Thanks very for the help.

Andrew, I think my router's age is showing because it doesn't report the noise at all. I think I must phone Virgin Media and see if they will upgrade the router as I don't really want the hassle of changing without knowing I will get much better reliability. I don't have fiber in my area yet. Where we lived previously we did have Virgin cable and that was entirely trouble free, something to wait for.

Eckiedoo,I will follow up on your suggestions, you have broadened my knowledge a lot, and so clear that it is very easy to understand.

I will update the thread after speaking to VM and doing some more of Eckiedoo's research.

Thanks again

OK, I phoned VM on Thursday and spoke to a technician who took me through the usual steps. He then asked me to disable the WiFi on the laptop and connect via the Ethernet cable for at least 24 hours to see if that made any difference.

Regrettably it didn't.

Before phoning them this morning, I ran the speed test using BTW Performance test, which is the one VM like you to use.

Download 0.04
Upload 0.07
Ping 0.00

I phoned and VM tested the line and said it was fine. With them on the line, I re-ran the test

Download 12.28
Upload 0.71
Ping 99.0

I now have to monitor the DSL & Internet lights on the router and record if there is a change in their sequence.

I did think this could be a browser problem; I use Firefox and opening any webpage usually gives the error "Server not found". Refreshing a few times will bring up the page, sometimes only the basic text without any graphics. However, I don't think it is the browser, as on the iPad I use Safari or Dolphin and have the same problem. Just to be certain, I will use IE for the next couple of days.