topic Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL? in Broadband

Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

silkster365 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:01:31 GMT

Hi all,

My Plusnet FTTC (hybrid) service activated today. However, my Hub Two is currently syncing at:

• Downstream: 17.999 Mbps
• Upstream: 3.2 Mbps
• Connection time: just activated this morning

I was previously on ADSL with Sky and the upstream speed in particular seems low for FTTC. From what I understand, VDSL2 upstream is typically higher than ~3 Mbps, even on longer lines.

Before I start raising faults, I just wanted to check:

• Does this look like the line may still be on an ADSL profile?
• Or could this simply be the expected sync for my line length?
• Is there anything I should check before contacting support? - Will speeds increase in first 14 days or is it likely I need to do something?

For reference, this is over a wired connection and these figures are from the router DSL sync stats rather than a speed test.

Any advice appreciated — just trying to understand whether this is normal for activation day or something that needs escalating.

Thanks.

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

jab1 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:11:56 GMT

@silkster365 Welcome to the forums. Can you please attach the output from https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome and your Hubs Technical Log-Information page, in both cases obscuring any personal details?

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

MisterW — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:53:01 GMT

@silkster365

• Upstream: 3.2 Mbps
• Does this look like the line may still be on an ADSL profile?

Well that cant be ADSL, the max upstream sync on that is 1.2Mb!

As @jab1 says, lets see the BTw checker for the minimum guaranteed speeds (MGALS) and the router stats before assessing whether there's a fault

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

silkster365 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:27:48 GMT

Thanks for the replies - I've attached the screenshot. It seems to suggest FTTC but I am just confused as I have moved from Sky where I was getting 15Mb on copper, to the Plusnet service where the estimated speed was 20-30MB due to FTTC being available. Perhaps I am just a long way from the cabinet maybe?

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

MisterW — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:36:03 GMT

@silkster365 Can you post the stats from the router Technical log please ?

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

silkster365 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:08:09 GMT

Sure, I think this is them?

Moderators Note: Images Removed As They Contained Personal information

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

MisterW — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:53:36 GMT

@silkster365 you might want to delete rthe image0 one, its got your username in it and has no real useful information.

I'll post a further reply shortly but wanted to get this in so you have time to make the edit

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

jab1 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:54:46 GMT

@silkster365 - unfortunately, your-phone screens do not show enough detail.

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

MisterW — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:01:25 GMT

@silkster365 So it looks like your line is banded , the 17.999Mb downstream is a banded profile speed and that together with the elevated DS SNR of 9.8 would seem to confirm its banded.

Are you connected directly to the master socket ?

is the master socket a filtered 5C Mk4 type ?

Is there any extension wiring ?

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

silkster365 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:20:30 GMT

Thank you - I dont seem to have an option to edit/delete anything

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

silkster365 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:21:54 GMT

Thanks for this - I am new to all this - what does banded mean for me?

I am connected from the router into the "Master Socket 5C2" broadband connection via a cable. It also says "Open Reach MK4" on the front

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

jab1 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:07:44 GMT

@silkster365 Looking at that detail a little closer, you are a long way from the street cab, so your speed is never going to be very high, but there does seem to be some interference somewhere. As a start, I would try taking the front plate off the master socket and checking the copper connectors are clean, and then replace it, making sure it clicks solidly into place.

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

MisterW — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:18:20 GMT

Thank you - I dont seem to have an option to edit/delete anything

You can only edit a post for 20 minutes. Its ok though, one of the mods has removed the image.

Thanks for this - I am new to all this - what does banded mean for me?

When it sees large number of errors, the DLM (Dynamic line management system) will limit the downstream speed to increase the noise margin and thus reduce the errors, this is called 'banding'. It effectively means your downstream speed is reduced.

I am connected from the router into the "Master Socket 5C2" broadband connection via a cable. It also says "Open Reach MK4" on the front

That sounds like a filtered faceplate.

I'd suggest raising a fault as here https://www.plus.net/help/report-a-problem/ and see what the automated testing reports.

TBH I wouldnt be overly hopeful since, even though you're banded, the DS speed is pretty close to the MGALS

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

silkster365 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:31:04 GMT

Thanks did this - a lot of dead insects in there! but all the wiring seemed fine. Cleaned up and put back in place - doesnt seem to have made a difference but at least its clean!

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

silkster365 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:32:37 GMT

Thank you - I have raised a fault via the text service which came back and confirmed no issues found. I've therefore raised a ticket with Plusnet just to ask about the banding or if there is anything hardware/engineer related that might help. Appreciate I am never going to get much more of an improvement where I am, but for the work I do from home even a few MB more will be helpful! Thanks for your help

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

MisterW — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:37:33 GMT

Thanks did this - a lot of dead insects in there! but all the wiring seemed fine. Cleaned up and put back in place - doesnt seem to have made a difference but at least its clean!

Because you are banded, it won't make any immediate difference.

If you post the router stats again, we can see if it had any effect. If it had any effect then the Noise margins will have changed.

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

silkster365 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:42:33 GMT

Thank you for your help - is this what you need? (latest screen shot)

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

pvmb — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:25:38 GMT

...

Line attenuation: 10.9/26.8
Signal attenuation: 10.9/36.5

Yikes! Either a long way from the Openreach cabinet or something dodgy with the cabling somewhere. Do you know how far you are from your local Openreach cabinet?

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

silkster365 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:26:01 GMT

No I dont - but I feel like I need to get my boots on and go on a walk to find out!

Re: Am I on FTTC or ADSL?

MisterW — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:33:26 GMT

Thank you for your help - is this what you need? (latest screen shot)

Yes it is. The noise margins havent changed significantly which means that the faceplate wasnt the cause of the errors.

It sounds like you have a poor line back to the cabinet but getting it investigated and repaired is likely to be difficult as you are meeting the MGALS speed estimates.