FTTC: Not using a new line

Got myself a new FTTC connection on my relatively newly "cured" originally exchange only line. One thing I have not seen anyone ask before (as it's likely not a common scenario) is do you actually need to be using the line for all the potential improvements to the line to be made (such as lower noise margin)?

This line is not in use at present - but will be in a month or so. Does this gap pose any problems as part of the new setup phase?

For anyone interested here at the starts:

Connection: DS: 33,220 US: 8,681
Line Attenuation (down): DS1: 21.8 / DS2: 59.0 / DS3: 87.9
Line Attenuation (up): US0: 10.6 / US1: 49.9
Noise Margin (down) 6.3 / 6.4
Noise Margin (up) 6.2 . 6.2

Approx line length: 1.1km
Cabinet type: Huawei

What do you mean by "using"?

Just keeping the modem or hub connected and powered will be enough

Your stats look fine when looking at attenuation, sync and SNR.

I would query the line length, it seems a little long for what you are seeing.

Empty house so router powered on but no user data being transferred.

Could distance not look quite correct if the copper used is thicker? Being originally a long EO it could be a little thicker? 1.1km is the most direct route to cabinet.

Edited by gary333 (Wed 11-Mar-20 20:37:30)

That's fine, there will be management data flowing and it will keep looking at and tweaking performance

As MHC says, just leave the modem/router connected and powered on.

When we have been away for couple of months at a time and turned off the router, we have returned to slow speeds, not sure if it was coincidence, but we now leave router switched on and no problems.

Thanks for letting me know guys. It looks like speeds are on the up by about +0.6mb after only 24 hours with the noise margin up a fraction (which I assume might means there is more to give from this line if Now BB support 3db).

Day 2:
Connection: DS: 33,918 US: 8,784
Line Attenuation (down): DS1: 21.9 / DS2: 59.1 / DS3: 87.9
Line Attenuation (up): US0: 10.6 / US1: 49.9and
Noise Margin (down) 6.5 / 6.5
Noise Margin (up) 6.1 . 6.2

That is just natural movement cuased by differing noise levels, temperature and other environmental factors.

You will see the major changes when they happen - sometimes after just 3 or 4 days stability, and at other times it can take 2 weeks!

I am really impressed on the performance of this line - it's well over the "high" performance banding from the BT DSL checker.

Here is what BT say it should be capable of:

High Low High Low
VDSL Range A (Clean) 35 22.4 6.8 4.3 20

Yet here it is on Day 3 it's well over the high figure:

Connection: DS: 39,789 US: 8,633
Line Attenuation (down): DS1: 21.9 / DS2: 59.0 / DS3: 87.9
Line Attenuation (up): US0: 10.6 / US1: 49.9
Noise Margin (down) 6.5 / 6.4
Noise Margin (up) 6.2 . 6.1

Measuring the length of the line via driving the route and it's a minimum of 1060m away. I expected to be getting low 20's on this line so I am very happy.

I took out the "Fab Fibre" package which I am assuming is a 40/10 package thinking I'd get nowhere near maximum speed of the package

Edited by gary333 (Fri 13-Mar-20 21:08:56)

I’m now using the line as I’ve moved. Does anyone know why this line seems to be flip flopping between 6db noise margin and 3db noise margin. (80% of time 6db, 20% 3db). It’s doing this without restarting the connection at all. Connection speed appears to be at the maximum for the profile (40mb) from Now TV.

Edited by gary333 (Sun 12-Apr-20 20:40:40)