Slow speeds - any help?

[#1]

Hi,
I had Plusnet's broadband service turned on 20th January. I was estimated a 3Mb line - which was later amended to 1.5Mb on February 3rd via email.
When using the broadband speedtest via my Plusnet account (www.mybroadbandspeed.co.uk) I barely get above 200 kB/s download speeds. I've also run the BT Speed Test (speedtester.bt.com) and I get the results below, which suggest the line is alright? The speed of the broadband seems to fluctuate from page to page - some open quickly, others seem to hang for a long time, and a few times the internet has dropped out completely. Can anyone tell me whether the speeds I am getting are correct?
p.s. This is how I have my equipment set up: I have an extension cable plugged into the main BT Telephone socket, which I then have my microfilter plugged into. My broadband router and telephone are then plugged into the microfilter. Another thing maybe worth mentioning is that for the first week or so after the broadband was turned on, the plug that the  wireless router was plugged into was turned off a lot for periods of time, whether this affects things I don't know.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! 
Here's the stats:


BT Speed Test
Results Image not loaded
Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test: -provides background information.
Download  Speed
1532 Kbps

0 Kbps 2000 Kbps
Max Achievable Speed
Download speedachieved during the test was - 1532 Kbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speeds is 400-2000 Kbps.
Additional Information:
Your DSL Connection Rate :2240 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 448 Kbps(UP-STREAM)
IP Profile for your line is - 1750 Kbps

If you wish to discuss these results please contact your ISP.

MyBroadbandspeed
All results
Date Download Speed Upload Speed
Today 21:46 1940 kbps (243kB/s) 367 kbps (45.9kB/s) Share
Today 21:12 2301 kbps (288kB/s) 373 kbps (46.6kB/s) Share
Yesterday 20:55 2142 kbps (268kB/s) 205 kbps (25.6kB/s) Share
Yesterday 20:54 2914 kbps (364kB/s) 168 kbps (21kB/s) Share
Yesterday 16:05 2068 kbps (259kB/s) 186 kbps (23.3kB/s) Share
Wednesday 20:12 1636 kbps (205kB/s) 183 kbps (22.9kB/s) Share
Jan 31, 21:56 1829 kbps (229kB/s) 159 kbps (19.9kB/s) Share
Jan 31, 21:54 1644 kbps (206kB/s) 160 kbps (20kB/s) Share
Jan 31, 21:12 17574 kbps (2.2MB/s) 94 kbps (11.8kB/s) Share
Jan 31, 21:10 1755 kbps (219kB/s) 135 kbps (16.9kB/s) Share
Jan 26, 19:54 11272 kbps (1.41MB/s) 374 kbps (46.8kB/s) Share
Jan 24, 21:59 2788 kbps (349kB/s) 164 kbps (20.5kB/s) Share
Jan 23, 20:49 3451 kbps (431kB/s) 185 kbps (23.1kB/s) Share
Jan 21, 21:17 3743 kbps (468kB/s) 161 kbps (20.1kB/s) Share
Jan 21, 21:09 2946 kbps (368kB/s) 149 kbps (18.6kB/s) Share
Jan 21, 21:08 9578 kbps (1.2MB/s) 134 kbps (16.8kB/s) Share

[#2]

Hi killahbee,
I've just ran a line test and I reckon you can get more out of it. Do you have a test socket? If so then plug your filter into there and I can run another test.
Jojo

[#3]

Hi Jojo, thanks for your prompt reply!
I've had a look at my BT telephone socket and unscrewed the casing but I don't have a test socket oddly? I have a NTL/Cable telephone connection and I took the casing off that one, and that did have a test socket as per your link/photo.
Any ideas? Many thanks!

[#4]

Hi killahbee,
That's probably a different line. Do you get a dial tone off it? Check where the first socket is where it comes into the property.
Jojo

[#5]

Hi Jojo,
The BT socket that I have is quite old looking and to my knowledge, is the only telephone socket in the house. It's located by the front door and I can't find any other sockets in the house apart from an old extension cable leading up the wall upstairs.
Is there any chance that I don't have a BT test socket? I could take a picture of the connections if that'd help. Also, if I removed the extension cable and tried the router etc plugged straight into this BT socket, would this help in a test?
p.s. I do get a dial tone via the BT socket I have. I have a telephone service with you guys and the line does have a dull buzzing-like sound when on the phone.
Many thanks for your help and further assitance 

[#6]

Hi killahbee,
Plug your filter directly into that main socket with nothing plugged in anywhere else. Also try your phone in that socket and press a number and see if the line is quiet.
Jojo

[#7]

hi,
try tapping in 8.8.8.8. to the DNS settings, worked for me

[#8]

Hi Jojo, I will give this a go later today. So remove the extension cable and just plug the router and telephone directly into the microfilter (which will be plugged into the BT socket)
Hi Pip, where/how do I access the DNS settings?
Cheers both!

[#9]

Hi killahbee,
Yes, and then you need to see what your connection rate is, which you can get from 'Broadband Connection' on your router page. As for the DNS, we have an article on our library on this here.
Jojo

[#10]

Hi Jojo, thanks for the DNS info, I will take a read of that later.
I've now set up my internet so the microfilter is straight into the BT socket, and the router coming off that. Is this the info you're after? Please let me know:

DSL Connection
Link Information

Uptime: 0 days, 0:13:52
DSL Type: G.992.1 annex A
Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 448 / 4,192
Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [kB/MB]: 0.00 / 5.87

[#11]

From what I can tell, your speeds look quite good. Well better than mine.  I've been with plus.net for a few years now and only ever achieve 1.6Mb/ps approx.
Click begin test using this link and post your results.
http://www.speedtest.net/
Here's my result..
http://www.speedtest.net/result/1153535168.png

[#12]

That's my speed result. Was estimated a 2-3Mb connection, which was later adjusted to an estimate of 1.5mb, still my connection doesn't feel quick. If that's all I can get then so be it but I'd like to be 100% that I'm getting the best speed possible.

[#13]

That isn't the best speed you can get. Now you are connected to the master socket your sync speed has increased to 4192kbps compared to 2240kbps when you posted the BT Performance Test. The IP Profile based on that sync speed was (correctly) given as 1750kbps. That will increase to 3500kbps with your current sync speed, but it takes around 3 days for that change to come into effect. Until it does speed tests will not show you a higher value. This is why Jojo asked you to report your sync speed.
When the BT DLM raises your IP Profile it supplies what's called a delta report to Plusnet, and that results in Current line speed in the Member Centre here being changed to match. Once that is done you should see speeds around 2800kbps on speed tests, tying in with the estimated line speed you were given.
The big question is to find out why sync speed changed between your previous set up and the current one. I assume Plusnet will test your line now to see if they can identify any external problems.

[#14]

Thanks for the info Spraxyt, that's really helpful. I'll leave some feedback in a few days time once I've given it time for the sync speed to get back up to 3500. I'll report back soon, thanks for your help all. 

[#15]

Hi killahbee,
Your BT & PN profiles are now 3500, so you should be seeing that now.
Jojo