Typical Speed decreasing and CLI

[#1]

I know that some lucky sods will have 21cn or perhaps ADSL2 but my exchange does not support either.
In the many years I have been with Plusnet I have noticed that the speeds seem to go down because investment is needed by Plusnet.  Usually they do it and things return to normal.
I am only 300m from the echange and usually get over 6mb but lately it has been getting worse, usually under 3mb and sometimes under 2mb.
Does anyone know if there is any hope of some changes in Plusnet infrastructure that will improve things.
Also I have my phone with Plusnet now, it does not do CLI as BT do on my other line, is CLI a paid service with Plusnet or does it just need to be activated?
Cheers

[#2]

Paid - 99p per month http://www.plus.net/residential/faqs.shtml#addCallFeatures
It is most unlikely that Plusnet are causing the drop in speed (I assume from speed tests) but a congested exchange is most likely the answer.
Check your exchange status http://usertools.plus.net/exchanges/

[#3]

If you hung out more frequently on this forum you would have been aware that PN dont invest in network infrastructure they resell BTs so your argument is  not well founded

[#4]

That is not correct.
Plusnet invest in host links which in effect they purchase from BTw
These are the last two announcements which apply to the 20CN and the 21CN exchanges were made on the 15th August
http://usertools.plus.net/status/archive/1313414893.htm
http://usertools.plus.net/status/archive/1313414871.htm

[#5]

OK I stand corrected but as I understand it for users like me it's either LLU or BT network and PN dont do LLU

[#6]

The initial statement was

Quote

In the many years I have been with Plusnet I have noticed that the speeds seem to go down because investment is needed by Plusnet.  Usually they do it and things return to normal.

Unfortunately in the past that was indeed the case (mostly just before BT bought them and the previous owners were trying to squeeze the last drop of profit out of the company - this is my opinion of what was happening at the time and isn't based on anything more than that)
Since being purchased by BT retail they have usually increased capacity before it is needed which is why there are now very few complaints in that area.

[#7]

Quote from: PeterLoftus

OK I stand corrected but as I understand it for users like me it's either LLU or BT network and PN dont do LLU

I am not talking LLU, it is as Jim says, they buy pipes from BT to support the number of customers they have.
It is no different though to managing a single switch, you might be loathe to buy a 48 port router to support two extra users so you might share some ports.
Plusnet made this big thing a while back about investment but it is slower than it has ever been.
As for hanging about this forum, it is a community thing but I am not expert in this (I am in other areas), I am grateful to people like Jim who help people and make constructive comments.
If all you can do is respond to posts with critical comments and inaccurate information you really need to get a life.

[#8]

Quote from: Oldjim

Paid - 99p per month http://www.plus.net/residential/faqs.shtml#addCallFeatures It is most unlikely that Plusnet are causing the drop in speed (I assume from speed tests) but a congested exchange is most likely the answer. Check your exchange status http://usertools.plus.net/exchanges/

Thanks Jim
VP capacity at this exchange is currently showing as Green.
Colour: Red BT have advised that no current planned date for WBC on 21CN exists
Colour: Unknown You can view recent Service Outages for this exchange here
Colour: Unknown BT has published DSL Max upgrade information for this exchange
Not much help, guess I am going to have to go do some checking, router shows:
ADSL Status G.DMT
Mode SHOWTIME
State
Up Speed 448000
Down Speed 7616000
SNR Margin 12.0
Loop Att.17.0
   

[#9]

Can you run these two speed tests and see what the results are http://217.35.209.142/ and http://www.mybroadbandspeed.co.uk/

[#10]

The first one requires a service ID from Plusnet.


Speedtest.net shows the following which more accurately reflects how it "feels" perhaps it is just busy

[#11]

It doesn't
Just put in your telephone number
The reason for those two tests is that they are in the Titanium queue so there will be no throttling from the Plusnet side

[#12]

You are right Jim, I put something in the secon dbox first time around which is why it gave an error, this was the result:

Download speedachieved during the test was - 4316 Kbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speeds is 600-7150 Kbps.
Additional Information:
Your DSL Connection Rate :7616 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 448 Kbps(UP-STREAM)  IP Profile for your line is - 6500 Kbps

[#13]

Those results do seem a bit lower than I would have expected
What does this say https://portal.plus.net/my.html?action=data_transfer_speed
You could also try this test http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest.html?utm_source=mainsite&utm_medium=navigation&utm_campaign=...
Can also try the  tests at a less busy time and see if there is any change
Are you connected by wireless or cable. If wireless can you try cable

[#14]

Thanks Jim
Appreciate your efforts
Connected by ethernet not wireless, no changes in spec lately.
I always know when it is bad because my Pure Evoke Flow keeps losing station (it is connected via a wireless connection)
Seems a bit faster this morning test results are as follows, I ran the other tests again for comparison.
Estimated line speed:
    8Mb (Accurate to within +/- 1Mbit) - Checked on 2011-06-23 22:58:43
Current line speed:
    6.5 Mb


Seems to suggest congestion at times but I have had much higher speeds, seems that 74% of UK is faster and there are no upgrade options in my exchange any time soon.  Do you know if there is a way to determine if the congestion is in my exchange or somewhere in the Plusnet Infrastructure?
If Plusnet line speed is set at 6.5 Mb and BT test says " Your DSL Connection Rate :7616 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 448 Kbps(UP-STREAM)  IP Profile for your line is - 6500 Kbps" and my router says
Down Speed  7616000
Up Speed  448000
Is it worth me asking Plusnet to regrade the line to squeeze as much out as I can  or do they always keep it at this margin below the connection rate?

[#15]

A quick way to get a bit more speed is to ask for interleaving to be switched off which should increase your sync speed to 8128kbps and the IP profile to 7150 kbps I think and that will squeeze a bit more out of it.
I am still concerned about the low speed test results though.
Which operating system are you using - if XP it could be worth checking your MTU and RWIN settings http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/tweak2.htm
I have set my MTU to 1500 in XP and also on the router
To add this is my last speed test with an IP profile of 4234kbps (this is on the new 21CN profile system trial)