Exposed cable affecting broadband speed ?

[Grewer9]

I'm on VM 20MB broadband.
For the past week I have been experiencing downloads of less than 1MB, rendering xbox live & you tube unusable.
Outside my property where the cable crosses the pavement, the cable has become exposed (it was never buried correctly, just laid on top of the pavement and covered with tarmac).
It it feasible that the recent colder temperatures could be "attacking" the exposed cable and affecting my broadband speeds?
The cable sheathing looks to be intact, but there could well be cracks or splits allowing the damp & cold direct access to the cable itself.
Is this feasible ?

[RB2004]

Hi, doubt it, unless the insulation is damaged in some way or the cable is kinked, coax does not like being bent at sharp angles or being kinked.

and any damage to the cable will allow moisture and dampness to attack the cable.

but an exposed cable on it own would not cause any problems.. but id report it as if it is strewn accross the pavement it poses a trip hazard.. and despite being VMs property... not completely sure but if somebody has an accident outside your house you can be held liable.

only going by the fact that if somebody has an extension cable accross the pavement and somebody has an accident i know then they are responsible.

what modem do you have? is it possible to check your signal levels?

192.168.100.1

is the address where they are usually

[Grewer9]

The exposed cable isn't exposed enough to cause a trip or fall......Its only exposed about 2 inches, and you'd struggle to get your fingers underneath it.
My modem is a basic Virgin Media model E08C007 / ntl 250....
I'm afraid I don't have the first idea how to check signal levels or even what I would be looking for....
Various "internet speed tests", although I realise are unreliable, are throwing up different results, ranging from just above and just below 1MB.
Although the Uswitch speed tester gave a result of 19mb...even though at the precise moment my xbox live was lagging so much I had to turn off.

[jb66]

A damaged cable wold give low snr

[RB2004]

hi, go to address, http://192.168.100.1

and look for any values ending in dBmV or dB

need to post like this person has in this post.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12...em-signal.html

does the cable look kinked or bent at a sharp angle or damaged in any way?

it sounds like the drop cable to your house from the pit or cabinet