Slow internet/old master socket

grumpycrab

Hi, I'm going to help a neighbour with slow internet (1.5Mbps, neighbours get about7Mbps). However, checking the internal wiring showed up this old box (line jack?) as master socket.


Their provider is Sky (with BT phone). If we talk nicely to Sky will they get BT to replace this for free?

kwikbreaks

Unlikely.

Are there any extensions - if not then an old style socket won't matter anyway.

Hardwired extensions are not supposed to be touched on old style sockets but it's easy enough to snip the ring wire...

If plugin extensions are used then depending on how they are used a new socket might help but if they are not used for the router and only post a filter to the extension phone a new socket won't help much either.

For me to make any guesses as to what the issue may be you'll need to post up the line stats. If you can interpret them yourself then fine but I'd be interested to know why you think an old style socket is a problem and even if that really is the master.

grumpycrab

Thanks. The router hangs off a hard-wired extension and so the first thing I'll try (tomorrow) is hanging it off the line jack (with filter) (and I'll see what's on any of the other extensions - if there are any).

Must admit, I'm tempted just to try the A and B wires in an NTE5 (I have a spare) but as a.that's illegal I think and b.not my house, I won't.

Will post line stats (if I can find them on what looks like an old Sky router).

StuC75

Check on samknows to see what there capabilities may be, a different neighbour could be on a different poles & cabinet - heck my neighbours at the back are a different area code...

grumpycrab

We're all "upto 8Mbps" with expected speeds between 7 and 8. My theory? Stuck/legacy 2Mbps profile.

kwikbreaks

I'm pretty much certain that stuck profiles are a thing of the past. If you're not averse to "tampering with BT property" then the first step would be to snip all the ring wires at the master end. They should be the orange/white but check first that that is what gets connected to connector #3 on the extensions.

kwikbreaks

This shows the way to get the line stats from lots of routers. With it as far down on expected as you say and you not being sure of what else may be connected I'd also add an unfiltered phone/ringer/sky box/etc. to the suspect list. Many problems can be down to ring wires but they don't usually account for that much of a drop.

WTFH

grumpycrab wrote: »

Must admit, I'm tempted just to try the A and B wires in an NTE5 (I have a spare) but as a.that's illegal I think and b.not my house, I won't.

Yes, that's a very very very very bad idea, you shouldn't do anything illegal.


...but then again, breaking the speed limit is illegal, yet many people do it every day, what they do is not talk about it, and [STRIKE]make sure they tidy up the wires afterwards.[/STRIKE] make sure the [STRIKE]OR[/STRIKE] cops don't find out.

grumpycrab

The socket(s)/filters/cables are fine. Its a capped 2Mbps line - even Sky noticed it. They seemed a little unsure about how to proceed except to tell us that they will have a webchat with BT Wholesale. The last time I saw this (6 months ago) BT wanted the customer to re-contract in order to remove the cap and it took a month to find somebody to flick the appropriate switch.

Router stats here

kwikbreaks

That's running a fixed 2Mbps service. They need to call the ISP and get it swapped to variable (RADSL). It could have been put on that due to instability.
===
Ah just read your post pre the stats - I see you already know.

grumpycrab

Thanks. Tried various combinations of filters, RJ11 etc and the stats were the last thing I took. I see what you mean by the huge noise margin. Will try a different router if nothing changes in a couple of days.