Will a new router help?

SDMFer

SDMFer

SDMFer

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Joined
10 Nov 2013
Posts
57
Location
Manchester
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).
 
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.
 
Upstream rate is worryingly low.

Is the router connected to the master socket?
Can you connect the router to the test socket and post the new stats?
 
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!
 
99% confident that is not the master socket, if it's on a TV aerial / media faceplate.

I have one in my lounge, but my master socket is in our under-stairs cupboard.

Go find it and plug the router into that! ;)

It'll look similar to this:

Abqgwbb.jpg
 
It's possible that the house was built in the period between Openreach installing external NTEs and then realising that FTTC would need to be centrally filtered and switching back to the internal master socket.

Do you have one of these on the outside of your house?

M7vyDKT.png
 
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.
 
Sky installers don't touch telecoms (or shouldn't), so he probably can't help you.

Whip the cover off and take a photo, your line stats suggest something might be wrong.
 
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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.
 
Last edited:
External Connection Box - External boxes have been fitted to some new properties within the past 2 years.

1. If you have one of these boxes you will need to remove the cable tie from the top right hand corner, and the screw from the top left.
Open the box and remove the yellow plug.

2. You will need to run a second line test on www.bt.com/faults or by using our automated line test system on 0800 800151 if not already
done. If a fault has been identified with the BT Network then you can log your fault online. If a fault has been identified with your
internal wiring or equipment, and the line has never worked it is recommended that you contact your housing developer in the first
instance to ensure full connection has been completed.

3. To isolate the faulty piece of equipment, try plugging them in one at a time, checking the line again after each piece that you add. If you
find that plugging in one particular piece of equipment causes the problem to reoccur, unplug it and consult the manual that it was
supplied with, or contact the manufacturer.

4. If each piece of equipment is okay reattach the face plate and try a corded phone in each extension. If a faulty extension is found you
can contact BT on 0800800150 or a local electrician to fix this problem, although you will be charged for this repair.
Click to expand...

http://bt.custhelp.com/ci/fattach/g...lename/PDF Check Apps Process v0.2 091009.pdf
 
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!
 
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
 
That's healthier.

If the clear block allows the wires to be connected without a punch down tool (I haven't seen inside one of those external NTEs in the flesh before so you'll have to forgive the questions) then you could always find a spare modem cable and chop the plug off and try connecting it straight into the socket, but you might hit diminishing returns now since it looks quite good already. I guess you're a fair distance from your exchange and FTTC isn't an option?
 
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.
 
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