8mb Nildram

MotherMayI

MotherMayI

MotherMayI

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Joined
9 Dec 2007
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2,408
I currently pay for an 8mb Nildram account (ADSL), and it appears my connection has been capped off in some way. I have never, ever, seen downloads at 800kb/sec but I have always put that down to busy public servers, torrents being slow etc. and never actually bothered testing it.

However, I recently subscribed to a Usenet service and always cap out at 400kb/sec - Same if I download from good quality public ftp's.

Various online speed tests (the java variety) detect my speed at being 3-4Mbps.

What could be causing this? Is there anything I can do to try and find out the problem myself, or is a phone call to the ISP in order? Something I am slightly wary about as I don't particularly want to get in to a conversation relating to my excessive downloading habbits :D
 
What does your router say your ADSL connection/sync speed is?

All these services are "up to" 8mbit, depending on your line quality. It's quite possible that your phone line is only good enough to do 4mbit.
 
I'm not entirely sure where I would see that, the only infomation I can see on my router page about my connection is:

EDIT: Just found some more relevant information.

#




Configured


Current

Line Status


---


SHOWTIME

Link Type


---


Interleaved Path

* [Go Top]

# Data Rate:

Stream Type


Actual Data Rate

Up Stream


448 (Kbps.)

Down Stream


4736 (Kbps.)

[Go Top]

# Operation Data / Defect Indication:

Operation Data


Upstream


Downstream

Noise Margin


12 dB


5 dB

Attenuation


63 dB


44 dB
 
Last edited:
Yeah.. As you can see under "actual data rate", your line is at just over 4mbit. And looking at your attenuation, that's a very good speed for that line.

Do you run any telephone line extensions in the house? If you do, you could try plugging the router directly into the master socket instead (or the test socket, behind the master socket panel). This may improve your sync speed (though datarate will take a little time to catch up).
 
Ah, yes - My house is actually currently littered with telephone extension leads (long story), I didn't think that would make such a difference.

Would you say that is the likely cause then?
 
Not 100% but it's very likely that they're affecting it quite badly. The best thing to do is to take the plate off your master phone socket and try out the test socket behind it. This will 'cut out' all your extension wiring and you'll see the best possible signal strength/sync speed with it. In some cases this has made a *huge* difference, though in others it has made virtually none.

If it turns out to be massively better, you'll need to decide on whether or not it's worth the hassle to get rid of all your extension wiring (and/or possibly buy a new filtered faceplate).
 
Tbh, getting rid of the extension wiring has been on the infamous 'To Do List' for quitea while, so I guess I'll actually make sure I get around to it this weekend.

The problem is my computer is on the other end of the house from the phone socket, and I have a real thing about using wireless - I just consider it slower and more prone to problems. However, that is judging from experiences years ago now so I am sure things have moved on greatly.

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.
 
I'm the same way about wireless tbh. I'd just stick a long ethernet cable from the router @ the phone socket and run that to your PC :)

That said, wireless is indeed quite a bit better so you may find if you play with it it's fine.
 
Hmm, I'll have a little tinker and see how practical wiring the whole thing up would be. Thanks again for your help.

Now it appears I've been hit by the Nildram Throttle Stick :|
 
It wouldn't matter who your ISP is on your line - you'd get the same results.

I've been on 8mb Nildram for ages.
Just last week I migrated from the £25.99 service I had been using to their £19.99 service (still over ADSL, not ADSL2).
Service has been as good as ever etc.
However I live around 500m from my exchange with excellent lines and I've connected at 8mb since I first migrated to ADSL MAX.
 
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