Broadband Boosting discussion

wigan_nic

There is a dedicated ADSL filter plate replacement. I have one of these and where I have used it always significantly improve broadband speeds. It replaces the master socket, it does stick out an additional cm or so, but it has the router lead socket as well as a standard phone socket, and the extensions all so into the back of the replacement faceplate as well. This also means you can do away with the microfilters, as the faceplate itself is a microfilter. As this plate goes onto the master socket there is the least internal house wiring involved. Drawback being your router needs to be adjacent the master socket. (However I have in a couple of cases where I fitted these run a length of proper phone cable to the router from the modem socket and it does not degrade too much). Google for ADSL faceplate (aka NTE5) Prices vary I generally source mine from main retailers, at around 10-15 pounds. The cheaper ones I have no experience of. In my case the advertised speed is 4 meg (copper) and I actually achieve between 6 and 7 meg.

You could try and see if this may help you by removing your existing master socket and plugging your high quality ADSL filter and modem directly into the socket under the master plate. That isolates all house wiring. If you see an increase in the synchronization speed then a faceplate will work for you.

(Note it may take a while before the modem speed retrains to the synchronization speed)

One final point on wiring, the previous owner of my house saw fit to use 'alarm cable' to wire up phone extensions. This is unsuitable and only solid copper core wire will work to maintain the ADSL signals maximum speed. Flexi phone extensions also often use multi stranded type cable and while they may work, you're compromising ADSL speeds if your modem is on the end of one.

ruralbz15

After the MSE broadband test, you get claims from other providers. BT claim 10.9MB/s. Pah!! Rural line limits to 5MB max anyway. Old provider was BT - v expensive - wouldn't let me have price deal it gives to newbies. Got v.poor line speed - lucky to reach 1.2MB/s peak. Frequently dropped out and at certain times of day got no broadband at all. Impossible to work from home. Final straw was no BB service at all for 3 days. Unable to get answer from BT when phoned to report no BB. I was printing emails at work to take home for wife to read. This was stupid. Followed MSE link - used BB price comparison (lunchtime from work because no BB at home). Now with PlusNet and get relatively good BB. 3.5MB/s may be poor compared to cities, but (1) I get a service and (2) it's lightning fast compared to best I got from BT. :j

donny-gal

Keep checking and complain, especially if the speed if fluctuating. Keep on complaining, yes it is tiresome, but eventually they will give you their site to check the speed on, and you can submit it when it is dire, keep on submitting it, and eventually you make them realise you are not pulling the wool over their eyes, and they set you up to get a good speed. Worked for me. DG

pol098

I've just come here from the page "Free Broadband Speed Test"
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/boost-broadband-speed

That page mentions a compression service called Onspeed (£25/yr) and also Opera Turbo (free), suggesting that the paid service is probably better. I've done some quick checking online, and people seem to be saying that Opera Turbo is actually better.

In brief, both Opera and Onspeed use an intermediate proxy server (hence in principle privacy concerns, not that GCHQ and NSA aren't already reading everything) and device software that compresses data and radically reduces the amount sent. Opera for computers has a Turbo (or off-road) mode which can be enabled or disabled. Opera Mini for phones compresses even more. Older versions (I have to use an older version with my older Windows Mobile phone) always compressed, so you need another browser for sites that don't work with Mini; the latest version for iPhone has the option to compress in Mini mode, in Turbo mode, or not at all, as far as I remember. Opera Mini mode doesn't work for some interactive Web sites due to the intermediate proxy server; Opera Turbo doesn't compress interactive stuff and always worked.

Using a compression server slows down actual data transfer speed, but reduces the amount of data, with a net speedup on connections that are a bit sluggish, If you pay for data, there's a lot less of it. (Things like streaming video don't compress well though.)

What may be considered a disadvantage of Opera Turbo is that you always connect to the proxy, which in turn connects to the site, so that if you inadvertently try to connect to, say, the Pirate Bay, it is likely to allow the connection, though it's legally supposed to be blocked.

Charis

winston_1 wrote: »

These terrible things should never have been put on the market and it is high time Ofcom banned their use and sale. Sweden has taken action against homeplugs, why can't the UK?

Apparently there is legislation in place but tracking the rogue device is the problem.

MaffyD

I'm not sure I'm bothered about homeplug radio interference. I don't use FM, my DAB seems to work just fine, I doubt anyone has International Air Traffic Control or Maritime signals within range of their plugs.

Plus, they're getting better every day.