ISP Indifference?

I am at my wits end as over the last three weeks my internet speed has been running at less than 0.21mbs whereas before it was 1.5mbs (the slow speed being down to the distance to the exchange being about 4 miles. This speed test was derived with the router plugged straight into the test socket and the telephone disconnected.

I have replaced my router with a new Netgear DGN1000 with no alteration to the line speed.

I have contacted my ISP Freeola and they say that the speed is the best that can be achieved and nothing can be done to resolve the present situation.

4 Miles/6.5km from the exchange would give you a rough attenuation of around 80dB, which would make you lucky to be getting what you are as your ISP stated. What are your line stats?

Thanks for your reply

Stats off router that I installed today:


ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 283 kbps 440 kbps
Line Attenuation 62.5 db 34.4 db
Noise Margin 7.3 db 14.4 db

A downstream attenuation of 62dB puts you at about 4.5 km from your exchange, which is somewhat better than the 4m you stated.
That would give in ideal conditions a dslMAX IP profile of 1750kbps. You would be very lucky to get the 1.5Mb down, but should have far more than you are getting at the moment with such a low connection speed. If you have had a few restarts with the router change things may settle down.

Many routers won't accurately report an attenuation figure above ~63dB. Therefore, unless the OP's router does otherwise, the attenuation could be anything greater than 63dB.

In which case a dongle would serve him/her better.

That depends upon 3G etc performance for his/her area. If they're still available, a fixed speed DSL service might be better.

We use a Vodafone dongle when visiting my mum in Scotland. Found their mast and it is just over half a mile from the house. General browsing is ok but anything else is a chore.

I even parked the car in a layby within 200yds from the mast (full strength on the meter) but still downloads were taking ages.

Maybe it's just Vodafone and/or my dongle but the speed is not great. Luckily I got the PAYG dongle with no time limit expiry. £15 lasts the whole year.

When i was on ADSL max i had attn of 63.9db with a Zoom router.
It was reported i was 5.5 to 6km as the aluminium cabling was laid, but around 3.5km as the crow flies.
This translated to many IP profiles in region of 300 and 500, it was only when i gave notice of migration IP went up to 1000 then 1250, weird and coincidental.

Same line on ADSL2+ (LLU) various routers i have attn of 75db.
Dropouts measured by the hundred per day but could get 1.7meg download.

ADSL2+ is effected worse by line noise due to the frequency used and prone to more drops, so I expect what you have is the best you can expect.