FFTC speed dropped from 74Mbps to 48Mbps [fixed?...Nope, now 13Mbps]

[#1]

I disconnected and rebooted the BT modem this evening whilst I connected my laptop direct to create a PPPoE connection direct (I can't get VPN to work reliably through the TG582n).
After this reset my sync speed has dropped from around 74M to 48M. When I first signed up I was getting 78M, which then dropped to 74 after a couple of weeks and stabilised there.
What do I have to do to force the link to recalibrate to the higher speed again?
Cheers
Mark

[#2]

More woes last night, when returning the router to service, the BT modem kept dropping the DSL sync about every 3-4 minutes. I picked up the handset and the line was crackling, so I waited until the dial tone dropped, then the constant tone dropped, and there were a series of 'connect/disconnect' type noises on the line - after that the crackling had gone, and the BT modem then held sync
Whilst the sync speed last night was 48M and BT speedtest was coming out at 44M, the IP Profile for my line was - 61.15 Mbps.
At 3:30 this morning, the line looked like it resynced, and my sync speed is now up to the IP Profile limit of 61Mbps.
Still I do not know why my IP Profile has come down to 61Mpbs, and how to get it increased again?

[#3]

Hi mcrossley,
Welcome to the community forum.
Your line has dropped in sync speed, this is more than likely due to the noise/crackling that you had on your line.
Is there any crackling on your line still? Try a quiet line test by dialling 17070 from your landline and choose the quiet line test.
You've had a few disconnections yesterday,
<img src="http://ccgi.psmith12.plus.com/visradius/generated/image13506362672082.png" />

[#4]

Hi Chris
Interesting, the disconnects last night (Thursday 18/10) at 18:00 thru 22:30 were down to me, all the others are random.
The quite line test seems fine this morning, I plugged an old analogue phone into the master socket just to eliminate the nasty DECT phone noise to be sure.
Cheers
Mark

[#5]

I'd suggest doing a soft disconnect, via logging into your router and clicking disconnect, then power down your router and modem. Power the modem on first after a couple of minutes and wait for the DSL light to become stable, then power on your router and login and click connect.
See if there is any difference and then we can go from there.

[#6]

Thanks Chris, I'll try and do this tonight - I'm using the connection for work all day

[#7]

Let me know how you go, if you have no improvement then it may be worth trying to create a direct connection to your modem(bypassing the router);
Windows
Go to the Control Panel then Network Connections
Click Create a new connection
Choose Connect to the Internet
Select Set up my Connection Manually
Select Connect using a broadband connection that requires a username and password (PPPoE)
Enter the ISP Name: Plusnet
Enter the Broadband Username and Password
Click Finish and click Connect
If you use Windows 7 it will try and test the connection during the setup, this will fail and give you an error. Click Skip or Continue and then after clicking finish right click the new connection icon and click properties. Under Service Name enter Plusnet then click OK. Finally double-click the New Connection icon and click Connect.
Mac
From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences
From the View menu, choose Network
Choose Built-in Ethernet from the Show pop-up menu
Click the PPPoE tab
Select the checkbox for Connect using PPPoE
Enter the Broadband Username and Password
Click PPPoE options and tick the Connect automatically when needed checkbox
Click Apply now

[#8]

Ta, I already have a PPPoE connection setup - to get my VPN working (I found it more reliable to also disable the MS-CHAPv2 security protocol too). Not sure what that will achieve though if the BT modem is now syncing at the maximum of the IP Profile?

[#9]

You did mention that in your first post, sorry....try the disconnect/reconnect and hopefully we'll see an improvement.

[#10]

OK, I tried a 'soft disconnect'
Speedtester
before = down: 43.65/61.15, up: 16.77/20
after = down: 43.60/47.43, up: 16.7/20
So no effect other than reducing my IP Profile speed again from 61.15 to 47.43Mbps 

[#11]

There's certainly something odd going on....I'd suggest raising a fault at http://faults.plus.net so our faults team can investigate further.

[#12]

Done, thanks. Ref: 61250400

[#13]

I just thought I'd take a look at the ticket in case any urgent action is needed. I can see that an engineer is due to visit you tomorrow so do let us know how things go with that.
Adam.

[#14]

The OR engineer replaced my overhead pole cable, and the cable from there to the junction box in the house. There were exposed cable joints on the exiting lash-up 
He asked the 'fibre centre' to reset my line - but we both had doubts they had actually done it as we did not see a disconnect, and the sync speed remained exactly the same. Not the 78Mb that the original installation engineer saw, and 74Mb that it initially stabilised at.
I'll wait and see if I still get disconnects, and I'll keep an ear out for line noise - but it was intermittent anyway.
But my connection speed is still low.

[#15]

Stability certainly doesn't seem to be an issue now:
<img src="http://ccgi.psmith12.plus.com/visradius/generated/image13510829663028.png" />
Sorry to hear about the slow speeds though, what speeds are you achieving at the moment?