Small connection issue

[Stuart_]

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

Roger that.

Can you try another router at all?

Some work better with BT's kit than others.

Your line may take a different route to other people making it a touch longer, however it's hard to be certain as your line is so long your router doesn't accurately measure it as it only goes up to 63dB attenuation

That was one of the things BT told me when I phoned them; that our line could take a longer route that our neighbor who is getting just shy of 2 MB/s.

But in any case, she is still over 5 miles away from her exchange even with a completely strange line, and even if our line takes a longer route, Harlosh is pretty small (as in tiny) so it cannot be that big a difference.

No, I cannot try another router, sorry -- I don't particularly want to buy a new one either, unless it really is the problem.

[Ignitionnet]

OK it was more for diagnostic purposes.

Please try and reset your modem tomorrow morning / afternoon after 9am and see what it syncs up at. If it's higher than 1152kbps leave it be. Note the SNR margin and check this every so often so we can see how much it swings during the day.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Stuart_

ADSL Link----------------------Downstream-------------Upstream
Connection Speed---------------992 kbps----------------448 kbps
Line Attenuation-----------------63.0 db-----------------31.5 db
Noise Margin---------------------9.6 db------------------15.0 db

Well done Broadbandings for the backdoor to these stats.

Just what I was looking for. Stuart knows what's coming next. What are her neighbour Sarah's stats? He needs ammunition to get BT out to look at the attentuation on what I take to be his pole strung segment (damp, rust, etc).

Downstream attenuation needs to be < 50 dB to have anything like 1 Mbps.

Noise Margin needs to be > 7dB to avoid synch problems.

So, Stuart MUST get the engineers out. We'll be going round in circles otherwise.

Incidentally, I thought Stuart had a BT phone line and a Virgin ADSL (using the Gateway (IP stream)). If it is a Virginphone line it's a strange arrangement since it's a remote exchange and there will be no Virgin LLU, IMO.

[Stuart_]

Okay, I will reset my router at 11am and post the results here, then edit my post every hour from then onwards for you to get the proper picture; I also wont watch any YouTube videos etc so the line isn't stressed.

I don't really feel comfortable asking my neighbor for these stats as she isn't the most technically minded. And, I will have to find out what model of router she has too, will I not?

In fact, I shall turn off my router for 10 minutes just now then fire it up again and post the results, just for the sake of it.

Oh, in my very first post, when I done a 'ping' test it said all packets were lost. Is that not a big worrying? Seen as no one bothered to say anything about packet loss, I though I should ask, to be safe.

Thanks.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Well done Broadbandings for the backdoor to these stats.

Just what I was looking for. Stuart knows what's coming next. What are her neighbour Sarah's stats? He needs ammunition to get BT out to look at the attentuation on what I take to be his pole strung segment (damp, rust, etc).

Downstream attenuation needs to be < 50 dB to have anything like 1 Mbps.

Noise Margin needs to be > 7dB to avoid synch problems.

So, Stuart MUST get the engineers out. We'll be going round in circles otherwise.

Incidentally, I thought Stuart had a BT phone line and a Virgin ADSL (using the Gateway (IP stream)). If it is a Virginphone line it's a strange arrangement since it's a remote exchange and there will be no Virgin LLU, IMO.

You can get 1.5 or even 2+Mbit out of 60dB attenuation if the line is clean enough, however the router can only display 63dB so chances are the line is even longer than that.

There are some Virgin services that use Wholesale Line Rental / WLR so you pay Virgin line rental but use BT Wholesale provided line and DSL. LLU isn't required to charge line rental as well.

We need to confirm SNR variance, getting neighbour's stats would also be a bonus however the chances are that BT won't be too interested as it does sound like an exceptionally long line and someone like A+A would be needed to beat them into sorting it

---------- Post added at 20:44 ---------- Previous post was at 20:42 ----------

Originally Posted by Stuart_

Okay, I will reset my router at 11am and post the results here, then edit my post every hour from then onwards for you to get the proper picture; I also wont watch any YouTube videos etc so the line isn't stressed.

I don't really feel comfortable asking my neighbor for these stats as she isn't the most technically minded. And, I will have to find out what model of router she has too, will I not?

In fact, I shall turn off my router for 10 minutes just now then fire it up again and post the results, just for the sake of it.

Oh, in my very first post, when I done a 'ping' test it said all packets were lost. Is that not a big worrying? Seen as no one bothered to say anything about packet loss, I though I should ask, to be safe.

Thanks.

Don't worry about stressing the line, stress it as much as you want it won't change the stats.

If you can ask your neighbour if she's nice enough that'd rock.

Not worried about 100% packet loss, if you did actually have 100% packet loss you'd have a hard time getting onto here

[Stuart_]

After over 10 minutes letting my router cool off (turned it off from the plug) here are the stats:

ADSL Link----------------------Downstream-------------Upstream
Connection Speed---------------576 kbps----------------448 kbps
Line Attenuation-----------------63.0 db-----------------31.5 db
Noise Margin---------------------9.6 db------------------15.0 db

Before I turned the router off, the 'Noise Margin' Downstream was 6.5 db, but it's back up now after resetting. Seems like the 'Connection Speed' Downstream has changed for the worse, too.

After typing this, and refreshing the stats page the 'Noise Margin' Downstream is 12.0 db.

I love how the title of this thread is 'Small connection issue' when it clearly isn't, and there is 6 pages of replies! Maybe it should be renamed to "*Small* connection issue" for sarcasms sake. ;D

---------- Post added at 21:56 ---------- Previous post was at 21:00 ----------

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Well done Broadbandings for the backdoor to these stats.

Just what I was looking for. Stuart knows what's coming next. What are her neighbour Sarah's stats? He needs ammunition to get BT out to look at the attentuation on what I take to be his pole strung segment (damp, rust, etc).

Downstream attenuation needs to be < 50 dB to have anything like 1 Mbps.

Noise Margin needs to be > 7dB to avoid synch problems.

So, Stuart MUST get the engineers out. We'll be going round in circles otherwise.

Incidentally, I thought Stuart had a BT phone line and a Virgin ADSL (using the Gateway (IP stream)). If it is a Virginphone line it's a strange arrangement since it's a remote exchange and there will be no Virgin LLU, IMO.

How am I meant to get an engineer out when Virgin think there is nothing wrong with our line/connection and that it is functioning as normal. I would have to blatantly lie to them for them to send out an engineer.

[Stuart_]

I shall start taking note of the stats tomorrow, once I reset my router at 11am.

I will record them every half hour, posting them here. I will date the stats, so it's easier to know when the the stats might be worrying.

Good night for just now, thanks for all the help so far!

[Stuart_]

11:00am:

ADSL Link ---------------------- Downstream ------------- Upstream
Connection Speed --------------- 1472 kbps ---------------- 448 kbps
Line Attenuation ----------------- 63.0 db ----------------- 31.5 db
Noise Margin --------------------- 9.4 db ------------------ 16.0 db

11:30am:

ADSL Link ---------------------- Downstream ------------- Upstream
Connection Speed --------------- 1472 kbps ---------------- 448 kbps
Line Attenuation ----------------- 63.0 db ----------------- 31.5 db
Noise Margin --------------------- 9.4 db ------------------ 16.0 db

12:00am:

ADSL Link ---------------------- Downstream ------------- Upstream
Connection Speed --------------- 1472 kbps ---------------- 448 kbps
Line Attenuation ----------------- 63.0 db ----------------- 31.5 db
Noise Margin --------------------- 9.3 db ------------------ 16.0 db

12:30am:

ADSL Link ---------------------- Downstream ------------- Upstream
Connection Speed -------------- 1472 kbps ---------------- 448 kbps
Line Attenuation ----------------- 63.0 db ----------------- 31.5 db
Noise Margin --------------------- 9.4 db ------------------ 15.0 db

Noise Margin seems to be fine, but there has been a massive increase in the Connection Speed since yesterday, even though when watching a YouTube video it loads at the same speed as when I had 575 kbps.

[Stuart_]

How can BT say this:

"Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial test on your line indicates that it is VERY UNLIKELY you will be able to receive fixed 512Kbps or 256Kbps broadband service due to the very long length of your telephone line. However, your order will be accepted if you still wish to order. An engineer may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the broadband service."

But then, as the connection says I'm getting 1472 kbps.

What's going on? That's pretty much proof of the pudding: They say we cannot get better than 0.25 Mb/s, when that reading shows we are getting better than that (even though it doesn't seem to transfer through the router, because it doesn't make watching YouTube videos any faster, or make my PS3 work online or the laptop) and Sarah, our neighbor, gets almost 2 Mb/s.

Are they lying to me, or just haven't checked the line properly? I'd appreciate a reply, because I'm probably totally wrong here but the longer my connection continues to suck, the greater my frustration becomes.

I done the Postcode checker and got this:

"Your exchange is ADSL enabled, and our initial check on your postcode indicates that your line should be able to have an ADSL broadband service that provides a fixed line rate up to 1Mbps. However due to the length of your line the 1Mbps service may require an engineer visit who will, where possible, supply the broadband service.

Our check also indicates that your line currently supports a potential ADSL Max broadband line rate of 500Kbps or greater."

Are they retarded? Completely contradicting themselves.

Thanks.

[Ignitionnet]

The postcode is a guesstimate based on averages of a few lines, in addition if you notice it refers to the following:

receive fixed 512Kbps or 256Kbps broadband service

You aren't on a fixed service you are using ADSL Max.

The postcode check contradicts somewhat with regards to a fixed 1Mbps rate but 500kbps ADSL Max.

I think you are ok for the 1.472Mbps - just leave your line alone now and don't reboot it at all and your speeds should increase as BT's kit notices you are synched up at 1.472Mbps and are good for the 1Mbps line profile.

Go to the BT checker to see what your current IP Profile is, it was previously 500kbps and is probably the same and will remain that way until you are stable at 1.472Mbps for a little while.

[Stuart_]

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

The postcode is a guesstimate based on averages of a few lines, in addition if you notice it refers to the following:



You aren't on a fixed service you are using ADSL Max.

The postcode check contradicts somewhat with regards to a fixed 1Mbps rate but 500kbps ADSL Max.

I think you are ok for the 1.472Mbps - just leave your line alone now and don't reboot it at all and your speeds should increase as BT's kit notices you are synched up at 1.472Mbps and are good for the 1Mbps line profile.

Go to the BT checker to see what your current IP Profile is, it was previously 500kbps and is probably the same and will remain that way until you are stable at 1.472Mbps for a little while.

Right, OK, thanks.

And what happens if my connection does not change?

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Stuart_

Right, OK, thanks.

And what happens if my connection does not change?

A call to the dreaded tech support, it can take a day or two though, it's a precaution for a load of esoteric load and traffic shaping related reasons you shouldn't have to care about.

How's the pings and packet loss now mate?

[Stuart_]

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

A call to the dreaded tech support, it can take a day or two though, it's a precaution for a load of esoteric load and traffic shaping related reasons you shouldn't have to care about.

How's the pings and packet loss now mate?

I've really given up phoning the support line as they seem to know less, or want to know less about the entire situation - rather than give me support.

Packet Loss: All.
Ping: 65 ms.
Jitter: 2 ms.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Stuart_

I've really given up phoning the support line as they seem to know less, or want to know less about the entire situation - rather than give me support.

Packet Loss: All.
Ping: 65 ms.
Jitter: 2 ms.

Hiya,

The high ping will have come from interleaving. BT's kit will have seen your line being unstable at some point, so it applies interleave in increasing amounts to try and stabilise it. The result of this interleave is higher pings.

Just leave it be for now, try and get that IP profile up and give the impression of a nice stable service. We need to get your service stable, keep it stable, then we can drop your interleave down, along with your SNR margin, to give you faster downloads and better pings.

If it drops at any particular time during the evening try and have a think about what happens at that time of day. Lights clicking on, heating, whatever. Many things can interfere with ADSL.

One major issue is how unhelpful your ISP are. They seem unlikely to want to push BT to get a specialist engineer out. See what we can do inspite of them.

[Stuart_]

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

Hiya,

The high ping will have come from interleaving. BT's kit will have seen your line being unstable at some point, so it applies interleave in increasing amounts to try and stabilise it. The result of this interleave is higher pings.

Just leave it be for now, try and get that IP profile up and give the impression of a nice stable service. We need to get your service stable, keep it stable, then we can drop your interleave down, along with your SNR margin, to give you faster downloads and better pings.

If it drops at any particular time during the evening try and have a think about what happens at that time of day. Lights clicking on, heating, whatever. Many things can interfere with ADSL.

One major issue is how unhelpful your ISP are. They seem unlikely to want to push BT to get a specialist engineer out. See what we can do inspite of them.

So I shall leave my connection to settle for the next day or two? I am out all tomorrow besides nighttime so I wont be able to monitor the stats, but I will keep an eye on them tonight.