Broadband Availability Checker / Minimum Speed Guarantee / Reality

[#1]

Thanks for the reply.

I’m not currently aware of speeds in my street, but the next street the Openreach engineer told me the get speeds up to high 20’s download, but this is closer to the exchange. I believe my line was exchange only until the BDUK cabinet was installed next to the exchange.

Here are the results of the GEA test


Test Outcome Pass
Test Outcome Code GTC_FTTC_SERVICE_0000
Description GEA service test completed and no fault found .
Main Fault Location OK
Sync Status In Sync
Downstream Speed 20.0 Mbps
Upstream Speed 6.0 Mbps
Appointment Required N
Fault Report Advised N
NTE Power Status PowerOn
Voice Line Test Result Pass
Radio Frequency Ingress Not Detected
Repetitive Electrical Impulse Noise Not Detected
Cross Talk Not Detected
Estimated Line Length In Metres 1098.4
Upstream Rate Assessment Good
Downstream Rate Assessment Reasonable
Interference Pattern Not Detected
Service Impact No Impact Observed
Home Wiring Problem Not Detected
Downstream Policing Discard Rate 0.0
Customer Traffic Level Upstream and Downstream traffic detected
Technology VDSL
Current 15Min Bin Retrains 0
Last 15Min Bin Retrains 0
DP Type External
Profile Name 0.128M-20M Downstream, Retransmission High - 0.128M-10M Upstream, Error Protection Off
Time Stamp 2021-02-06T14:00:00
Parameters MIN MAX AVG
Down Stream Line Rate 19.9 Mbps 19.9 Mbps 19.9 Mbps
Up Stream Line Rate 5.9 Mbps 6.0 Mbps 5.9 Mbps
Up Time 0.0 Sec 900.0 Sec 898.4 Sec
Retrains 0.0 1.0 0.0
Current and Last 15 Minute Bin Performance
Parameters Last Traffic Count(Upto 15 mins) Current Traffic Count(Upto 15 mins)
Start Time Stamp 2021-02-19T13:40:13Z 2021-02-19T13:55:13Z
Ingress Code Violation 0 0
Egress Code Violation 0 0
Errored Seconds 0 0
Severely Errored Seconds 0 0
Unavailable Seconds 0 0
CLT: Pass

[#2]

The banding has been removed from my line this morning.

As of yesterday, I was recording speeds of 10-15mbps download. Yesterday my download data rate was 19974.

So far this morning, I have recorded several speeds over 30mbps!!!

My router stats are now as follows;

6. Data rate:	6050 / 34131
7. Maximum data rate:	6051 / 34273
8. Noise margin:	5.9 / 6.0

Its been nearly a year long journey, but I might just have arrived at superfast broadband!! Lets hope it lasts.

Thanks for those who have offered advice and support.

[#3]

Awesome! I'm happy to see your speed's improved now.

To answer the question you've posed on the ticket, banding is applied automaticaly by Openreach's DLM (dynamic line management) software at the cabinet (the green box in the road).

[#4]

Thanks again.

I have suggested that the engineer visit is no longer required. Now that the banding has been removed, I dont see any reason for the visit anymore. I now know the reason if my IP Profile drops again.

What is really helpful is that speeds on WiFi are up to 30mbps as well upstairs, positive results which show the hub one does its job and no need for the purchase of an expensive router!!

Interesting regarding DLM and Openreach, it is likely this banding has been applied the whole time I have been on FTTC, but I only really noticed since last March when I have been working from home.

Openreach themselves never mentioned it and have consistently tried to push/sell their FTTP on demand product (Quote £17K) or their community fibre programme as a solution to my slow speeds. 

I guess Openreach will need to start upping their game as competition, in the form of mobile broadband (which I was considering) and I have also received an email from starlink asking to sign up to satellite broadband as it is available in my area soon, with speeds of 50 to 150mbps expected!! (though the £500 set up fees and £90 monthly cost are a bit off putting!)

I am just happy its resolved and I don't need to worry about changing provider or look at more expensive options.

[#5]

We haven't booked an engineer visit yet from what I can see. 

It's worth noting that the IP profile dropping is simply a byproduct of your sync speed dropping which can be for various reasons, not always that DLM has artificially restricted your speed for one reason or another.

It generally only does this if there's a fault on the line or a problem that needs investigation. We can't see any issues though so I'd recommend monitoring this and if your speed drops again we'd likely would need to arrange another engineer. 

Let us know if there are further issues though or anything else you'd need help with.