speed problems

bmg777 · Sep 04, 2007, 00:10:48

Hi, I am new here just migrated from Orange and went live on Friday, I have a couple of issues that maybe some one can help with.
I have two laptops and a PC, checking the speeds with http://www.speedtest.net/summary.php
One laptop is wireless enabled using a Netgear DG 834G, it attains speeds of around 4000 kbs, (can be up to 4500 or down to 3000) I was getting up to 4900 kbs with Orange.
The Second laptop will only attain speeds of around 1000 kbs plus/minus, this is using the Netgear router and a wireless card in the PCIMA slot.
The PC is using a Thomson's 330 speedtouch modem and will also only show speeds of around 1000 kbs.
This is not just a problem since I joined IDNet as it was the same with Orange.
I have ran AVG antivirus and spyware, ran various programs to optimize the registry, cleaned the disc, defraged, ran CCcleaner and done system restore with no improvement.........any one got any suggestions?
I joined IDNet as I had heard they were second to none with their support and although they were very helpful with the initial settings and email set up I am a little disappointed regarding help with the other issues.
The best they could offer was to say check the router for the latest drivers (done) and check for spyware/virus (done) other wise they don't know
The main reason I left Orange was I was getting random disconnections (lasted for a few seconds) but could be very frequent.
I am still getting the occasional disconnection although not nearly as bad as Orange but this has not really become a problem yet.
Sorry for the long post but if anyone has any suggestions I would be grateful but please, not too technical language as I'm not very computer literate.
Regards Brian

MoHux · Sep 04, 2007, 00:43:28

Hello Brian. Welcome to IDNet and the forum!

I am sorry you are having troubles, but if it's any consolation you have come to the right place to get help. You will find we have a nucleus of people who will try their hardest to solve any problems.
Because of the late hour you are probably going to have to wait till morning though I am afraid.

In the meantime it may help for you to read the 'Help' threads in this forum. there is a wealth of material there, designed for those with only basic knowledge (Like me!!

).

I hope you continue with the forum after your problems are corrected, and look forward to seeing you again.

Best wishes,

Mo

Den · Sep 04, 2007, 08:32:25

Hi Brian, Great big welcome to idnet, the place were everybody ends up happy. You will find idnet support and this forum will go to great lengths to help you. While you are waiting have welcome karma.

Lance · Sep 04, 2007, 08:42:18

Hi Brian.

First of all, before we can help we need to know some more details from you. Firstly, can you run a BT speed test and post the results here. Secondly, you need to obtain the stats from your router (sync speeds, noise margins and attenuation). Once we have this information, we may be able to start helping you.

You may also want to have a look at this, paying particular attention to the bit about removing the ring wire.

One thing I notice from your post is that you have a router for the laptops, but still use a modem for the PC? I guess this means that you have to unplug one to use the other?

Thanks
Lance

bmg777 · Sep 04, 2007, 19:44:00

Hi, thanks for the welcome and the replies.
Following are the results of the BT tests and I have included a speedtest.net test I did after each BT test. I have not had time to check for the ring main wire yet but I do not think there is a problem with the BB line. I think the problem lies with the Toshiba laptop and the PC. The PC used to be quite fast but now its slow even to boot up and off line it is also slow.
It does get faster after it has been running for a while, I have been considering reinstalling windows, do you think it would help?
I don't really use the PC very much and yes I have to disconnect the router from the line and plug in the 330 modem if I want to use the PC.
The Toshiba laptop has been slow since I installed XP pro but it does not have a great deal memory and only has about 1GB of space on the disc, its just a standby in case I ever need it.
Rrgards Brian.

TESTS ON FS LAPTOP
IP profile for your line is - 4000 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 5984 kbps(DOWN STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 3757 kbps

RESULTS SPEEDTEST.NET
download 3783 kbps
upload 381 kbps
==============================================================
TESTS ON TOSH LAPTOP
IP profile for your line is - 4000 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 6144 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 3739 kbps

RESULTS SPEEDTEST.NET
download 1412 kbps
upload 372 kbps
=============================================================
TESTS ON PC
IP profile for your line is - 4000 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 5216 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 3348 kbp

RESULTS SPEEDTEST.NET
download 759 kbps
upload 380 kbps
=============================================================

ROUTER SPECS
ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 6144 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 42 db 26 db
Noise Margin 3 db 22 db

Lance · Sep 05, 2007, 08:24:03

Quote from: bmg777 on Sep 04, 2007, 19:44:00
I don't really use the PC very much and yes I have to disconnect the router from the line and plug in the 330 modem if I want to use the PC.

Really, if you're using a router you should leave that plugged in all the time and connect the PC to the router. This will help create a more stable connection.

Quote
TESTS ON FS LAPTOP
IP profile for your line is - 4000 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 5984 kbps(DOWN STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 3757 kbps

RESULTS SPEEDTEST.NET
download 3783 kbps
upload 381 kbps
==============================================================
TESTS ON TOSH LAPTOP
IP profile for your line is - 4000 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 6144 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 3739 kbps

RESULTS SPEEDTEST.NET
download 1412 kbps
upload 372 kbps
=============================================================
TESTS ON PC
IP profile for your line is - 4000 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 5216 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 3348 kbp

RESULTS SPEEDTEST.NET
download 759 kbps
upload 380 kbps
=============================================================

Well, from the three tests we can tell quite a few things. Firstly, between using the router and modem, there is quite a large change in sync speed. This, most likely is going to be due to noise on the line, probably from your internal wiring.
Secondly, the speedtest.net servers are getting overloaded - you're on the same connection and same profile in all three tests, yet the speedtest gives totally different results. I feel you should ignore these and look only at the throughput from the BT speedtests.
Thirdly, it would seem the PC/modem is causing a slowdown. The throughput result for the two laptops is pretty similar, and not too far from what you would expect on the 4000kbps profile. However, on the same profile on the PC it is a fair bit slower. Chances are either some tweaking of MTU/RWIN is needed on the PC, or it is just slow (as you describe) and in need of a clean start.

Quote
ROUTER SPECS
ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 6144 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 42 db 26 db
Noise Margin 3 db 22 db

From these, you can see that your noise margin is falling below the default of 6db, due to increased noise on the line. It is probably because of this increased noise that you have later resynced at 5216kbps.

I think the next steps, as far as the laptops are concerned, would be to try and eliminate your internal wiring by plugging into the BT test socket, which is behind the lower third of the BT master socket. If you then record your stats when plugged into both the test socket and your usual socket and post here, we'll take a look. You may benefit from some tweaking of the MTU and RWIN figures. Details of how to do this are in the FAQ thread at the top of the help board.

If you do have the ring wire connected, a few people have sorted their noise problems by disconnecting it and therefore this is something you should do sooner rather than later to help gain a steady connection.

I hope this helps, Brian.

MoHux · Sep 05, 2007, 17:48:03

An extremely good analysis, well explained Lance!! 8)

Karmic in fact.

Rik · Sep 05, 2007, 17:50:08

I thought so too, Mo.

Lance · Sep 05, 2007, 22:36:30

Thanks very much guys! Very much appreciated.

bmg777 · Sep 06, 2007, 19:19:07

Hi Lance,
Thanks taking the time to give such a comprehensive explaination and the suggestions for fixing, even I who is a computer illiterate understood it (well more or less)
I got the time and checked for the ring wire......it was connected as per the pic. so I have disconnected it as you suggest.
Next I have ran the BT tests with the router connected into the inside connection in the BT box (test socket?)
Here are the results, but why is my IP profile now only 2500....what does this mean?
Thanks for the help,
Regards Brian

Results FS laptop

Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test: -provides background information.
IP profile for your line is - 2500 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 7200 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 2330 kbps

==================================================================================================================================

Results Tosh Lptop

Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test: -provides background information.
IP profile for your line is - 2500 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 7168 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 2333 kbps

======================================================================================================================================

Router specs

ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 7168 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 42 db 26 db
Noise Margin 4 db 23 db

Lance · Sep 06, 2007, 20:01:24

Disconnecting the ring wire and/or using the test socket has certainly helped - you are now synced about 1mb higher than previously.

Now to explain why your profile has fallen...
Basically, BT set a default target noise margin of 6db (downstream). If there is more noise on the line, then to ensure this target margin sync speed is reduced, and visa versa if there is less noise on the line there is more margin and it can increase sync speed (to lower the margin again). Please note that your sync speed is determined at time of connection, and dependant on the noise at that particular moment.

Depending on the sync speed you have, it dictates which profile you go on to. A high sync speed will result in a high profile, and visa versa. The reason your profile has dropped is because you have at some point connected at a low sync speed, caused by increased noise on the line (or more than 10 disconnects within an hour). Unfortunately, the BT software used for determining your profile isn't great, and whilst drops in profile can take minutes, increases can take up to 5 days. Hopefully, it will see that you have had a big jump between whatever the low sync was and your current sync and it will use its 'blip logic' to raise your profile more quickly.

Well, now I bet your wondering what you can do now! Are the above stats both taken from the test socket? And did you disconnect the router between tests? If they are from the test socket, and you didn't disconnect between them then I suggest you speak to support and ask them to test your line. The reason for this is because between the two tests, your sync changed which only happens when a new connection is negotiated (ie you lost sync between tests, probably due to noise).

You also need to make sure that anything (including sky boxes) connected to the phone line do so through a filter.

I would suggest that you monitor the connection, recording any change in noise margin and sync speeds, for an hour or two tonight while plugged into the test socket. If you don't notice any disconnections and the noise margin doesn't drop to, maybe 2 or 3, then it would seem the problem is definitely within your internal wiring (although removing the ring wire may have significantly helped). Again, if you are still experiencing several disconnections, then ask support to test your line. If it seems ok, then replace the faceplate and monitor for the next couple of hours.

If you post any stats you take here, I'm happy to take a look.

Hope this is of help.

Lance