Recent download speed problems

[peterbeaumont]

Hi there

I wondered if anyone can offer some suggestions?

Since the latter part of last week, I've lost a considerable amount of download speed.

Since my line was activated (with IDnet) in November 2006, I've always achieved around 4500kbps download speeds (my router always showing 5600+ at around 6db).

Apart from a period late last July/early August when a similar thing happened - and IDnet support pressed BT to sort it out (after they claimed there was no fault) my line has been very stable with few drops.

Now my router won't sync. above 4100 kbps and consequently my speeds have reduced accordingly.

I have exchanged various emails with Support, who today have said that I can expect no more from my line - something I dispute, given my history.

I have tried 3 different routers (one of which, in frustration, is a new one I bought at the weekend), changed my filtered faceplate and cables, plugged into the master socket etc. etc.  - all to no avail.

I find it hard to believe that there isn't a problem at BT's end, but the email I received from Support late today disappointed me.

Any ideas, please?

Thanks

[Rik]

Hi and welcome to the forum, Peter, have a karma.

I suspect that what support are saying is that your line is performing at or above the FTR, so BT won't regard it as faulty.

What are your line stats?

[peterbeaumont]

Hi Rik

This is typical of what my router has been showing since Friday last:

ADSL Link             Downstream Upstream

Connection Speed  4032 kbps    448 kbps
Line Attenuation      44.0 db      27.0 db
Noise Margin             6.4 db      17.0 db

[Rik]

Well, your target margin hasn't been increased, so that's not the problem. OTOH, I'd expect you to sync up to 1000k faster than you are. However, that's a 'piece of string' issue, as the other characteristic of the line, its susceptibility to noise, doesn't show in the stats.

You mentioned connecting at the master socket, but have you tried connecting at the test socket, which would eliminate any possibility that your own wiring is involved. You might also notice some benefit from a shielded ADSL cable if you're not already using one.

The other thing to try is to de-tune a MW radio, so that you only have white noise, then walk around with it, listening for any increase in the noise, particularly along the path of your phone wiring and around your router.

[Lance]

Welcome to the forum, Peter.  

[peterbeaumont]

I meant to say that my router is connected into the test socket (at Support's request) but that hasn't shown any improvement.

I've done the radio thing, as some time ago there was an issue with interfence because of someone's faulty satellite receiver a couple of years ago, but that hasn't revealed anything.

[Rik]

Did support say why BT wouldn't regard the line as faulty?

[Lance]

I wonder if there is a fault on the line, maybe causing some retransmits of packets?

[peterbeaumont]

"The maximum your line is expected to run at is about 4mb, the line is
currently performing with a noise margin of 6db and cannot reliably go
any lower, your line is currently performing at its max without causing
stability problems. You are actually at the moment performing above what
is expected out of your phone line, any faster and the service will
start to drop out. If you were running at 6mb prior to the new speed of
4mb i can only imagine that the line was unstable as a result and the
exchange has correctly dropped the sync speed to a more appropriate 4mb"

Was the message from Support.

But from August 2007 until the middle of last week, my router has always synched at 5700+ and my average download speeds have regularly been 4600+

[Rik]

You've already tried a different router which is what I would normally suggest. I take it you don't have any BT speedtests from the higher speed?

[peterbeaumont]

I have tried 3 routers, one brand new which I bought on Saturday.

I have numerous results from speedtest.net showing much higher speeds from recent months.

[Rik]

Sadly that won't help, BT only accept BT test results.

[Lance]

It's understandable when we have seen just how inaccurate the other speedtesters are.

[peterbeaumont]

1/28/2008  5:36 AM GMT      5836 kb/s
1/28/2008  6:09 PM GMT      5527 kb/s
1/29/2008  6:00 AM GMT      5346 kb/s
1/29/2008  6:01 AM GMT      5305 kb/s
1/29/2008  7:54 PM GMT      5273 kb/s
2/2/2008  3:05 PM GMT      5366 kb/s
2/9/2008  4:50 PM GMT      5243 kb/s
2/12/2008  6:44 PM GMT      4974 kb/s
2/16/2008  7:48 AM GMT      4273 kb/s
2/18/2008  6:58 PM GMT      5239 kb/s
2/24/2008  9:49 AM GMT      4709 kb/s
2/26/2008  7:10 PM GMT      4799 kb/s
3/6/2008  4:46 AM GMT      5221 kb/s
3/7/2008  5:17 AM GMT      5174 kb/s
3/8/2008  4:50 PM GMT      3378 kb/s
3/8/2008  10:26 PM GMT      3393 kb/s
3/9/2008  7:33 AM GMT      3330 kb/s
3/11/2008  8:10 PM GMT      3368 kb/s

Shows the difference ...



Edit: IP address removed

[Rik]

Unfortunately, as I said, BT only regard BT tests as valid.

[peterbeaumont]

Ok I'll see what support say when they come back to me.

I just can't believe that "nothing" has happened or changed in the last few days.

[Lance]

My bet is still there being a slight fault on the line. Maybe not big enough for BT to detect remotely, but maybe enough for an engineer. The problem is that I wouldn't risk the £160+ BT fee if they find nothing wrong.

[Rik]

It's likely to be something like corrosion on a joint. Whether the average engineer would find it is debatable, especially with BT saying the line is doing better than expected. I've heard that phrasing before, and it's hard to persuade them otherwise.

[Malc]

Wasn't that J!ll's problem?

[Rik]

Jill had a corroded pair, Malc, so broadly similar. The issue becomes one of whether BT can find it...

[Malc]

If I was J!ll, I wouldn't want a BT man looking at my coroded pair. 

[Rik]

I was trying to avoid that phrasing, Malc. Six to go I see...

[Simon]

Oh, I do hope Jill's corroded pair get better! 

[Malc]

Careful, the broomstick will go faster in this wind

[Malc]

I was trying to avoid that phrasing, Malc. Six to go I see...

Right, off to do some work now, see you at