speed tests using speedtouch 330 modem

[Bud]

Hi all.
I'm new having migrated over from Orange on 6-07-07. I'm on HomeLite package. Got my speedtouch modem set up for use on over 8 meg and have done some speed tests which range from 276kbs to 614kbs. Do I need to wait a certain period of time or is there anything I can do now to improve things?

[Inactive]

Welcome Bud, I can't answer your question, but somebody certainly will in a short time.

[Rik]

Welcome to the forum, Bud.

You may be in a re-training period, in which case you will have to wait for 10 days for things to stabilise. Support would be able to tell you whether this was the case.

Other issues which will affect your speed are your IP profile (which you can find by running a BT speed test), congestion at your local exchange, server load at the speed tester sites, and 'local' noise, ie noise pickup by your internal phone wiring.

Do you have an NTE5 master socket, the type where the bottom half of the faceplate can be removed? If you do, can you connect using the test socket which that reveals. If your figures there (sync speed/noise margin) are better than where you normally use the modem, you can probably do some work to improve your connection.

Finally, if you can make the move to a router, you will help yourself a little, while gaining better security.

[Bud]

Thanks. I'll wait a while then to see if things improve. No haven't got an NTE5.

[Rik]

Can you post your line stats (attenuation, sync speed, noise margin)? We can then give you an idea of what your line should be capable of.

[Bud]

I've just started a BT speed test and they ask for further confirmation (my idnet user login name) is this correct?  "speedtester.bt.com"

[Rik]

Yes, it will ask for your phone number, then your login.

[Bud]

Couldn't complete the test due to an error, says they're busy and to try later.


"Can you post your line stats (attenuation, sync speed, noise margin)? We can then give you an idea of what your line should be capable of."

Is this given by the BTspeed test? If not how do I get them? Sorry I'm not more savvy on this lot!

[Rik]

No, the line stats aren't given by the BT test, you can get them by following the procedure given here. They are down towards the end of the file produced.

The BT tester does get busy, it's usually easiest to get on first thing in the morning, but it's definitely a cse of "patience is a virtue."

[MoHux]

I've just started a BT speed test and they ask for further confirmation (my idnet user login name) is this correct?  "speedtester.bt.com"

Apologies to Rik if I am wrong, but I obviously read Buds post differently. 

Your IdNet user login name is; "Budorwhatever@uk.idnet.dsl4".  NOT "speedtester.bt.com"

Welcome to IDNet and the forum Bud. 

[Bud]

Ok people.
I've just downloaded and installed the latest drivers for speedtouch 330 for up to 8meg use.

Installed Dr Speedtouch and here are the stats:
ReceiveAttenuation_dB31
ReceiveMargin_dB6
RxOutputPower_dBm0
SendAttenuation_dB19
SendMargin_dB12

Also did a speed test with a few sites but here are the details for the test with BT:

IP profile for your line is - 2500 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM)  3776 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 2308 kbps

Would be much appreciated if anyone could explain what these figures mean.

Thanks.

[Rik]

Hi Bud

You have a downstream (d/s) or receive attenuation of 31db, which is good, for this figure small is good. By contrast, my attenuation is 56db, however, at the moment, it makes no difference as we are on the same profile.

Your d/s noise margin is 6db, which is the target for Max lines. However, you are only achieving a sync speed of 3776, which is lower than I would expect. That may indicate that your internal wiring needs some attention. In addition, the profile you are on is low, for the sync speed you have, it should be 3000.

The combination of those two figures makes me believe that you have had some instability on your line, which the BT line management software has seen and it has then lowered your profile.

Are you aware of having lost the connection while you've been using it (flashing light on the frog or an inability to connect to the web)?

The other thing I note is that your u/s (or send) noise margin is much lower than I would expect for your line, I get 21db on mine.

How is the phone wiring run in your house, ie do you have a number of extensions and are you connected to one of them? What other equipment is on the lines, phones, Sky boxes etc?

[Lance]

Hi Bud,

Basically, you have a sync speed of 3776kbps which, for your Attenuation of 31db, I would say is a bit low.

For the sync speed you do have, you should have a profile of 3000kpbs. It may be that you have had a low-sync event within the last three days, and that your profile will soon rise to where it should be. However, it may also be an indication of a small problem on the line somewhere.

One thing I would suggest is that you remove the ring wire from all of the telephone sockets, always plugged into terminal 3, normally orange/white. All this wire does these days is collect noise and relay it onto your connection, which isn't good! Removing this sometimes yields more speed and normally more stability from the line.

Edit: Rk just beat me!!! 

[Bud]

Thanks, you guys are incedibly helpful here.

I am on an extention yes. I put all the phone connections in myself and all are only using 2 cables throught the house to each extension. Cabling is alarm cable which is fine. I have only one phone upstairs and one downstairs. One computer downstairs as well using also a speedtouch 330 (but only one pc in use at any one time) all filters are ok.

I'll see how things go over the next couple of weeks. I'm not too bothered about a huge increase in speed as I don't download films or music etc but if I can have pages load and send my work docs without waiting for the sun to burn out and us enter a new ice age then I'll be happy!

Once again thanks for the leg up!

[Rik]

Hi Bud

Alarm cable isn't normally twisted-pair is it? If so, you will be picking up noise on those extensions. The other thing which struck me is that you need to have only one modem connected at a time, even if it's not powered up, a second modem can have a negative effect on the line.

Good luck.

[Bud]

Alarm cable is stranded wire. I've noticed that if both pcs are on and the modems are plugged in then I cannot get online but if only one pc is switched on with the other being off and the modem still plugged in then it's fine.

Are you saying that the pc that is off should have its modem unplugged to improve things?

One other thing is that my phone line enters the house and is connected through my electrics cupboard housing the consumer units etc. Would this have a substantial effect due to possible induction?

[Rik]

Hi Bud

Being stranded isn't the issue, but if the pairs are not twisted (and talking to my alarm engineer the other day, he said that they weren't on the cable he uses) then the wiring is much more susceptible to noise pickup, as the cable acts as a giant antenna (ADSL operates in the MW band).

Generally, it's considered best to disconnect the second modem from the line, but you can check whether it's having an effect by establishing the connection and noting the sync speed and noise margin, then disconnect the second modem and see if the noise margin increases. If it does, then you can re-sync the modem and you should obtain a higher sync speed. Have you thought about using a router? This will give you improved security and, probably, a better line speed and stability. You could run an ethernet cable from the router to the second PC, this doesn't degrade the ADSL connection.

Having the phone line near mains power isn't ideal but is fairly common practice. The thing to try and avoid is having the phone and power cables running parallel to each other.