Idnet speed has dropped badly!

Azazel · Nov 25, 2007, 16:49:35

Anyone else experiencing extreme speed drops and wild pings recently?

I been having a steady 550-600k downloads for months and months and in the last 2 -3 days its been down to 50k so just a little better than an analogue modem, im not on a red exchange, no other issues, my sync speed is still 6624kbps down with 834 up.

Line stats are the same as they have always been:

Operational Mode ADSL G.Dmt
Upstream 832 kbps
Downstream 6624 kbps
Noise Margin (Upstream) 9.0 db
Noise Margin (Downstream) 6.0 db
Attenuation (Upstream) 19.5 db
Attenuation (Downstream) 38.5 db

Emailed support but only a few hours ago so not expecting an answer till monday at least but its kinda frustrating. just checking in here if im not the only one?

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 16:54:15

My speeds are normal. Can you do a BT speed test and post the results, please. Also, have you checked the status of your exchange? http://usertools.plus.net/exchanges/

Azazel · Nov 25, 2007, 16:56:36

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange.php?ecode=LWHARR

Yeah i checked it with samknows, unfortunately the BT test account doesnt work for me at all it wont even load the speedtester when i login with it and when i use my idnet account it understandably blocks me out.

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 17:01:41

Quote from: Azazel on Nov 25, 2007, 16:56:36
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange.php?ecode=LWHARR

How about the link I gave you? I'm interested to know if the exchange is showing as red.

QuoteYeah i checked it with samknows, unfortunately the BT test account doesnt work for me at all it wont even load the speedtester when i login with it and when i use my idnet account it understandably blocks me out.

What URL are you using? If you haven't already, try http://test.speedtester.bt.com:50301/. You don't need to use the BT login, this works with the IDNet connection.

Azazel · Nov 25, 2007, 17:04:21

http://usertools.plus.net/exchanges/?exchange=Harrow&exact=456&plugin=vp

Shows green there too for the last 3 weeks worth of updates, there were a couple of red reports last month but not this month so far.

Tried your link for the speed tester i get a error that it cant load the page, an internal server error and i should contact BT support.

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 17:10:43

Quote from: Azazel on Nov 25, 2007, 17:04:21
Shows green there too for the last 3 weeks worth of updates, there were a couple of red reports last month but not this month so far.

BT don't always report problems, but hopefully that's one thing ruled out of the equation.

QuoteTried your link for the speed tester i get a error that it cant load the page, an internal server error and i should contact BT support.

Was that immediately, after entering your phone number or after entering your IDNet login info?

Azazel · Nov 25, 2007, 17:11:42

i enter the phone number click go and it errors the top bar still loads and shows a progress bar but the main page is just an internal server error.

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 17:13:22

That's usually a sign that it's busy.

Have you had any losses of sync that you know about? I'm wondering whether you've had a blip which has pushed your profile down. Does your router log disconnections?

Azazel · Nov 25, 2007, 17:15:00

i havent had a disconnect that i havent done myself when rebooting it for about 3 or 4 weeks and no it doesnt have a log as i reset the router earlier following the usual instructions (turn it off for 30 seconds and turn it back on to see if that fixes it)

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 17:16:29

What are your ping times to the BBC like. I've just achieved this, with interleaving on:

ping www.bbc.co.uk

Pinging www.bbc.net.uk [212.58.224.84] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 212.58.224.84: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=250
Reply from 212.58.224.84: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=250
Reply from 212.58.224.84: bytes=32 time=21ms TTL=250
Reply from 212.58.224.84: bytes=32 time=21ms TTL=250

Ping statistics for 212.58.224.84:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 21ms, Maximum = 22ms, Average = 21ms

I just noticed, no-one has given you a welcome karma. Very remiss of us. Sorted.

Azazel · Nov 25, 2007, 17:18:35

Here is my ping results (interleving off cos im using it for gaming, ping is king)

Pinging www.bbc.net.uk [212.58.251.201] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 212.58.251.201: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=249
Reply from 212.58.251.201: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=249
Reply from 212.58.251.201: bytes=32 time=9ms TTL=249
Reply from 212.58.251.201: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=249

Ping statistics for 212.58.251.201:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 9ms, Maximum = 12ms, Average = 10ms

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 17:22:20

They look OK. Is the speed issue consistent, or does it affect some sites but not others? IOW, are you getting a perceived slowness generally, or is it just that tester results have dropped?

Azazel · Nov 25, 2007, 17:24:46

i tried to download a fileplanet file (normally a good 600k a sec from those guys) and thats when it flagged to me i get anything from 7k to 190k and it rises and falls all the time, then i ran some speed tests, tried to download files from microsoft, Apple, Adobe basically a few places around and they are all the same, now it doesnt seem to affect gaming at all, ping is as normal just throughput is WAAAAAY down.

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 17:26:34

Without the profile information, we can't really do any more here. You may get a reply today, you certainly will tomorrow, but I'm afraid you really need IDNet at this point. Sorry.

(I take it you have checked for any suspicious activity on your machine?)

Azazel · Nov 25, 2007, 17:30:52

yeah i checked the processes running and i got a netstat monitor going also watching other network traffic and closed my wireless just to be sure no nasty little turd was using it

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 17:32:22

Well, that takes out everything I can think of... It needs someone at IDNet to take a look at the line and see what's happening.

Azazel · Nov 25, 2007, 17:33:02

i will keep trying the speedtest but i have never been able to get one to work ever so i dont hold much hope (im never home when it is most likely to function)

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 17:37:48

I used to say 5am was a good time, but these days it seems busy whenever you try it. It's a shame that users can't get their profile information any other way.

MoHux · Nov 25, 2007, 17:38:44

Quote from: Rik on Nov 25, 2007, 17:32:22
Well, that takes out everything I can think of... It needs someone at IDNet to take a look at the line and see what's happening.

Bet BT will say you need interleaving turned on!

Still, it will only add about 10 to your pings.

Azazel · Nov 25, 2007, 17:49:57

luckily i have Idnet as a filter to the stupidity, i have had interleaving off for about 18 months ever since i signed up i had it off 18 months before that so logically it cannot be due to interleaving being off that my speed suddenly drops

but i doubt that will stop BT from suggesting it

Oh and Rik thanks alot for all your suggestions, it is much appreciated, sometimes a fresh pair of eyes on a problem helps.

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 17:52:06

Glad to try and help. I'm all too familiar with the "nose pressed against the trees" syndrome.

thetrevone · Nov 25, 2007, 18:17:01

Azazel,
Just wanted you to know you are not alone, for over a year I have been getting a constant 6.8m speed test anytime of the day or night anyday of the week, but the last few days sometimes it's hard to get 680k.
Hope you get the BT speed tester to work, as it will show what the profile is set at, in my case its OK and like you I have checked wireless network which is protected with WPA and MAC. My IDnet usage figures show nothing out of the ordinary. Exchange shows green, checked antivirus, firewall etc.. I hope it's not contention! but such a change and all of a sudden that the strange bit.
Best of luck
Regards
Doug

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 18:19:12

Whereabouts are you? Az is in Harrow - I'm just wondering if it's a geographical thing. BT did some work recently which impacted heavily on people in the NE and around Edinburgh, for example.

Dear me, that's another welcome karma been missed. Redress mode.

thetrevone · Nov 25, 2007, 18:24:30

Hi Rik,
I am in Farnborough Kent Code: LSFARB
so within the M25 but diagonally opposite to Azazel
Best regards
Doug

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 18:27:44

Not necessarily ruled out, but I don't know enough about BT's geographic patterns to say one way or another. If you drop support an email, Doug, and point them at this thread, they can look for any common cause.

thetrevone · Nov 25, 2007, 18:30:44

Hi Rik
Will do
Regards
Doug

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 18:31:20

I'd be interested to hear how you get on. Good luck.

anz1066 · Nov 25, 2007, 18:37:57

just a thought, but have you checked your wireless settings. maybe someone is stealing your bandwidth. some guy got nicked a month or so ago

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 18:40:18

Thanks for the thought. Az certainly has switched it off to eliminate the possibility. I hate mysteries.

thetrevone · Nov 25, 2007, 18:54:13

Anz 1066

In my case, over and above the WPA key they would have to know or find, they would have to add their access control address to my router and I know that the ones that are there are mine. so I am as confident as I can be that the wireless network is secure.
Regards
Doug
PS
Rik I have emailed IDnet now.

Rik · Nov 25, 2007, 18:55:40

Quote from: thetrevone on Nov 25, 2007, 18:54:13
Rik I have emailed IDnet now.

Thanks.

Azazel · Nov 26, 2007, 21:24:14

had a chat with Miriam at Idnet, still couldnt get onto the speed test, but miraculously as if by magic speed is back to normal operation (570k a sec download from file planet gig in under 20 minutes) dont know what happened guess it was just a blip in the service.

Will monitor it and thanks to those that posted advice! hope everyone else is back to normal excellent service.

thetrevone · Nov 26, 2007, 22:28:08

Spooky, mine too has gone back to normal. I have not been at home all day so first time I could try A test was this evening. I had an email from Miriam to check the obvious, (I have been known to miss the obvious on a regular basis). I will keep checking over the next few days just in case, Last night Youtube froze every two seconds. You forget when you have had a good connection for so long, what a bad connection is like.
Regards
Doug

Lance · Nov 26, 2007, 22:31:47

Glads it's all working ok for both of you, and you've both had the pleasure of the wonderful Miriam!

I wonder if BT have been causing trouble, but i guess we will never know!

Rik · Nov 26, 2007, 23:46:56

Good news, guys. Miriam has probably kicked someone at BT until they put things right - she's very tenacious is Miriam.

thetrevone · Nov 27, 2007, 07:23:54

The mention of the name was probably enough

Regards
Doug

Rik · Nov 27, 2007, 08:53:57

Quote from: thetrevone on Nov 27, 2007, 07:23:54
The mention of the name was probably enough

How right you are, Doug. Senior BT managers pale when they know Miriam is on the phone - some have even been known to take early retirement.