How can I improve my speed?

I am currently receiving a consistent 13 Meg download speed (although the tbb speed test shows 11 Meg) from Sky.



ADSL Link | Downstream | Upstream
Connection Speed | 15357 kbps | 1105 kbps
Line Attenuation | 19.0 dB | 11.8 dB
Noise Margin | 6.1 dB | 8.9 dB

I am using all the basic methods to keep my speed high. For example: a direct connection using the Sky router through the provided ADSL filter into the master socket; keeping the router on at all times.

What I'm wondering is bearing in mind I'm very close to my exchange is there any improvements to be made to my download speed?

Edited by deleted (Fri 10-Aug-12 21:52:01)

get fttc, otherwise not much

In reply to a post by iand:

get fttc

Thanks for replying but I cannot get FTTC yet (my exchange). Would have ordered it in a shot otherwise

Edited by deleted (Fri 10-Aug-12 21:56:11)

Not sure if Sky would enable Fast path but you could give them a ring and find out, you might need to ask to be put onto a gaming profile for them to do it.
Also follow this guide: http://www.dslzoneuk.net/socket.php?type=html
Took my 2Mb connection straight to 8Mb but it varies as the wiring in my house is 1980s.

In reply to a post by Xplosion:

I am using all the basic methods to keep my speed high. For example: a direct connection using the Sky router through the provided ADSL filter into the master socket; keeping the router on at all times.

What I'm wondering is bearing in mind I'm very close to my exchange is there any improvements to be made to my download speed?

Your attenuation is 19db which is very close (less than 1/2 mile I suspect) your noise margin is quite low 6.1db but you have lowish sync by comparison. I'm 29db attenuation (about 1.1miles) and 6db margin yet I get a sync of 16.7megabit (and speedtests at 14megabit).

I would try the test socket *inside* the master (assuming you have NTE5) , but if that makes no difference then its down to the quality of the cable and any interference in the street.

Fastpath etc won't make any difference to speeds, may affect latency (ping) sometimes crucial for gamers.

You should be getting 21 Meg Sync, 17 Meg Speedtest, so there is room for improvement.

Ring wire? Test socket?

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Your attenuation is 19db which is very close (less than 1/2 mile I suspect)

Yes, 0.33 miles from the exchange to be excact .

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

You should be getting 21 Meg Sync, 17 Meg Speedtest, so there is room for improvement.

Ring wire? Test socket?

My point exactly, looking back to this thread when I joined, everyone said I'd get full sync and I have to say 13 Meg left me a bit disappointed.

Well I'm on holiday now but I'll try to remove the ring wire and try the test socket when I get back. I'll post any results.

Thanks,
Xplosion

Back home now so I've fitted my I-Plate as I'm not allowed to disconnect ring wire. Haven't tried the test socket yet but may do next.

What I'd like to ask is should I expect an immediate change to my sync speed? I ask this because nothing has changed as of yet. Should I ring Sky to ask them to start line training again?

You'll either see an improvement in your line speed, or if the line speed is capped the noise margin should improve from your current 6.1. If you get your noise margin to something around 9 or above then you could ask sky to increase your line speed. If its between 6.1 and 9 they could claim that its just standard variation on your line.....

In reply to a post by Xplosion:

I'm not allowed to disconnect ring wire.

Why not?

Why the reluctance to try test socket? It's the only way to take your own wiring out the equation and it's so simple.

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

In reply to a post by Xplosion:

I'm not allowed to disconnect ring wire.

Why not?

Someone else in the household reckons BTO would get upset about it.

In reply to a post by XRaySpeX:

Why the reluctance to try test socket? It's the only way to take your own wiring out the equation and it's so simple.

I'm not reluctant to test it just lazy since I got home . I will try it ASAP.

In reply to a post by Xplosion:

Someone else in the household reckons BTO would get upset about it.

BT own only up to & including the test socket (that's why it's important to test using it). Anything from the faceplate onwards is yours.

I get around the same sync and my line is a good biy longer than yours there room for improvment i would say 18mbps since would be in reach.

In reply to a post by Xplosion:

Back home now so I've fitted my I-Plate as I'm not allowed to disconnect ring wire. Haven't tried the test socket yet but may do next.

What I'd like to ask is should I expect an immediate change to my sync speed? I ask this because nothing has changed as of yet. Should I ring Sky to ask them to start line training again?

Rightio. You should just about get the full sync of 20Mbps, perhaps even 22Mbps if DLM is kind enough to set a 3db noise margin (which it sometimes does).

Obviously for one reason or another DLM has capped your line at this slower speed.
Can you post up statistics using the TEST socket. Also there's nothing better than disconnecting the ring main. Even the i-plate isn't as good IMO! Just rip it out (the ring main)

With regard to the statistics. DLM sets a physical cap on the line so there isn't likely to be any immediate improvement.
I would expect the SNR to be higher in the test socket. This may not occur though as sky often adjust the output power to offset any increase in noise margin.

If you disconnect the ring main etc or stay in the test socket, after a long period of no disconnections DLM would probably decide to rerun. This is only if the lines actually improved.

The easiest way is to sort out the wiring and then give sky a call. They can re-run DLM. Obviously only do this once everythings perfect at your end

Also your current noise margin is not high. This isn't a worry as it's probably down to sky reducing the output power and probably doesn't indicate that the line can't go faster.

Edited by ukhardy07 (Wed 22-Aug-12 02:44:00)

Sorry for the delayed response guys.

Just spoke to a nice lady in Sky Broadband tech who re-started DLM for me. My sync immediately shot up to 18.2 Mb and my throughput is about 18 Mb. She said it looks like the speed should eventually settle at 20 Mb.

Also, an improvement upload speed-wise. From 0.9 to 1.0 throughput!

So far very impressed with Sky tech support I must say.

EDIT: two signature worthy test results
http://www.speedtest.net/result/2143371255.png
http://www.pingtest.net/result/68586195.png

Edited by deleted (Mon 27-Aug-12 17:33:04)