DG834GT with O2 SLOW!!!

Hi,

I have a DG834GT firmware V1.03.22, which Im replacing my o2 speedtouch router with. Several reasons, but mainly as the O2 router is impossible with my PS3, random issues connected to online games, mainly FIFA...

Anyway, my O2 router was on experimental firmware to take advantage of upto 20MB broadband, which at my last address gave me a steaming 18MB. Superb. But then I moved home New address says no more than 4MB on most tests.

Since day 1 at the new address, O2 had to play around with the settings their end to get the DSL connection stable, and I ended up with no more than 3MB most days. Big shock...

SOOOOOO... The Netgear router is in and configured, but I cant get even 2MB Reconnected 10 times or so, no better sync than 1834kbps so far.

So, is anyone using a DG834GT and have any hidden secrets/advice for me? Any tweaks? Loosing 1MB when its so slow to start with is a very big deal!

TIA
Alan

Is it possibly because the phone line at your new address is longer (or of poorer quality) than the one at your old address?

You haven't mentioned the speed you get with your Speedtouch at the new address (only that it used to get 18Mbps at the old address and the DG834GT gives 2-4Mbps at the new address and you've struggled with the line since "day one" at the new address).
Or am I reading your post wrong and you're saying you get 4Mbps with the Speedtouch and 2Mbps with the Netgear?
Have you been tweaking the noise margin on either (which would make one slower)?

Just because you get speed 'X' at one address; doesn't mean you'll get speed 'X' at every address you move to.

What are your line stats (line attenuation, noise margin, connection speed, etc.)?

BTW; the DG834GT works fine with BE/O2 LLU (many of use use them and they normally give at least the same as the Speedtouch). Never heard of one giving 1/6th the speed of a Speedtouch.

Ade

ADSL2+ with BE
DL Sync around 4.8Mbps
UL Sync 1088kbps
DG834GT with DGTeam firmware

Edited by adebov (Tue 22-Dec-09 19:42:00)

Sorry, I wasn't clear!
I've worked in IT since broadband came to the market, so I'm more than aware of DSL's performance being affected by all sorts of factors...
My old address was indeed right near to the exchange, I only mentioned it as the router was on some experimental firmware when I moved to the new address... So, ignore 18MB...
4MB at best (usually 2700kbps plus though) is what I am used to getting with the speedtouch at the new address. I plug in the Speedtouch, and now 1800 or less is the best I've got so far. So I was really only asking if anyone can help with tweaking things?

FYI, stats are right now downstream 1857kbps, atten 65.5 db, noise 6.3 db. Up 897 kbps, atten 39.7 db, noise 6db.

The main reason as I mentioned for moving routers, apart from the speedtouch being a bit ropey recently (not refreshing DHCP leases etc), was because FIFA and other PS3 titles are very hit and miss with the o2 box, since swapping it out, the Netgear has no issues so far. Apart from the lack of speed that is

Any ideas?
Thanks, Alan

You can download RouterStats or RouterStats Lite and monitor your noise margin. I find Lite (scroll down the page linked to later) is much easier to use, but the full version has a built-in margin tweaker.

If it varies by 4-5dB or less then it's worth lowering the target margin - see Monitoring/Tweaking. These days I call up DMT (link on the same page) and use either the Experimental or CLI tabs. The CLI tab gives finer control and more extreme options.

The useful bits of DMT are it shows the bit loading and once you have enabled the "special logon" it does the "debug" switch for you. The graphing is rubbish compared to RS(L).

Or you could load the DGTeam Netgear firmware which has a tweaker and preserves it through a reboot/power cycle. It didn't do much else I found useful, and I managed to brick an 834N when reverting to native firmware. Even with the Netgear Recovery Tool.

Edit removed.

Bob's broadband help site:
www.robertos.me.uk
ISP history: Demon dialup >> Freeserve dialup >> BT Broadband >> Prodigynet >> Newnet >> O2 Standard.
Purple Cloud for domain, email and web space.

Edited by RobertoS (Wed 23-Dec-09 12:19:28)

There were some problems earlier this year with non-O2 routers losing routing, so I've been using adsl24 amended firmware for the past few months and DMT software to reduce the snr. This has proved very successful on a line with similar attenuation to you.

You could also try the GT with DGTeam firmware and use the slider (advanced settings) to reduce your snr. I'm currently testing this to see if the earlier routing problems have been fixed and am still achieving good speeds.

O2 HomeStd LLU, Netgear 834GT with adsl24 amended firmware v.1.02.16

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Edit - I assume you are now on Access

I'd say he is on LLU.. Not only for the sync rate down, but the higher than 832 (maximum on ADSL Max Premium) on the up.

Matt

-
xilodsl.net
t: 0800 848 8468
Official Maidenhead & Milton Keynes Speedtest.net Host
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Indeed . Thanks . The edit has been edited!

Bob's broadband help site:
www.robertos.me.uk
ISP history: Demon dialup >> Freeserve dialup >> BT Broadband >> Prodigynet >> Newnet >> O2 Standard.
Purple Cloud for domain, email and web space.

Wow, thanks for the replies...

But, can I clear one thing up here, were the suggestions by "RobertoS" specific to the Netgear router? Because, to clarify, I know my broadband speeds are [censored] at my postcode, but they are approx 30% or more WORSE with the Netgear. Almost 3MB sync with o2 box but really poor PS3 online gaming (FIFA10) but Netgear solves the PS3 issues, but the sync is 1800ish
TIA
Alan

I believe it is generally assumed that the Netgear syncs about the same as the O2 box but that (other things being equal) the actual speed achieved will be slightly lower. Exact figures escape me but think 85% of sync speed for the O2 box and 82% for the Netgear. But O2 default snr is 6 and is set by them, so if you can use DMT or DGTeam software to reduce the snr on the Netgear to 3 or lower then you overcome the deficit - and more

The best thing you can do is try using DMT first, then if that improves things, think about flashing with the DGTeam stuff. You could also try going back to an earlier version of the standard firmware, v1.02.16 seems to be the most favoured.

Two more things ... but you've probably already done them ... are you plugged into the master socket and have you disoconnected the bellwires? (sorry if I'm attempting to teach grandma to suck eggs).

O2 HomeStd LLU, Netgear 834GT with adsl24 amended firmware v.1.02.16

A set of stats from each router taken immediately after connection and within a few minutes of each other would be very useful.

As Spokes has said, the difference shouldn't be as big as you have. I reckon to lose about 170kbps sync with Netgears, and most also lose 2% throughput. Luckily I have found one that gives 83.8% which is about the same as the 585s.

Bob's broadband help site:
www.robertos.me.uk
ISP history: Demon dialup >> Freeserve dialup >> BT Broadband >> Prodigynet >> Newnet >> O2 Standard.
Purple Cloud for domain, email and web space.