Acceptable Broadband Speed?
18 January 2009, 05:47 PM
#31
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it is possible, but cannot tell unless an engineer carries out an APTS test using his laptop and modem at the exch. firstly you need to optimise your own wiring at home, what telephone wiring setup do you have (from where the telephone wire enters you home to where the modem or router is plugged in)
18 January 2009, 05:53 PM
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18 January 2009, 06:11 PM
#34
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Absolutely pointless changing providers unless you are moving away from the BT line itself and going cable...
Right, first thing to check is that it isn't your internal telephone wiring causing the issues. All old telephone cables have five or so wires but you only need two of them now a days and it's the spares left connected that really mess with the signal quality.
There is a site on the net somewherethat will show you step by step which wires you can pull the plug on.. Everyone I've seen do this has seen an improvement in speed.
Definitely the first thing to try as it's free.
Me..
Right, first thing to check is that it isn't your internal telephone wiring causing the issues. All old telephone cables have five or so wires but you only need two of them now a days and it's the spares left connected that really mess with the signal quality.
There is a site on the net somewherethat will show you step by step which wires you can pull the plug on.. Everyone I've seen do this has seen an improvement in speed.
Definitely the first thing to try as it's free.
Me..
Last edited by Fuzz; 18 January 2009 at 06:17 PM.
18 January 2009, 06:32 PM
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18 January 2009, 06:35 PM
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Unless of course the OP has changed the internals in his house? Wired connection to wireless even?
My mate was on Virgin ADSL and the line slowed to a crawl, migrated him over to Zen and the difference was night and day
Last edited by mike1210; 18 January 2009 at 06:37 PM.
18 January 2009, 06:37 PM
#37
As others have said there's no point changing provider (unless cable is available) if he has an internal wiring or socket(s) issue. Also check your micro filters are ok. It could even be a problem with one of the internal wiring extensions from the main ring, which wouldn't be picked up by a BT check on the main line. I suffer from this sometimes.
18 January 2009, 06:40 PM
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I asked the BT bloke whether the distance from the exchange would be an issue ...... he said that I live within an acceptable radius of it.
I said, "Where is it?" .... just out of interest ....... "That's confidential information" he said.
Am I being fed a barrow load of horse sh*t?
I said, "Where is it?" .... just out of interest ....... "That's confidential information" he said.
Am I being fed a barrow load of horse sh*t?
Broadband.org - find the best broadband isp compare prices and services uk
put in your postcode and it'll find your local exchange. It also shows what BB services *should* be available.
Moving ISP can make a difference if the speed problem isn't due to the local loop. Some ISPs have a higher/lower contention ratio and that can affect things.
I was with BT for a while, most the time it was 3/5meg connection on their *up to 8meg* product. It gradually went down to under 1 meg and despite them making many checks and so forth they couldn't get it back to 3/5 meg. I left and went to Virgin. Now get 20meg ALL the time (all the tests are 19meg + anyway) but that does assume you have cable facilities in your street.
18 January 2009, 06:47 PM
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18 January 2009, 07:25 PM
#40
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If BT are throttling the line or are congested during busy times there is EVERY point in changing, assuming of course the congestion is not at the exchange (could see if others around him are seeing this). Checking internal wires and the like can help but the OP has suggested this is a recent thing, which would sugest congestion or throttling
Unless of course the OP has changed the internals in his house? Wired connection to wireless even?
My mate was on Virgin ADSL and the line slowed to a crawl, migrated him over to Zen and the difference was night and day
Unless of course the OP has changed the internals in his house? Wired connection to wireless even?
My mate was on Virgin ADSL and the line slowed to a crawl, migrated him over to Zen and the difference was night and day
to check if contention ratio is a problem, do a speed test at silly hours in the morning, compare it to peak times (typically early evening on weekdays) that will give you an idea of how congestion is affecting your speed......a throttled line will show as a consistant speed (almost almost always low) no matter what time you test. also remember that if you suspect that you have improved your wiring, then reset your router or modem too. for the vast majority of ADSL users, your line (or more specifically your line loss) is the reason your speed is what it is.
18 January 2009, 11:00 PM
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And don't forget, you may only live a mile from the exchange (for example) but this doesn't mean your phone line takes a direct route. It could go round the houses a bit.
19 January 2009, 12:32 AM
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I work as a Telecomms engineer myself, and mostly work on ADSL faults around my localarea.
The distance you are from the exchange DOES make a vast difference to the speed you get, the further you are from the exchange the lower your speed/adsl rate will be, but usually there is not a problem unless your line is above 8km (5 mile). I live 3 miles from the exchange and get 3Meg at home here, which is plenty for me
Internal extensions in your home will also affect the speed of your BB too, and if you live far from the exchange and on the 'line limits' as they talk about, say for example your line is 8.2km long, internal extensions may even stop the bb modem synching up at all, in which case your SP (service provider) could arrange for an SSFP (Service specific front plate) or an i-plate which is now available to be fitted at your main telephone socket....this will isolate your extensions from the adsl and they will still be able to be used for making/recieving calls, sending faxes, but will no longer be able to be used for adsl services. The only problem with this is that you would have to situate your modem at the main socket, usually in the hall for example, but nowadays most modems are wireless anyway so this isn't a problem If you fit an ssfp or i-plate, you will no longer require line filters on your other telephone sockets either.
Have you tried isolating the extensions and plugging in the modem at the main test point on your main socket? It could be that an internal extension has gone faulty or something like that, which could be causing your problems
You'd be surprised how many peoples houses i arrive at to check out a fault, only to discover that the cat has chewed through the telephone extension line to the sky box or a socket in the kitchen has a short circuit on it due to a splash of water from a tap hitting it.... ....worth a check.
If you need any help on how to check at the main socket test point or anything like that, drop me a PM matey
Kevin
The distance you are from the exchange DOES make a vast difference to the speed you get, the further you are from the exchange the lower your speed/adsl rate will be, but usually there is not a problem unless your line is above 8km (5 mile). I live 3 miles from the exchange and get 3Meg at home here, which is plenty for me
Internal extensions in your home will also affect the speed of your BB too, and if you live far from the exchange and on the 'line limits' as they talk about, say for example your line is 8.2km long, internal extensions may even stop the bb modem synching up at all, in which case your SP (service provider) could arrange for an SSFP (Service specific front plate) or an i-plate which is now available to be fitted at your main telephone socket....this will isolate your extensions from the adsl and they will still be able to be used for making/recieving calls, sending faxes, but will no longer be able to be used for adsl services. The only problem with this is that you would have to situate your modem at the main socket, usually in the hall for example, but nowadays most modems are wireless anyway so this isn't a problem
If you fit an ssfp or i-plate, you will no longer require line filters on your other telephone sockets either.Have you tried isolating the extensions and plugging in the modem at the main test point on your main socket? It could be that an internal extension has gone faulty or something like that, which could be causing your problems
You'd be surprised how many peoples houses i arrive at to check out a fault, only to discover that the cat has chewed through the telephone extension line to the sky box or a socket in the kitchen has a short circuit on it due to a splash of water from a tap hitting it....
....worth a check.If you need any help on how to check at the main socket test point or anything like that, drop me a PM matey
Kevin
Last edited by RB5 Boyo; 19 January 2009 at 12:36 AM.
19 January 2009, 08:52 AM
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19 January 2009, 01:22 PM
#48
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Thanks all .....
The wiring thing has got me thinking ....
The main BT junction box is in the porch at the front of the property - a cable runs from here, into the garage, along the garage wall about 20 foot and then turns into the kitchen, it then terminates. A cable goes upstairs from this point and I have a 30 foot lead to another terminal box at the back of the PC - this has the telephone hanging off it too.
Not sure if the above is ideal for top speeds, probably not - but it has been like that for 20 years ...... I was getting reasonable speeds up until recently. I will check for faults.
The wiring thing has got me thinking ....
The main BT junction box is in the porch at the front of the property - a cable runs from here, into the garage, along the garage wall about 20 foot and then turns into the kitchen, it then terminates. A cable goes upstairs from this point and I have a 30 foot lead to another terminal box at the back of the PC - this has the telephone hanging off it too.
Not sure if the above is ideal for top speeds, probably not - but it has been like that for 20 years ...... I was getting reasonable speeds up until recently. I will check for faults.
19 January 2009, 01:29 PM
#49
Thanks all .....
The wiring thing has got me thinking ....
The main BT junction box is in the porch at the front of the property - a cable runs from here, into the garage, along the garage wall about 20 foot and then turns into the kitchen, it then terminates. A cable goes upstairs from this point and I have a 30 foot lead to another terminal box at the back of the PC - this has the telephone hanging off it too.
Not sure if the above is ideal for top speeds, probably not - but it has been like that for 20 years ...... I was getting reasonable speeds up until recently. I will check for faults.
The wiring thing has got me thinking ....
The main BT junction box is in the porch at the front of the property - a cable runs from here, into the garage, along the garage wall about 20 foot and then turns into the kitchen, it then terminates. A cable goes upstairs from this point and I have a 30 foot lead to another terminal box at the back of the PC - this has the telephone hanging off it too.
Not sure if the above is ideal for top speeds, probably not - but it has been like that for 20 years ...... I was getting reasonable speeds up until recently. I will check for faults.
19 January 2009, 01:58 PM
#50
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this is what i get from sky mid package (£5) a month,when i was with bt it would not go over 1mg ever ,they told me that was all my line would support i live about a mile from the exchange and i was paying just over £20 a month for that !
19 January 2009, 05:35 PM
#51
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you could also upgrade to a wireless phone setup, with a single master phone plugged and the satellite phones connected to it. This is how we have ours setup so there are minimal secondary connections onto the BT line. I just ripped everything out apart from the one master phone connection.
19 January 2009, 06:13 PM
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Thanks all .....
The wiring thing has got me thinking ....
The main BT junction box is in the porch at the front of the property - a cable runs from here, into the garage, along the garage wall about 20 foot and then turns into the kitchen, it then terminates. A cable goes upstairs from this point and I have a 30 foot lead to another terminal box at the back of the PC - this has the telephone hanging off it too.
The wiring thing has got me thinking ....
The main BT junction box is in the porch at the front of the property - a cable runs from here, into the garage, along the garage wall about 20 foot and then turns into the kitchen, it then terminates. A cable goes upstairs from this point and I have a 30 foot lead to another terminal box at the back of the PC - this has the telephone hanging off it too.
Get checking....
20 January 2009, 08:58 AM
#53
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If my PC was wirelessly equiped then I could place the router right by the incoming box.
Anyway - BT have offered to half my monthly charge .... I have accepted - at least I am now paying for what I have actually got, rather than what I wished I had.
Whenever BT offer to do something like this there is a catch - I have been caught out by them before ...... they are also offering to send me a new wireless router (but I have one anyway?!) what do I do with the old one? has it any value? It's one with the telephone on it - less than 12 months old.
20 January 2009, 07:54 PM
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I have a wireless router, hard wired into the PC and a Laptop around the house.
If my PC was wirelessly equiped then I could place the router right by the incoming box.
Anyway - BT have offered to half my monthly charge .... I have accepted - at least I am now paying for what I have actually got, rather than what I wished I had.
Whenever BT offer to do something like this there is a catch - I have been caught out by them before ...... they are also offering to send me a new wireless router (but I have one anyway?!) what do I do with the old one? has it any value? It's one with the telephone on it - less than 12 months old.
If my PC was wirelessly equiped then I could place the router right by the incoming box.
Anyway - BT have offered to half my monthly charge .... I have accepted - at least I am now paying for what I have actually got, rather than what I wished I had.
Whenever BT offer to do something like this there is a catch - I have been caught out by them before ...... they are also offering to send me a new wireless router (but I have one anyway?!) what do I do with the old one? has it any value? It's one with the telephone on it - less than 12 months old.
Heres what you need PC world I know how much you like shopping there
21 January 2009, 08:01 AM
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21 January 2009, 05:30 PM
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Try your router/modem in the master phone socket if you haven't already done so (take the face plate off).
Then see if your speed is increased.
If it does improve then there is probably internal wiring degrading the signal, or even a duff micro filter (try a new filter in the master phone socket to rule out any other filters around the house).
If the connections still crap with a new filter and router in master phone socket then it's probably down to how far you are away from the exchange.
Assuming you have a router does it have any diagnostics on it, showing the downstream noise margins? If readings are low (most ISP's say this should be a minimum of 7db) then this could indicate a crap line.
You could also try a BT iplate, we have supplied some of these recently to customers who have been on "long" lines or generally slow/unstable connections and the new iplate has improved things.
Then see if your speed is increased.
If it does improve then there is probably internal wiring degrading the signal, or even a duff micro filter (try a new filter in the master phone socket to rule out any other filters around the house).
If the connections still crap with a new filter and router in master phone socket then it's probably down to how far you are away from the exchange.
Assuming you have a router does it have any diagnostics on it, showing the downstream noise margins? If readings are low (most ISP's say this should be a minimum of 7db) then this could indicate a crap line.
You could also try a BT iplate, we have supplied some of these recently to customers who have been on "long" lines or generally slow/unstable connections and the new iplate has improved things.
22 January 2009, 10:25 AM
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Absolutely pointless changing providers unless you are moving away from the BT line itself and going cable...
Right, first thing to check is that it isn't your internal telephone wiring causing the issues. All old telephone cables have five or so wires but you only need two of them now a days and it's the spares left connected that really mess with the signal quality.
There is a site on the net somewherethat will show you step by step which wires you can pull the plug on.. Everyone I've seen do this has seen an improvement in speed.
Definitely the first thing to try as it's free.
Me..
Right, first thing to check is that it isn't your internal telephone wiring causing the issues. All old telephone cables have five or so wires but you only need two of them now a days and it's the spares left connected that really mess with the signal quality.
There is a site on the net somewherethat will show you step by step which wires you can pull the plug on.. Everyone I've seen do this has seen an improvement in speed.
Definitely the first thing to try as it's free.
Me..
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