topic Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault. in Full Fibre

New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

tonycollinet — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:17:29 GMT

My full fibre 500 was installed yesterday. All seems to be working fine apart from one detail.

Ive been using speedtest.net (ookla) to measure speed both before and after the upgrade.

Since the upgrade it has been taking 20 to 30 seconds "finding optimal server". This wasn't happening the day before.

It happens with multiple devices (Phone and laptop) with multible browsers (safari and brave), and only with my fibre connection (if I use my phones internet - either with my phone - or by using my phone's hotspot with my laptop - it doesn't happen.)

Any ideas what the reason could be?

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

Townman — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:44:20 GMT

Clutching at potential straws...

Do you have (did you have) a static IP address?

Having / not having a static IP address changes how you are connected to the internet. A static IP address belongs to the account, not the connection, but there have been fringe cases of a static IP address being lost on switching services or indeed moving home.

I am on a static IP address with FTTC and there is no noticeable delay in connecting to Ookla speed test service.

you have a static IP address
and
it was 'lost' on switching to FTTP
and
service location / connection establishment over the low-touch network is for some reason slower

THEN

this could be a reason for your reported experience
you need to ask Plusnet support to reinstate for static IP address

If you DO NOT have a static IP address, the explanation lays elsewhere!

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

tonycollinet — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:55:17 GMT

Thanks - I do have a static IP - and it has carried over to the new connection, so presumably that is not the issue.

Either way I wouldn't expect a network speed issue to cause up to 30s delay to find a test server, compared to "instant" on a weak phone connection.

It is baffling because I can't find any sluggishness anywhere else at all.

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

IMM — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:48:59 GMT

I think it may be speedtest.net.

I've been on full fibre for a while - Speedtest.net used to find a server fairly quickly, but now shows the delay you describe.

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

pvmb — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:04:08 GMT

@tonycollinet wrote:

Thanks - I do have a static IP - and it has carried over to the new connection, so presumably that is not the issue.

Either way I wouldn't expect a network speed issue to cause up to 30s delay to find a test server, compared to "instant" on a weak phone connection.

I am on FTTP with a static IP address and speedtest.net does take some while finding an "Optimal server" -
University of Oxford, IT Services.

I usually use fast.com

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

Batfrog — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:08:03 GMT

Now there’s funny thing !

I have had this behaviour with speedtest.net for a while, not sure how long as I don’t speed all that often. Being FTTP (900) it either works or it doesn’t.

I have a static IP in the range 80.226.x.x. I had assumed it was a problem with speedtest since other speed test sites work fine.

In my case, using Chrome, it consistently takes 42 seconds to find the ‘optimal server’. It’s exactly the same on Firefox and Chrome.

Not a real concern as I’ve not noticed a problem otherwise, interesting though !

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

Dan_the_Van — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:28:43 GMT

I have a static IP, stopped using speedtest via a browser or app in favour of the cli version, available for all sensible operating systems.

https://www.speedtest.net/apps/cli the test result can still be shared using a browser link.

https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/e29a789c-7120-4b57-b150-93d2fca2cda3

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

tonycollinet — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:37:30 GMT

Which would be valid - if it didn't work perfectly when (as sated : 😜) I switch to my phone hotspot.

It was also working fine 2 days ago on VDSL.

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

pvmb — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:43:49 GMT

@tonycollinet

A suggestion: do you have geolocation turned on on your phone?

Doesn't speedtest.net ask for "location"? If it doesn't know your reported location, perhaps it takes longer 'thinking' to find the best host for the test.

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

tonycollinet — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:10:09 GMT

Wouldn't this be the same between phone and plus-net connections?

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

pvmb — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:33:30 GMT

@tonycollinet

Depends. Does your PC have geolocation? Do you tell speedtest.net your location?

Perhaps, with a private landline, even on FTTC, it is easier to automatically establish location than on the very different FTTP?

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

Townman — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:41:05 GMT

@bobpullen

Any wisdom to illuminate the anecdotal evidence that speed test is taking a good while to find a server when on FTTP, but not when on FTTC / SoGEA / Mobile please?

To those on FTTP who have responded affirming the experience, are you all of static IP addresses? If yes that might point to a FTTP + High Touch network consideration.

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

Batfrog — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:27:52 GMT

@ Townman As per my post No 6. It consistently takes 42 seconds to find the optimal server in Chrome, Firefox and Edge.

Curiously on my Android mobile with the sim removed, so definitely on WiFi not mobile data, Speedtest.net finds the server in a couple seconds!

FTTP 900 with a static IP in the 80.229.x.x range.

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

MisterW — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:30:45 GMT

@Townman

To those on FTTP who have responded affirming the experience, are you all of static IP addresses? If yes that might point to a FTTP + High Touch network consideration.

I've just tried ( I'm on the same 80.229... subnet as @Batfrog ) and server selection is more or less instant. AFAIK I havent set any server and looking at the settings for speedtest it confirms that ( server 'None' )

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

Dan_the_Van — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:55:04 GMT

@Townman @MisterW

I see no visible delay when using chrome or edge, using the cli speedtest I see

On a raspberry pi Speedtest by Ookla [error] Error: [0] Timeout occurred in connect. Server: Zzoomm Plc - Slough (id: 57318) ISP: Plusnet On Windows 11 Speedtest by Ookla [error] Error: [0] Unknown error Server: Vodafone UK - Bracknell (id: 23389) ISP: Plusnet

In both the speedtest completes with my usual results

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

MisterW — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:03:15 GMT

Is IPv6 a factor here ?

I'll have a look with Wireshark later to see exactly what happens...

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

pvmb — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:36:42 GMT

OK. Lacking any other explanation to date, I'm still backing Location, Location, Location.

speedtest.net asks for your location, presumably to find the nearest server. If it can get your location from your device automatically, or otherwise, it quickly selects the optimum server for the test and goes ahead. But what if it can't get your device location?

I suggest it 'pings' your device from a geographical selection of its test hosts and the one with the lowest response time wins and is selected to carry out the test. All this must take time before the test can start.

I know that PN Hub 2 does not respond to the ping command, however there must be some operating response packets from your device that the hosts can use.

(I too wondered about IPv6 but don't have any relevant knowledge to go on)

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

MisterW — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:42:03 GMT

I believe it works the other way round, it pings its known servers and selects the one with fastest reply i.e lowest latency.

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

Dan_the_Van — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 08:12:23 GMT

For windows and ubuntu mate I have used https://ipv6.speedtest.net/ for IPv6 speedtest, see also librespeed-cli --ipv4 or --ipv6 option. Clearly you need to be on the IPv6 trial for this link to work.

If you create a speedtest account in "Settings" you can select your preferred server host and location.

Speedtest must do a geolocation check as for me speedtest closest server moves around England.

I can be near to Sheffield, Manchester, Nottingham and others. Today I am in near Oxford, I live in a Portsmouth (PO20) postcode.

Re: New full fibre connection - bizarrely specific fault.

pvmb — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 08:46:25 GMT

Didn't think of it before, tried on my phone...

1. Network data OFF, strictly WiFi via Hub 2. Geolocation OFF: Speedtest: "Allow location access?"
"<Speedtest site> wants to know your location". Deny

Speedtest: My Usual IP; University of Oxford, IT services; Speed ~150Mbps

But Speedtest takes ages finding server.

2. Network data ON (4G), WiFi OFF. Geolocation OFF.

Speedtest: O2 IP; Structured Communications, London; Speed <9Mbps ping 59mS!

Speedtest quick to find server

3. Network data ON (4G), WiFi OFF. Geolocation ON (it's guessing!).

Speedtest: O2 IP; Lightning Fibre Ltd (ironic?); Speed <5Mbps ping 60mS

Speedtest quick to find server.