Router Noise Margin too low?

Freakbro

Freakbro

Freakbro

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I've recently (well, over a month ago) upgraded my line to ADSL2+ for the 'up to 20mb' service with Plusnet.

I was getting ~6mb speeds on the up to 8 service, so was expecting ~16-17 on the new upgrade. Depending on what service I use, Speedtest consistently reports around 11-12mb download speed, but while d/l a game off steam I have seen 1.8mbps (briefly :p) while 1.6mbps is common off steam.

But the more annoying thing is while working and streaming internet radio, I seem to get a lot of micro drop outs, where it loses the connection and thus music for a few secs before it comes back on. Well, it never did that with the old up to 8, it was as solid as a rock.

So I have been looking at the Router stats (the ubiquitous netgear DG834) and :
Sync speed is 18027kbps down / 444kbps up
Line Attenuation is 21.0db down / 10.2db up
Noise Margin is 3.2db down / 30.4db up

Thats a hell of a difference in Noise margin between down and up!

Is the down SNR at 3.2db too low? I read that ~6.00db is normal and too low can cause errors, would this be what is causing the internet radio to drop?

Is it worth me ringing plusnet and trying to get that increased and while I'm at it does the up SNR need reducing?
 
Yeh I think 3.2db is too low unless you've got an exceptionally quiet line. 6db-10db is the ideal range depending on your line for me. This is purely based on experience as I'm no expert :p

If you give your isp call and explain that you're experiencing dropouts they should be able to raise it for you at the expense of a lower sync speed.
 
the SNR is fine, Ive run 1-3db downstream for ages before i got FTTC your line is pretty short I think your would get faster speeds though since your line is short.

Are you plugged into the test socket?
 
Nothing wrong with the SNR, mine use to be around the same figure, my DG834GT gave me the best connection I ever had before going fttc.
But, you might fine raising the SNR slightly might stop these micro dropouts.

Try a different filter dongle, I found using a filtered faceplate gave me a extra 1.5Mb over a filter dongle, as already mentioned try the test socket.
 
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I don't think I'm plugged into the test socket, that's the one inside the socket you access by taking the front off?

I'm just plugged into the front of the main socket. I haven't heard of a faceplate filter, will look into that as well.

I'm luckily not very far away from the exchange, under 300m iirc
 
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Used a XTE-2005 filtered face plate myself.

Link remove, as the mods wouldn't approve, they will will remand nameless.:rolleyes:

Worth removing removing faceplate & testing what speed you get from the test socket, & try another dongle, just to rule out the original dongle isn't faulty.
 
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Just tried the test socket, exactly the same speed and router statistics as when plugged in the front.

I do get very different speeds depending the the test site I use though
Speedtest.net is saying ~9.5 atm (usually ~10-11)
Broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk is saying ~12.5 atm (first time I've used it)

I'll try a different Dongle now but will order one of those faceplates anyway, only seemed a couple of quid from the rainforest.



Edit: Different dongle same speeds - which I'm not that unhappy with, but you know we all want as fast as possible! ;)

Will try the faceplate then chat to ISP if I still get the micro drop outs.

Thanks for the help :)
 
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One vantage with a faceplate it's neater, does away with those dongles, plus you can run separate extensions for filter & unfiltered sockets.
 
Nightglow said:
XTE-2005 filtered face plate.

*******************************************
Worth removing removing faceplate & testing what speed you get from the test socket, & try another dongle, just to rule out the original dongle isn't faulty.
Click to expand...

I'd remove that link if I were you I got suspended last time I linked there as they sell similar stuff to ocuk. Just giving U the heads up
 
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tipsy said:
I'd remove that link if I were you I got suspended last time I linked there as they sell similar stuff to ocuk. Just giving U the heads up
Click to expand...

OK Tipsy I will, but I did search ocuk for similar item, & it came up with nothing.

Wouldn't wish to incur the wrath of a mod again...:rolleyes:
 
nah its because they sell networking stuff and so does the people you linked to sadly but thats a good bit of kit & a nice shielded RJ11 cable would help aswell.
 
Shielded RJ11 cable seems like a waste of money unless it is an obnoxiously long run.

I have never seen a difference between any type of RJ11 cable of 1m - 3m length or so.
 
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