BT Broadband Opt 1 has gone slow - why ???

Hello,

First post on the forum.

I've just got BT Broadband Option 1. After the service was switched on on the 5th March, I used an online speed checker to measure my speed: it registered 3.5MB DS and .5MB US.

http://www.mybroadbandspeed.co.uk

I noticed web pages were slow last night (Friday) but put this down to contention / throttling.

Today (Saturday 20th) I ran the speed checker again; I'm getting 0.25MB DS and 0.6MB US.

I've tried resetting my router (power off for 10 mins), with no change.

I've not changed any of the phones in my house, or the wiring - it's the same setup as when I joined bt broadband.

As per the sticky, here are my router stats:

OfficeConnect ADSL Wireless 11g Firewall Router
Version 1.10.00.A (USA)


Status
Configured Current
Line Status --- SHOWTIME
Link Type --- Interleaved Path
Data Rate
Stream Type Actual Data Rate
Up Stream 738 (Kbps.)
Down Stream 6694 (Kbps.)
Operation Data
Operation Data Upstream Downstream
Noise Margin 5 dB 2147483646 dB
Attenuation 53 dB 47 dB

Defect Indication
Indicator Name Near End Indicator Far End Indicator
Fast Path FEC Correction 0 0
Interleaved Path FEC Correction 870 10986
Fast Path CRC Error 0 0
Interleaved Path CRC Error 0 312
Loss of Signal Defect 2 ---
Fast Path HEC Error 0 0
Interleaved Path HEC Error 0 0

------------------------------------------------------

BT Broadband avail checker:

Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband service that provides a fixed line speed up to 1Mbps. However due to the length of your line the 1Mbps service may require an engineer visit who will, where possible, supply the broadband service.

Our test also indicates that your line currently supports an estimated ADSL Max broadband line speed of 3.5Mbps.

Our test also indicates that your line currently supports an estimated ADSL2+ broadband line speed of 3.5Mbps. When ADSL2+ Annex M is launched our test also indicates that your line could support an estimated ADSL 2+ Annex-M broadband upstream line speed of 500Kbps and downstream line speed of 2.5Mbps.

----------------------------------------------------------

Thing is, I know my line can support 3.5MB, because I was getting that when I joined (on a Friday night).

Are BT reducing my speed on purpose now? Or should I change my router?

Also, my internet connection regularly drops (3 to 4 times a day). Logging into the router and asking it to connect again does not help unless I pick one of the phones in the house up to get a dial tone - then the router connects back to the internet.

Many Thanks,

Also, my internet connection regularly drops (3 to 4 times a day). Logging into the router and asking it to connect again does not help unless I pick one of the phones in the house up to get a dial tone - then the router connects back to the internet.

This is your problem, the IP Profile is probably being set low by these drops, and then it takes time for that setting to improve again.

Does the problem happen if you have JUST the ADSL modem, a microfilter and a corded handset plugged into the test socket, i.e. remove faceplate from master socket to reveal the test socket. If all is well then people will walk you through the options to sort your wiring out.

Otherwise if still bad when using the test socket, it looks like a fault in the local loop somewhere.

Your modem is just about to resync I suspect, because the big number for downstream noise margin, is actually the router failing to display -1.

Stream Type Actual Data Rate
Up Stream 738 (Kbps.)
Down Stream 6694 (Kbps.)

what does speedtester.bt.com have to say for itself - esp the IP Profile.

speedtester gave the following results:

FAQ


Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test: -provides background information.

Download Speed
143 Kbps

0 Kbps 250 Kbps
Max Achievable Speed

Download speedachieved during the test was - 143 Kbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speedsis 50-250 Kbps.
Additional Information:
Your DSL Connection Rate :6644 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 736 Kbps(UP-STREAM)
IP Profile for your line is - 250 Kbps
The throughput of Best Efforts (BE) classes achieved during the test is - 11.19:25.17:63.64 (SBE:NBE:PBE)
These figures represent the ratio while sententiously passing Sub BE, Normal BE and Priority BE marked traffic.

The results of this test will vary depending on the way your ISP has decided to use these traffic classes.


-------------------------------------

OK,

The router stats are now:

Operation Data
Operation Data Upstream Downstream
Noise Margin 5 dB 6 dB
Attenuation 53 dB 46 dB

With regard to the wiring, I'll have a look tonight, but just two things:

1. I've not changed the wiring sine I got 3.5MB.
2. Would the wiring explain why I'm getting over twice an upload speed compared to my download speed? I thought broadband was meant to be the other way round (ie faster download).

Thanks.

while fundamentally asymmetric in favour of the downstream you can get more congestion on the downstream side giving a lower speed test result, or in odd cases the connection to the exchange can be lower on the downstream side.

your connection to the exchange is quite fast :-

Your DSL Connection Rate :6644 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 736 Kbps(UP-STREAM)

however at some point it has been very low resulting in a low speed profile :-

IP Profile for your line is - 250 Kbps

this should come up in a day or two, but if the line flaps around a lot it may keep going back down to that level.

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

...Also, my internet connection regularly drops (3 to 4 times a day). Logging into the router and asking it to connect again does not help unless I pick one of the phones in the house up to get a dial tone - then the router connects back to the internet.

If you're all correctly filtered this sounds like a line fault to me.
Often referred to as a 'HR fault' where the extra voltage on the line (when you pick up the handset) causes a breakage to seal.

Try either reporting a voice fault to BT or ADSL on with your ISP

Hi Anonymous,

I can arrange to have your line tested for you. Email [email protected] with your BT account details. Please also include a link to this thread.

Thanks

Paddy

FWIW You've replied to Yarwell rather than the OP (Original Poster) but hopefully they'll still see it

Thank you all for your support.

I have to say, I never expected a forum to be this helpful.

Before I raise a call with BT, I'm going to change the router, and change the ADSL filter (so these can be eliminated).

The modem is already connected directly to the master socket.

If the problems still persist next week, then I'll put a call in to BT.

I'll keep the thread updated, for the benefit of other users that have the same symptoms.

Thanks.

Thanks for getting back

If you are still seeing changes when you 'get a dial tone' etc.
I would take BT_Care up on their offer! There's nothing to lose...

NB. You need to use the BT TEST socket revealed by removing the lower faceplate on the Master Socket - this disconnects all your internal wiring...

Edited by b4dger (Sun 21-Mar-10 18:04:22)