Packet loss

I'm getting a more solid line of dropped packets showing than usual.
For a long time now - probably since last March - we've seem small blips of dropped packets between perhaps 4-4.30pm and 10/11pm, and it hadn't really caused any problems, but three nights ago, I noticed it suddenly became far more pronounced, and so far has been at roughly the same times.

I searched and thought about it for a long time when it began in a small way last spring, and seeing we had no problems, nothing in use in the house at those particular times, or new electrical items, I did wonder about a new family that moved in opposite.
Seeing these heavier strings of packet loss are at the same times, it must be the same source wherever that is.
As far as I know, we've had no major work happening close by - Virgin installed fibre along our street, but it never seemed to affect our router performance. I did see one house opposite being connected to the Virgin service in the past week, but that's a different cabinet anyway.

I'm now noticing some slow movement with the internet at those times.

Virgin Media users should only affect you if on Virgin Media and your BQM does not look like a virgin media users too good generally in terms of jitter. Roadworks can be a cause of RF interference affecting xDSL services, but should not cause large amounts of interference if their hardware is well maintained and working well.

The small pattern of packet loss may just be peak load on the ISP, need to do some intermediate pinging to get an idea of where the issue is happening i.e. to rule out the first hop that would be your broadband connection and route into providers own network.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Virgin Media users should only affect you if on Virgin Media and your BQM does not look like a virgin media users too good generally in terms of jitter.

Thanks. True, mine is Zen, and the house opposite with a new Virgin fibre connection weren't at home for most of last night anyway.
I don't know much about the middle house of the three, but they're the ones that moved in last March when the interference began in a smaller way (visible but didn't affect my BB much) - this newer, more intense interference is at exactly the same time of night.
One of our sons wondered if perhaps they use something like Netflix a lot, but I wouldn't know if that would cause the same effect.
Last night was better as it was at a lower level, but tonight I can feel the slow down on page loads and images at times.

Roadworks can be a cause of RF interference affecting xDSL services, but should not cause large amounts of interference if their hardware is well maintained and working well.

Can't say I'm aware of any roadworks close by, and especially not until late evening.

The small pattern of packet loss may just be peak load on the ISP, need to do some intermediate pinging to get an idea of where the issue is happening i.e. to rule out the first hop that would be your broadband connection and route into providers own network.

I don't know how to do that pinging.
When the lower level of it began last spring, Zen did a number of checks on the line, and found nothing untoward.

A virgin media connection should not interfere with a Zen one at all.

If the packet loss coincided with them moving in, then either coincidence or down to radio frequency interference from something they have e.g. outdoor security light

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/videos/broadband-inter... shows how to use an AM radio to find actual interference

The people with the Virgin fibre are opposite us, the ones that moved in last March just as the interference began, are next door to them in the middle one of three houses ...and if it isn't coincidence, it wouldn't be something like someone watching Netflix, gaming etc.?

I borrowed an AM radio earlier this year, but found nothing in our house - was summer and not dark until quite late, so I'd have looked odd walking past neighbours houses with a radio.
I'll ask if I can borrow it again and try it now we have the dark evenings

Different physical network so their gaming and Netflix on Virgin Media will not impact people on ADSL2+/FTTC

They're two different houses Andrew - the one opposite us is Virgin fibre, the house next door to them is where the new occupants are since March when the interference began.

And what broadband connection is this house that is allegedly causing using?

I don't know what they use, and of course, the only clue I have to the interference is that it began at the same time that they moved in - it may not be them, and just a coincidence.
I think the chap before them had Sky at one point, but that may have changed.

I suppose using a radio as you suggest could help confirm or eliminate any of those three houses, or the next door neighbour.

If its radio interference it should also be visible in the router stats, rather than the BQM tool

The pattern is more indicative of a peak time internet congestion issue rather than interference

Not sure which of the stats in the router details give that information (Billion 7800nxl).

One of our sons wondered if it could be congestion as you suggest, but I thought it odd that it happens at more or less exactly the same time of around 16.00/16.30 to 22-23.00. Can vary at weekends and once stopped for a week or so altogether.

My desktop is wired, but very noticeably slows down, and trying to download a programme via the TV/Sky box was so slow (Wi-Fi) we gave up until I did it via the computer at Sky's website after 11pm.

Edit: Just noticed a disconnect at 15.06, and data showing increased download and slightly decreased upload - this is the speed test result:
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/results.html...

Edited by deleted (Thu 17-Nov-16 16:27:15)

4pm to 11pm is classic peak times, and congestion does come and go like this.

The speed tests suggests congestion too, of course its possible you have the odd bit of interference causing disconnects on top of speed problems

If you look at http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/zen/t/4509738-poor-... then you will see others with Zen with the same problem. They have one of our tests on their own network, so their support will give you the link and test, to rule out a chunk of the internet as an influence.

NOTE: Wi-Fi slow downs may be caused by congestion in the Wi-Fi bands, hence the usual recommendation where at all possible to connect streaming devices by Ethernet or if you only have a 802.11n router to upgrade to an 802.11ac dual band device or add a wireless access point to handle the wireless side.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

4pm to 11pm is classic peak times, and congestion does come and go like this.

OK - I hadn't known that as I've never had it before.

The speed tests suggests congestion too, of course its possible you have the odd bit of interference causing disconnects on top of speed problems

If you look at http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/zen/t/4509738-poor-... then you will see others with Zen with the same problem. They have one of our tests on their own network, so their support will give you the link and test, to rule out a chunk of the internet as an influence.

Thanks. I've sent a PM to Jon Green, and he responded quickly saying he'd look at my connection tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion.

NOTE: Wi-Fi slow downs may be caused by congestion in the Wi-Fi bands, hence the usual recommendation where at all possible to connect streaming devices by Ethernet or if you only have a 802.11n router to upgrade to an 802.11ac dual band device or add a wireless access point to handle the wireless side.

For now, we barely use Wi-Fi to be honest - sons usually during the day with their phones/iPads etc. when visiting, and two smart TV's when updating mostly. One of the rare occasions we download a programme was the other night, and it was taking too long, so I did it late that night.

The most use currently is wired connection day and evening, as I work at home.

Be interesting to see if Zen come up with anything - I spent some time talking with Tech services over a few weeks earlier this year, but nothing got resolved. That's when I got a new router, and used the radio to check for interference in the house.

I'll post back if I hear anything useful from Jon Green.

I've received a very pleasant reply from Jon Green, but unfortunately, he can't help me as it's only for a Fibre problem:

I've just looked into your account, and can confirm that the issues your experiencing are not related to the known issue. The known issue affects fibre broadband services on our LLU network, and you have a traditional broadband service through our BT Wholesale platform.

Your best bet in this instance would be to raise a fault through the normal technical support channels, as they're in a much better position to help you (I work in our Core Network team, so my experience in issues such as yours is outdated).

So, back to square one for me - I tried Tech services when it was less troublesome than in the past week, and despite a new router, and going around the house with a radio, plus the usual checks, we drew a blank.
Never mind - at some point, I will go back to the Tech dept.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

4pm to 11pm is classic peak times, and congestion does come and go like this.

The speed tests suggests congestion too, of course its possible you have the odd bit of interference causing disconnects on top of speed problems

This is the 4th evening since Nov 9th that the more intense problem is at a minimum - not sure what happened ...perhaps someone away?

Whatever, it's been nice to have everything working smoothly. Can only hope it lasts.

Edited by deleted (Sat 26-Nov-16 18:38:59)