Unrealistic Speed Expectations?
Hi iciclethief,
I have also been on the trail for about 4 weeks but have been following this forum for a long time. From my understanding ADSL2+ really only benefits those who have very low line attenuation and those that have a higher line attenuation. It appears that those in the "middle" range do not seem gain as much.
My line has a downstream attenuation of 76.5db and prior to switching I was getting about 800-900kbps sync speed on DSL MAX but since moving onto the trial I have been as much as 1170kbps (unfortunately not long enough for my profile to go up to 1meg). Today it is 1141kbps. Fingers crossed I can move from my current 750kbps profile.....
The only things I can suggest that may help (if you are not doing them already) is to ensure that everything is filtered, disconnect the "ring wire", plug the router into the master socket, make sure the software for the router is up to date and get yourself a BT iPlate. I have also found that getting rid of anything that causes interference has also helped, including controversially all the CFL energy saving lamps from the house (have bought a box load of “old fashioned” bulbs to keep me going until the scientists come up with something better than CFL’s). If you use something like the RouterStats software (on a compatible router) you can play around and find out if anything locally is causing interference. Other than that there is not much that can be done until the incumbent telecoms giant is incentivised to invest in FTTC/FTTP for everyone.
Good luck!
I have also been on the trail for about 4 weeks but have been following this forum for a long time. From my understanding ADSL2+ really only benefits those who have very low line attenuation and those that have a higher line attenuation. It appears that those in the "middle" range do not seem gain as much.
My line has a downstream attenuation of 76.5db and prior to switching I was getting about 800-900kbps sync speed on DSL MAX but since moving onto the trial I have been as much as 1170kbps (unfortunately not long enough for my profile to go up to 1meg). Today it is 1141kbps. Fingers crossed I can move from my current 750kbps profile.....
The only things I can suggest that may help (if you are not doing them already) is to ensure that everything is filtered, disconnect the "ring wire", plug the router into the master socket, make sure the software for the router is up to date and get yourself a BT iPlate. I have also found that getting rid of anything that causes interference has also helped, including controversially all the CFL energy saving lamps from the house (have bought a box load of “old fashioned” bulbs to keep me going until the scientists come up with something better than CFL’s). If you use something like the RouterStats software (on a compatible router) you can play around and find out if anything locally is causing interference. Other than that there is not much that can be done until the incumbent telecoms giant is incentivised to invest in FTTC/FTTP for everyone.
Good luck!
which router are you running?
as ashgeo as said using routerstats to monitor your line is a good idea and i have mine monitoring my line 24/7 it can be alot of detective work finding out if somthing is interfering with the signal but a couple of times ive bein lucky enough to be looking at the SNR graph when ive heard sumone in the house flick a switch and see my snr dip down.
as first attempt if you have any phone extensions running of the master socket then using the test socket for a day or 2 to see if your sync stays stable or even better the DLM decides to lower you down to 6db nosie margin instead of the what looks like 9db at the mo.
All thoe the increase in sync and lower snr may take a few days maybe weeks to show its self pluged into the test scoket. But if you monitor your sync speed and see no drops over a day or 2 its likely leaving it longer would see the nosie margin come down and sync increase
as ashgeo as said using routerstats to monitor your line is a good idea and i have mine monitoring my line 24/7 it can be alot of detective work finding out if somthing is interfering with the signal but a couple of times ive bein lucky enough to be looking at the SNR graph when ive heard sumone in the house flick a switch and see my snr dip down.
as first attempt if you have any phone extensions running of the master socket then using the test socket for a day or 2 to see if your sync stays stable or even better the DLM decides to lower you down to 6db nosie margin instead of the what looks like 9db at the mo.
All thoe the increase in sync and lower snr may take a few days maybe weeks to show its self pluged into the test scoket. But if you monitor your sync speed and see no drops over a day or 2 its likely leaving it longer would see the nosie margin come down and sync increase
My own experience on the trial is similar to Ashgeo's, with an attenuation figure between 65-70dB's, at just under 6km from the exchange. I use a DG834G router, on which I upgraded the firmware before taking part in the trial. It doesn't tell me whether I'm on ADSL2+ though, just a generic ADSL. However I have seen my line speed go up from an average 850kbps on ADSL-MAX, to an average 1150kbps (after 4-5 weeks training) on ADSL2+. About a 35% increase then, which is not hugely noticeable, but web page loads do seem a bit smoother. 
Can't wait until BT gets FTTC rolled out properly over the next few years. Should make all the difference to the s/n ratios.
Can't wait until BT gets FTTC rolled out properly over the next few years. Should make all the difference to the s/n ratios.
@James....
Prior to moving my stats reported an attenuation of 63.5db but since moving to 21CN ADSL2+ the software from the router now states my downstream attentuation to be 76db! I was suprised when I first discovered this figure but it supports the reported length of the line to be around 7-8km (from BT engineer that once visited after discovering that my line was shorting out on the frame at the exchange). Why oh why they insist the phone line on a new development of houses has to go around the ring road a couple of times plus a visit to the M20 Junction 10 before making it's way to me I'll never know. The exchange is after all only 3km away by road.... Oh what I'd give to have a speed somewhere near what those reporting problems of on these pages.... Roll on FTTC/FTTP.....
@ASBODOG
Even with the above attentaion my router reports (via router stats) I am connected by ADSL2+, see below:
/usr/sbin/adslctl: ADSL driver and PHY status
Status: ShowtimeRetrain Reason: 1
Channel: FAST, Upstream rate = 385 Kbps, Downstream rate = 1123 Kbps
Link Power State: L0
Mode: ADSL2+
Channel: Fast
Trellis: U:OFF /D:ON
Line Status: No Defect
Training Status: Showtime
Down Up
SNR (dB): 6.1 7.8
Attn(dB): 76.0 44.4
Pwr(dBm): 15.4 11.6
Max(Kbps): 1488 13153
Rate (Kbps): 1123 385
G.dmt framing
K: 36(0) 14
R: 10 16
S: 4 4
😧 8 2
ADSL2 framing
MSGc: 59 29
B: 35 13
M: 4 4
T: 1 4
R: 10 16
S: 3.9870 4.5714
L: 309 126
😧 8 2
Counters
SF: 1904022 770975
SFErr: 161 81381
RS: 30940364 1214325
RSCorr: 5575 2424535
RSUnCorr: 948 0
HEC: 131 37529
OCD: 2 0
LCD: 0 0
Total Cells: 81728526 1861563734
Data Cells: 13676436 129309383
Drop Cells: 0
Bit Errors: 0 3447520
ES: 352 45581
SES: 6 781
UAS: 65 377019
AS: 30841
INP: 1.03 1.01
PER: 16.19 40.00
delay: 7.97 2.28
OR: 32.10 7.00
Bitswap: 2708 19
Total time = 1 days 14 hours 44 min 51 sec
SF = 8609798
CRC = 1507
LOS = 6
LOF = 18
ES = 352
Latest 1 day time = 14 hours 44 min 51 sec
SF = 3275002
CRC = 1170
LOS = 3
LOF = 18
ES = 145
Latest 15 minutes time = 14 min 51 sec
SF = 55050
CRC = 9
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 7
Previous 15 minutes time = 15 min 0 sec
SF = 55545
CRC = 4
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 3
Previous 1 day time = 24 hours 0 sec
SF = 5334796
CRC = 337
LOS = 3
LOF = 0
ES = 207
15 minutes interval [-30 min to -15 min] time = 15 min 0 sec
SF = 55608
CRC = 1
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 1
15 minutes interval [-45 min to -30 min] time = 15 min 0 sec
SF = 55483
CRC = 2
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 1
15 minutes interval [-60 min to -45 min] time = 15 min 0 sec
SF = 55608
CRC = 4
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 3
Showtime Drop Reason: 1
Last Retrain Reason: 1
PS My router is a Netgear DGN2000 running the latest software upgrade plugged into the master socket the hallway via a BT iPlate (much to my partners grumbles). This morning I was sync'd at 1170kbps and now 1123kbps. Just short of the 1152kbps for 3 days to up me to the 1 meg profile
Am thinking of some DIY and internal wiring changes to force a higher sync........
Prior to moving my stats reported an attenuation of 63.5db but since moving to 21CN ADSL2+ the software from the router now states my downstream attentuation to be 76db! I was suprised when I first discovered this figure but it supports the reported length of the line to be around 7-8km (from BT engineer that once visited after discovering that my line was shorting out on the frame at the exchange). Why oh why they insist the phone line on a new development of houses has to go around the ring road a couple of times plus a visit to the M20 Junction 10 before making it's way to me I'll never know. The exchange is after all only 3km away by road.... Oh what I'd give to have a speed somewhere near what those reporting problems of on these pages.... Roll on FTTC/FTTP.....
@ASBODOG
Even with the above attentaion my router reports (via router stats) I am connected by ADSL2+, see below:
/usr/sbin/adslctl: ADSL driver and PHY status
Status: ShowtimeRetrain Reason: 1
Channel: FAST, Upstream rate = 385 Kbps, Downstream rate = 1123 Kbps
Link Power State: L0
Mode: ADSL2+
Channel: Fast
Trellis: U:OFF /D:ON
Line Status: No Defect
Training Status: Showtime
Down Up
SNR (dB): 6.1 7.8
Attn(dB): 76.0 44.4
Pwr(dBm): 15.4 11.6
Max(Kbps): 1488 13153
Rate (Kbps): 1123 385
G.dmt framing
K: 36(0) 14
R: 10 16
S: 4 4
😧 8 2
ADSL2 framing
MSGc: 59 29
B: 35 13
M: 4 4
T: 1 4
R: 10 16
S: 3.9870 4.5714
L: 309 126
😧 8 2
Counters
SF: 1904022 770975
SFErr: 161 81381
RS: 30940364 1214325
RSCorr: 5575 2424535
RSUnCorr: 948 0
HEC: 131 37529
OCD: 2 0
LCD: 0 0
Total Cells: 81728526 1861563734
Data Cells: 13676436 129309383
Drop Cells: 0
Bit Errors: 0 3447520
ES: 352 45581
SES: 6 781
UAS: 65 377019
AS: 30841
INP: 1.03 1.01
PER: 16.19 40.00
delay: 7.97 2.28
OR: 32.10 7.00
Bitswap: 2708 19
Total time = 1 days 14 hours 44 min 51 sec
SF = 8609798
CRC = 1507
LOS = 6
LOF = 18
ES = 352
Latest 1 day time = 14 hours 44 min 51 sec
SF = 3275002
CRC = 1170
LOS = 3
LOF = 18
ES = 145
Latest 15 minutes time = 14 min 51 sec
SF = 55050
CRC = 9
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 7
Previous 15 minutes time = 15 min 0 sec
SF = 55545
CRC = 4
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 3
Previous 1 day time = 24 hours 0 sec
SF = 5334796
CRC = 337
LOS = 3
LOF = 0
ES = 207
15 minutes interval [-30 min to -15 min] time = 15 min 0 sec
SF = 55608
CRC = 1
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 1
15 minutes interval [-45 min to -30 min] time = 15 min 0 sec
SF = 55483
CRC = 2
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 1
15 minutes interval [-60 min to -45 min] time = 15 min 0 sec
SF = 55608
CRC = 4
LOS = 0
LOF = 0
ES = 3
Showtime Drop Reason: 1
Last Retrain Reason: 1
PS My router is a Netgear DGN2000 running the latest software upgrade plugged into the master socket the hallway via a BT iPlate (much to my partners grumbles). This morning I was sync'd at 1170kbps and now 1123kbps. Just short of the 1152kbps for 3 days to up me to the 1 meg profile
Am thinking of some DIY and internal wiring changes to force a higher sync........
PPS The only thing fast round here is the super speedy new SouthEastern trains from Ashford to St Pancras in 35min, [from 1hr23] (and of course the local boy racers ). Nothing to do with BT's infrastructure......
). Nothing to do with BT's infrastructure......
I bought a new ADSL router in the end; a netgear DGN2000. I'm now getting a sync speed of around 7800kb with a line attenuation of 44.0db 
I did experiment with the older netgear router (which produced similar results to the d-link) and routerstats, the noise margin was all over the place in the evenings after 18:00 until about 07:00. It made no discernible difference using the test socket or the extension. With the new router the noise margin remains fairly constant at around 9db (or 6db with a little tweak from routerstats ;)).
Thanks for all your help and advice.
I did experiment with the older netgear router (which produced similar results to the d-link) and routerstats, the noise margin was all over the place in the evenings after 18:00 until about 07:00. It made no discernible difference using the test socket or the extension. With the new router the noise margin remains fairly constant at around 9db (or 6db with a little tweak from routerstats ;)).
Thanks for all your help and advice.