Low Speed & ADSL2 / ADSL2+ Switching

For about 6 months, since I was moved from Orange LLU, my broadband speed has been switching between ~5mb download speed, and 1.5mb download speed.

On checking the router stats when I get the high download speed it appears that I am connected with ADSL2 and sync'd at a higher speed, when I get the low download speed, with ADSL2+ and at a lower speed (Stats below).

Customer Support don't seem to want to know, and keep telling me my line will only support 2mb, despite my having had a higher speed consistently prior to the move.

Any suggestions?

Steve

Low Speed (Now)

ADSL firmware version : A2pBT009c1.d17d
Connection mode : ADSL2+
Type : Fast
Noise margin (dB) : 6.1
Attenuation (dB) : 19.5
Attainable download rate (kbps) : 2635
ADSL status : Connected [0]

Downstream Upstream
Rate (kbps) 2635 687

Higher Speed (last week)
ADSL firmware version : A2pBT009c1.d17d
Connection mode : ADSL2
Type : Fast
Noise margin (dB) : 16.3
Attenuation (dB) : 20.0
Attainable download rate (kbps) : 6835
ADSL status : Connected [0]

Downstream Upstream
Rate (kbps) 6835 1059

In reply to a post by sbeadle:

Attenuation (dB) : 20.0

If that's really your Down attn. you should be getting 20 Meg on ADSL2+ ot the full 12 Meg on ADSL2.

How far are you from the Exchange?

ADSL2+ is worse than ADSL if the distance is a few km or more. My speed dropped (ok, by not very much but it was still only hovering around 1.5Mbps from 1.6Mbps) as the higher frequencies get attenuated more.

FTTC solved that problem for me! Any hope for you?

How far are you from the Exchange?

As the crow flies, about 700 meters from the exchange.

If that's really your Down attn. you should be getting 20 Meg on ADSL2+ ot the full 12 Meg on ADSL2.

That's the stats coming from the router. Is there something else I should double check?

I seem to recall an Attainable download rate figure of ~13000 when I was on LLU, although the download rate was capped at 8mb.

The router is an Orange LiveBox,which is about 5 years old, if that is of any help.

Your problem is probably noise

Noise margin (dB) : 6.1

Check your wiring! Have you removed ring wire? Did you get those stats by plugging into the test socket hidden behind the faceplate? If not, you should do so.

Edited by XRaySpeX (Sat 22-Oct-11 19:09:59)

The noise margin starts out higher when I have just rebooted the router, and then drops slowly over time. Having just rebooted the router now the stats are:

ADSL Top Refresh
ADSL firmware version : A2pBT009c1.d17d
Connection mode : ADSL2+
Type : Fast
Noise margin (dB) : 29.9
Attenuation (dB) : 19.5
Attainable download rate (kbps) : 2635
ADSL status : Connected [0]

Downstream Upstream
Rate (kbps) 2635 687

The main BT socket doesn't actually have a BT test scoket underneath it, only the wiring itself. Only two wires are connected, so I assume that the bell wire is disconnected.

Why do I get switched between ADSL2 and 2+, 2 seems to be consistently more reliable. Can I ask to be kept on ASDL2?

In reply to a post by sbeadle:

Noise margin (dB) : 29.9

If your NM is reducing from 30 dB upon connection, the Target NM set by the DLM on your line, to 6 dB as time goes by then your line is very noisy and the DLM has set a very high Target to overcome the noise and guard against discons. Tho' I've never heard of such a high Target.

I guess you get switched to ADSl2 sometimes cuz your line is so unstable and cuz ADSL2 is less susceptible to noise you get a higher sync speed.

Edited by XRaySpeX (Sun 23-Oct-11 20:48:03)