Ways to improve ADSL connection?

Hi,

So I am in the undesirable situation of having to rely on an old fashioned ADSL2+ line for internet. Unfortunately I am also quite far away from the exchange. The speeds I get using broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com are the following:

WBC ADSL2+ Annex M
Downstream Line Rate (Mbps): Up to 3.5
Upstream Line Rate (Mbps): Up to 0.5
Downstream Range(Mbps): 2 to 6

So does this mean 3.5 Mbps is what I should expect or should I be able to achieve speeds up to 6 Mbps?

I have read that installing a faceplate probably would help for instance from this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrbMpIW-BsU&ab_chann...

Right now I have a microfilter plugged into the socket in the wall and then I have a regular telephone network cable (I am not sure what this is called) round not flat plugged into the modem. So would a flaceplate help with setup?

When I use SpeedTest I get values of a little less than 3.0 Mbps. So I do not know if it is worth it?

And can a different router help? Or should one just accept, that this is as good as it gets!?

All the faceplate really does is filter/separate the voice and broadband signals.
Faceplates tend to perform the same as the rat tail filters.

I've found over the years that using a filter makes things perform a little worse than using no filter at all.
Of course filtering is necessary if you use the landline for calls.

The broadband availability checker simply gives estimates. The condition of everyone's wiring is different. No you shouldn't expect 6Mb/s.

You could remove the lower cover on your master socket and try connecting directly to the test socket behind it. That eliminates your internal wiring as being an issue.
If there's no improvement in sync speed from the test socket then that's that.

Different modems can indeed perform better than others.
Some modems allow manual tweaking of the SNR target. Some ISP's also allow you to directly tweak the SNR target.

Hi and thanks for your response,

I am not really very handy myself, so I will not venture into changing the wiring.

But it does sound like there would not be a lot to gain from this?

Also it sounds like one would have to have a good understanding of the router and signal to noise ratio, in order to play around with that, haha which I also do not have...

Any other sockets used or unused in the house ?

Like telephone sockets? If so no I do not think so.

There is antenna outlet. That is not being used.

Btw the antenna outlet, is that the one Virgin Media uses for it Hybrid fiber-coaxial connections?

In reply to a post by lo22:

Hi and thanks for your response,

I am not really very handy myself, so I will not venture into changing the wiring.

But it does sound like there would not be a lot to gain from this?

Also it sounds like one would have to have a good understanding of the router and signal to noise ratio, in order to play around with that, haha which I also do not have...

If you can stretch to it - get Starlink.. it's designed entirely for people like yourself..

You might even be able to get a voucher to help with the cost of the gear.

The antenna might just be for TV - without a picture we can't tell - unless it has Telewest or a VM logo on it?

Edited by PC8S (Sat 08-Oct-22 09:54:52)

I'd skip ADSL and look at 4G/5G options

Edited by jpm (Sat 08-Oct-22 10:14:18)

In reply to a post by PC8S:

If you can stretch to it - get Starlink.. it's designed entirely for people like yourself..

Surprised you didn't suggest a LL

In reply to a post by lo22:

WBC ADSL2+ Annex M
Downstream Line Rate (Mbps): Up to 3.5
Upstream Line Rate (Mbps): Up to 0.5
Downstream Range(Mbps): 2 to 6

Ofcom, Your right to request a decent broadband service: What you need to know

Depending on your router it maybe possible to select G992.3 ADSL2 rather than G992.5 ADSL2+ if your operator supports it. This may provider a slightly better downstream rate on longer lines.