Better Modem Than PlusNet Hub One

I'm some distance from the cabinet for FTTC and getting the absolute minimum from the estimated speed - 3.9Mbps. Previously on ADSL, I was getting 3.7Mbps sync.
Accordingly, Plusnet have advised that it is operating within spec.

You can guess I'm not happy with the 0.2Mbps speed increase.

I've tried the Plusnet supplied microfilter over my own BT vDSL Interstitial Faceplate and that dropped me to 3.1Mbps. That makes me think hardware changes can make a big impact.

Is there any better VDSL modem or microfilter out there rather than the Plusnet supplied ones for marginal areas? I don't need wireless or USB connectivity.

You could try matching the modem chipset to the cabinet DSLAM. Do you know if your cabinet is Huawei or ECI? Method to find out here http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/cabinet-lookup.htm

There are people who will get the same or even slower from VDSL2 than they did from ADSL, so while you can try combinations of hardware you might not get anywhere.

What was the point of sale estimate given by PlusNet? Fully understand that paying extra to get a 0.2 Mbps download increase is not great.

Using a TP-Link W9970 at £34.19 via http://amzn.to/2iA91yk and its stable, but not seen anyone on a very long line give it a go. Does support vectoring and G.INP and while the wireless is basic you can turn it off.

In reply to a post by dalryc:

I'm <...> getting the absolute minimum from the estimated speed - 3.9Mbps.
<...>
I've tried the Plusnet supplied microfilter over my own BT vDSL Interstitial Faceplate and that dropped me to 3.1Mbps.

1. Put the microfilter back and allow the speed to drop to 3.1
2. After a few days, phone Plusnet and complain the speed is now below their estimate. Don't tell them what you did.
3. There is a clause in their contract that allows you to leave their contract early if a) your actual speed is substantially below their estimate and b) you followed their instructions and it didn't lead to an increase. Then you can go back to ADSL.
There is, of course, the other option, where they send an engineer out to your house and he'll find a fault of some sort. Still a win-win situation.

I�ve been waiting for FTTC for years � didn�t realise you could get lower speeds than just copper. I ordered it on the day that it was commissioned.

I don�t recall the point of sale estimate but BT�s figures (quoted by PlusNet are between 7.1 and 3.9. BT�s estimated figures for my ADSL line were nearly half of what I was getting. I will definitely give that TP-Link a shout.

My Plusnet Hub one can�t be telnet�ed to and I�m afraid I can�t locate the cabinet � the only ones that I know are very old looking. I did take a quick drive out today but it�s chucking it down. I�ll take a walk out in the area and further hunt it down when better weather. It�s on Clynder Cabinet 2 � wherever that is.

I�ve have thought about the complaint option. However, PlusNet did fix a stuck IP profile which has given me an extra 1.1Mbps back and my up speed (which I don�t use) has more than double. For £6 extra a month, I�ll grin and bear it.

I worked out that it's a Huawei from the link that you posted.
Does that change things in any way?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@56.0228826,-4.815695,...

Cabinet 2, image from 2011 so obviously no VDSL2 twin present.

Exchange is ADSL only, so IP Profile system on that is a lot worse than VDSL2, so it may be worth sticking it out on the VDSL2, plus at peak times more capacity.

The TP-Link is Broadcom based so matches neatly with Huawei

Good news about the chipset match - it's already ordered.

Thanks for that - I didn't look there today.