Dead end with diagnostics - help!

I've been trying to diagnose my speed issues with Plusnet for a month to no avail. I think they don't know how to proceed with it them self at this point.

Hope someone here can help chip in where to look or something else to try!

The problem:
I should be getting 77Mbps, which I was for over 18months. Recently I noticed I was getting 40Mbps on all speed test websites.

The facts:
* BTW website shows I am sync'd at 66.8Mbps the plusnet profile matches this.
* In speedtests I get <38Mbps,39Mbps or 40Mbps on the dot, everyday and most the day.
* This happens with all speed test websites BTW/TBB/Speedtest.net.
* BTW Tap3 test gives me a 40Mbps download speed too.
* My desktop (windows 8.1) and Laptop (XP) give me the same results
* tested in various browsers

Now the spanner:

* PPPoE bypass directly from Desktop to BT modem gives me sync speed in all speed tests. 63Mbps.

I thought this must be a faulty plusnet router, bought another brand new TG582n FTTC router from Ebay and back to square one with 40Mbps. PPPoE bypass gets me the full whack again, argh.

So I've changed:
* Router
* Cables
* Flicked between PC and Laptop

I have no idea where the issue might be right now, as the PPPoE bypass works and if it was faulty hardware/cables/noise I would expect the speed to fluctuate, which it doesn't at all.

Any pointers, suggestions or a wake up slap will be highly appreciated!

The direct link from desktop to modem must be Ethernet. Are all the other tests?

Yep all wired Ethernet tests lappy and desktop.

The last suggestion from plusnet was to change the cable from modem to router, which I did but no joy.

Do you have an ECI modem affected by G.INP?

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/6921-g-inp-roll-o...

I have seen a couple of people that have very strange speed problems and they were ECI modems with a Huawei FTTC cabinet.

Personally I would dump the modem and use a good quality VDSL2 router .

I do have the ECI modem and I believe I am connected to a Huawei cabinet. This is what's located at the end of the street:

http://s28.postimg.org/9d7ry5ct9/IMG_201504111_10210...

I'm going to check out some vdsl2 routers now.. Anything cheap and cheerful?


edit:

Is it worth getting the Huawei HG612 and flashing it with the latest firmware?

Edited by narz (Tue 21-Apr-15 10:31:58)

I would try the modem first as it will be cheaper.

One of the guys on the Zen forum had similar issues along with increased pings, he swapped to a Huawei modem and problem solved.

In reply to a post by narz:

Is it worth getting the Huawei HG612 and flashing it with the latest firmware?

Yes! Plus you can see the full line stats.

You need to flash in the 30SP08 unlocked version. The seemingly newer SP10 is 28SP10.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

You need to flash in the 30SP08 unlocked version. The seemingly newer SP10 is 28SP10.

I got my eye on a HG612.

Is 30SP08 just a firmware version? will it go on anyyyy HG612.

Thanks

In reply to a post by narz:

I got my eye on a HG612.
Is 30SP08 just a firmware version? will it go on anyyyy HG612.
Thanks

that is correct mate

Instructions for unlocking the Huawei HG612

30SP08 firmware

daft suggestion, have you done the BT Wholesale Speedtest using their login details rather than your Plusnet supplied login credentials?
That will rule out any Plusnet funnies with respect to profiles/network.
I don't have the link to hand, but on running the BT Wholesale speedtest, after doing the 'further diagnostics' tests, you'll be presented with a 3rd set of tests along with the correct username to set. You can only do the test once every 30mins and at some points in the day, the system is busy and it may appear to fail (looks like a DNS failure because it won't let you connect). Just wait 10mins and try again until it works.

Second daft suggestion, if by passing the PN router and doing the PPPoE test via the BT modem is fine, could it be the BT modem itself having an issue when an external router connects to it? Do you have access to another BT modem?

The 38/39/40Mbps almost sounds like a 40/10 40/20 profile has been set.

Good luck with the hunt... sounds like a right royal PITA.

Cheers fella, I'll have a gander once I get the modem.

Fingers crossed, its my last hope!

In reply to a post by shinerweb:

daft suggestion, have you done the BT Wholesale Speedtest using their login details rather than your Plusnet supplied login credentials?
That will rule out any Plusnet funnies with respect to profiles/network.
I don't have the link to hand, but on running the BT Wholesale speedtest, after doing the 'further diagnostics' tests, you'll be presented with a 3rd set of tests along with the correct username to set. You can only do the test once every 30mins and at some points in the day, the system is busy and it may appear to fail (looks like a DNS failure because it won't let you connect). Just wait 10mins and try again until it works.

Second daft suggestion, if by passing the PN router and doing the PPPoE test via the BT modem is fine, could it be the BT modem itself having an issue when an external router connects to it? Do you have access to another BT modem?

The 38/39/40Mbps almost sounds like a 40/10 40/20 profile has been set.

Good luck with the hunt... sounds like a right royal PITA.

that is the TAP3 test, it isn't offered unless the throughput is a lot lower than the IP profile, So not that straightfoward

In reply to a post by shinerweb:

daft suggestion, have you done the BT Wholesale Speedtest using their login details rather than your Plusnet supplied login credentials?

Yep - thats the TAP3 test I was referring to.

Do you have access to another BT modem?

Unfortunately not, I'm getting the Huawei modem to rule out, Modem + G.INP in one shot.

G.INP is enabled on my line.

... sounds like a right royal PITA.

It is!! :@

Got a Huawei G612 and flashed it with 30SP08.

Sync speed back up from 66 to 77 (so that was G.inp). Download speed still stuck in 38-40Mbps though. Sigh.

Here's a screenie of my line stats page:
http://s28.postimg.org/4t28dg4p9/Huawei.jpg

Todays speed test:
http://s1.postimg.org/krzr63qbz/Speedtest_24_04_15_a...

Don't know what other useful diagnostic information I can get from the Huawei, or what to even try next to solve this.

Edited by narz (Fri 24-Apr-15 21:04:32)

In reply to a post by narz:

Download speed still stuck in 38-40Mbps though. Sigh.

Plusnet hold a copy of the BTwholesale profile which may not yet reflect your Sync speed.

Check the plusnet control panel and/or raise a ticket.

Edited by jchamier (Fri 24-Apr-15 21:05:17)

Try this speedtest for better diagnostics http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/speedtest2.html

Plusnet profile is still at 66.8Mb - Speed test gets me 40Mbps

PPPoE bypass again gets me 63Mbps in a speed test which is what I expect with the profile that plusnet currently have.

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/results.html...

It must not be liking both Plusnet routers (even the new one!).

Any other tests I can do? ...before forking out for a Billion 8800NL.

How about a factory reset of the router?

Tried a reset on both TG582n already. Doesn't push 40Mbps (apart from the initial spike)

I got a BT hub 3 with the Huawei today, so going to give that a shot first.

Well that didn't work, still at 40Mbps and upload dropped to 10Mbps with the BT hub.

Configs tested:

* BT ECI modem -> Plusnet TG582N -> Desktop PC -> 40Mbps / 20
* BT ECI modem -> Plusnet TG582N (replacement) -> Desktop PC -> 40Mbps / 20
* BT ECI modem -> Desktop PC (PPPoE) -> 63Mbps / 20

* BT Huawei modem -> Plusnet TG582N -> Desktop PC -> 40Mbps / 20
* BT Huawei modem -> Plusnet TG582N (replacement) -> Desktop PC -> 40Mbps / 20
* BT Huawei modem -> Desktop PC (PPPoE) -> 63Mbps / 20

* BT Huawei modem -> BT Homehub 3 -> Desktop PC -> 40Mbps / 10


Not feeling confident a Billion router will resolve this.

Is there any difference in settings of the PPPoE connection from a Router than say Windows?

What about the cables used in those configurations?

I've no idea how one of those could cause a "hard" cap, but seems to be the only remaining possibility.

I did try different cables, but have just used a Linux Live CD on my desktop machine and getting line speed at 63Mbps

Huawei -> BT hub -> Desktop -> Live CD -> 63Mbps



This is looking like a WINDOWS config issue and something I must of done on both desktop AND laptop.

I also had multiple Virtual Machines within Windows 8.1 that I tried the speed test on and gave me 40Mbps, this threw me off as well.

How embarrassing! Sorry folks for possibly wasting your time. I will investigate it further tomorrow though.

CULPRIT: "Qualcomm Atheros Bandwidth Control" which was enabled on the ethernet adapter. Disabling this brought speeds up, enabling brought it back to 40Mbps.

I've had Windows 8.1 and this current driver set installed since Sep 2014, so no idea why this came about now, maybe updated in the background.

Doesn't apply to PPPoE connection, hence speeds came back up when using that.

Why it occurred on the laptop too, will have to check.

Bed time...... *facepalm*

In reply to a post by narz:

CULPRIT: "Qualcomm Atheros Bandwidth Control" which was enabled on the ethernet adapter. Disabling this brought speeds up, enabling brought it back to 40Mbps.

Good find!

Cheers. At least it's sorted .