High speed on router, low speed on tests??

Hi all,
i am trying to get to grips with my new AOL 8mb connection (before you ask, it was only a stop gap measure before sky bb came along (much better prices!!)). I am still within the first 10 days of the line being switched from BT broadband to AOl, and have been advised that anything can happen within this tme period with regard to speed. The one thing can't understand though is that my router is showing a downstream connection speed of 5mbps, whereas i'm only getting 200kb(bits)ps on any speedtest (either the bt speedtest or on adslguide). The upstream is always a nice solid 448 kbps.
my connection to the router is showing as 54mbps, so there can't be much of an issue there.

for reference, these are the stat for my netgear router:
Port Status TxPkts RxPkts Collisions Tx B/s Rx B/s Up Time
WAN PPPoA 14726 19192 0 48 379 13:45:36
LAN 10M/100M 1724 0 0 6 0 23:43:25
WLAN 11M/54M 40282 32123 0 397 51 23:43:13


ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 5280 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 36 db 10 db
Noise Margin 1 db 25 db


Any ideas on where to look, or am i just being picky and things will pick up after the 10 day period ends (which is tomorrow by the way)

Thanks

James

Connection Speed 5280 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 36 db 10 db
Noise Margin 1 db 25 db

1 dB noise margin is a bit on the ragged edge, not a good speed for 36 dB attenuation either - can you try it in the test socket behind the master faceplate (or failing that unplug everything else).

Try this tester too - http://test.speedtester.bt.com:50301/ - if its running then look out for the IP data rate.

I have tried plugging into the master socket rather than using the extension. I live in an old old house, and it looks like the master doesn't have a test socket, it's a one piece face. I did have decent speeds with BT up until a short while ago, on their 8mb service, but i had a 'falling out' with one of the members of staff over the home hub. It ony seems since switching over to AOL that there seems to be a problem - the router is the same, connected into the same socket. The only phone is and always has been plugged into a different socket - with microfilter.

does the router connection speed show the actual connection speed or is it just the type of line? the only reason i ask, is that with BT, it showed at a constant 8mb, whereas i know that i couldn't recieve that high a service - only about 6mb.

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whereas i know that i couldn't recieve that high a service - only about 6mb.

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You know that, or a guesstimator told you ? You should get close to 8M on that attenuation.

If you don't have the newer type of master socket you may benefit from removing the ring wire from terminal 3, especially if you have alot of extension wiring.

The router reports the current modem sync speed, negotiated each time it connects. It will be a multiple of 32k.

The tester I linked to will tell you the IP data rate set elsewhere for the line.

ok, sorry, i have been told that by three different companies, as well as the online speed gauge tester from BT. I'm about 1 1/2 miles from the nearest exchange, and i've heard some of the experts on this forum say you shouldn't be able to get maximum speeds at half that distance.

I i can get the full 8mb, i'd be very happy indeed.

unfortunately, the tester is currently too busy, so can't do anything on that front.

If the router speed is correct, as i guess thats what your saying, what would make the connection so poor, given that my wireless connection is excellent (i'm only 12foot from the router in a direct line of sight) and my router is at a decent speed. sorry if i'm going on, i'm not sure i understand the implications of noise margin etc... once the signal is inside the house.

cheers

if there is a big differnece between the sync speed and the data rate on speed tests then the possible causes are :-

Lots of errors causing retransmits - check modem error counters
TCP/IP settings impairing throughput - Bandwidth Delay Product - RWIN too small
BRAS profile limiting throughput - typically get the same speedtest result all the time
Exchange or ISP congestion - usually absent at 05:30

People are just quoting the same BT estimator at you, the modem and DSLAM work it out for real on your line each time they connect.

Worth testing with wired first, in case you have a wireless issue. Plenty of postings start "I have a strong wireless signal but...."

from the sounds of what you're saying, it may well be the bras. up until yesterday, i was at a constant speed on any of the speedtesters at about 128kbpx. today, i've been at 230kbps.

i did try wired, i've got an old voyager 105 modem which i even tried, but all gave me the same results. I guess i'll just have to wait until the 10 days are fully up before taking my case further with AOL. The one thing i am surprised at is how slow the switchover is. Changing from AOL to Tiscali, from Tiscali to BT and now back to AOL, i found that with all othet changeovers i had decent speeds from day one. Changing to AOL has been an eye-opener to say the least.....

One further question if i may......

If the BRAS profile is limiting throughput, wouldn't that show on my router as a lower speed?

Thanks for your help yarwell

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If the BRAS profile is limiting throughput, wouldn't that show on my router as a lower speed?

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No, it limits the data rate sent to you in a black box in BT's network, your router shows the modem sync speed and the BRAS rate should be below that - see sig below for table of BRAS profiles.