New To This ADSL Max Malarky

[wonder woman]

I Joined ID Net last monday and so far am very impressed.

My knowledge of computers is limited to say the least so I was wondering if somebody could answer the following question for me. My line will only support 2.5 megabits per second and I am using a speedtouch USB modem. I have recorded several BT speed tests and the actual IP Rate I have been getting is between 2355-2375 (my IP Profile is 2500). Would I be correct in thinking that this is quite good as my line only supports 2.5?

Also I have kept connected to the internet during the day and into the evening but the connection has dropped once a day usually at about 9-10pm. On ADSL Max is losing your connection just once a day pretty good? Also, is it ok to turn the computer off at night (not sure how this 10 day thing works).

Finally do you think once things have settled down it would be best to invest in a router and how easy are they to set up (remembering that my knowledge of computers is very very limited).

Sorry about all the questions.     

[Philip]

  wonder woman, one of the techys will be along shortly an will answer your questions better than I can.

All I can say is that disconnections are not uncommon during the training period, yes it's OK to turn you PC off overnight, and I would highly recommend getting a router, they are very easy to set up, the instructions are idiot proof, even I set one up.

Don't worry about asking questions, that is what the forum is for

[Noreen]

  wonder woman, have a karma.

[Simon]

  WW, have another   I can only echo what Doc said, what Doc said, but some techies will be about later on. 

[Ray]

  and Idnet and yet another 

[Lance]

Welcome to IDNet and the forum!

My knowledge of computers is limited to say the least so I was wondering if somebody could answer the following question for me. My line will only support 2.5 megabits per second and I am using a speedtouch USB modem. I have recorded several BT speed tests and the actual IP Rate I have been getting is between 2355-2375 (my IP Profile is 2500). Would I be correct in thinking that this is quite good as my line only supports 2.5?

The theoretical maximum on a 2500 profile, once overheads have been allowed for, is going to be aroun 2400, so what you have been getting is fine

Also I have kept connected to the internet during the day and into the evening but the connection has dropped once a day usually at about 9-10pm. On ADSL Max is losing your connection just once a day pretty good? Also, is it ok to turn the computer off at night (not sure how this 10 day thing works).

The connection is more likely to drop in the evening/night as this is when there is more electrical noise about. It is indeed fine to turn off the computer at night, but try not to turn it on/off too many times during the day as BT's equipment in the exchange may take it to be a fault.

Finally do you think once things have settled down it would be best to invest in a router and how easy are they to set up (remembering that my knowledge of computers is very very limited).

Without a doubt, a router is certainly worth getting. Depending on which one you buy, it should be a doddle to set up. Normally netgear DG834 or speedtouch ST585 (I think) routers are recommended. If you don't feel confident at all, you can buy a netgear router directly from IDNet who will set it up for you so all you have to do is plug it in! The benefit of the router is that it should give greater stability on your line (and may stop the connection dropping each night), you can easily extract your stats from the router (which we can look at to see if your line is performing well), and it reduces the work your computer has to do when using a modem.

Sorry about all the questions.    

It's what we are here for 

[Sebby]

You'd be correct in thinking that your throughput is absolutely fine for your IP profile.

Losing your connection once a day is fine, but it should really be the case. As Lance mentions, a router would be better. Firstly, in addition to the daily resync you mentioned, your modem will be sync'ing with the exchange each time you switch your computer on and off. The danger is that the exchange will think that your line is unstable and increase your target SNRM (Signal-to-Noise Ratio Margin). What this does is cause your modem or router to sync lower to achieve more stability. This could've happened already. If you let us know the make and model of modem, we might be able to tell you how to get the line stats.

Do you have a NTE5 master socket? If so, could you remove the front plate (be careful as the extension wiring will be connected to this plate, so just let it dangle) and connect your modem to the socket behind. This is the test socket, and it eliminates internal wiring (which is often at fault for picking up noise, hence reducing your sync). Then let us know what speed you sync at. If there's an improvement, your internal wiring is to blame and we can make suggestions for the long term.

I hope this helps.

[wonder woman]

Thanks everybody for your replies.

As suggested I will be purchasing a router next week. Sebby the make of the modem is a Alcatel Speed Touch USB but unfortunately I'm not sure what model number it is and I no longer have the box (it is the frog shape style). Yes I do have a NTE5 master socket and will do the test you suggested.

No doubt I will be back on here with some questions in the near future! 

[Malc]

Have another  from me 

[Rik]

Hi Wonder Woman and welcome to the forum. Lance and Sebby have covered most of you questions, so I'll do the outstanding bit.

Chances are you have a Speedtouch 330 frog, the details on how to extract the stats can be found here:

http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/frogstats.htm

[Sebby]

It will be interesting to see your connection rate from the test socket; sometimes it can make a huge difference.

[LesD]

Have a  and a  from me too. 

[J!ll]

  

[wonder woman]

Got a router this afternoon and managed to set it up (miracles do happen!) 

[Sebby]

Great news. 

(Who's the karma for, incidentally?)

[Philip]

Got a router this afternoon and managed to set it up (miracles do happen!) 

we'll make you an expert yet, well done 

[wonder woman]

Help I spoke to soon I seem to lost alot of speed all of a sudden.  When the router connected first time its was the same as before but now it has dropped quite alot.  I will try and copy and paste the last few results.  The router is a Netgear DG834 Wired.  Have made sure all the connections are in ok.  Will I have to make any adjustments to things like the mtu.

3/8/2008 5:02 PM GMT 91.135.11.146 1921 kb/s 383 kb/s 41 ms Maidenhead ~ 50 mi Open 
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3/8/2008 4:57 PM GMT 91.135.11.146 1447 kb/s 381 kb/s 41 ms Maidenhead ~ 50 mi Open 
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3/8/2008 4:54 PM GMT 91.135.11.146 1580 kb/s 381 kb/s 42 ms Maidenhead ~ 50 mi Open 
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3/8/2008 4:21 PM GMT 91.135.11.146 2435 kb/s 382 kb/s 41 ms Maidenhead ~ 50 mi Open 

The 4.21pm was when we first connected with the router.  Cant get the bt speedtest to work as it keeps coming up with error message.

I expect you will want line stats but I haven't a clue how to get them from the router.  Thought I was being to clever.  Please help someone.

[Rik]

OK, login into the router by typing http://192.168.0.1 into the browser address bar, enter the password (default is username: admin, password: password - if you haven't already, change that password. On the screen displayed, click on the show stats button. The figures we need are the downstream sync speed, attenuation and noise margin.

TBH, the variation in those speed tests look like a typical speed test site.

[wonder woman]

Rik

Hope this is right

Connection Speed 4064 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 53 db 15.5 db
Noise Margin 4 db 20 db

[Rik]

Those are they. You're just into 3500k profile territory, but with a low margin, I suspect you've had a few re-syncs and will probably drop lower tonight.

How many phone sockets do you have, what else is plugged into them, eg Sky box, phones etc? Have you tried removing the ring wire from every socket (terminal 3)?

Have you done a BT test? http://test.speedtester.bt.com:50301/

That will tell us what profile you are on.

If you check the logs in the Netgear, are you seeing lots of "Loss of synchronisation" entries?

[wonder woman]

Keep trying to do a bt test all day but keep getting an error message.  Worked fine yesterday and my IP profile  (with the Alcatel Speedtouch Modem) was 2500 according to the BT test.  We have 2 phones lines into the house this only has the adsl line and the phone.  Nothing else connected to it, the sky box is connected to our other phone line (different number).

Sorry to be a bit slow but I don't know where to look for the lose of synchronisation entries.  It shows that I have been connected for the last 1.30hrs (if I am looking in the right place) which is about the time we first connected with the router.

How do I remove the wring wire from the socket.  Is it behind the plate.  I am really sorry to be such a pain but as you can guess that me and computers don't seem to get along very well.

[Rik]

If the ADSL line terminates in a single, master, socket there's no ring wire to remove. If, otoh, you have a hard-wired extension running from it, then remove each faceplate, and lift out the ring wire from terminal 3, See here for a guide.

For the logs, look at the navigation options on the left, and choose logs, see the photo in this sticky.

[wonder woman]

Just tried BTspeedtest again and got this error message

The login name entered on this tool doesnt match that discovered by querying the network for your domain name. Please check your telephone number (or user name) and try again. If problem persists please contact your CP.

 
Have this message all day even when using the speedtouch usb mmodem was connected but it worked fine yesterday.

[Rik]

It's just an error in error messaging from BT. It's another way of saying "I'm busy, go away" but it makes it look like your fault, not BT's.

Do use IE not Firefox for tests - despite BT's claims, our evidence is that you are more likely to get a successful test via IE (it also helps to be close to London)...

[wonder woman]

If the ADSL line terminates in a single, master, socket there's no ring wire to remove. If, otoh, you have a hard-wired extension running from it, then remove each faceplate, and lift out the ring wire from terminal 3, See here for a guide.

For the logs, look at the navigation options on the left, and choose logs, see the photo in this sticky.

Is this what you want
Sun, 2002-09-08 12:02:05 - Administrator login successful - IP:192.168.0.2
Sun, 2002-09-08 12:03:31 - Initialize LCP.
Sun, 2002-09-08 12:03:32 - LCP is allowed to come up.
Sun, 2002-09-08 12:03:37 - LCP down.
Sun, 2002-09-08 12:03:50 - Initialize LCP.
Sun, 2002-09-08 12:03:50 - LCP is allowed to come up.
Sun, 2002-09-08 12:03:53 - CHAP authentication failed
Sun, 2002-09-08 12:03:53 - LCP down.
Sun, 2002-09-08 12:06:08 - Initialize LCP.
Sun, 2002-09-08 12:06:08 - LCP is allowed to come up.
Sun, 2002-09-08 12:06:18 - CHAP authentication success
Sun, 2002-09-08 12:06:25 - Send out NTP request to time-g.netgear.com
Sat, 2008-03-08 16:16:03 - Receive NTP Reply from time-g.netgear.com
Sat, 2008-03-08 16:09:38 - Router start up
Sat, 2008-03-08 17:30:47 - Administrator login successful - IP:192.168.0.2
Sat, 2008-03-08 17:42:37 - Administrator login successful - IP:192.168.0.2
Sat, 2008-03-08 17:55:46 - Administrator login successful - IP:192.168.0.2


I always use IE for the BT speedtest just wish I could see what my IP profile is to see if it has gone done.

[Rik]

From the speed test results it's hard to say, but from your sync speed it should not have gone down, though it takes up to five days to improve. I suspect you'll settle with a 3000 profile.

Those are indeed the logs - and you've not been dropping sync. You can schedule to send yourself the logs by email every 24 hours. It's quite a good practice as it will alert you to any losses of sync, and it clears the log from the router, so you keep things 'trim'.

You might also like to download and run Routerstats from http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/internet/files.htm.

The program will plot a graph of your noise margin over time, and that will give a strong clue as to how well the line and router are performing.

[wonder woman]

All of a sudden the speed has shot up to about 3500 fasted speed I have every had.  Don't no why but will keep and eye on it and will get logs sent to us every 24 hours.  Anyway thanks for all your help and patience and I will let you go and have your dinner know.   

[Rik]

Sounds like you might have got a profile lift. You must have toast that lands jam side upwards. 

Dinner's a while off yet, so feel free to ask any questions, it's what we're here for.