750 k Broadband

[Acenorth]

I'm not an internet whizz so before I explain my dilema, understand that the jargon/termanology may not be 100%.

I have NTL 750k BB installed through a set top box.

In the past 10 days the connection speeds have been very poor, sometimes bordering on 28800 modem connection.

I get "spiking" on downloads from 28 kbits/sec to 728 kbits / sec and any number in between....

I've been to various sites to test downloads ie PCpitstop, Robin Walkers modem pages, ZDnet etc and all prove the same... approx 220 kbits/sec..

I've had 2 NTL "engineers" at my house and the 1st one replaced the blue USB lead at the back of the PC and told my wife (I was at Work), that everything was ok... The 2nd came today, plugged the NTL network cable into his laptop and said yes, erm maybe your best going on the 300k connection "you'll get a good d/load speed"... After me telling him to basically go forth and multiply with himself, he said "yes, I think there is a problem at our end, I'll go away and find out... I'm off work Monday, Tuesday and back in Wednesday so It'll be a few days after... I'll drop a note through the door..."

Any ideas, I'm going to make my ump-teenth call to Customer services and complain, yet again.... what are my rights for a cr@p service..

Any ideas...

Please, please...

Regards

Ian

Can you post the results from the speed test on Robin Walkers site, and also a tracert to somewhere like google.

[danielf]

Regarding pcpitstop, I've been getting poor results from them lately, while others (Robin Walker, Dan Elwell) show good results. My feeling is that the pcpitstop speedtest is not very reliable.

[Acenorth]

Paul, From Robin Walkers test

Sat, 27 Nov 2004 22:13:43 UTC
1st 128K took 3547 ms = 36953 Bytes/sec = approx 307 kbits/sec
2nd 128K took 12141 ms = 10796 Bytes/sec = approx 90 kbits/sec
3rd 128K took 5469 ms = 23966 Bytes/sec = approx 199 kbits/sec
4th 128K took 9718 ms = 13488 Bytes/sec = approx 112 kbits/sec

These drop down to as low as 28 kbits / sec and go as high as 700 kbits /sec

I take it you aren't running anything in the background ? and have checked your machine for spyware etc ?

I would also suggest swapping from USB to ethernet - I think this is possible on a STB. You will always get better performace than usb gives.

[Acenorth]

Nope, nothing running in the background and no spyware...

Just run the test again and the results are as follows;

Sat, 27 Nov 2004 22:27:56 UTC
1st 128K took 4531 ms = 28928 Bytes/sec = approx 241 kbits/sec
2nd 128K took 34438 ms = 3806 Bytes/sec = approx 32 kbits/sec
3rd 128K took 4390 ms = 29857 Bytes/sec = approx 248 kbits/sec
4th 128K took 10578 ms = 12391 Bytes/sec = approx 103 kbits/sec

The service has been ok, apart from the last 7-10 days and now its unbearable..

Have you tried re-booting the STB ?

[Acenorth]

yes

Sorry then, I have no other suggestions.

Looks like you may need help from one of our resident ntl people.

[BBKing]

Firstly, let's establish that you're actually on 750k - drop me your STB mac address or smart card number and that'll be easy to do. Then I can also (given a minute or two free time which is hard) check the connection for faults.

I'd definitely recommend ethernet rather than USB for the PC connection, too.

[Acenorth]

Originally Posted by BBKing

Firstly, let's establish that you're actually on 750k - drop me your STB mac address or smart card number and that'll be easy to do. Then I can also (given a minute or two free time which is hard) check the connection for faults.

BBKing, STB mac address or smart card number? you've lost me..

Regards

Ian

[Marge]

Originally Posted by Acenorth

BBKing, STB mac address or smart card number? you've lost me..

Regards

Ian

If you open the little door on the front of the set top box there is a little card inside, the smart card number is the number on the card, it'll start 066 (make sure you put the card back in the bottom slot )

[Chris W]

or if you don't want to take the card out....

with any tv channel on (nb no miniguide showing) press
page up
page down
then blue

then go to network status 2 and it will have a "SC Serial Num:"

[Acenorth]

SC Serial No.

*Admin Edit - Stuartbe *

I have removed this number as it relates to your account.

[Dessimat0r]

I don't think you are supposed to post it here

PM it to BBKing and edit the message before someone mallicious picks it up.