ISP speed problem, host server or my own PC?

I have recently changed my Orange broadband/home phone package (had to do this as they were discontinuing the second line) from one giving me test speeds of about 6Mb to one giving about 18Mb. However, I can't say I have noticed any particular difference.

What I really want to know is how can I tell if apparently slow downloading of internet pages (or occasional complete loss of connection) which I sometimes experience is due to my computer, the host server or to my broadband connection. I don't know how to answer when asked to rate my ISP provider for speed or connection reliability? I don't want to blame Orange if I should be thinking, for example, of adding more RAM or whatever.

It might be worth adding that I occasionally watch BBC iPlayer on my TV (connected to router with ethernet cable) and this is never a problem but, that said, it was always OK at the lower 6Mb speed.

Would appreciate your comments.

Post your router stats.

If BrightBox: Login to it, Advanced Settings/ Accept/ System/ ADSL Status.

EDIT: It will not be your PC!

In reply to a post by PCThicky:

(had to do this as they were discontinuing the second line)

Why? The Livebox & existing connection would still work w/out 2nd line.

Edited by XRaySpeX (Mon 13-May-13 19:32:54)

Also post the link to your speed test results

With my old package I had a Livebox. With the new package I am using the new BrightBox.
I have followed your instructions and arrived at a page full of what to me is gobblydegook (see my user name!).

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear but when 2nd line was discontinued I still wanted a package with free anytime UK and overseas calls hence the change to the new Orange package offered. At the same time I transferred my line payment from BT to Orange. I have to say that the £20/annum deal I was offered - new Brightbox, faster broadband, anytime calls UK and 64 overseas (including 500 min to UK mobiles) and line rental - was difficult to match. Maybe this was a sweetener to stay with Orange (or EE, whatever they are called) and it will increase (like car insurance)after one year!

I am not saying that I have any complaints, it's just that if I have any any speed or connection problems I have no way of knowing where the problem lies.
Hence how can I rate the ISP if, say, the fault lies with my PC or the server of the web site I am trying to log on to.

The trick is that the connection details from the router give the best indication, and after that it is knowing what sort of speeds you normally get and seeing how they vary over time.

Do you know if your connection has BT 21CN WBC, what is the name of your exchange?

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search

EE/Orange Bright Box router settings, to configure Go� Advanced Set-Up > Accept > Broadband Settings.

BOADBAND SETTINGS
This page provides advanced settings to connect your EE Broadband service

Broadband Type ADSL
Broadband Username:
Broadband Password:

Protocol: PPPoA
VPI/VCI: 0/38
Encapsulation: VC MUX
Internet IP Address: Dynamic
IP Address: 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask: 0.0.0.0
DNS IP Address: Manual
Primary DNS: 193.36.79.101
Secondary DNS: 193.36.79.100
Connection Type: Always Connected
Idle Time: 0 (minutes)
Authentication Protocol: CHAP
MTU (576~1500): 1500

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

]Why? The Livebox & existing connection would still work w/out 2nd line.

I expect the broadband was on the second line and he wished to reduce to one line, keeping the number present on line 1.

In reply to a post by PCThicky:

With my old package I had a Livebox. With the new package I am using the new BrightBox.
I have followed your instructions and arrived at a page full of what to me is gobblydegook (see my user name!).
I am not saying that I have any complaints, it's just that if I have any any speed or connection problems I have no way of knowing where the problem lies.
Hence how can I rate the ISP if, say, the fault lies with my PC or the server of the web site I am trying to log on to.

You copy and paste the information given in your Bright Box router ADSL Status page.
Go� Advanced Set-Up > Accept > System > ADSL Status.

My EE/Orange connection Bright Box router stats. There are no secrets given away on this page it just displays how your connection is performing.

ADSL Status
This page shows information about your ADSL connection if applicable.

Status
Configured Current
Line Status --- SHOWTIME
Link Type --- Interleaved Path
Operation Mode Automatic G992.5(ADSL2+)

Data Rate Information
Stream Type Actual Data Rate
Upstream 1249 (Kbps.)
Downstream 13448 (Kbps.)

Defect/Failure Indication
Operation Data Upstream Downstream
Noise Margin ...... 5.2 dB 4.5 dB
Line Attenuation 15.7 dB 29.0 dB

Indicator Name Near End Indicator Far End Indicator
Output Power 12.4 dBm 0.0 dBm
Fast Path FEC Correction NA NA
Interleaved Path FEC Correction 222148 81
Fast Path CRC Error NA NA
Interleaved Path CRC Error 1193 2
Loss of Signal Defect 0 0
Fast Path HEC Error STR NA NA
Interleaved Path HEC Error 26919 0
Error Seconds 159 2
Statistics
Received Cells 1578216
Transmitted Cells 245161

Edited by deleted (Mon 13-May-13 22:54:59)

In reply to a post by PCThicky:

I have followed your instructions and arrived at a page full of what to me is gobblydegook

That's why we ask you to post them. We don't expect you to interpret them; we will do that for you.

I cannot fathom why you always insist on telling OPs how to set-up the BrightBox when they obviously already have a connection but are querying its speed. It's the stats that are required in the 1st place not the settings.

The Orange 2nd line is not a physical line; it's a VOIP line. The BB still comes down the single phone line.

Indeed Orange cannot handle 2 phone lines and expect you to have 1 with them and 1 with BT or another. As such they cannot take on my own phone situation and I will only buy BB Only from them (so my PN contingency better not disappear ).

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

I cannot fathom why you always insist on telling OPs how to set-up the BrightBox when they obviously already have a connection but are querying its speed. It's the stats that are required in the 1st place not the settings.

The BrightBox router is new to the OP and I have displayed the EE/Orange settings copied from my BrightBox router to confirm the correct setting have been applied. Without the correct configuration settings a fast stable connection speed cannot be expected.

It's illogical! The only one that might affect performance is MTU, and then usually only slightly (we were running successfully with 1492 for a long time when it should be 1500). Getting any of the rest wrong and you wouldn't have a connection anyway, but the OP does.

The best approach to diagnosing issues is to look 1st at the symptoms and to then analyse the cause.

Anyway the BrightBox self-configures itself upon 1st connection and users would have no reason to look at Settings except possibly to tweak the DNS.

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

It's illogical! The only one that might affect performance is MTU, and then usually only slightly (we were running successfully with 1492 for a long time when it should be 1500). Getting any of the rest wrong and you wouldn't have a connection anyway, but the OP does.

The best approach to diagnosing issues is to look 1st at the symptoms and to then analyse the cause.

Anyway the BrightBox self-configures itself upon 1st connection and users would have no reason to look at Settings except possibly to tweak the DNS.

It�s precisely not illogical! You have just stated two settings that can affect the broadband connection MTU and DNS of which I have informed the OP with my post.

Thanks to all who have posted and apologies for delay in replying. I'm afraid some of your exchanges go over my head. ( I might add that as a qualified engineer I am not totally computer illiterate and can go back to the days of mainframe computers, punch cards and FORTRAN programing but having retired a few years ago I have been left behind by current broadband technology).

My exchange is Ashfield (CMASHF) and is 21CNWBC enabled (whatever that means).

When I look at my advanced broadband settings MTU is 1492 and DNS settings are as follows:

DNS IP Address: Obtain from ISP
Primary DNS 0.0.0.0
Secondary DNS 0.0.0.0

As I've said before, I don't think I have any paricular speed problems (my tests always show a download speed of almost 18 Mbps and upload of about 0.75 Mbps) but it's just how to determine if a slow download of a particular web page is the fault of Orange or the host server or my PC. For example, I am aware of the hard drive working a lot especially if I have several windows open - I have increased the RAM to 3 Gb but perhaps this is still inadequate. Also using VISTA which seems to come in for some criticism.

If speedtests are pretty much showing 18 Mbps results, then unless the providers DNS servers are having issues then nothing to do with the broadband is a particular page is slow to open.

If its your PC you will see in Task Manager CPU and memory utilisation heading towards 100%, and if doing this a lot it can mean your PC is the bottle neck and not the broadband connection.

Sorry, that's not your router stats. Please follow: Login to it, Advanced Settings/ Accept/ System/ ADSL Status and copy the page here.

In reply to a post by PCThicky:

When I look at my advanced broadband settings MTU is 1492

You could try changing MTU to 1500 if it allows you. If not, your Brightbox's firmware has not been upgraded automatically by EE.

You do have a Brightbox?

I think I've got it right this time:


ADSL Status
This page shows information about your ADSL connection if applicable.

Status
Configured Current
Line Status --- SHOWTIME
Link Type --- Fast Path
Operation Mode Automatic G992.5(ADSL2+)

Data Rate Information
Stream Type Actual Data Rate
Upstream 736 (Kbps.)
Downstream 20871 (Kbps.)

Defect/Failure Indication
Operation Data Upstream Downstream
Noise Margin 6.9 dB 3.6 dB
Line Attenuation 9.2 dB 15.0 dB

Indicator Name Near End Indicator Far End Indicator
Output Power 12.6 dBm 0.0 dBm
Fast Path FEC Correction 0 0
Interleaved Path FEC Correction NA NA
Fast Path CRC Error 6154 57
Interleaved Path CRC Error NA NA
Loss of Signal Defect 6 0
Fast Path HEC Error STR 151276 27
Interleaved Path HEC Error NA NA
Error Seconds 3823 201

Statistics
Received Cells 79040832
Transmitted Cells 17316241


Sorry columns are not aligning correctly but I've no doubt it will make sense to you.
Thanks again for your interest.

Very good broadband speeds.

A small amount of errors, but probably not enough to cause big problems.

That�s the router stats needed! Your Downstream 20871 (Kbps.) speed is excellent, but the Upstream 736 (Kbps.) speed should be greater, I think.

Have you configured the MTU: 1500 and input the EE/Orange DNS

Primary DNS 193.36.79.101
Secondary DNS 193.36.79.100

Save the settings.

Restart the router. Go... Advanced Set-Up > Accept > Tools > Restart. Use the button above to restart your router.

In reply to a post by E7er:

input the EE/Orange DNS

Primary DNS 193.36.79.101
Secondary DNS 193.36.79.100

What's the point? "Obtain from ISP" already delivers same result. You don't 'arf lead peeps down some blind alleys!

Stats are good but could be better, Possibly nearly the full 24 Meg Down and about 1.2 Meg Up.

You should be getting about 17.5 Meg on speedtests. Do you?

Run the TBB speedtest and post the "Link to this result:" from the result.

In reply to a post by PCThicky:

DNS settings are as follows:

DNS IP Address: Obtain from ISP
Primary DNS 0.0.0.0
Secondary DNS 0.0.0.0

If you are still suffering from slow or failure to load web pages, it is worth trying one of the public DNSs, like OpenDNS, rather than ineffectually explicitly setting the EE DNSs as suggested elsewhere. Change these settings to:

DNS IP Address Manual
Primary DNS 208.67.222.222
Secondary DNS 208.67.220.220

Trying alternate ones might help with page opening if the issue is slow DNS lookups

But in this case I think it is someone just trying to understand why different sites are different speeds when served to them

That's the trouble, we don't really know the issue. So I made a suggestion that might help in that vague arena.