BT FTTC Speed issues at peak times

Hi all,

First post, I'm hoping you can help.

Long story short: We had Fibre installed at our property in July, first couple of days we were getting 25-35mb pretty much constantly. However, a couple of weeks in I noticed things didn't seem as quick as they could be, so I ran a few tests - turns out we were getting 6mb/s! I've seen the speed sink as low as 0.5mb (usually Friday nights), and occasionally we do get 35+.

Automated speed tests show things are fine in the day, but drop significantly on evenings and sometimes on weekends.

I've monitored my Noise Margin (constant at 12dB) and packet loss (constant at zero) as one engineer told me it was definitely REIN, but here's a graph of my speed over a 45 minute period last night:

CLICK FOR GRAPH

Noise Margin, Attenuation etc all stayed constant while my throughput was doing the above.

As you can see my DL speed is all over the shop - but my upload stays solid at 9mbs at all times (Which is why it's not tracked); it's not uncommon for our upload to be faster than our download. I've also had two different HH5s, and even tried a VDSL router plugged into a HH3 that was knocking round at home.

Basically do people think this is congestion at the exchange? I've had 4 engineers tell me the line is perfect, and even when the problem is at its worse there doesn't seem to be any sort of interference - all I can think is as it's a new estate they're adding houses to the exchange and it's beginning to struggle - the BT community forum is no help, I'm hoping you guys can be.

Edited by deleted (Wed 03-Sep-14 11:13:46)

Have you used our tester at http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest.html

The two download tests can help spot congestion, and the tester will even warn you if it spots it.

We presume you are testing using an Ethernet connection, Wi-Fi is subject to its own interference and congestion.

Hi Andrew,

I'll try that test later, thanks.

Problem is present via all methods of connection - An Openreach engineer verified the issue while he was at the house (he happened to be there at 5pm when it started to drop) with his laptop plugged into a brand new HH5 via cat 5 - the only thing in the house connected - I've also tried running the same tests with PC off/in safe mode to rule out malware etc.

Edited by deleted (Wed 03-Sep-14 11:30:58)

Speedtest ran just now comes in as follows:

CLICK HERE

I'll do one at teatime, when I expect to see a drop.

OK but not ideal should be flat like
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/results.html...

A few weeks ago had bad speeds for a few weeks which showed up as
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/results.html...

Others on ISP had no issues, so put it down to BT Wholesale network congestion as got fixed and did look for region trends at the time but spotted nothing.

Thanks Andrew - I'm certain it will be worse by about 6pm.

If it is congestion, is there anything I can do? I have a feeling BT are going to insist on sending a REIN engineer out to no avail.

I know other people on the same exchange who have zero issues - is it possible that moving to an LLU ISP would help?

A LLU ISP may help, if issue is WBC backhaul.

Most speedtests mask congestion so many may have it but not be very aware of it. Our tbbx1 test is very sensitive to congestion issues.

Thanks so much Andrew, you've been really helpful. I'm going to drop another speedtest in here this evening when it's running slowly, but I'm also due a call from BT today and I'm going to do what I can to get a MAC code from them as they're not providing the advertised service.

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/button/14097...

Speed test done just now - this is actually a lot better than I normally get this time of night.

Still pretty bad

Which exchange are you on? Might see if there is a pattern to other tests in the area if nothing on TV tonight

Buckley - we are connected to cabinet 25, if that helps.

Here we go, the descent has begun.

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/button/14097...

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/button/14097...

The second one is particularly dreadful.

Well, BT will deliver my MAC code in 5 working days, then I'm off to Plusnet.

If it is congestion at the exchange the moving to PlusNet is unlikely to improve anything. If it was congestion at BT then many more people would be seeing the same issue and I have seen nothing to suggest they are.

Plusnet = BT (they both use BT Wholesale)

So it is possible you'd see no improvement if the issue is at the exchange.

Go for an LLU provider such as Sky or other GEA-FTTC provider.

Edited by deleted (Thu 04-Sep-14 09:43:18)

Damn, I thought Plusnet were LLU?

Oh well, I'll cancel with them.

Looking at this: http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange/WNBUC I assume I'll be best off going Sky or Talktalk?

Edited by deleted (Thu 04-Sep-14 10:39:12)

Hi all,

Thanks for all the help so far.

One last question: Why does Sky say this: "You don't currently have an active compatible landline at your address provided, you need to take Sky Talk with Sky Line Rental to proceed with your order." ?

Surely my current BT landline is perfectly capable?

EDIT: Or is this just Sky's way of saying it will need to be hooked up to their kit at the exchange?

Edited by deleted (Thu 04-Sep-14 14:01:58)

Warning: if you do move your landline to Sky you may find it difficult to move back later. It seems procedures to remove llu (particularly from Sky) are rather awkward.

In reply to a post by spann:

EDIT: Or is this just Sky's way of saying it will need to be hooked up to their kit at the exchange?

Yes.

But easy enough when going to another full LLU provider

Okay thanks.

Plusnet were fine with me cancelling; I'll sort out an order with Sky tonight.

I'm not sure exactly what you were asking about the line, as the others have (on the face of it) answered your question, but perhaps not fully.

Sky require you to take their LLU line rental. Not simply "connect to their kit", as that would happen even if you didn't have LLU line rental. It makes migrating out again slightly trickier as it will no longer be recognised as a "BT line".

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

It makes migrating out again slightly trickier as it will no longer be recognised as a "BT line".

......only because the only checker is BT. Perhaps it is time for an "independent" checker?

In reply to a post by spann:

I've monitored my Noise Margin (constant at 12dB) and packet loss (constant at zero) as one engineer told me it was definitely REIN, but here's a graph of my speed over a 45 minute period last night:
.....

Noise Margin, Attenuation etc all stayed constant while my throughput was doing the above.

How are you measuring Noise Margin and Attenuation?

Cheers!

A program Called Routerstats Hub, which just pulls the info from the troubleshooting page on the hub.

For those who are interested, I've attached my speed tests and SNR for today:

http://i.imgur.com/QXhqAcj.png

http://i.imgur.com/3waT5on.png

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/results.html...

The last test on the automated test comes in around 3, as you can see 40 mins later the one done on Think's test is showing far stronger, but extremely inconsistent speed.

Edited by deleted (Thu 04-Sep-14 19:12:43)

Ah.

My error. I was thinking of the Openreach VDSL modem (which I have) which does not have any easily accessible stats. I now realise that a HH5 which besides it all being in one box, is a little more friendly in providing stats data.

Thanks. I'm just down the road from on the Hawarden exchange.

Cheers!

Hi all.

Switched to Sky yesterday, and after a couple of hours of teething problems I'm seeing this almost constantly:

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/results.html...

Looks like the problem is with BT's equipment after all!