Ever slowing FTTC

I signed up for FTTC when it was launched in our area and use to get 30Mb about 5 years ago. Since then the speed has dropped down steadily to around 20-22Mb. Is there anything I can do to improve the speed? I have the EE smart hub - Would a better quality VDSL router help? I am no longer able to use streaming TV whenever I download anything on my PC (even with speed limiters on and all connected via ethernet).

Alternatively is there anyway to find out when my area might get an upgrade (gfast/FTTP)? Most of the tiny towns in my area appear to have gfast based on this sites map but my larger town has not. Hampshire broadband have declared my area as superfast and therefore no need of help. There are no business on my estate so no chance of any help with fibre to the property. I've been googling for hours but don't seem to find anything but the existing state for my postcode. I cannot afford FTTPoD but would happily pay for more. I get very poor 4g too so that is not an option (8Mb max on phone).

For the record I live in Dibden connected to the Hythe (hampshire) exchange via cabinet 15 (as discovered by the www.dslchecker.bt.com site).

Am I just going to have to wait until openreach magically decide to do something?

What estimates does the address option on that checker give you for neighbours? The easiest way to check is put just the postcode into the address option and submit that, which gives you a drop-down list of all addresses on the postcode.

I'm asking because if they all get around the same as yourself that means you are too far away from the cabinet to get G.Fast even if it is enabled on it.

If they are far higher, and still on cab 15 as there may be more than one serving your postcode, that suggests a problem with your home wiring.

Could you give us your router stats please?

I've just checked using address and my neighbours are near identical. Guess that means I've got to wait for FTTP sometime in the next 10 years or so then?

I can't get router stats at the moment as I'm at work but I'm guessing it won't reveal much as I'm getting what can be expected. I just wasn't expecting an almost 1/3 drop in speeds over 5 years.

Thanks for your help.

That's a pity .

By the by, an old ship mate of mine lived in Dibden. Many moons ago.

And many a time over the years, I used to go fishing on Hordle lakes. Not that far away.

Nice part of the country down there.

That drop is highly likely due to cross talk, the more people take up FTTC the more interference from other lines, the slower they get. When I had FTTC my upload went from 12 to 6, and my download fluctuated up and down, best I ever had was 60 very briefly, worse I think was mid 30's, hence why I took Virgin when it became available.

Another option is to get a second line and bond them together - potentially doubling your speeds, there are different ways of doing this, with differing pro's and con's.

Yeah beautiful but isolated. Crazy how close you can be to Southampton and have zero facilities! Just eat has zero options, 4g is barely operating and no one interested in running fibre as it's basically a dead end! Guess it's the cost of having the new forest on your doorstep and reasonable property costs. Totten just north of us has virgin but I doubt we ever will.

That was my guess. I found a website that covered it and suggested a newer router would help but the page was dated about 5 years old so I'd assume my one year old EE smart hub (re branded BT smart Hub 1 I believe) would have the latest VDSL tech.

I'd consider the cost of a second line if I wouldn't have to pay not only double cost for someone with a decent VDSL service (which just does seem fair to me) but also have to pay for a new line to be installed just to get 40Mbps... I know its not FTTPoD levels of cash but its still not going to be cheap!

I just hope it doesn't get any worse.

Unfortunately BT have stopped selling ADSL where FTTC/FTTP is available and they are actively moving customers from ADSL and sending them a new VDSL router so over the next year you may see increased crosstalk as even more people are connected to your cabinet.

Oh goody. Hopefully if it gets too junk enough people in my area might club together and do something (FTTPoD) but i'm not hopeful - most of the road is retired people who seem to be very happy with sky via satellite.