As far as I can tell, the connection is rock solid - it's just slow
I will try connecting an other router that reports uptime and check it, but my experience playing MMOs or downloading is that there are no drops. Also, there is no line noise on the quiet line test, and sync speed is bang on expected for the line profile as reported by the btwholesale tester. (In fact, the tested speed has been outperforming the profile - 6.17Mbps test v. 6.01Mbps profile; go figure )
I have tried a number of ADSL filters (having built up a collection over the years ), but sync speed is much the same with them, or without them and no phones on the line. Have also tried a couple of different ADSL leads

Oh - and did I mention that I get better sync speeds when I force the router to ADSL2 rather than ADSL2+ ?

Everything you report is consistent with a bad line (by line, I mean end to end not just the cables), and to be honest it's a dead cert given the extremely low sync speed. The only thing to rule out is the modem.

The profile follows the sync, so means nothing, and your upload is perfect so I wouldn't expect audible noise on a quiet line test - often these lines are slow but keep sync quite well too, though can take a turn for the worse at any time. A higher sync on ADSL2 despite the excellent line attenuation is a classic symptom, as is the line management switching between the two (not sure whether you have witnessed this).

In reply to a post by RoguePony:

sync speed is bang on expected for the line profile as reported by the bt wholesale tester.

Don't kid yourself! It isn't! All the BTw tester does is measure the throughput, which is the useful data part of the sync speed and is about 83% of sync, and the IP profile which is almost always 88.2% of sync. Both measures are dependent on the sync speed; the slower the sync the slower both measures are proportionally.

On your line with that attenuation you should be getting 18-19 Meg sync. The fact that you are not implies a fault on your line .

6.17Mbps test v. 6.01Mbps profile

Is impossible and is either a fault in the tester, which does happen, or they weren't taken at the same time.

Useful information thank you. Back to square one with EE today being shunted around the technical services route again. So I have responded saying I want a single point of contact and asked them to instruct someone with some authority in the UK to put my speed back to where it was in December 2013.. In April 2011 I went to the EE Press office and eventually got someone interested. He was then very good. But has now left.

May I suggest that you start a new thread? I am getting mixed up between your stats and issues, and those of the OP.

Another user has suggested I start this as a new thread. Re-cap Enjoyed average of 10mbps from April 2011 to Early December 2013. Then speed started to fall and now down to between 5 and 6mbps. Someone else on TBB from Worcestershire has a similar experience. Is this a more general experience of other EE users? Going round and round the EE Customer Service and Technical Dept loop without any progress. Having had similar problems before it feels like a deliberate cut in service by EE. Previously I have found someone to help me with authority. My search continues this time around.

Hi again XRaySpeX
I have just ran the BTWholesale test, and the "best effort" results are 6.17 down and 0.93 up. It gives 7.15 down and 0.83 up as the maximums achievable, and gives the IP profiles for the line as 6.03 up and 0.83 down. It was getting results like this that made me start wondering if the poor sync speed was something to do with EE rather than a line quality issue. Either way, I'm becoming resigned to having to deal with EE "Tech" support over the phone
Has anyone had useful outcomes from using the freephone numbers listed on "Saynoto0870" site (listed below), or do the ops just dump you back to the first level call centre?

0800 2945611 - Tech support operator
0800 1970589 - Broadband Tech support
0800 2945611 - Home Broadband services

Thanks again

Are you thinking that by changing the Subject in this thread that you have started a new thread as I suggested? That is not so! You need to start a new Post in the EE, or whichever you prefer, Forum, here: http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/freeserve.html

I repeat what you have been repeatedly told: your main issue is not the same as OP's; yours is congestion at certain times, his is low sync speed.

Has anyone mentioned banding to you?

A very common thing on EE, limit sync speeds to ensure a line is nice and stable, but seems to kick in with EE a lot more than other providers