Just Technical Queries

[#1]

No 'issues' just a couple of technical questions I am curious about.

After a successful speed test (via my Plusnet Hub 2 router), if I opt for BT's Additional Diagnostics I get:

Additional Diagnostic
Summary of Performance Test
Timestamp Monday 4 March 2024 | 17:48:5
Ping 12 Ms
Download 37.33 Mbps
Upload 9.39 Mbps
Summary Advanced Test
"Your speed test has completed and the results are shown above, however during the test an error occurred while trying to retrieve additional details regarding your service. As a result we are unable to determine if the speed you received during the test is acceptable for your service. Please re-run the test if you require this additional information."

Does anyone know if the BT diagnostic is broken? As I always seem to get this same message nowadays.

Another point. Eventually the landline phone will presumably go, so I won't be able to use it - Telephone Number (DN) - for identification on the BT diagnostic. How may I find out the other service IDs: BBEU and or ALID?

Additional Diagnostic
If your Broadband Provider has asked you to run a Wholesale advanced speed (Additional Diagnostic) test because you're not getting the expected speed results, you can enter details below to run this test. Your current internet speed will be compared with the speed defined for your connection.

Broadband Service ID (BBEU)
Access Line ID (ALID)
Telephone Number (DN)

Finally, I am still on the old 40/10 Mbps FTTC, which I am quite happy with. But how exactly does this work?
Looking at the BT Broadband Availability Checker (again, using my landline number!) it says Downstream Hi/Lo 80Mbps/71.4 Mbps with Handback Threshold 65.5 Mbps. It even gives a VDSL Maximum Observed Downstream/Upstream Speeds of 71.46/20 Mbps at a date (15/3/2023) when I was in my existing 40/10 contract.

Obviously I have not been running at that speed so is it established by Openreach/Plusnet, independently of the normal router operation, or is it established during negotiation with the Plusnet router at power up? In other words, how and where is the 40/10 limit effected?

[#2]

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@pvmb wrote:

Looking at the BT Broadband Availability Checker (again, using my landline number!) it says Downstream Hi/Lo 80Mbps/71.4 Mbps with Handback Threshold 65.5 Mbps. It even gives a VDSL Maximum Observed Downstream/Upstream Speeds of 71.46/20 Mbps at a date (15/3/2023) when I was in my existing 40/10 contract.

Just noticed that the WBC SOADSL 2+ is now shown as down to Downstream Line Rate "Up to 9 Mbps", Downstream Range "9 - 11 Mbps"

Jeez!

Max Observed Downstream Speed ADSL "14.33 Mbps (12/09/22)" 🙂

I can still (just!) remember when it was a reliable 18Mbps Download, day to day - and I turned the router off every night! 🤔

[#3]

@pvmb 

The BT second level test looks to be broken. I have tried it with both my phone number an BBEU, neither works.

The Availability Checker reports the estimated range of speed that your line can achieve. As you are on the 40/10 service then this is truncated to that which you are achieving. If/when you give up your PSTN phone and move to on to the SOGEA service your speed should increase to within the Availability Checker range.

[#4]

@Baldrick1 

I've not been able to use the additional diagnostics for many months now, so long that I can not remember when it last worked for me, might be as far back as 2022.

And thanks for pointing this out on a thread recently.

@pvmb 

If you have ever had a GEA test results added to a fault logged through the members centre then you will find your BBEU number there

GEA Test Detail
Circuit ID NA Service ID BBEUnnnnnnnn

HTH