Any point switching from one "upto 80Mb" providr to another?

Asking for a friend who is on TalkTalk Fibre 65 and experiencing fairly terrible evening speeds. Daytime is OK, about 20Mb in each direction, but evenings slows to about 0.8, much complaining in the house about xbox being unplayable etc. Because it's OK in the day it seems more like it's a contention/resource sharing rather than a problem with the connection per se?

TT has said friend can leave for free, but as far as I can see there might not be anywhere to go... NowBB, Sky, EE, Voda and BT re also offering "up to 80" fibre broadband for the location, Virgin is unavailable. The exchange also has TT and Sky LLU kit in (if the samknows page i found is still valid/up to date).

Is there any solution? Would switching away from TT and to another provider actually help any or is it all just re-badged OpenReach and unlikely to be any different of an evening? How does one find out? Is it contention for the line, or kit overload in the exchange/at TT?

Friend would prefer e.g. a consistent 16Mb copper over a variable 0.8 - 20 Mb fibre..

Edited by charred (Tue 14-Jun-22 11:17:56)

If it is caused by contention (which it probably is from the description) then moving to another provider would most likely fix the issue - the contention is likely in TTs network so moving to a provider that doesn't use TT retail connectivity would probably fix it. Also, TT provide a wholesale business service which has usually be considered much better than TT retail and there are some providers that resell that service with great success.

So, given a free let to leave then I would be taking that up and moving to a different provider. It isn't 100% guaranteed but it is VERY likely to fix it.

How are these speeds being tested? Getting the full 20Mbps up but then only 20Mbps down seems like there is either a fault or a limit somewhere within the home.

The tests really need to be done to a known-good server like TBB or Speedtest.net with a PC connected to the router with a cable. An idea of the line stats as reported by the router would be good as well.

In reply to a post by jpm:

How are these speeds being tested? Getting the full 20Mbps up but then only 20Mbps down seems like there is either a fault or a limit somewhere within the home.

TalkTalk Fibre 65 is 80/20 so 20Mbps up is not full, mine never varies much and its not something i have read being a major problem with TT so maybe its not congestion.

What was the minimum speed he was guaranteed?

Edited by Jack_Hackett (Tue 14-Jun-22 20:22:01)

In reply to a post by charred:

Is there any solution? Would switching away from TT and to another provider actually help any or is it all just re-badged OpenReach and unlikely to be any different of an evening? How does one find out? Is it contention for the line, or kit overload in the exchange/at TT?

OpenReach don't provide internet access. They run the wires that connect from your home through to wherever the internet provider has their equipment. In some cases that can be through many exchanges.

That the download is 20 Mbps during the day and 0.8 Mbps in the evening is obviously a problem, and could very easily be down to the fact that the chosen ISP is the lowest priced in the UK and has less to invest. So you have an "M25" type problem, too many people using it at one time.

That they only get 20 Mbps on an "up to 80" service is likely due to distance, and perhaps quality of the wire in the ground or on poles.

However they should be able to get this speed at all times, during the working day, evenings, and overnight. As they cannot then changing internet provider is advised. The supplier should have given an estimate of the top speed, that could be 20 Mbps or faster, that speed should be reached generally most of the time and is telling you more about the link from the home to the Openreach equipment in the street cabinet.

In reply to a post by Jack_Hackett:

TalkTalk Fibre 65 is 80/20 so 20Mbps up is not full, mine never varies much so maybe its not congestion.

Could be quite easily congestion on a circuit from the Openreach handover node into the TalkTalk network, affecting many areas. Yours is obviously not affected. This will require TalkTalk to spend money, something they don't have much on at the super low prices they charge.

In reply to a post by jpm:

How are these speeds being tested? Getting the full 20Mbps up but then only 20Mbps down seems like there is either a fault or a limit somewhere within the home.

Or the distance to the VDSL cabinet only allows 20Mbps. The important fact is that the high is 20 but during the evening the low is 0.8 which has to be provider congestion, or a fault. That the highest speed (20) is quite low may be worth other investigations.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

In reply to a post by Jack_Hackett:

TalkTalk Fibre 65 is 80/20 so 20Mbps up is not full, mine never varies much so maybe its not congestion.

Could be quite easily congestion on a circuit from the Openreach handover node into the TalkTalk network, affecting many areas. Yours is obviously not affected. This will require TalkTalk to spend money, something they don't have much on at the super low prices they charge.

They don't normally let customers leave so easily (see below) so maybe they know there is a problem and its not going to get fixed any time soon.

TT has said friend can leave for free, but as far as I can see there might not be anywhere to go.

In reply to a post by Jack_Hackett:

They don't normally let customers leave so easily (see below) so maybe they know there is a problem and its not going to get fixed any time soon.

To me that is a “red flag” that means I would migrate as soon as possible to another provider in budget. Using the tools on this site to help select.

You can check https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/...
Enter your postcode. I know telephone number won't be recognized on a TalkTalk line with the checker.

Check what are the estimate speeds for the highest and lowest. If you know the cabinet distance and that it isn't too far, then it could be crosstalk.

But 20Mbps is actually quite low speed and could indicate the line is too long to your cabinet. If this is the case then switching provider will make no difference.

I'm on TalkTalk FTTC last 2 years and 4 months. I used to always get 80-20 Mbps.
There was a recent router firmware upgrade to TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub version SG4K100136

Since then my speed has dropped to Download 76.3 Mbps Upload 19.8 Mbps.

I can't say if this is a coincidence or not. But I've never ever had below 20Mbps upload last 2 years since joining TalkTalk. The router firmware definitely caused that. You should check router stats as well and make sure you are connected to an Ethernet cable rather than WiFi for most accurate results.

My download was also always 80Mbps but since February this has dropped to 76Mbps. Checker still shows max estimate as 80Mbps for both Impacted and Clean lines. So perhaps crosstalk is the blame.

I'm now waiting for CommunityFibre to install their FTTP in my building. Support team say within a month. Site says that FTTP will come in a few months. So this is why I haven't yet changed FTTC provider.

If you've got an Altnet FTTP coming your area soon, check to see if you have any hope for that before deciding to switch to a new FTTC contract.

Although I'm paying £40 a month to TalkTalk for out of contract, I'd definitely switch if no hope of FTTP for price factor at least. But I'm sacrificing the cost for now should FTTP come soon, so that way I won't be stuck on an existing FTTC contract.

Edited by BLaZiNgSPEED (Wed 15-Jun-22 00:48:48)