In reply to a post by crg:

The extensions are via Cat 5e cable to other MK master sockets wired to all six pins, and carried out by an electrician. (photo forthcoming hopefully tomorrow, but see attached info from MK: http://www.mkelectric.com/en-gb/Products/WD/logicplu... {<-Needs space here} )

Looking online I've seen several different ways to wire up extensions, all recommending removing the bell wire (pin 3). This has included wiring 2 pins, 3 pins and 5 pins.

They can't all be Masters, can they? There is a diff of having a Ring Capacitor or not?

You only need pins 2 and 5 connected; see http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/socket.htm

In reply to a post by crg:

It was the ADSL & FTTC diagnostic but the second part of the test, added below for info:
"We have identified that you have additional services enabled on you broadband line, please click continue to run advanced service tests"

Can you post the 1st part of the test (Best Effort & Upstream)? The Assured Rate and Video tests are pointless.

Edited by XRaySpeX (Mon 27-Feb-12 23:23:26)

First part of BT speedchecker test results

1. Best Effort Test: -provides background information.

Download Speed
5.99 Mbps
0 Kbps 7.15 Mbps
Max Achievable Speed

Download speedachieved during the test was - 5.99 Mbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speeds is 2 Mbps-7.15 Mbps.
IP Profile for your line is - 5.98 Mbps

2. Upstream Test: -provides background information.
Upload Speed
1.09 Mbps
0 Kbps 832 Kbps
Max Achievable Speed
Upload speed achieved during the test was - 1.09Mbps
Additional Information:
Upstream Rate IP profile on your line is - 832 Kbps

Spoke to orange, they're saying I should get 11Mbps on the line but their line checking software is down again , they still haven't connected my second line either.

Yes all my extensions are MK master sockets (they have the yellow ring capacitor on them) but no I don't know why the electrician did it this way (special offer at wickes? ) Got a photo but not sure how to add it / link to this post....

Thanks

Are those stats with extensions discon'ed? Cuz I think having yellow ring capacitors in the "slaves" to be detrimental. Hence your previous slower speeds.

Yes that's right but what's still confusing me is that with all those masters connected as extensions I was still getting 5M before it slowed down.
So with all things even and removing the extensions shouldn't, I now be getting in the region of 10M?

Thanks

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

Are those stats with extensions discon'ed? Cuz I think having yellow ring capacitors in the "slaves" to be detrimental. Hence your previous slower speeds.

2.2uF (sometimes 1.8uF) ringing caps are supposed to be one per line, feeding a max REN value of 4. The cap is in series with a 470k "Opt out of service" resistor, which allows the time domain reflectometer @ the AXE to detect whether or not handsets are plugged in, from what I recall. Having more than one of these res-cap circuits in parallel is going to cause some kind of imbalance, no matter how minor. At the very worst, this would act as a crude high-pass filter.

I've drawn a (rather crude) circuit, for those now "in the know":

Master/Secondary socket wiring

Edited by glossywhite (Thu 01-Mar-12 15:19:24)

Thanks for all the advise so far, thought I'd give an update

- Reconnected extensions using only 2 wires = 6.7M speed
- Replaced extensions with secondaries = 6.7M
- Reconnected Livebox (was using orange netgear) so I could try and get my 2nd line reconnected = 2.5M (0.2M DN)
- Spent 70mins with orange technical (awful indian call centre, awful line quality!) then spoke to really helpful and sensible UK Customer Services Manager: possible issue with "DLM" in exchange / server detecting error on line that has down graded my speed, advised keep Livebox on for 72hrs. If no change they'll replace the livebox (again).
- For anyone interested, I was advised Orange will be discontinuing 2nd line in near future but no date for this yet
- Looking at another provider with line rental, BE looks good any other suggestions?


Stats from livebox if anyone's interested....

Connection mode : ADSL2+
Type : Fast
Noise margin (dB) : 6.2
Attenuation (dB) : 27.0
Attainable download rate (kbps) : 3353
ADSL status : Connected [0]

Downstream Upstream
Rate (kbps) 3080 201

In reply to a post by crg:

- Reconnected extensions using only 2 wires = 6.7M speed
- Replaced extensions with secondaries = 6.7M

Are you saying that doing either of these things made no diff to your Sync Speed on the Netgear? What about the other stats, did they change?

Xray, thanks for your continued help...

With the removal of the extensions I was getting 6-7M, reconnecting with 2 wires and then replacing the extension sockets with slaves kept the speed at 6-7M (stats as post of 28/2).

Can't give you any further from yesterday as it was from the livebox.

New update, came back from work and internet is down (live box is flashing fast and slow) and my telephone is down. Not happy :'(!

Working up the energy to call orange again, meh.

Crp your post sounds awfully familiar. Prior to about last November I was experiencing decent speeds at some points 15Meg download ..Come Jan a few things started going bad:

- Consistently slow maximum speed of approx 3 megs download, 0.5-1meg upload all times of day (I'm on ADSL2+)

- Slow flashing light on livebox, the only workaround to get onto the internet was turn on the router with the ethernet line out, once the lights all turned green then insert the ethernet cable. Even then I have to 'repair' the local area connection.

- Orange sent a replacement livebox, which is of the older model type

- An event on my BT line meant that I was without phone/internet for 3 days, of which I was told by BT that this problem would have affected broadband speed prior to the line going dead (it was at this point that I started getting suspicious about the consistently slow speeds)

With respect to all of the above I do not think it is a hardware setup on my side and truly belive this issue falls into oranges/BT's lap. Are these slow speeds being imposed? Has anyone else experience these similar events recently?