Some quick clarification on my Newnet ADSL instructions please

Scam · 21 May 2007 at 11:49

Well, after moving house on the 23rd and having the inevitable hassle of getting phone/internet sorted, i'm finally online with Newnet.

Anyhoo, this is what they've sent me for my router - i know what i'm doing, i'd just like a couple things clarified.

Technical Settings

Primary DNS Server: 212.87.64.7
Seconday DNS Server: 212.87.64.10

VPI, VCI: 0, 38
Encapsulation: VC MUX
Internet Protocol: PPPoA

Gateway IP: 80.175.75.xx7
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.252

PC Settings:

First Usable IP: 80.175.75.xx8
Last Usable IP: 80.175.75.xx8 same as 'first'
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.252

Firstly, i'm absolutely fine with whats there apart from the 'First usable IP' and 'Last usable IP'. I'm using DHCP and our PCs just get assigned something from 192.168.1.100 upwards from the router. It seems to work fine, can i continue like that? I'm just a bit confused as to why they've sent me that part.

Also, just to clarify, am i right in thinking there isnt anywhere to put in the DNS servers in my router settings? I thought there was, but cant find it. So i've stuck them in my network connections settings. I should do that for each PC, right?

And also, the gateway IP is my routers external IP address, i dont need to change it's internal address (192.168.1.1) to match it, do i?

I'm also only currently running at 1.4mbps. I know it will fluctuate up and down in the first week or so to get the best speed/stability, but it hasnt gone above that since i've been on (yesterday). Is this normal? Am i ok leaving my router on 24/7 or do they need me to disconnect the ADSL every now and again for them to find the best performance, too?

Thanks.

booyaka · 21 May 2007 at 16:15

been with newnet for about 5 months now and all i can say is excellent choice!

personally on the ADSL service also and get about 5.4mb max on the speed tests. depends on the distance from the exchange etc. Normal download speeds between 200-350kb/s

My netgear router is on almost 24/7 and never never dropped a connection yet.

In terms of getting started i'm no expert, just plugged in my netgear router, input my user name and password and let the rest get assigned automatically and that was that!

any problems send them a ticket - they usually respond within 24 hours - very good service.

Scam · 21 May 2007 at 16:31

Hey thanks for the comment. Their support has been outstanding so far -- ringing them up is much like ringing someones house; every time i've rang, it's rang a couple of times and then been answered. Not to mention i'm not supposed to be connected until Wed anyway

I'm still only rolling at 1.4mbps though, and i'm only 600m from the exchange! I'll give it the week though.

booyaka, did you leave your router on right from the start? I dont know if i should be switching it off/on (ala a modem) for them to give me random different speeds to try in thsi first week. Or do they just disconnect me willy-nilly to do that? :confused:

tolien · 21 May 2007 at 21:35

Scam said:
I'm still only rolling at 1.4mbps though, and i'm only 600m from the exchange! I'll give it the week though.

Without attenuation, SNR margin and sync rate from the router it's hard to comment.

I dont know if i should be switching it off/on (ala a modem) for them to give me random different speeds to try in thsi first week. Or do they just disconnect me willy-nilly to do that?

Neither.

Firstly, i'm absolutely fine with whats there apart from the 'First usable IP' and 'Last usable IP'. I'm using DHCP and our PCs just get assigned something from 192.168.1.100 upwards from the router. It seems to work fine, can i continue like that? I'm just a bit confused as to why they've sent me that part.

It's presumably generic - it's just the one public IP NN give you.
You don't need to change the internal setup at all.

Also, just to clarify, am i right in thinking there isnt anywhere to put in the DNS servers in my router settings? I thought there was, but cant find it. So i've stuck them in my network connections settings. I should do that for each PC, right?

You should have an option, or the router should pick them up automatically. It's hard to comment without knowing what router you've got...

And also, the gateway IP is my routers external IP address

Yup.

i dont need to change it's internal address (192.168.1.1) to match it, do i?

No.

Scam · 21 May 2007 at 22:38

tolien said:
You should have an option, or the router should pick them up automatically. It's hard to comment without knowing what router you've got...

Apologies. It's a Linksys WAG54G. It seems to have picked them up, although i swear there was an option somewhere. Thanks for the info anyway. I've actually turned off DHCP and manually given each PC an IP (starting at 192.168.1.2). For some reason when i had DHCP on in the router it would only allow IPs from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.2. In other words only itself and my PC. Very strange.

But hey it's all working now and in my limited networking knowledge i know that if it takes under 2 hours to get an old PC running WinME able to see other machines and get online then just to leave it and take it as a win, heh

EDIT:

tolien said:
Without attenuation, SNR margin and sync rate from the router it's hard to comment.

With ADSL MAX do the speeds generally start off slow and get faster? I know i should just sit back and wait the 10 days but i'm just curious/worried that this is all i'm going to get.

tolien · 21 May 2007 at 23:22

Scam said:
With ADSL MAX do the speeds generally start off slow and get faster?

The sync rate won't, but your actual throughput should improve within the first few days (if not the first few hours) as the IP profile increases.

Scam · 21 May 2007 at 23:26

I just had a quick look at the sticky and found the link to get stats out of my router. Here's what comes up:

Item Value
ADSL Line Type G.DMT
ADSL Line Coding FAST
Line Attenuation (Down):26 (Up):15
Noise Margin (Down):9 (Up):27
Total Output Power (Down):20 (Up):12
Current Rate DownStr: 8128(K) UpStr: 448(K)
ADSL Line Status UP
Relative Capacity Occupation (Down):89 (Up):46
FEC(FAST) (Near):0 (Far):18
FEC(INTERL) (Near):0 (Far):31
CRC(FAST) (Near):6099 (Far):15
CRC(INTERL) (Near):0 (Far):10
HEC(FAST) (Near):5806 (Far):38
HEC(INTERL) (Near):0 (Far):13
Showtime last(sec) 252
ADSL_FW_Version ASW_R13_9_38
ADSL_Board_Type ANNEX_A

I know the Down/Upstream isnt right, i remember the router alway seems to say that for some reason.

tolien · 22 May 2007 at 00:09

Should expect full rate out of it. Try the BT Speedtest and see what's reported as your IP Profile.

Aftermath · 22 May 2007 at 00:21

does newnet offer any unlimited use?

Scam · 22 May 2007 at 01:21

tolien said:
Should expect full rate out of it. Try the BT Speedtest and see what's reported as your IP Profile.

IP profile for your line is - 7150 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 8128 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 3503 kbps

Interesting...

booyaka · 23 May 2007 at 16:36

Aftermath said:
does newnet offer any unlimited use?

not that i am aware of - mostly limited but you can purcahse more if needed.

It's the constant good connection, decent speeds and excellent service backup why i am with newnet.

Not the cheapest and also capped (25GB) for me but above reasons are great.

Scam · 23 May 2007 at 17:05

Well having just got back from work today and have it crap out on me a couple of times already (today is my 'official' live date btw) i'm gonna pop them an email. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt so far, and call it teething troubles, but so far i havent had anything over 1.4mbps in a speedtest, and it's started dropping out *a lot*.

Is this normal for an ADSL MAX service? :confused:

booyaka · 24 May 2007 at 10:51

Scam said:
Well having just got back from work today and have it crap out on me a couple of times already (today is my 'official' live date btw) i'm gonna pop them an email. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt so far, and call it teething troubles, but so far i havent had anything over 1.4mbps in a speedtest, and it's started dropping out *a lot*.

Is this normal for an ADSL MAX service?

do the bt speed test again and send them the results - they will look at it and get back to you. sorry to see you having problems. mine has been foot perfect from day one.

Scam · 26 May 2007 at 12:35

Just an update, things seem to be getting on track now, although i've noticed a few brief disconnections. I did a speed test yesterday and got 4.5mb, and did one earlier and got 4.8mb. Lets hope it keeps going up!

I did the BT speedtest yesterday too;

IP profile for your line is - 6500 kbps
DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 7616 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 5281 kbps

Let's hope it keeps improving.

tolien · 26 May 2007 at 20:25

Your profile and sync rate have gone down though...

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 26 May 2007 at 20:33

His SNR was probably fluctuating.

Actually isn't 7616 sync a symptom of Interleaving?

Scam · 26 May 2007 at 20:51

tolien said:
Your profile and sync rate have gone down though...

True (which is the sync rate?). But i'm well within the first 10 days of my contract so i'm assuming it's gonna change a fair bit. On another note; my phone calls were awfully noisy today. I'm assuming that's got something to do with them messing about with my ADSL?

tolien · 26 May 2007 at 21:01

Your sync rate, according to the BT Speedtest:

DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM) 7616 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)

It's also what your modem reports.

Scam said:
But i'm well within the first 10 days of my contract so i'm assuming it's gonna change a fair bit.

Not especially so. The first ten days are no different from the next ten or any other ten day period after that - i.e. it'll change that much forever more without some outside influence.

On another note; my phone calls were awfully noisy today. I'm assuming that's got something to do with them messing about with my ADSL?

Is anyone?
A lot of noise in your voice service would be more indicative of some sort of fault.