Will a new router help?

[SDMFer]

About 3 weeks ago I changed ISP from EE to Plusnet due to my contract running out. I had no issues with the speed or connectivity with EE, using their Brightbox router.

However, since being on Plusnet with their 2704n router my connection has been noticeably slower, to the point where pages often don't load and have to be refreshed repeatedly to eventually get them to load. Downloads are, again, noticeably slower.

My PC is on a wired connection to the router - the only changes since changing ISP are the ISP itself and the router. All other cabling and hardware is the same.

I have just run a speed test and the results are: http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest/results.html?id=145606974160565624477

My question is this: would a better modem/router, such as a TP Link Archer D2, improve my broadband connection to approach what I achieved with my previous ISP, considering it's all the same exchange/cabinet/cables? Is it feasible that the 2704n router is just junk and slowing it down?

(Also, I have previously been on Plusnet with the old 582n router and I was quite happy with the connection. Unfortunately I do not have any of the previous routers as I have disposed of them so cannot test any).

 

[SDMFer]

6 - Uptime: 4 days 22:41:35
7 - Data rate: 72/6784
8 - Maximum data rate: 60/6844
9 - Noise margin: 23.5/6.1
10 - Line attenuation: 22.9/43.5
12 - Data sent/received: 288.6M/465.4M

Just noticed the uptime is only 4 days, I haven't turned the router off since it was installed 19 days ago.

Anyway, hope this gives an insight as I have no idea if those numbers are good or not!

Thanks for the help.

 

[SDMFer]

No test socket I'm afraid, its a new-build house where what I assume is the master socket is a combined TV aerial & phone faceplate. There's only 1 extension socket off this but no phones connected.

Latest stats however:
6 - Uptime: 6 days 22:32:42
7 - Data rate: 72/6784
8 - Maximum data rate: 60/6868
9 - Noise margin: 24.3/6.1
10 - Line attenuation: 22.9/43.5
12 - Data sent/received: 348.7M/1.6G

Nothing apart from changing to Plusnet and the supplied router have changed - same cabling, no new extensions/phones, same PC. Perhaps the modem/router is creating a bottleneck? I just don't want to waste money on a new router if it is unlikely to make a difference Thanks!

 

[SDMFer]

That's the one, it's an external box like that (although in a rather tasteful black!). My friend is a SKY engineer so if I need to open it and do anything I can always give him a call.

 

[SDMFer]

Latest stats:
6 - Uptime: 9 days 18:55:08
7 - Data rate: 72/6784
8 - Maximum data rate: 60/6968
9 - Noise margin: 24.2/6.5
10 - Line attenuation: 22.9/43.5
12 - Data sent/received: 448.3M/3.6G

Hope this helps, let me know if you want me to do any poking around in the Openreach box - its just under the lounge window, so I could probably run a line out to it from the router if necessary. My connection is at crawling speed, uploading the photo from my phone killed the connection on my main PC, couldn't do a thing! Started working again when the upload finished...didn't have any of this problem with my previous ISP.

 

[SDMFer]

Righto, the clear cover is actually a block that simply slides out to allow the wires to be connected/disconnected. There is the white wire going to terminal 2, orange wire going to terminal 3 and then the blue going to terminal 5.

Now I've disconnected the orange wire to #3 and also removed the orange wires from the 2 internal sockets (after reading up about disconnecting the ring wire) and restarted the router. And hey presto! My internet connection appears instantaneously faster, back to what it was before I moved to Plusnet.

Whether this is due to removing the ring wire or simply restarting the router I can't say exactly but I have a feeling there was some interference due to the ring wire - when I was with Plusnet a couple of years ago I had initial problems with my ping (although the speed was fine) which resolved itself, never had any issues with Sky or EE however.

Anyway, thanks everyone for the help and I'll keep you posted if it cocks up!

 

[SDMFer]

I think it's strange, however, that the ring wire hadn't caused any bother before! Either way, as you say, it needed removing and shouldn't cause any future bother.

Latest stats, bearing in mind I only disconnected the wire under 2 hours ago:

6 - Uptime: 0 days 01:36:35
7 - Data rate: 999/6831
8 - Maximum data rate: 1028/6860
9 - Noise margin: 6.7/6.0
10 - Line attenuation: 22.9/43.0
12 - Data sent/received: 30.8M/845.8M

 

[SDMFer]

The exchange is 1.5km away and FTTC is available but for my usage I don't feel it's worth paying for. I have been quite happy with my current ADSL broadband, I can listen to Spotify uninterrupted and watch streamed videos in HD with no buffering - when I switched recently however it was painful, like 56k!

The clear block is exactly that, it slides outwards and allows insertion of the wires without any tools. I agree that it would most likely be a very small difference if I changed the wiring as you mentioned, and very likely not worth the effort.