Plusnet speed very poor this past 4-5 weeks or so.

Frankiesingstheblues

Can anyone advise me please?

We have been with plusnet for 4 years with no problems. (Landline phone and internet.)

Just lately however,our speed has gone down from an average of 3-4 megs to 300 kb; virtually 10 times slower. It's driving us nuts. We have started taking it in turns to use it, one at a time, as when there is 2 or more on, it barely moves. A download that used to take 10 minutes now takes an hour!

I phoned plusnet last week and they said they will send openreach engineer out but if it turns out to be our equipment we will be charged for the call out. Not fair imo as how are we meant to know? We still have the original router they sent us in 2012. The standard issue small white plusnet one.

Plusnet checked the lines and went through all the usual mundane stuff, checked the lines and so on and said it's not them!

So where does that leave us now?

Has anyone experienced this before? Plusnet weren't terribly helpful.

We do feel like moving to another provider but are struggling to find one that provides the internet and the landline with free 0845 and 0345 numbers, and also unlimited landline calls and also 100 minutes free mobile calls all within the cost. What's more we do like plusnet but this very slow speed is getting ridiculous.

Any advice welcome.

Thank you.

I live in Cheshire.

NectarCollector

never had any issue with plusnet.

it could be as simple as replacing the ADSL filter (50p from a homeware shop) as these can get worn out and would slow the line down.

Also use your landline phone to perform a 'quiet line' test. dial 17070 and press option 2. if you can hear a lot of crackling it is an issue with the phoneline. (do this several times at various times of day, making a note of each time you tested it)

If you have access to another router (maybe borrow a friend/family memebrs one for a little while, try using that to connect to the internet, if that works then your plusnet router has likely become faulty and you can request a replacement.

JJ_Egan

How are you measuring the speed ??
Over WiFi ??

Frankiesingstheblues

Thanks for your help folks, and no, we have never had an issue with Plusnet either. They are actually helpful and nice, and we rarely wait more than 5 minutes to get through to them. This is why I would rather not change providers.

I am going to get a new router on Monday, as the one they gave us was not a very high quality one. It's been OK of course, but the one I have my eye on is a better quality one. Also, it's a dual band one, so maybe this will help the speed. I will also replace the filter. And I will also try the phone line test.

If it is still slow, then I shall get back to them and ask for an engineer to come out. There should be no charge as we will have tested and replaced stuff to try and remedy the issue.

Thank you. I shall let you know in about a week, what's happened/if it's improved/if we need the engineer out.

JJ_Egan

If it is still slow, then I shall get back to them and ask for an engineer to come out. There should be no charge as we will have tested and replaced stuff to try and remedy the issue.

Any fault after the master socket will incur the charge .
So if your wiring to the router is at fault or your WiFi is the fault you pay .

Post again once you set up the router .
True speed check is only from the master socket via ethernet cable not over WiFi.

Ian011

Frankiesingstheblues wrote: »

We ... are struggling to find one that provides the internet and the landline with free 0845 and 0345 numbers, and also unlimited landline calls and also 100 minutes free mobile calls all within the cost.

Ofcom rules require all landline and mobile providers to treat 03 numbers the same way as calls to 01 and 02 numbers. Every provider does comply.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5292529

More and more landline providers are including calls to mobile numbers within the allowance or offer an add-on for a few pounds per month for this.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5425727

You probably do not need inclusive calls to 0845 numbers. Customer services, financial services and public services are no longer allowed to use these numbers.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5437763

brewerdave

Frankiesingstheblues wrote: »

Thanks for your help folks, and no, we have never had an issue with Plusnet either. They are actually helpful and nice, and we rarely wait more than 5 minutes to get through to them. This is why I would rather not change providers.

I am going to get a new router on Monday, as the one they gave us was not a very high quality one. It's been OK of course, but the one I have my eye on is a better quality one. Also, it's a dual band one, so maybe this will help the speed. I will also replace the filter. And I will also try the phone line test.

If it is still slow, then I shall get back to them and ask for an engineer to come out. There should be no charge as we will have tested and replaced stuff to try and remedy the issue.

Thank you. I shall let you know in about a week, what's happened/if it's improved/if we need the engineer out.

...two things - make sure that you are plugging the new router into a new filter attached to the test socket (if you have one) -at the very least direct to the master socket with nothing else attached.
Secondly ,not much use getting a dual band router UNLESS you have ac adapters on your wireless devices -most tablets/laptops are still b/g/n only.

smufflemuppet

Oh I know what you are going through!

Up here in Scotland, Plusnet is going through a slow to average speed per day and it seems to be down to BT Wholesale who are doing repairs. Plusnet have released info on their site and also on Twitter as to what repairs are being carried and where. The location of my BB seems to hover around Milton Keynes at times and then back to another server up north. It never stays in one place which is often a downside as the Internet speed I'm paying for on the Unlimited package means I should be getting a faster rate.

However I do notice that the rate is slower with so many devices around me that use WIFI. I suggest that you check other devices in your home that you may not need to have switched on when using the Internet in general. For example usage of a WIFI printer, Smartphone and even a device like the Apple iPod 5G.

I also invested in a Netgear signal extender many years ago and it seems to help as it is a signal booster.

Hedgehog99

Just another thought if you've tried everyone else's suggestions - do you leave your router on all the time? I know someone who turned theirs off a lot and hd a slow speed - one of plusnet's help pages said speed would improve if the router was left on - and it did.