Broadband speed

[Spitfir3]

Hi guys,

Silly question but i'm quite confused to what speeds I can actually get down my line.

i'm currently with Tiscali/TalkTalk on their 8mb package but I only actually get 3mb. I queried this with peeps on their forum and they said the max I could get from them was 3.5mb but they adjused it to 3mb for stability.

Now don't all ISPs share BTs infastructure? So every ISP would give me the same speed? Samknows told me this:

The following services are available in your location:

* BT Wholesale ADSL
* BT Wholesale ADSL Max
* AOL LLU
* O2 / Be LLU
* TalkTalk (CPW) LLU
* Sky Broadband / Easynet LLU
* Tiscali LLU
* Tiscali TV (via Tiscali LLU)
* Orange LLU (Formerly Wanadoo)

BTs line checked said the max I could get is 5mbps.

So basically, is there anyway of getting faster speeds on my connection?

Cheers.

 

[Duke]

In short, no, assuming you are on their LLU service. What sort of distance to the exchange are you? Always worth plugging the router into the test socket to see if any speed is being lost in your internal cabling.

 

[Spitfir3]

In short, no, assuming you are on their LLU service. What sort of distance to the exchange are you? Always worth plugging the router into the test socket to see if any speed is being lost in your internal cabling.

SN says:

You are approximately 1.98km from the exchange. Note that this is the straight line distance - the actual cable length will be longer!

Yeah I assume im on the Tiscali LLU - does this not have the ADSL Max service BT offer? Would I be able to get this 5mbps if I went with BT?

 

[KIA]

No.

Router stats?
Router connected to master socket?
Router make and model?

 

[Spitfir3]

No.

Router stats?
Router connected to master socket?
Router make and model?

Billion 5200. Where do I get these stats from? And er, it's right next to a phone socket thingy?

 

[monkeyspank]

is it the main phone socket though?
Is it one of these

if so take the front bit off and plug the router into the socket inside

 

[Nymins]

Probably no way to get a better connection until (or rather if) FTTC comes to your exchange and cabinet.

LLU providers (O2/Be, Tiscali, Orange, Sky) will give you the same speed and standard ADSL providers will give you the same speed (BT).

 

[Zarf]

As above, get a decent ADSL filter (google XF-1e) and try the test socket, it bypasses any internal extensions in your house and can quite often give you an extra 30-50% in sync speeds. If BT reckons you should get 5Mb you almost certainly can, and it's just your internal wiring holding you back. They estimated my line at 1.5 but I can sync at 4Mb if I have interleaving on.

Whatever you do, don't change from your LLU provider to BT's ADSL Max. Sky are LLU in your area though and their LLU service is usually pretty good (and inexpensive) If you are looking to change.

 

[KIA]

Billion 5200. Where do I get these stats from? And er, it's right next to a phone socket thingy?

Login through the web interface. They should be fairly visible.

 

[Spitfir3]

Data on the CP:

Downstream Upstream

SNR Margin

:
18.0 28.0 db

Line Attenuation

:
40.5 19.0 db

Data Rate

:
3072 288 kbps

is it the main phone socket though?
Is it one of these

if so take the front bit off and plug the router into the socket inside

Ah yes, but it goes through a filter thing. Do I take the filter out of this and plug it straight into the socket? Do I need to take the casing off this socket thing?

 

[Azuse05]

For the record the speed you get from tiscali and the speed you line can get are rarely the same thing. Sync at 8 meg get 4/5 used to be the norm on tiscali, I doubt that changed.

 

[Zarf]

Data on the CP:

Downstream Upstream
SNR Margin :
18.0 28.0 db
Line Attenuation:
40.5 19.0 db
Data Rate :
3072 288 kbps

Your SNR Margin is really high, that's why your Sync speed is so low despite a reasonably low attenuation. You should definitely be able to get around 6 or 7 MB down on ADSL1, or 9-10 MB down on an LLU ADSL2 product.

The reason it is high, is because they have fixed you there. My guess is a dodgy filter or something in your house was causing intermittent interference and dropped lines. Connect to the test socket and then give them a ring to see if they will lift your line restrictions, if it's still dropping, try disconnecting any digital cordless phones. I'd still recommend changing ISPs when you can, Be and Sky are both available in your area and they are solid. If you have low daytime usage (and you probably do since the budget tiscali product has pathetic usage caps) , AAISP might be worth a call - they will put the effort in to help you sort out your speeds - I think you even get your money back if they can't sort it.
Your upload speeds are pretty crap, but normal for the budget Tiscali packages.

Ah yes, but it goes through a filter thing. Do I take the filter out of this and plug it straight into the socket? Do I need to take the casing off this socket thing?

Yes, take the microfilter out then remove the lower faceplate part to reveal the test socket on the right hand side (the front part of the faceplate usually plugs into to this and shares it with any extension sockets in your house).
Then plug the microfilter back in to the test socket - you can use phone and broadband at the same time just like before, but any extensions in your house obviously won't be connected.

 

[Spitfir3]

Your SNR Margin is really high, that's why your Sync speed is so low despite a reasonably low attenuation. You should definitely be able to get around 6 or 7 MB down on ADSL1, or 9-10 MB down on an LLU ADSL2 product.

The reason it is high, is because they have fixed you there. My guess is a dodgy filter or something in your house was causing intermittent interference and dropped lines. Connect to the test socket and then give them a ring to see if they will lift your line restrictions, if it's still dropping, try disconnecting any digital cordless phones. I'd still recommend changing ISPs when you can, Be and Sky are both available in your area and they are solid. If you have low daytime usage (and you probably do since the budget tiscali product has pathetic usage caps) , AAISP might be worth a call - they will put the effort in to help you sort out your speeds - I think you even get your money back if they can't sort it.
Your upload speeds are pretty crap, but normal for the budget Tiscali packages.


Yes, take the microfilter out then remove the lower faceplate part to reveal the test socket on the right hand side (the front part of the faceplate usually plugs into to this and shares it with any extension sockets in your house).
Then plug the microfilter back in to the test socket - you can use phone and broadband at the same time just like before, but any extensions in your house obviously won't be connected.

Ah okay I see. Right, after an inspection and a google I've realised its a slave plate. I also found the microfilter was connected to an dual adapter (i.e where you could plug two microfilters in) which was going into the socket - this adapter also has a wire running off... somewhere? - i've taken this out and it's working fine.

There's also this BT ISDN 2E box next to it which has been here since we moved in - forgot to mention this but I thought it was irrelevant

My computer's miles away from the master plate though, it's like two rooms away... will this be a problem? i've got a macbook I can test with?

And yes you're right, I had problems with it constantly disconnecting before. It's quite a big house though, my grandma lives in a part of it which has a different tele. no. - I don't know that'll be separate though? I know her phone doesn't have a microfilter on it. Confusing stuff

Thanks for your help btw

 

[Zarf]

Ah okay I see. Right, after an inspection and a google I've realised its a slave plate. I also found the microfilter was connected to an dual adapter (i.e where you could plug two microfilters in) which was going into the socket - this adapter also has a wire running off... somewhere? - i've taken this out and it's working fine.

There's also this BT ISDN 2E box next to it which has been here since we moved in - forgot to mention this but I thought it was irrelevant

My computer's miles away from the master plate though, it's like two rooms away... will this be a problem? i've got a macbook I can test with?

And yes you're right, I had problems with it constantly disconnecting before. It's quite a big house though, my grandma lives in a part of it which has a different tele. no. - I don't know that'll be separate though? I know her phone doesn't have a microfilter on it. Confusing stuff

Thanks for your help btw

No problem, If your grandma's phone is on a different number, it's a separate line and nothing to worry about. I think the ISDN box will have been disconnected when the engineer first installed ADSL - When I changed over they removed the ISDN box entirely.

I'd definitely recommend you have the router connected to the master socket, whether or not you are using the test socket. internal phone line extensions act like aerials and pick up all sorts of interference, especially the bell wire. Powerline connectors are a good way to bridge your ethernet cables through an old house with thick walls - have the router on the master socket then bridge the connection through to your room. You can put a switch and a wireless access point (an old wireless router will do fine if you want to save money, just turn off DHCP and use it as a dumb access point / switch) on your side of the bridge.

 

[Spitfir3]

No problem, If your grandma's phone is on a different number, it's a separate line and nothing to worry about. I think the ISDN box will have been disconnected when the engineer first installed ADSL - When I changed over they removed the ISDN box entirely.

I'd definitely recommend you have the router connected to the master socket, whether or not you are using the test socket. internal phone line extensions act like aerials and pick up all sorts of interference, especially the bell wire. Powerline connectors are a good way to bridge your ethernet cables through an old house with thick walls - have the router on the master socket then bridge the connection through to your room. You can put a switch and a wireless access point (an old wireless router will do fine if you want to save money, just turn off DHCP and use it as a dumb access point / switch) on your side of the bridge.

Ah I see. I don't think I ever had anyone come to install ADSL.. it was just pop the microfilter and the modem in and off we went

I phoned up last night and after a while the bloke on the other end finally understood what I meant and has reported it to the engineers etc so hopefully it'll be uncapped tomorrow. I don't think there's much to interfere with it though, only got the main phone we use and 2 access plates (1 for where my PC is) and the other in a bedroom for a phone. We've got a sky box but that's not plugged in to it - so shouldn't be an issue?

Eek the last bit's gone over my head a little bit. I'm not too sure I could manage that! I've got an access point attached to my router next to my PC already. It is quite a way from the main plate too, i think maybe 20-30m of wiring needed? If I start to get D/Cs when its uncapped should I look at new microfilters? After looking at other possible causes to ofc.

 

[dave_beast]

Data on the CP:

Downstream Upstream

SNR Margin

:
18.0 28.0 db

Line Attenuation

:
40.5 19.0 db

Data Rate

:
3072 288 kbps



Ah yes, but it goes through a filter thing. Do I take the filter out of this and plug it straight into the socket? Do I need to take the casing off this socket thing?

I'm on Be* ADSL2 and these are my stats with the same attenuation than you. Expect similar speeds on Be*

Link Information

Uptime:0 days, 4:22:22

Modulation:G.992.5 Annex A

Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]:1,252 / 11,637

Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [MB/MB]:23.22 / 156.56

Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]:12.0 / 19.0

Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]:23.5 / 40.5