Looks like I'm on a fixed rate 1Mbps connection though I pay for up-to-8Mbps

Kua

Hi,

The past 18 months I've been with little known provider, Direct Save Telecom.

I know that before we were with them I was able to achieve download speeds of around 300Kbps. Now I struggle to get 100Kbps. So I have been running DUmeter the past month and have found that I never get above 1Mbps. We seem to be fixed at that even though we pay for up to 8Mbps.

When I complained in the past about our connection (with less facts at my disposal) I was pointed at SamKnows and told something vague about not being able to get above 2Mbps. Here is what it says on SamKnows btw:

"ADSL is available in your area
Your exchange is also enabled for ADSL Max services
According to BT Wholesale, your phone line should be able to support a 4Mbps or greater ADSL connection via ADSL Max.

Standard ADSL RAG results
You cannot receive 2Mbps ADSL
You may be able to receive 1Mbps ADSL
You can receive 512kbps ADSL
You can receive 256kbps ADSL"

Is a fixed rate line of 1Mbps actually the best I can hope for where I live? And if so how can the dl speeds of 300Kbps (so around 3 Meg) be explained?

I'm finding it hard to tell whether we actually have ADSLMax or whether the line is just capable of supporting it... Not sure how to interpret what it says there.

I know that in the village, obviously closer to the exchange, people have up to 6Mbps.

In this day and age 1Mbps seems incredibly weak.

Kua

Stats from the router:

Data Rate (which I assume is the same as sync rate. This is a Belkin router btw.)
288 Kbps (Upstream)
1152 Kbps (Downstream)

Noise Margin
26 dB (Upstream)
13 dB (Downstream)

Attenuation
44 dB (Upstream)
38 dB (Downstream)

EDIT: On another forum I've been led to believe the dl rate I'm experiencing ties in with a fixed rate of 1Mbps (but isn't a certain indication) and that the upload rate I'm experiencing is a more certain indication. Something like that....

loaner_2

Turn the router off and on again, see if the 1152 Kbps changes. Your achievable download speeds will never be more than about 7/8ths of that 1152, unless the router resyncs at a higher speed

If you are using an extension, try it in the master socket, and if a modern master socket, try it in the test socket behind the master socket facia

It is suggestive of a 1Mb profile, you could use the BT speedtester to check http://speedtester.bt.com/

Kua

loaner wrote: »

Turn the router off and on again, see if the 1152 Kbps changes.

It doesn't.

loaner wrote: »

Your achievable download speeds will never be more than about 7/8ths of that 1152, unless the router resyncs at a higher speed

Heh. I'm only getting about a tenth of that.

loaner wrote: »

If you are using an extension, try it in the master socket, and if a modern master socket, try it in the test socket behind the master socket facia

I don't think this is possible. The router is on the first floor and the master socket is on the ground floor. So we have to use a telephone socket in an upstairs bedroom.

I forget the name of the cable (is it an ethernet cable - I know that's the name of the cable that connects the router to the PC). But could we get a long one of those and connect it to the master socket? In any case, I don't think more wires would go down very well!!

Anyway it seems clear that I am FIXED at 1Mbps. I don't ever go even 1bps above. I should think even if the router was hooked up directly to the master socket, we would still be capped.

Do you suspect I am on a fixed line? If I am is there an alternative (I think there must be because I have had around 3 Meg in the past)? And shouldn't the provider have told us they were putting us on a fixed rate line? I feel as though I should be compensated for this.

loaner_2

Both these

"300Kbps. Now I struggle to get 100Kbps"

are under 1Mb, 3000=3Mb

Suspect yes, but can't say for sure, see the bt speedtester

You could move the PC and router temporarily to test if the extension is contributing to the problem.

Kua

Sorry! I should say KBps! So as you can see I was getting around 3Meg before.

loaner_2

If you aren't on LLU, and have a noisy line, then BT's equipment allocates you a profile, which should adjust itself upwards if the noise reduces over a certain period, so you could be stuck on a 1Mb profile because of the line condition.

You really need to isolate the extension issue, by moving the pc temporarily and using the test socket or master socket, and try the bt speedtester to check your profile and speed using their equipment.

As far as BT is concerned, 1Mb is acceptable on adsl max, they won't raise a line fault for anything above 400Kb/s

Kua

loaner wrote: »

Suspect yes, but can't say for sure, see the bt speedtester

I get 0.67Mbps dl and 0.23Mbps upload on the speedtester.

I suppose the crucial thing I want to know is, do I have a right to complain?

Kua

loaner wrote: »

If you aren't on LLU, and have a noisy line, then BT's equipment allocates you a profile, which should adjust itself upwards if the noise reduces over a certain period, so you could be stuck on a 1Mb profile because of the line condition.

I really can't follow this, I'm afraid.

loaner wrote: »

You really need to isolate the extension issue, by moving the pc temporarily and using the test socket or master socket, and try the bt speedtester to check your profile and speed using their equipment.

OK I'll try to do this. I feel sure it will still be capped at 1Mbps. But I know you know better than me, so I'll give it a go .

loaner wrote: »

As far as BT is concerned, 1Mb is acceptable on adsl max, they won't raise a line fault for anything above 400Mb/s

I didn't know such speeds existed...

loaner_2

ADSL speeds depend on line quality and length, all the way from the exchange to your router. One day that can be good, so you may get 3Mb, the next it could be not so good. BT's equipment detects the changes, and if it detects poor quality, it will say limit this connection to xKbps until things get better, that is your profile. If things get constantly better for a significant period (can be 48 hours) it should increase your profile up a notch or two. The profile bands are listed here

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/faq/sections/radsl.html

If you attempt to complain, the first thing they will say is use the test socket (which avoids using your extension wiring), and do the BT speedtest (which uses BT servers rather than your isp's)

One other thing you could try is removing the bell wire/ring wire, (see link above)

Kua

loaner wrote: »

ADSL speeds depend on line quality and length, all the way from the exchange to your router. One day that can be good, so you may get 3Mb, the next it could be not so good. BT's equipment detects the changes, and if it detects poor quality, it will say limit this connection to xKbps until things get better, that is your profile. If things get constantly better for a significant period (can be 48 hours) it should increase your profile up a notch or two.

OK good explanation - so you are saying it is probably BT who are imposing the fixed rate. I would say I've been on this "profile" for months now. I wonder what it would take for them to adjust it. I also wonder why its necessary to enforce this profile - does it put less strain on the line or something like that? In the past attempting to call BT and get anything out of them has proved to be a horrid experience .

loaner wrote: »

If you attempt to complain, the first thing they will say is use the test socket (which avoids using your extension wiring), and do the BT speedtest (which uses BT servers rather than your isp's)

Noted. Say, hypothetically speaking I still get 1Mbps at the main socket and that it turns out that BT have set a profile (should the ISP be able to confirm that?) is there anything I can do about it (obviously I should be on a one meg deal but IIRC on one meg deals the dl limit is low and/or they don't provide good telephone packages)? Or is it just tough?