Sky 40/10 - Estimate considerably higher than sync

Hi all,

Can someone give me some pointers as whether i'm being simply fobbed off, or whether there is an underlying issue on my line, or i'm simply being told the truth re. my line not being capable.

I had an estimate done on my line from BT, Sky and Plusnet - all three quoted in the region of 45-48MB maximum, as I'm 400-500M away from the cabinet.

So I signed up with Sky and decided I would test the waters with their 40/10 service prior to 'upgrading' for the extra 6-8MB if I thought I may benefit.

I had 2 engineers out and both have said the line is absolutely fine, no issues whatsoever since they rectified the initial fault on the DSide/Junction box. I got FTTC installed on Tuesday 26th, and it's not budged past 25MB - My sync results are below from the router page.

DownStream Connection Speed 23571
UpStream Connection Speed 7194

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Edited by deleted (Wed 27-Nov-13 18:58:49)

google bt wholesale checker, enter your address (not postcode checker, the address checker) and see what results it gives, if its around the 45mbit mark as you said I would push it back to them as a fault.

Given I believe the estimates to be very low, a line that has speeds half the estimate to me suggests something is very wrong somewhere. I think you at the very least deserve an investigation with the option of bailing out the contract cost free.

The problem is there is no SLA on FTTC, to some degree you going to be relying on goodwill from your isp.

That's where I got my initial speed estimates from before approaching sky.

Here's the results anyway:

High Low High Low
FTTC Range A (Clean) 46.3 46.3 8 8
FTTC Range B (Impacted) 46.3 46.3 8 8

I spoke to the engineer and basically it's clear to see they're mostly not interested, that's the second telephone engineer I've had out so fix 'non existing' problems; and all I get from them is 'What do you need more than X for' spiel.

The gent today said it was likely because the line is aluminum - which I've read is the other aging excuse, but surely not to the point of below 50% of what I was estimated?

One thing to check for is star wiring. This is where extensions are taken off a junction box between the incoming telephone feed and the master socket. These extensions may be regular telephone extensions, or may be SkyBoxes or alarms. Those can cause serious issues. It can be quite bad even if the extension isn't used, much worse if the extension is used. If the extension is used, an old ADSL filter can make the issues marginally less bad.

Star wiring was not a problem with regular telephones (often installed in GPO days), or even a significant problem with ADSL. It wreaks havoc with VDSL/FTTC/Infinity. It is often not noticed by installers. I asked my installer about it because it seemed odd, and he explicitly said it didn't matter (eg, he coulnd't be bothered). There seem to be lots of evidence that subcontractors are more likely to miss/ignore it than real Openreach staff (I can't remember who got mine wrong).

This diagram may help. http://forumhelp.dyndns.info/infinity/infinity_wirin... (I believe only for BT users) or at http://s23.postimg.org/ivobqytvv/Star_Wiring.jpg
This diagram is NOT my copyright, not sure who's it was originally; I hope he/she doesn't mind my copying it.

Edited by StephenTodd (Wed 27-Nov-13 20:51:44)

I think only BT customers can see that link

Plusnet can use this link cos Plusnet also owned by BT

Star wiring isn't possible as there's one socket in the whole house - however from the drop cable , the BT bloke has placed a cylindrical looking device/extender which the cable terminate into and then back out into my master socket.

I can only assume this is a splitter/extension device as the drop wire wasn't long enough to reach the new location where he moved the master socket to.

I don't think so, I'm with Plusnet and I just got a message saying it's for BT customers only!

Anyway, the OP is with Sky, so a bit of a pointless statement really.

That does seem very low, I get 47/9 and I'm about 450 meters, but I think it's copper, although my original estimate was 57/20, current estimate is 33/6.

There are users on here that are over a 1000 meters and get speeds similar to yours.

In reply to a post by stonesy:

I can only assume this is a splitter/extension device

As long as as its only used for extension, no problem as you guessed.
(I've also updated the picture reference above ... thanks BatBoy)

What's really winding me up is that my next door neighbour who lives less than 2 doors down is getting 50MB no problem.

I always thought that the drop wire was supposed to terminate into a proper sealed junction box and then down into the property into the back of the NTE5 master?

This run of wire goes from the junction box on the pole, across the road and is pinned to my property, runs down into a small cylinder device (the packet name/manufacturer started with an N...cant remember what it read) and then from there an extension cord so to speak into the house into the NTE5.

Do the cables into the back of the socket matter anymore. i.e. will disconnecting the usual bell wire trick make any difference?

Thanks again

What's really winding me up is that my next door neighbour who lives less than 2 doors down is getting 50MB no problem.

I always thought that the drop wire was supposed to terminate into a proper sealed junction box and then down into the property into the back of the NTE5 master?

This run of wire goes from the junction box on the pole, across the road and is pinned to my property, runs down into a small cylinder device (the packet name/manufacturer started with an N...cant remember what it read) and then from there an extension cord so to speak into the house into the NTE5.

Do the cables into the back of the socket matter anymore. i.e. will disconnecting the usual bell wire trick make any difference? EDIT - NM - just had the master socket off and only the orange/white wires are connected, i've just repunched them using the krone tool just incase but no joy

Edited by deleted (Wed 27-Nov-13 22:19:46)

Photos please .

You can't post them here, so upload them somewhere and give us links .

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

I think only BT customers can see that link

The first link yes. The second (required) link works for me.

If you have a single telephone socket there will be no ring wire to connect, just the two wires going to A & B on the part of the master socket you are not meant to access.

What you have should look exactly like http://www.coolwebhome.co.uk/faceplate/

It is definitely time for pictures.

The outside item, is just a weather proof outdoor joint box

Here's a picture of the new socket that was installed - any other pics you need let me know.

Thank you

http://i.imgur.com/HBLCaMQ.jpg

Looks perfectly normal and what you would expect.

One presumes no other telephone wiring in the property at all?

Have you confirmed the distance to the fibre cabinet in the street? And also that the neighbours are connected to the same cabinet.

Neighbour that I'm referring to, two doors up is on the same cabinet as me.

The BT engineer showed me a map of the junction cabling, and said we were approx 400-500m away max.

There's absolutely nothing between the drop cable and the NTE5 socket, no extensions etc.

Many Thanks

Needs an engineer from Openreach who understands attenuation and what the normal ranges for this value are on the sort of line length you have.

One assumes if you plug a phone into the line it still works? Checking as VDSL2 will work with a single wire connected, but will be around half the speed you would expect.