Broadband getting slower - advice please

[beanzontoast]

I'd be sceptical too I'm afraid. Possible next steps to expect -

Replacement of the modem to see if it makes any difference
Replacement of the microfilters
Checking for radio frequency interference (RFI) sources in the vicinity of the modem
Checking the quality of the copper line to your premises
Checking the 'card' at the exchange

If you can get BT to accept that the problem is on their side of the master socket in your house, you will have made significant progress.

Personally, this is one of those situations where I'd prefer to be with a different provider and let them deal with BT rather than having to do it directly myself.

 

[ian turner]

Add check Samknows for ISPs listed as local Loop Unbundled (LLU) at your exchange and what they predict they can supply at and shift to them.

 

[Proto]

I'm guessing you mean this:




LLU xDSL presence at your exchange
You are connected to the Thame telephone exchange.

The following table details the availability of LLU services at your location.

• AOL is not yet available in your area
• O2 / Be Unlimited is not yet available in your area
• Bulldog (C&W) is not yet available in your area
• TalkTalk (CPW) is available in your area
• Sky Broadband / Easynet is not yet available in your area
• Edge Telecom is not yet available in your area
• Entanet is not yet available in your area
• Lumison is not yet available in your area
• Newnet is not yet available in your area
• Node4 is not yet available in your area
• Pipex is not yet available in your area
• Smallworld Media is not yet available in your area
• Tiscali is not yet available in your area
• Tiscali TV is not yet available in your area
• Orange is available in your area
• WB Internet is not yet available in your area
• Zen is not yet available in your area

So TalK Talk or Orange

 

[ian turner]

Hmmm maybe not.

I left Orange and after receiving a threatening letter about upaid bills due to failing to inform them correctly about my transfer (I asked them for my mac code and gave it to Be !!) had to ring up ofcom who weren't the right people to complain to but they rang them up anyway and soon after Orange apologized and refunded that months charges.

Anyway what are the noise and attenuation values according to your router ?

 

[beanzontoast]

Hmmm maybe not.

I left Orange and after receiving a threatening letter about upaid bills due to failing to inform them correctly about my transfer (I asked them for my mac code and gave it to Be !!) had to ring up ofcom who weren't the right people to complain to but they rang them up anyway and soon after Orange apologized and refunded that months charges.

Anyway what are the noise and attenuation values according to your router ?

I too contacted Ofcom thinking they were the body that could investigate BT but was told by them that they don't deal with individual complaints. Nevertheless they did contact BT - I would like to think due to the seriousness of the case I outlined - and BT were in touch with me and got off my case pretty smartish.

 

[Proto]

Well, my new modem/router arrived, so I installed it as per instructions, connected to the master socket. As expected, it made no difference to my broadband speed, still ~0.9 down and 0.8mbps up.

Phoned the BT man again (who I must say have been very helpful - connected to the help desk immediately, and good general response from the tech boyos). He again checked the line and said the line was fine, but was surprised my upload speed was so high, out of limits (~450kbps). He said he would ask engineers to look for faults and that someone else to call me the next evening.

Except, they didn't, they called at 8.00 the next morning. Again, asked me to carry out speed checks whilst he did the same. No change. BT man agreed that probably an exchange problem and he would book an engineer to carry out a full investigation from exchange back to my house. Earliest they could do this was May 4th.

That was yesterday. First thing this morning, checked again, still 1.0 Mbps. Oh well.

However, went home lunchtime, noticed that computer seemed unusually speedy, so ran a test. Wow, 6.05 Mbps down and 0.9 Mbps up. No idea what they've done, if anything, but I'll settle for that. Not sure whether to phone the BT engineers and tell them to cancel or let them check it out anyway.

Overall, very impressed with BT on this.

PS added bonus, old modem only had two RJ45 sockets, and as I needed 4 sockets, I had to use a switch/hub thingy to give me more ports. However, the new modem, has 4 ports built in, so I've been able to junk a fair bit of spaghetti under the desk.