ADSL -Slow upload speed and ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT

[#1]

For about 4/5 days now we have been getting intermittent ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT when we access various websites. Across multiple device (phone/laptops) using Wifi / Ethernet - also occurred when everything disconnected and wifi disabled with one laptop ethernet straight to the router.

We only have ADSL here no fibre but consistently get 12-14 Mbs down and just under 1 Mbs up. Recently various speed checkers are giving only around 0.1-0.2 Mb/s up.

Contacted support on Monday and tested giving line fault. Openreach out today and replaced the master socket and claimed no fault and testing good. However we still have both ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT and slow upload. Strangely the router reads 1.107 up which is very different to any speed test. I can't find any detailed noise stats in the router pages but later I may switch back to an old BT hub one to check if this gives more detail.

Router Connection Information - DSL Line Status

Line state:	Connected
Connection time:	0 days, 08:28:07
Downstream:	18.8 Mbps
Upstream:	1.107 Mbps

[#2]

Hi @batesi I'd definitely try another router to see if you get the same error. That one can crop up if the MTU isn't set correctly.

[#3]

I have tried an old BT hub that my brother in law gave me and have exactly the same error. I do actually have a 3rd router but I would need to try later.

[#4]

I've tried 2 other routers and exactly the same error. Back to Plusnet hub 1 here are diagnostic

1. Product name: Plusnet Hub
2. Serial number: +081441+NQ13349066
3. Firmware version: Software version 4.7.5.1.83.8.289.1.3 Last updated 27/01/22
4. Board version: Plusnet Hub One
5. DSL uptime: 0 days, 00:29:33
6. Data rate: 1119 / 18981
7. Maximum data rate: 1104 / 19056
8. Noise margin: 6.3 / 3.1
9. Line attenuation: 9.8 / 23.6
10. Signal attenuation: 10.2 / 21.6
11. Data sent/received: 29.2 MB / 764.9 MB
12. Broadband username: batesi@plusdsl.net
13. 2.4 GHz Wireless network/SSID: PLUSNET-R586
14. 2.4 GHz Wireless connections: Enabled (802.11 b/g/n (up to 144 Mb/s))
15. 2.4 GHz Wireless security: WPA2
16. 2.4 GHz Wireless channel: Automatic (Smart Wireless)
17. 5 GHz Wireless network/SSID: PLUSNET-R586-5G
18. 5 GHz Wireless connections: Enabled (802.11 a/n/ac (up to 1300 Mb/s))
19. 5 GHz Wireless security: WPA2
20. 5 GHz Wireless channel: Automatic (Smart Wireless)
21. Firewall: Default
22. MAC Address: 10:d7:b0:4a:cc:ee
23. VPI/VCI: 0 / 38
24. Modulation: G.992.5 Annex A
25. Latency type: Fast
26. Software variant: AA
27. Boot loader: 1.0.0

[#5]

Ah no!! What a pain @batesi 

As you have tried several routers that rules that out. I have researched it and there is an article here: https://kinsta.com/knowledgebase/err_ssl_bad_record_mac_alert/ with more suggestion to find the cause. 

I'd start with trying an alternative browser.

Let me know how you get on.   

[#6]

Already tried that multiple browsers and devices. Including laptop connected directly to router. Anyway at 1700 today the connection is gone completely dark. I've also been looking at the SNR readings they look bad to me...

[#7]

Just to check on the website front, do you have any examples of the sites that aren't working?

[#8]

At 5pm the router is disconnecting constantly and I have an engineer booked for tomorrow. Lots of sites gave the initial error but worst were John Lewis and Richer Sounds especially when logging into account. Google.com is now intermittent since the outage earlier

[#9]

Has the engineer been yet @batesi ? There's no notes about it yet but just want to check with you.

[#10 · Accepted solution]

So on Friday morning before the Engineer visited the fault seemed to clear - upload speeds also improved - up to 0.8 Mbs (unseen for a week).

Anyway not unexpectedly the Engineer couldn't find any line error. However on discussing with him he was of the opinion that Power Line converters could cause interference with the modem/router. Now - I've been using these for several years without major issue - but I decided to eliminate this as a possible issue. I've added a more powerful TP link router as my main WIFI access point so I don't need powerline converters. 

Anyway as I said things have improved - the line upload speed still varies quite a bit but I think its to be expected - I've a mile of copper to the exchange.

The ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT - I have actually seen a couple of times over the weekend - It could be this one just another unrelated issue - I will see how it goes.

[#11]

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@adamwalker wrote:

Hi @batesi I'd definitely try another router to see if you get the same error. That one can crop up if the MTU isn't set correctly.

---

@adamwalker  other routers have been tried, MTU is 1500, ADSL connection looks OK but upload bandwidth is restricted somewhere - do you have any other ideas ?

See continuation of this topic here - ADSL ERR_SSL_BAD_RECORD_MAC_ALERT error 

[#12]

I've already tried 4 different routers! Same error..