Need to Sort Broadband - Not sure where to start

foxtrot_mike

I have been putting this off for a while but I need to sort my broadband out and I haven't a clue where to start.

Im currently with Talk Talk, used to be with Tiscali and was happy with them but since they got taken over the service seems to have deteriorated.

However I do know that my equipment needs replacing, I know the router is playing up and the BT line to our house is in a terrible state im also wondering whether that is to blame, BT wont replace it because the pole is on the edge of the cliff and use health and safety or cost but I have to admit I haven't been pursuing this for a while.

So im thinking on focusing on getting the broadband bit sorted, which is bundled with the phone plan.

Any tips or suggestions on where to start.

penrhyn

If you have a noisy phone line you'll need to get that sorted out first, as changing ISPs wont improve things.

Do a BT quiet line check.

Post your router line statistics.

Check on Samknows for LLU operators at your exchange.

macman

You'd change ISP because your router is playing up? Just ask TT for a new one if you are out of contract. If they won't play ball, a Netgear DG834G or similar is about a tenner on eBay.
But as penrhyn says, the priority is to get the line sorted out-you need to report it as a line fault to your line rental provider. Do not report it as a broadband fault.

foxtrot_mike

Broadband speed test results
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/results/id/131084988338356026197.html
16/07/11 21:59:45
Speed Down 101.43 Kbps ( 0.1 Mbps )
Speed Up 203.53 Kbps ( 0.2 Mbps )

DSL Connection
Link Information
Uptime: 0 days, 20:28:00
Modulation: G.992.5 annex A
Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 578 / 6,859
Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [MB/MB]: 45.42 / 298.09
Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]: 10.0 / 0.0
Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]: 20.0 / 39.0
SN Margin (Up/Down) [dB]: 16.0 / 10.5
Vendor ID (Local/Remote): TMMB / GSPN
Loss of Framing (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Signal (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Power (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Link (Remote): 0
Error Seconds (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
FEC Errors (Up/Down): 59 / 105,862
CRC Errors (Up/Down): 78 / 71
HEC Errors (Up/Down): 118 / 68

BT Quiet line check sounded fine.

Any ideas

penrhyn

Thats more dial up than broadband!

Is your router plugged into an extention?
Have you a filter in each active phone socket including Sky box, alarm etc.

Anyhoo, if possible redo the stats test whilst plugged into your master test socket.

foxtrot_mike

I have just done a couple of tests, one this morning, one now and one directly connected to the BT master plug and got about 7Mbps, all of these were hard connected to the router via ethernet cable.

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/results/id/13109188486430472963.html

Then I tried wireless and got 2.6 Mbps (connected to the master plug)

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/results/id/13109194918925903063.html

I then connected back into the extension and got 2.7 (over wireless), there was no one else downloading on the wireless at that time.

(Just to note that we dont have a BT test socket, but a single socket in the House, this has a double connector with one side with a filter going to the DECT phone and the other side having an extension cable going to the router with another filter).

Is this drop in Wireless speed acceptable?

macman

No. The first thing to do is to log into the router interface and try a different wireless channel.
Have you checked your filters as requested earlier?
Can you repost your router stats from the ethernet connection to the main socket as suggested by penrhyn?

foxtrot_mike

I have tried different channels and no change

As I said earlier I plugged directly into the main plug with one filter.
I have just done this again and the router stats are below

Uptime: 0 days, 0:00:10
Modulation: G.992.5 annex A
Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 568 / 8,056
Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [KB/KB]: 4.00 / 7.00
Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]: 10.0 / 21.0
Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]: 20.0 / 39.0
SN Margin (Up/Down) [dB]: 14.0 / 12.5
Vendor ID (Local/Remote): TMMB / GSPN
Loss of Framing (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Signal (Local/Remote): 7 / 0
Loss of Power (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Link (Remote): 0
Error Seconds (Local/Remote): 11 / 0
FEC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 0
CRC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 0
HEC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 0

And now with the router connected in the usual way along with the phone.

Uptime: 0 days, 0:00:06
Modulation: G.992.5 annex A
Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 582 / 8,098
Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [KB/KB]: 11.00 / 10.00
Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]: 10.0 / 21.0
Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]: 20.0 / 39.0
SN Margin (Up/Down) [dB]: 13.5 / 12.5
Vendor ID (Local/Remote): TMMB / GSPN
Loss of Framing (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Signal (Local/Remote): 8 / 0
Loss of Power (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Link (Remote): 0
Error Seconds (Local/Remote): 12 / 0
FEC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 0
CRC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 0
HEC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 0

penrhyn

OK The relavent figures are:-

Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 568 / 8,056
Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [KB/KB]: 4.00 / 7.00
Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]: 10.0 / 21.0
Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]: 20.0 / 39.0
SN Margin (Up/Down) [dB]: 14.0 / 12.5

You are syncing with the exchange at 8.056 mbps, interestingly your noise margin is 12.5db, which would suggest you could go faster, a 390db line should be syncing at around.12mbps

This begs the quetion what 'up to' service are you paying for?
Also and apologies if its been answered are you on LLU with talk Talk/Tiscali.

foxtrot_mike

penrhyn wrote: »

OK The relavent figures are:-

Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 568 / 8,056
Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [KB/KB]: 4.00 / 7.00
Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]: 10.0 / 21.0
Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]: 20.0 / 39.0
SN Margin (Up/Down) [dB]: 14.0 / 12.5

You are syncing with the exchange at 8.056 mbps, interestingly your noise margin is 12.5db, which would suggest you could go faster, a 390db line should be syncing at around.12mbps

This begs the quetion what 'up to' service are you paying for?
Also and apologies if its been answered are you on LLU with talk Talk/Tiscali.

It is not clear from `My Account` what speed I should be on, but I believe im on the maximum plan, if that means anything.

Samknows says TalkTalk (CPW) LLU is at my exchange

macman

So the issue appears to be a wireless one alone. Have you tried running a speedtest using a different wireless device on it-that will eliminate your laptop/PC as the problem-which really leaves only the router.
Your terrible' BT line can't be that bad if it's giving you around 7MBps.