Fast router connection. slow download speed

A friend recently had a new broadband package from TalkTalk. Everything connects as expected but the actual download speed is horrendously slow and nobody, including TalkTalk, can suggest why.

From speedtester.bt.com:

download speed: 332 kbps
ip profile: 4000 kbps
down/up: 4384 kbps, 448 kbps

From router:

download rate: 4384 kbps
download snr: 10 dbm
download attenuation: 60 dbm
download output power: 19 dbm

upload rate: 448 kbps
upload snr: 18 dbm
upload attentuation: 29.5 dbm
upload output power: 12.5 dbm

Router is D-Link DSL-2680 supplied by TalkTalk. We've tried several routers and tried speed tests from various computers, iphones, etc.

One thing I did notice was the router reporting HEC Errors: 46 on download and 1 on upload.

Any suggestions as to what we should look for as, despite making three different appointments, BT have failed to come out to investigate?

I should add that the router loses the signal frequently and needs rebooting.

In the evening or afternoon it can be more than once an hour that everything grinds to a halt.

how long have you been with talk talk

In reply to a post by asanyfuleno:

A friend recently had a new broadband package from TalkTalk. Everything connects as expected but the actual download speed is horrendously slow and nobody, including TalkTalk, can suggest why.

From speedtester.bt.com:

download speed: 332 kbps
ip profile: 4000 kbps
down/up: 4384 kbps, 448 kbps

From router:

download rate: 4384 kbps
download snr: 10 dbm
download attenuation: 60 dbm
download output power: 19 dbm

upload rate: 448 kbps
upload snr: 18 dbm
upload attentuation: 29.5 dbm
upload output power: 12.5 dbm

Router is D-Link DSL-2680 supplied by TalkTalk. We've tried several routers and tried speed tests from various computers, iphones, etc.

One thing I did notice was the router reporting HEC Errors: 46 on download and 1 on upload.

Any suggestions as to what we should look for as, despite making three different appointments, BT have failed to come out to investigate?

A couple of things worth checking.

Is the MTU on the Computer the same as on the router ? For TT recommended 1432

If the OS is XP is RWIN correct, this will help

If the OS is Vista or Windows7 then these tweaks might help.

To change computer MTU for Vista/W7 see here

Been with TalkTalk for two or three months and have given them plenty of opportunities to investigate and address the problems.

MTU is set to 1432 as a default on the router.

Same problem on Win7 laptop, WinXP desktop, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 so more likely between router and exchange than anything local.

In reply to a post by asanyfuleno:

download rate: 4384 kbps
download attenuation: 60 dbm

I don't think 4Meg is realistic with 60dbm. Can you try another router, a netgear or speedtouch?

Try signing up to the TBB quality monitor. Link. Plug the router directly into the BT test socket. Let it run for a few hours. If you see a lot of red like this then your friend, like me, is in the dodgy line club! (Even a few percent packet loss will severely impact download speed.)

Your friend's ISP ought to have some options with stability profiles but TBH nothing worked for me. I ended up getting another router which allowed me to limit the sync speed from my end; BT seem to have no way of doing this themselves.

In reply to a post by asanyfuleno:

Been with TalkTalk for two or three months and have given them plenty of opportunities to investigate and address the problems.

MTU is set to 1432 as a default on the router.

Same problem on Win7 laptop, WinXP desktop, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 so more likely between router and exchange than anything local.

I would still suggest it is worth trying the RWIN setting for the XP machine and the Tweaks for windows 7

Are these machines connected by wireless or wired ethernet?

WinXP Desktop via ethernet, Win7 laptop via wireless.

Also tried a Huawei Echolife HG521 supplied by TalkTalk.