Max'd but no change in download speeds

Hi folks,

Nearly 2 weeks ago I was upgraded from a 2Mbs Plusnet 'Premier' service to the 'Up-to-8Mbps Max' service, but my download speed hasn't changed at all.

My router recognises the line speed as 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 8128 kbps(DOWN-STREAM). This is confirmed by the BT bandwidth tester (http://217.35.209.142/).

However my actual throughput, as tested by the BT tester and also PlusNet tester (via Member Centre \ Connection settings) is the same as when I was on a 2Mbit service.

Before reporting the issue to PN, my broadband speed (reported by http://portal.plus.net/my.html?action=stable_rate) was 2000kbps. This was confirmed by the BT test, which says: "IP profile for your line is - 2000 kbps".

After reporting this to PN my PN-reported "max stable rate" was flipped from 2000kbps to 8000kbps, but I've not been able to repeat the BT bandwidth test (keeps erroring, regardless of time of day) to verify if their reported line profile has changed.

FYI: my router reports...
Connection Speed 8128 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 27 db 7 db
Noise Margin 11 db 27 db

PN have reported that BT have the right sync rate & throughput rate and suggest it's a contention issue. They say the performance is within BT's guidelines so cannot escalate a fault to them.

Bearing in mind...
1. BT's reported line profile
2. the lack of change in real life service performance - including no periods of instability whatsoever and no fluctuating performance
3. the fact I've rebooted the router many times as requested and remained connected for extended periods
4. I live under a mile from my exchange
...this suggests to me that the throughput adaption phase hasn't kicked in yet.

What can I try next?

cheers,
Ben

you can live in the exhange and it will make no difference if its contended. I'd have suspected atleast a variance of speed if it was contended so chances are your lines BRAS profile is sitll at 2MBit, usually takes a week or 2 to bump up. Supposed to take 3 days but it just seems to happen when BT's equipment gets bored.

Hi scottish_lad,

My BRAS profile, as reported by Plusnet, was 2000kbps. After I logged a support ticket it was bumped to 8000kbps. When I checked, BT reported "IP profile for your line is - 2000 kbps" via their speedtest site. That was before PN increased the BRAS from 2000->8000 kbps, so is it possible that BT may likewise update theirs?

For what it's worth, the PN exchange checker reported 'green' for Virtual Paths (last update 31st July) for my exchange, which is Silchester.

cheers,
Ben

The BT speed tester is still reporting my line profile as 2Mbps today...

"....
Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test:
IP profile for your line is - 2000 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 8128 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 1863 kbps
..."

You're not alone, I'm having the same problem and currently, I'm waiitng for Plusnet/BT to update my BRAS profile.

Have you been turning your router off for 15 mins a day? I believe it is the resyncs that cause the BT equipment to notice your speed - if you stay sync'd at 8Mb/s constantly it never notices and the profile doesn't get updated.

I was upgraded a couple of weeks ago and have sat sync'ing solidly at 8Mb/s ever since - at first download speeds were still at 2Mb/s but after three days of turning the router off for 15mins and then turning it back on my download speeds jumped up to over 2Mb/s.

During busy periods I now tend to get 2-4 Mb/s download speeds but at quiet times (e.g. early morning) I can get >7Mb/s. (P.S. The ADLSGuide speed tester often underestimates the speed though). Actually just checked at http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/ and I'm getting 5.9Mb/s - not bad for 6pm!

Hi smithg,

No, I've not done that. The instructions, as far as I recall, only asked us to remain connected for extended periods and to reboot once or twice daily. I've discon'd/rebooted daily - but the router's been online continously otherwise. If it's as you say then I'll try switching the thing off for a while. Thanks for the tip. Where did you pick that one up?

cheers,
Ben

Ben

Check out the following page:

http://portal.plus.net/support/broadband/products/getready.shtml

At the bottom is a link to a video 'Introduction to Broadband Max' - the advice to switch off for at least 15mins is in there.

I'd give it a go if I was you - but given you've been in this state for 2 weeks - I'd raise a ticket as well.

Good luck
Graham

(P.S. Just spotted you look as if you've already raised a ticket! sorry)

Edited by smithg (Tue 10-Oct-06 19:07:38)

Not contention but an unchanging IP Profile (BRAS Data Rate) which seems stuck at 2Mbps

Andrew

Here's some comfort. I was stuck at 2MB/s for nearly 4 weeks. I did all sorts of tests and trials with PlusNet but inspite of encouraging noises my speeds remained fixed. I was syncing reliably at 8128.

Eventually I gave up trying to resolve the situation, and moved to Zen. Within 1 day my webspace and e-mail was working, and I moved everything. Within 4 days my broadband cut over - I changed the login and password in my router before going to bed, and in the morning everything was working fine with Zen. I did nothing.

I then asked Zen if they could resolve my speeds. No tests. No arguing. They just replied within a few minutes saying they acknowledged the fault and would pursue with BT.

I didn't hold my breath, but then a message arrived saying all was fine. I did a test and my speed whizzed up. It continued to climb oveer the next couple of hours, and now apart from exchange contention at busy times, this is what I get:

==================================

Results Image not loaded

Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test:
IP profile for your line is - 7150 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 8128 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 6716 kbps

If you wish to discuss these results please contact your ISP.

If you are experiencing problems with specific applications, servers or websites please contact your ISP for assistance.

Your test has completed please close this window to exit the performance tester.

=============================

Now I'm not saying anything about PlusNet or Zen, and I pay a bit more to Zen and get a bit less, but I'm very happy that they answered quickly with a human response and solved the issue. I'm also happy with the ease of the migration.

Let's hope you can resolve your speed issues too.

Robert