Maximum Line Rate

I wonder if any of you knowledgeable gents can help me work out the maximum FTTC rate for my line?

I am currently getting anywhere around 36-37 Mbps Download and 6-8 Mbps Upload when tested on Speedtest.net. When tested on TBB the upload never exceeds 4Mbps.
It may seem like I am being picky, believe me I'm more than happy as was previously on a 1Mbps connection for the best part of 6 years.

The reason I ask is that the distance between me and the FTTC CAB is 112 metres (by footpath and passing all the BT chambers including the one at the front of my house)and I often see people quoting much further distances from the CAB but achieving full 40/10 connections.

Is there a problem that I should be investigating?

You should be getting 8Mbps+ upload. What does the BT Tester show? Please copy and paste thefull results as far down as the end of the upload figures.

Re the distance, just a minor point. You need the (cable) distance to your PCP cabinet, (as some people have found their connection to that starts off in the wrong direction!), plus the distance between that and the fibre cab, and that might wind around a bit.

There have been other threads on the same subject. As I recall it's accepted that the TBB tester doesn't work well with fibre connections. If I test using TBB, the results are like a fiddlers elbow! The BT tester can be a bit erratric too. Speedtest.net seems to be very consistent........

In reply to a post by Garyilka:

Speedtest.net seems to be very consistent........

That's because it discards a fair proportion of slower samples during the test.

Robert,

There is 3 meters between the PCP and FTTC CAB. Speed test results are:

Download speedachieved during the test was - 34258 Kbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speeds is 12000-36799 Kbps .
Additional Information: IP Profile for your line is -36799 Kbps

Upload speed achieved during the test was - 8201 Kbps
Additional Information: Upstream Rate IP profile on your line is - 10000 Kbps

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

In reply to a post by Garyilka:

Speedtest.net seems to be very consistent........

That's because it discards a fair proportion of slower samples during the test.

Maybe - I wouldn't know and don't really care. I use real downloads to judge my performance. The fact is that the OP was using the TBB speedtester which is erratic when testing fibre - as has been accepted on a number of occasions as I recall.

I was aware of issues on the TBB Tester when used on FTTC lines. Most of my tests are run on the BT Wholesale or Speedtest.net sites.

Top profile, seen on the BT Wholesale tester is 38717Kbps, if you see this, then you are getting full 40000Kbps sync. So it looks as though yours isn't getting full sync. If your line is as short as you say, it should most certainly be getting full sync. *Might* be something worth investigating.

Zarjaz,

New build estate in a rural area with PCP at entrance. I am pretty sure that my line is no more than the 112 metres I have measured from this. Latest check on the Wholesale Tester shows a profile of 36799kbps.

What can I do to get this checked out?

To be honest I can't see any problem. The maximum you will get throughput wise is 37Mb downstream and 8.5-9Mb upstream due to overheads and IP profiling. You are seeing very close this on a speedtest, so there is no way BT will look at that being a fault condition I'm afraid.

Didn't think I could get a fault raised given the speeds that I get. Was wondering if there was anything I could do.

Do about what - what speed do you actually expect to get from a speed test?

Have you tried power-cycling the Openreach modem?

Andrew,

I generally get around 36Mbps on a speed test which is fantastic given I was on a 1 Mbps connection for 6 years. My query was around why I get 36 Mbps on a distance of 112m from the CAB when OP's seem to get full 38Mbps on much longer lines. Not complaining about my service just curious.

Yes, did that yesterday when I moved the OR Modem / Hub 3 to the master socket and bypassing the data kit to run a test.

So what profile is showing after the modem move?

When I was connected, my sync was 39996 ... and a 38717 profile. Then 3 months later it suddenly dropped in 2 steps and now I have a profile around 33000 ... I am around 400m (actual length).

Nothing changed here, I rebooted the modem (several times since and at different times) with no significant change. I logged it with BT but just for information as I knew it was unlikely to be a fault.

It could be down to noise levels on the line or cross talk from other lines, wire gauge ...

Profile is 36799kbps.

Looks like that's what you are stuck with then. Strange.

You could try a standard dangly filter into the test socket, then try after a while.There is nothing magic about the Openreach faceplate, and the profile updates quite quickly.

Don�t mind being stuck with it at all

It's been a revelation in this household tbh. I have VOD running via BT Vision for one kid most of the day, I work from home, wife on her lappy and other kid watching Cbeebies at various times, all without interruption or degradation to service.