How often do you monitor your connection?

Back when i had ADSL via a Talk Talk reseller, i was able to manually set the target SNR with my ISP, therefore the DLM was effectively disabled and my connection would always try and sync as close to the target SNR as possible.

Since getting FTTC this isnt possible and the DLM does the work and tweaks the line if it sees issues etc. So ive found myself wanting to check my connection every few days to make sure everything is in order - no random resyncs, speeds ok, errors etc. Basically if there is an issue i want to spot it before the DLM potentially slows my connection down by increasing the target SNR.

Anyone else find themselves doing this, or just dont bother and let the DLM do its job if it sees an issue?

In reply to a post by bobble_bob:

Anyone else find themselves doing this, or just dont bother and let the DLM do its job if it sees an issue?

I sort of do this, but not in any great detail- I just use the BQM to keep an eye on the general "health" of the connection and only investigate further if something seems to be misbehaving or deteriorating.

It has the advantage over occasional manual spot checks in that it shows the last 24 hours in a single graph, and you can view graphs for up to a few weeks ago to see if something is a one-off or may have some sort of pattern to it. It's great for spotting re-syncs that happened while you were fast asleep

It doesn't pick up everything of course, but it's an exceedingly useful tool and I'd hate to be without it!

DLM on FTTC unfortunately is a thing, and in the middle of the night, if something happens theres nothing you can do.

When I was on FTTC, I didnt even bother monitoring the connection unless there was something glaringly obvious that wasnt running properly.

I find that, lots of people "into" networking/broadband, do far more monitoring than is needed.

The question to ask is: Can I do what I need/want to do with my connection? If Answer == Yes, Then, leave it alone

The old adage of "if it aint broke, dont fix it"

In reply to a post by bobble_bob:

Back when i had ADSL via a Talk Talk reseller, i was able to manually set the target SNR with my ISP, therefore the DLM was effectively disabled and my connection would always try and sync as close to the target SNR as possible.

Since getting FTTC this isnt possible and the DLM does the work and tweaks the line if it sees issues etc. So ive found myself wanting to check my connection every few days to make sure everything is in order - no random resyncs, speeds ok, errors etc. Basically if there is an issue i want to spot it before the DLM potentially slows my connection down by increasing the target SNR.

Anyone else find themselves doing this, or just dont bother and let the DLM do its job if it sees an issue?

I run a speed test a couple of times a week just to keep an eye on it but it's not changed in years.

In reply to a post by haydnwalker:

I find that, lots of people "into" networking/broadband, do far more monitoring than is needed.

To say I "monitor" it is a bit OTT... I keep a browser tab open on them (one v4, one v6) and during my morning start-up routine (ie whilst restoring my caffeine level ) I refresh the tab, if looks the same as it usually does I just continue to the next tab

If it doesn't then what I do next depends on what it looks like- usually I decide it's nothing that matters and, again, go to the next tab.

Edited by billford (Mon 16-Oct-23 15:54:46)

I find ongoing monitoring of a home connection is over rated If I notice real time a specific issue I do the necessary checks be they speed, packet loss or whatever is needed.

Agreed - but good to collect the data so you know what "normal" looks like.

Nothing to monitor since I got FTTP, so now I monitor the stats for my energy usage as a substitute 😀

In reply to a post by bobble_bob:

Back when i had ADSL via a Talk Talk reseller, i was able to manually set the target SNR with my ISP, therefore the DLM was effectively disabled and my connection would always try and sync as close to the target SNR as possible.

Since getting FTTC this isnt possible and the DLM does the work and tweaks the line if it sees issues etc. So ive found myself wanting to check my connection every few days to make sure everything is in order - no random resyncs, speeds ok, errors etc. Basically if there is an issue i want to spot it before the DLM potentially slows my connection down by increasing the target SNR.

Anyone else find themselves doing this, or just dont bother and let the DLM do its job if it sees an issue?

I don't, even on FTTC, if I felt things getting slower than I may do a speed check just to see what is going on, but that is it. DLM on FTTC is far better than it was on ADSL.

Just use it unless there is a problem.

In reply to a post by troublegum:

Nothing to monitor since I got FTTP, so now I monitor the stats for my energy usage as a substitute 😀

i hear of people doing that, you use what you use at the end of the day.