems to fit my needs. My pre-dominant use for the net is gaming, mostly MMOGs. I apply to and play most MMOG Beta's. And I'm a keen amateur photographer and I sometimes upload very large prints (that no one ever buys ).

So I'm looking for an ISP that has good reliability, decent latency (though I don't play many "twitch" games only so the best ping isn't totally necessary), that doesn't grind to a halt in the evening (when I'm most likely to be patching which ever mmo I'm currently addicted too!) and has a support line that is actually answered instead of either ringing for 30 minutes, stuck in a queue, or simply engaged! And because of the need to upload some large files to the net, a good upload speed.

I'm therefore considering the Home SuperMax service.

Anyway, enough about why...I have a couple of questions.

1. Is my above logic sound?

2. I've never migrated ISP before. How much downtime can I expect?

3. Where are all the whining complaints about IDNET...try as I might I cant find any! Is it a consipracy?

4. My real concern... With my current ISP I've seen speeds up to 650kb/s download on a sunday morning, which often drops to between 1 and 2 Mbit in the evenings. However, recently the speeds have been constantly below 1Mbit 24 hours a day. I suspect I may have a problem on the line. I've tried bouncing the router but all that did was drop the "connection speed" a couple of hundred kpps.

Current router stats - do they look reasonable?

Connection Speed
Downstream: 5984 kbps
Upstream: 448 kbps

Line Attenuation
Downstream: 43.0 db
Upstream: 25.0 db

Noise Margin
Downstream: 9.0 db
Upstream: 20.0 db

My exchange (THOK) is rated as Green, so it shouldn't be exchange congestion.

Being I've just requested a MAC (I'm leaving them regardless of this current issue anyway), I don't expect my ISP to give a rats hind quarters about my problem...I guess I've lost confidence in them. So I'm probably going to forget about this issue until I've moved to IDNET.

In the mean time, does this sound like a stuck profile? I've just tried the BT Speedtester and all it reports is my download is 821 kilo bits per second (Kbps), and no mention of what profile I'm on.

Am I right to sit tight until I've migrated? It's annoying, but I can live with it for now (after, I was on 64kpbs ISDN for years ). I mean, it only took 13 hours to download a new MMOG beta yesterday

Thanks in advance - and btw, nice forums. They have definately contributed to my decision to move to IDNet

[DaveH]

I've just moved in here from, I suspect, the same ISP you are currently with.

I have been amazed at the consistently high speeds and reliability of my connection since I jumped ship. It's the best ISP I've come across, and I should know, I've followed a few! (Copyright Python (Monty) productions - Karma to the first person to name the movie)

And added to that the fact I am now paying £9 a month LESS than before for a service better by a factor of 10, I am a very happy bunny.

Come on in, the water's lovely!

[Lance]

Welcome to the forum, Wivelrod

1. Is my above logic sound?

Looks good to me!
Home supermax has the higher upload speed which will make your photo uploads a little quicker.

With support, you normally get someone answer the phone within a few rings. They are all very knowledgeable and bend over backwards to help.

IDNet do not throttle, or in any other way restrict your line, so the slow downs you're currently experiencing should become a thing of the past.

2. I've never migrated ISP before. How much downtime can I expect?

How quickly can you change the login details in your router?

3. Where are all the whining complaints about IDNET...try as I might I cant find any! Is it a consipracy?

You can't them because we are all happy with IDNet! You'll soon start complaining that you haven't got anything to complain about!

4. My real concern... With my current ISP I've seen speeds up to 650kb/s download on a sunday morning, which often drops to between 1 and 2 Mbit in the evenings. However, recently the speeds have been constantly below 1Mbit 24 hours a day. I suspect I may have a problem on the line. I've tried bouncing the router but all that did was drop the "connection speed" a couple of hundred kpps.

Current router stats - do they look reasonable?

Connection Speed
Downstream: 5984 kbps
Upstream: 448 kbps

Line Attenuation
Downstream: 43.0 db
Upstream: 25.0 db

Noise Margin
Downstream: 9.0 db
Upstream: 20.0 db

My exchange (THOK) is rated as Green, so it shouldn't be exchange congestion.

Well, you have a good sync, but there is an indication of a (possibly past) fault on the line as your noise margin has been increased to 9db (from the default 6db).

Being I've just requested a MAC (I'm leaving them regardless of this current issue anyway), I don't expect my ISP to give a rats hind quarters about my problem...I guess I've lost confidence in them. So I'm probably going to forget about this issue until I've moved to IDNET.

In the mean time, does this sound like a stuck profile? I've just tried the BT Speedtester and all it reports is my download is 821 kilo bits per second (Kbps), and no mention of what profile I'm on.

It could well be a stuck profile. Did you run the newer BT speedtester which should give you your profile?

 

Am I right to sit tight until I've migrated? It's annoying, but I can live with it for now (after, I was on 64kpbs ISDN for years ). I mean, it only took 13 hours to download a new MMOG beta yesterday

That's a choice only you can make! But you can make it safe in the knowledge that once you're on IDNet that they will get a stuck profile cleared as quickly as BT can do it!

and btw, nice forums. They have definitely contributed to my decision to move to IDNet

Thanks! Glad we could help!

[Inactive]

Welcome aboard Wivelrod.

[cavillas]

Welcome Wivelrod?  I have managed to get my son to migrate to IDNet from Plusnet after months of badgering.  He is a software developer and needs a reliable connection.  He has only been here a couple of days but already his speeds have increased, he is never knocked off line and he says that everything is working smoother, more consistantly and just a better experience all round.

His only problem now is to get his young son to stop waching streaming videos of hsi favourite cartoons, I don't think IDnet can help with that though.

[Rik]

They could, Cav - second account on second phone line. 

[Wivelrod]

Thanks all, really helpful indeed!

I'm pretty sure I used the correct link to the BT Speedtester (I got it from the excellent FAQ post at the top of this forum), yet it didn't ask for any user name credentials despite the front page saying it would after entering my Phone Number and hitting GO. The results page merely gave me a download speed, some "acceptable" download speeds for different ADSL connections and instructions to log out and change my modem to use my ISPs account.

Basically it looked like I had the correct initial page but was being directed to the old results page after running the test.

Awaiting my MAC eagerly  8)

[Rik]

Odd. Are you with an unbundled supplier at the moment? Unless it was having a bad hair day, the tester should have asked for your login details. But then, it does come from BT.

Welcome to the forum.

[Lance]

I wonder if the issue of people being redirected to the old speedtester has come up again?

[Rik]

It's always possible, Lance, I'll go and see if it will talk to me...

[Rik]

It's working normally:

Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test:  -provides background information.
    IP profile for your line is - 2500 kbps
    DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM)  3200 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
    Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 2318 kbps

I only post the result so that people can feel sorry for me.

[Wivelrod]

Odd. Are you with an unbundled supplier at the moment? Unless it was having a bad hair day, the tester should have asked for your login details. But then, it does come from BT.

Welcome to the forum.

Nope, my exchange isn't LLU'd yet.

I'll try again tonight after clearing browser cache and see if there's a difference.

Thanks for the welcome

[Rik]

Happy hunting. The BT tester usually works best first thing in the morning, if you can check then.

[Inactive]

I only post the result so that people can feel sorry for me.

    IP profile for your line is - 7150 kbps
    DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM)  8128 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
    Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 5315 kbps

[Rik]

That throughput is low for your profile. I think you need to tweak!! 

[Inactive]

That throughput is low for your profile. I think you need to tweak!! 

I know Rik, it is just as it comes, but you know I am one of these " If it aint broke " types.. 

[Rik]

Looking at the throughput, though, I'd say it was broke. Mind you, I'd be happy enough with that speed! 

[Inactive]

Looking at the throughput, though, I'd say it was broke. Mind you, I'd be happy enough with that speed! 

Nah, it's fine for my needs, you are just a tinker at heart.

Actually it usually shows up a bit higher than that, but it is fine at that.

[Kheldar]

Welcome aboard Wivelrod.

i'm a new customer to about a month ago after a horrendous time with a colour company....

seems great so far and the forums rock 

It's working normally:

Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test:  -provides background information.
    IP profile for your line is - 2500 kbps
    DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM)  3200 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
    Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 2318 kbps

I only post the result so that people can feel sorry for me.

i'll post mine later Rik and you can damn feel even sorrier for me 

[Rik]

It will be nice to see a line that is worse than mine! 

[Rik]

you are just a tinker at heart.

It's the Celtic blood... 

[Kheldar]

It will be nice to see a line that is worse than mine! 

i cant agree more and i look forward to seeing one 

[Wivelrod]

 

I applied for my MAC last night...and it arrived this afternoon. They seem eager to get rid of me 

Home SuperMax ordered!

[Rik]

Great news, we look forward to having you on board. Have a karma to celebrate. 

[Kheldar]

try this for size....

ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 1920 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 51 db 15.5 db
Noise Margin 2147483647 db 24 db

[Rik]

Well, it's the negative noise that's killing your profile. I'd expect you to be able to hit a 3000kbps profile with that attenuation. Really, it's down to tracking through your own wiring to make sure it's not the cause, and when you're sure it's clean, getting support to get BT to check the line.

[Wivelrod]

Curiouser and Curiouser.

So just did a router reboot, and reconnected with:

Connection Speed: Down    6144 kbps  Up 448 kbps
Line Attenuation: Down    43.0 db  Up 25.0 db
Noise Margin: Down 8.9 db   Up 21.0 db

A speed test once again locked at 1 mbit
.

And the BT Speedtester now gives me:

Unexpected result received when querying the network to find your services connection details. Please try again shortly, but if this problem persists raise the issue with your service provider.

(Could this be because a migration is now in progress?)

I seem to be capped at 1 mbit! Every speed test I've down these past few days no matter what time of day it is, is consistently around the 1 mbit mark.

Guess I'll see how the migration affects me

[Rik]

It's entirely possible that your current ISP has you on a Max service but then throttles your connection. From memory, Tiscali used to do this I think, and possibly AOL (grey cells in hibernation this morning!).

It looks like your target noise margin has been raised to 9db, which suggests a history of noise and instability on the line.

[Wivelrod]

It looks like your target noise margin has been raised to 9db, which suggests a history of noise and instability on the line.

Yes, there was. When I first got max I had all sorts of issues with disconnections and fluctuating speeds. Noise in the day would go up to 14db and down to 8db in the evening (with constant disconnects). I raised several support calls which seemed to point the finger at BT, however it did stabilise after a few weeks. Since then 2 Sky boxes (including Sky+) has been moved to second line in the house, which might have been the cause of some noise in the first place. In the last 6 months or so I've had very few disconnections at all.

[Rik]

It would be worth taking a look at your internal wiring. If you have an NTE5 master socket, can you move the router to it, and connect using the test socket behind the faceplate? If this shows a significant improvement in sync speed, then your wiring is an issue which should be addressed. In particular, ensure that the bell wire, on terminal three, is disconnected at all sockets.

[Wivelrod]

Yey, migration happened today as promised

Speeds have increased, but only to:


Sync now:
Connection Speed: 7104 kbps down, 832 kbps up
Line Attenuation: 43.0 db down, 25.0 db up
Noise Margin: 9.1 db down, 8.0 db up

I also took the face plate of the socket and connected to the hidden one, sync was:
Connection Speed: 7072 kbps down, 832 kbps up
Line Attenuation: 43.0 db down, 25.0 db up
Noise Margin: 9.1 db down, 9.0 db up

No change on the noise margin then...

I've been told it might take a few days for the speeds to sort themselves out though. At least I'm getting better than I was on the old ISP already

Oh, and the BT Speedtester is still erroring, maybe that needs time to work too.

[Rik]

Welcome aboard.

Your use of the test socket indicates your internal wiring is not an issue (practically identical results). Clearly there is a profile issue at the moment, which will require some patience, but your u/s rate is low for a premium product. It would be worth perservering with the BT tester, and try the one at ThinkBroadband and/or Namesco, just to eliminate issues with the testers.

[Lance]

Welcome to our happy place

I've been told it might take a few days for the speeds to sort themselves out though. At least I'm getting better than I was on the old ISP already

It takes, in theory, three full days for your profile to rise to match your sync speed. his assumes no low sync events though.

[Wivelrod]

Welcome to our happy place

It takes, in theory, three full days for your profile to rise to match your sync speed. his assumes no low sync events though.

That makes sense, thanks for the help guys

[Lance]

No problem! Enjoy your connection!