Weird speed

Right now my broadband is running at around 100kbps, when it should be running far faster. I've checked the connection settings on the PN Member centre and it says "Your current broadband speed is 2000 Kbps". Ha! What the hell? Last time I checked last month it was "Your current broadband speed is 8000 Kbps".

My router stats say:

Connection Speed - Down: 160 kbps Up: 320 kbps
Line Attenuation - Down: 28 db Up: 6 db
Noise Margin - Down: 1 db Up: 6 db

So... what the hell?!

It looks like the snr has caused a number of re syncs. Are you able to run the BT Speedtest?. Anything in the router logs?.

Can't seem to get the BT Speedtester to work (as usual), and the rest of your post went straight over my head! Can you clarify it - i'm not too knowledgable on this sort of thing

Your OP stated, "Noise Margin - Down: 1 db Up: 6 db"

It's the down figure that's important. With such a low number, (e.g. mine is usually 9 during the day dropping to around 8 during the evening) your router would find it very difficult to maintain sync with your exchange.

The cause would suggest a problem between your equipment and the exchange. Can you use different filters, and if possible a different router. Also plug the router into the test socket behind the BT Master socket, then repost your stats.

I've no idea what that means

Could it be temporary? It only started a few hours ago. Actually I first noticed it when I reinstalled OS X on my laptop.

Matt,

It's nothing to do with your laptop. The figures you posted must have come from your router. Those figures indicate the state of the connection between your router and the Exchange.

Try the easy steps first, replace any filters and see if there is any improvement.

What is a filter and how do I replace it?

Courtesy of kitz

It does seem to be a problem between you and the exchange. You need to rule out any in house issues first.

In reply to:

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What is a filter and how do I replace it?

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I'm assuming you connect to the Internet via a router. Somewhere between your router and your telephone socket the router is connected to, is a little box.

http://www.adslnation.com/products/index.php
bottom left picture. That is a filter. You may have a spare, you may have to buy one or borrow one to eliminate the one your using as possibly faulty.

Ah yes (and cheers sadoldman, saves me replying twice!)

I'm hooked up directly to the socket and things look a bit different. My router is reporting a connection speed of 6592kbps down and 448kbps up. PN Member Centre still says 2000kbps. Noise margin is 4/5db down and 22db up.

Mybroadbandspeed.co.uk still reports around 127kbps download speed.

Hooking it back up to the filter in my room (actual BT socket is in the next room and an old wire+filter (from 2002) goes between the two displays a connection speed of 3776kbps down and 448kbps up. Noise margin is 10db down and 14db up.

This is awfully random. I've tried rebooting the router again and it now says connection speed is 4320kbps down and 448kbps up, and noise margin is 6db down and 16db up.

I've never had a problem with my router until this afternoon. It hadn't been moved, banged, disturbed, switched off, or anything until I reinstalled OS X on my laptop and hooked my laptop up to it via a whateveryoucallit cable.

Ooh bit more waffle here... the only other thing hooked up to the BT socket on the wall is an extension cable for the Sky+, because it seems it needs to be plugged into a phone line at all times. Anyway I just unplugged it and my stats shot up to 8192kbps down and 448kbps up, with line noise at 11db down and 28db up. Mybroadbandspeed.co.uk still says about 130kbps, and PN Member centre still says 2000kbps. I've tried plugging the Sky+ stuff back in and the stats remain the same as when it was unplugged.

Like I said, awfully random! Does any of that mean anything?

edit - i've rebooted the router several times now and it's displaying solid 8192/448 connection speeds and line noise margin of 13db/28db. Speedtests still around the 130kbps mark

Edited by fetler (Tue 01-Jan-08 19:34:14)