topic Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers? in Broadband

Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

tjg — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:09:25 GMT

I'm paying for 900mbps and getting 100mbps some days. I've had an open complaint for weeks and getting ridiculously dismissive replies.

I'm now on my 3rd router a d I'm frankly sick of Plusnet's excuses ("there's a lamp near your router" was a cracker).

Can anyone suggest better providers with a more consistent service?

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

pvmb — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:27:51 GMT

@tjg

How are you connected to the router when you measure your speed, Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi?

Measuring speed via Google is a new one for me. I see you are getting 23 ms Latency from a server in Dublin. Using https://fast.com/ (other speed testers are available) I have a Latency of 11 ms from a server in Slough and measure full speed on a 5 GHz Wi-Fi link with a 150 Mbps PN service.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

Townman — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:25:46 GMT

FTTP data test speeds not as expected

It is highly unlikely that this is a WAN issue - you have provided very little information on your environment. These considerations might help. A faulty CFL could indeed give rise to issues for a VDSL connection.

The connection service has diddly squat to do with the ISP, it is all Openreach infrastructure as used by all non-altnet service providers. This has a high probability of being down to your equipment or your environment.

You do not state how you are measuring DATA speed is which somewhat different to the sync speed you are paying for. ~~Just to be sure are you certain that whatever you are testing with is measuring mbps and not mBps - they are not the same.~~

There have been numerous reports of measured data speeds not fulfilling users' expectations of their shiny new FTTP service. An end-to-end data speed test is a somewhat blunt instrument with which to test the connection speed. In most instances the FTTP service is running at the product's connection speed, but the user's environment or the data speed test service cannot make full use of (saturate) the FTTP connection's bandwidth.

We can no longer have confidence that the cause of slower-than-expected data transfer speed is due to the broadband connection's performance. If there is any doubt that the user's technology, infrastructure or chosen test service cannot make full use of the FTTP link's bandwidth, then a data speed test is likely to deliver misleading results.

Here are a few things to consider / investigate...

Is the ethernet cable between the router and the ONT (Optical Network Terminator) CAT5e or better?
CAT5 or below will not transfer data faster than 100mbps thus a simple cable could be the cause of slow data speeds. The ethernet link rate between hub and ONT can be observed in the Hub Two GUI under 'Status'. This is a good indicator of router <> ONT cable function.
Is the device on which the data speed test is being run connected over (CAT5e) ethernet cable (not WiFi)?
A device connected over 2.4GHz WiFi absolutely will not get anywhere close to 300mbps. It will typically be less than 100mbps. Typical 'good' 5GHz performance using the Hub Two is likely to be below 500mbps and will get lower the further away the device is from the router. More optimal Wi-Fi performance is possible but involves sourcing your own third-party equipment that is capable of the newer standards. Also Wi-Fi performance is equally dependent on the type of device and the age of its technology standards. Some older devices do not support 5GHz, even the most recent smartphones only have a 2x2 antenna array, which limits the number of concurrent Wi-Fi streams. The Plusnet Hub Two can use more streams (go faster), but most types of device cannot.
Is the device on which the data speed test is being run connected over (CAT5e) ethernet cable with no intermediary devices (like Powerline adapters, switches and physical ports) on the LAN side?
Irrespective of cabling, if there is a 10/100 ethernet switch in the chain then it is going to bottleneck things. Similarly Powerline adapters are highly unlikely to be able to pull anywhere close to 300mbps through electrical wiring. Many Powerline adapters that are rated at e.g. 500mbps, actually have only 10/100 ethernet ports which means the advertised speeds are near fiction.
There are no other devices active on the network at the time of the test.
Other concurrent use of the network will reduce the bandwidth available for the data speed test, thus delivering a misleading result.
If on a static IP or using the Plusnet firewall (configured in the user portal) has the Plusnet IP profile updated?
Data speed tests performed soon after the service has been connected (but before Plusnet's systems have updated) might be constrained by the account's line speed profile. Disconnect the router from the ONT, wait a short while, reconnect then check that the Current Line Speed (Download) reported in PN Broadband Status reflects the FTTP product's profile.
If using a third party router ensure that QoS (Quality of Service) and other traffic shaping tools are disabled.
QoS and other tools have been seen to cause havoc with attempting to saturate FTTP links. Prioritisation and QoS features are very processor intensive and can (probably will) significantly bottleneck speeds. Notably there have been numerous reports of Netgear Orbi maxing out at 550mbps when connected direct to the ONT, rather than being connected to a Plusnet Hub Two.
Is the test device configured to use any VPN or corporate intranet connection?
VPNs and corporate intranets can also be potential bottlenecks.
Is the data speed test device capable of moving the data at FTTP speeds?
Some kit simply does not have the power to make full use of FTTP connection speeds. Whilst undertaking data speed tests, if running on MS Windows, use Task Manager's performance tab to check throughput limitations do not arise from...
- CPU performance
- Disk read/write speeds - FTTP will easily outpace a 5400 rpm disk
- Memory utilisation - the data has to go somewhere!
- Network performance - unless the machine is reasonably new, the ethernet port will be limited to 100mbps!!
Speed test service
Not all speed test services are dependable nor consistent, so run some comparable tests on different speed test services, at different times of day and night (both on and off-peak) where possible. The following are good points of reference.
- Think Broadband who also offer a number of download files to soak test connections.
- Ookla aka SpeedTest.net who also have a client-side speed test application which is preferable.

Please check out the above factors, to ensure that the perceived data speed is not compromised by some other factor limiting the data throughput-speed of your full-fibre FTTP.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A user has observed that different devices ran at different speeds and their problem was discovered to be the LAN card settings on their Laptop...

My PlayStation was connecting at around 535mbs all the time, but the laptop was only running about 130mbps max. On checking the internet settings I found that speed and duplex were set to auto. I changed this to 1 Gigabit and now the test speed is 838mbps.

To find the settings for your ethernet adapter, go to advanced after selecting properties.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

tjg — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:24:14 GMT

I'm in WiFi. I totally understand that I can lose 30-40% speed over WiFi, but from 900 to 100mbps seems like a bit of a stretch.

I had a call with someone at Plusnet 2 weeks ago who agreed something was up, but the 2 new routers have failed to fix whatever is slowing me down unfortunately.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

jab1 — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:24:33 GMT

@tjg I'm guessing from that screenshot that you are testing wireless, which will always give inconsistent results. The only valid test is one conducted wired.

Although that 'there's a lamp near your router' does seem a little far-fetched - how do they know?, any other electrical appliances in the vicinity, or you moving away from the direct line of sight will affect speeds, as will a host of other local (in your house) conditions.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

tjg — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:26:48 GMT

Yeah, they requested a video call so they could see where the router was in relation to my laptop. There was a lamp and then diddly elsewhere for the 5 metres to my laptop, so I called BS on the lamp excuse.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

Townman — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:27:40 GMT

99.9 mbps points rather firmly to an issue with the cable between the router and the ONT.

If you look at the router stats pages, what connection speed does that report? It should be 1Gbps, it is reports 100mbps then there is either a cable or WAN port fault.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

pvmb — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:32:28 GMT

@tjg wrote:

I'm in WiFi. I totally understand that I can lose 30-40% speed over WiFi, but from 900 to 100mbps seems like a bit of a stretch.

Just to confirm, is that 5 GHz Wi-Fi, rather than 2.4 GHz? Then again, even on 5 GHz Wi-Fi I have doubts you could get your full 900Mbps provisioned FF speed to a single PC or device. You'd likely need something better than 5 GHz Wi-Fi (which the Plusnet Hub 2 doesn't have) or an Ethernet connection.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

Townman — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:30:21 GMT

@tjg wrote:

... so I called BS on the lamp excuse.

But did you disconnect it from the mains, as in UNPLUG IT?

Lamps can in fact cause no end of RFI issues, even when not actually in use, especially if it has a "brick" switched current power supply. It being plugged in can be enough to cause issues.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

tjg — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:30:59 GMT

It's saying 1000mbps.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

tjg — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:32:14 GMT

Yeah, 5 GHz.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

Townman — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:45:56 GMT

That is one potential issue eliminated.

Do you have any device which is capable of being connected via ethernet cable?

Can you be certain that the device you are using is capable of connecting faster than 100mbps?

Have you used other speed test sites?

Which WiFI channel is the router using? Also look at the router's network page to determine which WiFi band your device is using (2.4Ghz or 5GHz).

How many neighbouring WiFi networks can your device see?

Also remember that the bandwidth you are paying for is total concurrent bandwidth across all devices which is not the same as that which a single device can use / sustain. WiFI is NEVER going to deliver 1Gbps connection per single device.

It is a mute point if you are indeed paying for far more than you could ever possibly use, which is not the same as you not getting what you are paying for. There being no within router speed test is at times very frustrating.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

pvmb — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:38:33 GMT

@tjg

"It's saying 1000mbps."

So does mine and I'm on a 150 Mbps contract! That's just the operational capability of the PN port to the ONT port. Not your contracted FF speed.

@Townman

P.S. OK. Now see reason for reported speed...

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

Townman — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:39:26 GMT

@pvmb

The key note here is that the possibility of the router to ONT Ethernet connection being the 100mbps bottleneck has been eliminated.

EDIT: Posted before @pvmb 's edit!

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

tjg — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:46:21 GMT

As much as I'd love my contracted speed, it's a pipe dream at the moment.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

MisterW — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 12:19:06 GMT

@Townman that 2.5Mb upload speed has shades of the old 'Killer networking suite' software problems

@tjg what device are you using to do the speed tests ?

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

Dan_the_Van — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 12:22:21 GMT

99.9 mbps points rather firmly to an issue with the cable between the router and the ON

Actual no, with overheads the maximum speed would be around 94 to 95 Mbps with a CAT 5 cable or a LAN port configured to 100 Mbps.

@tjg

what device are you using to performing the speed on?

You have to note that a Hub two is only WiFi 5; therefore you would only provide speeds up to 400 Mbps on a strong 5GHz band signal. For 2.4 GHz band signal willbe around 76 Mbps.

To acheive full 900/100 product speed with the Hub two you need to use a LAN port.

To acheive faster WiFi speeds you need a router which supports WiFi 6 and devices that use WiFi 6.

Although you might not need the download speed of 900 the upload speed of 100 Mbps would be of benfit.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

Baldrick1 — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 13:19:39 GMT

@tjg wrote:

I'm paying for 900mbps and getting 100mbps some days.

Out of interest and in case it gives a pointer to this issue, what speed do you get on other days?

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

tjg — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 13:32:58 GMT

200-300 at best.

Re: Full Fibre Terrible Speed - Other Providers?

jab1 — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 13:35:10 GMT

@tjg Do you possess a laptop/computer?