Thanks for the response. I'll take a look at the master socket in the morning. I believe there's an extension (I think probably a cheap B&Q style one) fitted to the socket itself (it goes back into the wall and through to another room in the house). But i'll check the wiring and let you know - thanks.

Yeah, I know the upstream isnt the problem, really - that was mostly just anecdotal But the fact I can get 16Mbps download speeds but yet not be able to stream reliably drives me up the wall, especially when I know the exchange is so close by (0.3 miles).

I'm intrigued as to why i'm on the Interleaved path rather than the fast path - would that be because of the low margin?

Thanks again, its really great having knowledgeable folks to bounce these questions off.

In reply to a post by mungler:

Thanks, i'll try to source another router to try. Also, the way you said 'very short line' made it sound like a bad thing... is that the case?

Sorry I didn't mean to imply that your very short line is a bad thing, on the contrary it's actually a very good thing

If you do try another router it might be a good idea to initially plug it into the test socket behind the filtered faceplate via a dangle micro filter and check to see if there is any difference in the broadband performance. By plugging into the test socket that eliminates the chance of extensions or the filtered faceplate being the cause of any noise issues. Then refit the faceplate, plug the adsl lead into adsl socket and check the router stats and speed tests (throughput) again...

Hopefully you can get the iPlayer to work properly in due course - I usually use this for testing http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/diagnostics

Haha no worries - glad I have a short line!

I actually did just unscrew the filtered faceplate and plugged in via a 'dangly' microfilter. Just connected back up and the router is now reporting:


DSL Status: Connected
DSL Modulation Mode: ADSL2+
DSL Path Mode: Interleaved
Downstream Rate: 21146 kbps
Upstream Rate: 1015 kbps
Downstream Margin: 3 db
Upstream Margin: 8 db
Downstream Line Attenuation: 11 db
Upstream Line Attenuation: 3 db
Downstream Transmit Power: 9 db
Upstream Transmit Power: 16 db

Which doesn't seem like a whole lot different to me... ?

Just did another speed test: http://d.pr/i/J2Zs

I dont understand how, with those numbers, I have issues from iPlayer at all.

Plus, how come my downstream margin is bad, this close to the exchange?

EDIT: here's what the iPlayer diagnostics thingy said: http://d.pr/i/Uo8L

Edited by deleted (Thu 02-May-13 01:05:29)

Can you try a http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/diagnostics test now?

In reply to a post by mungler:

The ISP is UKFSN, an Entanet reseller - i'm 99.9% certain its not LLU

Entanet is an LLU ISP, at 20 exchanges. Is yours? Which exchange?

Glenrothes North: http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/ESGLN

iPlayer result: http://d.pr/i/Uo8L

In reply to a post by mungler:

Plus, how come my downstream margin is bad

It isn't! 3 dB is quite normal nowadays. Only worry if it goes below 2dB. My 3dB NM rarely goes below 2.8dB at night.

Is there some way of your router reporting error stats?

Keep taking the iPlayer diagnostics!

Heh, ok. I originally started the thread because the router was reporting 1db margin, which seemed very low indeed.

Thanks for your help. I think im going to get a second line and do the sharedband thing to get better speeds.

Yes, you are running on BTw WBC ADSL2+, where 3dB NMs are normal on stable lines.

Your iPlayer diagnostics are good, tho' slower than mine, esp. Streaming (1), on a faster line, but well good enough to get good streaming.

Just noticed your low Down Power:

In reply to a post by mungler:

Downstream Transmit Power: 9 db
Upstream Transmit Power: 16 db

There has been talk of BTw lowering power on v. short lines to reduce cross-talk. That might explain why you are not getting the full 24 Meg Monty, but should not hinder streaming.