Is upgrading a Router really that Important

[Jeramba]

Hi I spoke to my ISP a while back about slow speeds <1MB. They recomended I upgrade my router. But wouldn't send me one of theirs (no longer under contract).

I just wonder whether a new Router is really that important ? I mean I would have thought the distance from the exchange was the main speed influence.

My Router is a Netgear DG834G so quite a few years old....

 

[Jeramba]

What speed should you be getting?
What speed do you get when wired?

Quoted 2MB. I get 1MB wired. I use Wired most of the time. I Have another line at home that gets a max of 0.5 MB.

I'm right at the end of the exchange....

 

[Jeramba]

the distance from the exchange and the line quality will determine what speed your broadband connects at, login to your router and see if there is section that tells you what its connected at.

router will control speed to the PC's and network inside your home

Router is registering 1.2 MB while internet speeds are 1.00 MB. Did a speed test on my ISPs website and it said it was 'excellent'...

 

[Jeramba]

Any chance you can post the modem stats? Such as line attenuation, SNR, etc. This will give us a better idea of what your line is capable of. Ideally check while the modem is connected to the master socket/test socket, extensions can affect your broadband speed. Could also remove the ring wire in the master socket too if it's not disconnected already, that should give you a small boost.

Ok 1216 kbps downstream 512 kbps upstream

Line attentuation 63 dB down 15.5 db up

Noise margin (same as SNR ?) 6 db down 9 db up

and the router is V3.....

Thanks

 

[Jeramba]

I was with another ISP a while back and there were some line issues. An engineer came round and speeds were up to 1.5-1.8 MB for a while. Then they dropped to just under 1 MB coincidently at the same time as I went above the fair usage for just a month. BT never managed to improve on 1 MB and claimed it depended on other users in the area.

Changed to a different ISP and speed has been about 1 MB. Another line at home only shows 0.5 MB though.

Contacted my ISP a few months ago and they suggested a new router but I don't really want to do this. They're always very reluctant to do a line test or send out an engineer.

I'm sure the line is such that it needs to tweaking every so often by an engineer. If I used to get nearly 2 MB before then surely it's possible now ?

Another issue is that when an outgoing call is made via the home phone the internet cuts out completely and has to be reset.

 

[Jeramba]

Usually an indication of a faulty or missing microfilter?

Ok, The phone is on an extension cable from the master socket. Would this also make a difference ?

 

[Jeramba]

I have a microfilter connected to the master socket from which the phone extension is connected. Should I connect a second microfilter on the extension cable and plug the phone into that. Is that what you're saying ?

Plugged both lines into the test socket. Didn't make any difference on one line but on the other line it went from 0.5 MB to about 1 MB. Does that mean I should get a new faceplate for this line ? I'm sure BT changed it a while back it was one which has really long screws...

 

[Jeramba]

NO do not double filter an extension. Place one filter on the extension either near the Master socket or near the phone/extension socket.

OK



What do you mean both lines? connect only the modem to the Test socket. Do NOT connect the modem to extension and then test socket, that will unlikely make any difference.

I have two broadband lines in the house that's what I meant....

 

[Jeramba]

Much appreciated for all your help guys.

I'm not sure when Fibre will be in my area. My exchange is not that far as the crow flies. But the route the telephones lines take is prob about 4.5km. I live in a fairly rural area, So I assume it is unlikely any new cables will be layed for a while unless fibre can be carried over the telephone pylons ?

I know someone who gets about 20 MB through Sat broadband. I've heard that it can be unreliable and disconnect a fair bit though. May be an option though ?

I'm tempted to spend £100 on a new 7800 router and see if I get nearer to 2MB. But it seems a lot to spend. I still remember the days when broadband was first available but I only had a 56K Modem lol...

 

[Jeramba]

I've owned a 7800N and yes, they are awesome with the SNR tweak. But the OP needs to sort his issues out first.

Every router should be stable when making calls. There's a filtering issue which should be resolved before spending a penny.

The OP is annoyingly vague in his responses, ignoring all the good advice!

I don't think I'm ignoring all the good advice I'm very grateful for everyones' help. Just really deciding whether to buy a £100 Router or not.

What responses would you like me to be clearer on ?

 

[Jeramba]

Ok I've checked the ring-wires. There are no ring wires or any wires connected to any terminals on the face plate. I get the impression that any wiring in the master socket apart from the faceplate should be left alone ?

I tried various combos of faceplates with my two lines. Basicially I swapped the face plates around and played with inserting the I-plate on both lines. Can quote upstream and downstream speeds if necessary.
I found that removing the I-plate form both lines increased the downstream speed by quite a bit and also one faceplate performed better than the other overall.

Is the I-plate necessary ? I mean it must have been installed for a reason.

I think I should buy an Openreach Faceplate, however I've heard that they can sometimes make the connection slower ?
It seems like the next relatively inexpensive step. I've heard Solwise is a good make ?

 

[Jeramba]

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Hope these help. I'm unsure how to resize the images though so sorry if they're a bit large...

 

[Jeramba]

Your second picture looks like you have an incoming cable with 2 pairs (2 'lines'), and the same type of cable then goes back (outside?) and feeds another master socket elsewhere in the property, each with a different telephone number. Does that arrangement sound accurate?

That's correct there is another line with a different number fed from outside.

There were so many wires it was difficult to put the master plate back

The phone and router both run from the master plate (as shown in the picture). The phone cable is also not one continuous cable but has two extensions.

Thanks