Line only goes up to 1Mb - cheap deal?

Hello,

Having recently changed from an ancient fixed-rate 1Mb BT account to a new provider which offers the good old Max "up to 8Mb" service, my internet has actually gone slower. The router syncs at around 860kbps despite my line attenuation only being 36dB, which is a bit strange but not the point of this post. Here's a speedtest result from this morning: http://www.speedtest.net/result/253607929.png

Now, if I was at 3 or 4Mb, I'd not really be bothered. But as it's below 1Mb, I don't see the point in shelling out for a far faster internet speed than I can actually receive. Are there any ISPs out there which offer reasonable fixed-speed deals for those people who can't get fast speeds on Max? My current ISP is actually more expensive for a fixed 1Mb connection! I think it's a little off that people whose connections struggle even with YouTube are subsidising customers who are blazing around downloading films at 8Mb.

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

First of all post the results from a BT speedtest and the stats from your router; sync speed, attenuation and noise margin. You should be getting far better speeds than that with 36db attenuation so it suggests you have a problem somewhere.
As for the main part of the question, Entanet resellers can provision you with a 1Mb fixed speed line at the same price as an ADSL Max product so have a look at ADSL24, Vivaciti, Falconnet etc. I think Plusnet can do a 1Mb fixed line as well if you ask them.

Regards,
Steve

I am on a line that will only support 1mb and I am very happy with NewNet service and price.
Have a look at newnet.co.uk . I am an ex Plusnet customer and would recommend you avoid them!

Cheers for the tips.

The speed seems to have improved slightly since I went out this morning. It's now 1280kbps, so perhaps things will improve. However, that's still a bit rubbish considering my line stats. I've waited ten days for speeds to stabilise; initially (for about five minutes after regrade) it synced at just over 3000kbps but very quickly dropped to the 860 figure and didn't budge for the rest of the period.

Just to take into account the sudden change, I've done a fresh speedtest: http://www.speedtest.net/result/253709661.png

BT's speedtester says:

IP profile for your line is - 1000 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 1280 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 911 kbps

My router's stats at the time of writing this are:

Downstream line rate: 1280kbps
Downstream noise margin: 24.1dB (variable: flickering rapidly between 24 and 24.5)
Downstream line attenuation: 36.0dB
Upstream line rate: 448kbps
Upstream noise margin: 15.0dB (this is stable, despite the other one varying)
Upstream line attenuation: 21.5dB

Just out of interest, I had a quick look at the max speed checker on my ISP's website. It gives a strange message:

"Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband service that provides a line rate up to 1Mbps. However due to the length of your line the 1Mbps service may require an engineer visit who will, where possible, supply the broadband service. Our test also indicates that your line currently supports a potential ADSL Max broadband line rate of 3Mbps or greater. The actual ADSL line rate supportable will be determined during the first 10 days of use, after which time the highest stable rate possible will be set. If you decide to place an order, a further test will be performed to confirm if your line is suitable for the service you wish to purchase. Thank you for your interest."

The problem there is the noise margin, it is way too high and that is dragging your sync speeds down. Have you tried your router in the test socket behind the master socket faceplate to see if that helps? Do you have anything attached to the phone line without a filter; Sky box, burglar alarm etc? Maybe you have 1 or more faulty filters? Do you get any crackling on the line with voice calls? If you do report it to BT as a voice fault and that might bring the noise margin down leading to better speeds.
As it stands the speeds you are getting from your ISP are spot on for an IP profile of 1000 kbps, you just want to be getting that profile up.

Regards,
Steve

The downstream noise margin does vary all the time by much more than 0.5 for most people. It will also fall several points at night.

But the figure of 24 or so is incredibly high. I would guess you did a lot of re-syncs in the first 10 days hoping to get a better speed? If not, sorry for the assumption, but lots of people do - including me - and it's one of the worst things you could do. That's history now, but it would be useful in diagnosing the 24 to know if I'm right.

The downstream noise margin is set to 6dB when you first connect to Max. If there are a lot of errors or resync's the system decides the line is unstable and increases the "target" noise margin in steps of 3dB. (The target noise margin is the figure that the system applies at the time you sync).

It is possible that your target noise margin is 15dB, or even 18 but I don't think the auto system sets it that high. If you sync'ed in the evening or at night, during a storm, then it is possible that in broad daylight the margin could rise to the 24dB area.

I suggest you do a re-sync while it's daylight, and get the stats (sync/attenuation/SNRM), immediately after. Then post those. It will help us advise on what to do next.

Another thing you could usefully do is follow the instructions here. While you have the socket open it would be ideal if you plug the filter into the test socket revealed, and then connect with no phone plugged into the filter. Get the stats at that point and we really know what your line should deliver.

Edit:- Don't bother with a speed test during any of this. It won't change for days even if we get your sync speed up.

Edited by RobertoS (Tue 01-Apr-08 15:56:27)

You typed less so posted while I was writing my epistle .

Hiya,

I'm the same person who was posting before, but I thought it was a bit rude to keep posting as Mr Anonymous! During the ten days, I didn't try to resync because I'd read advice on this and other websites telling you not to. However, a couple of days before the end of the period there was a power-cut which obviously forced the router off and on.

Here's a screenshot of the router seconds after a restart a few minutes ago, the first in three days: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2147/2380524912_3e5e06a004_o.png

You're probably onto something with the signal/noise ratio. The phone system was in here when we moved in and, like most of the house, it's rather Heath Robinson. (The bloke who had it before was a bit of an engineer, you ought to see his home made burglar alarm!) There's an extension of unknown provenance to an upstairs bedroom, which leads to a socket with an N logo (so presumably not an official BT one). From there, a wire leads into another upstairs room where the router is plugged in, so it's through two extensions. Not ideal, but worked for the 1Mb service when we first got it. Perhaps a rethink is in order.

I can't go unplugging all the phones right now, not because I'm a lazy so-and-so sitting here drinking a coffee and reading the Private Eye, but because I'm waiting on an important phone call. The 5152kbps is still there at the time of writing, after the line's been up for 15 minutes, so perhaps that restart during daylight hours did something?! I'm not normally around while it's light!

Edited by andy_cheshire (Tue 01-Apr-08 16:38:22)

That's more like it. If you can hold that sync for a few days the IP profile should rise and take your speeds with it but it certainly sounds like you should sort out that wiring! Your line is obviously capable of 5Mb but you probably won't maintain that until you sort out the wiring.

Regards,
Steve

As sjr says, that's more like it. Note that the SNRM is 5.4, so almost certainly a target of 6dB which is the lowest the system sets, so my worries about your 10 days were unfounded.

To add to what he says, in my experience a jump of that much in sync speed, (and I've had some like that), will give you a profile jump by the morning - in your case to 4.5Mbps, and your actual speeds should jump dramatically. That depends on your ISP though, and very occasionally exchange congestion.

Keep an eye on the stats.

Again, to add to sjr, that wiring really does need sorting - or a wireless router by the master socket and ring wires removed may be easier. SpeedTouch 585v6 from DSL Depot is what I have - �23.98 inc postage. If you lose the 5152 sync it will almost certainly be because of the wiring.

With that attenuation you should be getting much higher sync, possibly 7616 or 8128 if you can kill the background noise. My attenuation is 49dB, target SNRM 6dB, normal sync 7008. Occasionally just below, highest 7104.