What is an acceptable noise margin?

Hi,

First post so bear with me.

Since joining IDNet with their ADSL 2+ service, over a period of six months, my connection speed has dropped from 6Mbs to 2Mbs to the sloth like 575Kps in the last seven days. Previously to that I received 2Mbs for a number of years with another ISP. Over the same time IDNet's broadband availability checker has gradually knocked down the service I can receive from aforementioned 6Mbs to "You can migrate to 0Mb* IDNet ADSL2+ Broadband ".

IDNet support have told me that this is due to noise on the line as per my router stats below and that I need to go round waving a portable radio tuned to static on AM round my flat to find the source of noise. I have also removed my bell ring wire from the master socket and tried using the test socket with and without micro-filter to no effect in the stats.

Line attenuation (downstream/upstream) 33.0db/15.5db
Noise margin (downstream/upstream) 32.75db/26.0db

These stats seem to be rock solid irrespective of weather, time of day, the number of electronic items on in my flat. I have also not added any electronic item in the period in question be it light bulb, telephone, TV etc. My neighbours are predominately on cable not BT.

Is that noise margin the likely cause of my connection woes? Is this a matter to raise with BT as IDNet seem to have made their contribution to solving the issue?

TIA

Lusaka

i had a similar drop

my excuse was my router

wonder whats the next most popular one

1..the exchange
2..your router
3..line noise
4..the moon ?

Whoa! You have a problem there fella!

Unfortunately, IDNet support are telling everyone to do the radio test now, ever since I mentioned it to them a month ago in a passing comment (or maybe that's just coincidental). I'm also experiencing these "noise events" during the last six months where I never had any before.

The noise on your line could be coming from anywhere though ... more self help tips here: http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/lowSNR.htm

If I were you, I really would be looking for a neighbour with ADSL that's willing to share their line stats with you. You mention flat? Mmm, potential for crazy internal wiring ... maybe that's why they're all on cable

One would have thought though that IDNet at this stage should be considering arranging for an SFI Engineer from BT to come out. You will be billed if the problem lies with you so ultra make sure you have rules out a fault your end

Ask if you're on a banded profile. BT have been doing this a lot lately with noisy lines.

im 0.8miles from exchage
and also have the same kinda problem

Not in this case the noise on the line is high

Thanks for all the replies.

I take it then then I do have a very noisy line which is the cause of the problem.

I can't see how it is anything that I or, given that they seem to be on cable, my neighbours could have done to the line. The one neighbour in our block that is on BT Broadband does not seem to have a problem but I have no idea if we share wiring in any way as we are a block of maisonettes.

I think it is time to log a fault call with BT as I reckon some external factor must be impacting on the line and if can't be fixed, then it is off to Virgin Media =( as the flat was already wired up for it 10 years ago, I just never signed up.

You need to raise a fault through idnet, have you tried the quiet line test, use a corded phone dial 17070 option 2 and listen to hear if there are any crackles or noise on the line, if there is report it as a voice fault to bt, if not get back in touch with idnet

I will try IDNet again but their support guy I spoke to, left me with the distinct impression that having deduce it was a noisy line, I was on my own, it was not their problem to try and solve it and good luck.

I will see if I can find a corded phone and try your suggestion.

The irony is I live in Letchworth and so near IDNet themselves!

The bt DLM will be responsible for the ridiculously high target Snrm's ,so you would have to request your isp to get it reset, but if the problem is due to a line fault,there are 2 routes to pursue, if noise can be heard during quite line tests ect then it is classed as a voice ptsn fault and you can report it to bt openreach via bt retail,if no audible noises are present then it could be an adsl fault, and your isp would have to contact bt, if your isp are refusing to even get bt involved then probably the only thing you can do is write a formal letter of complaint to them and see if that changes anything, if not then you could turn to their DRS who are OTELO to see if they change their minds then, or if your connected exchange is SMLH then there are several llu isp's available to you, or you could first migrate toAAISP to get the problem hopefully fixed,i say hopefully as ultimately it may end up being down to bt if it gets fixed or not , should pavements or roads need digging up ect