New Connection - Unexpected Attenuation

[#1]

I was connected yesterday to PlusNet FTTC, having moved over from BT.    (Should I assume that the physical copper lines will be the same, or will they have changed?)    I wonder about the new attenuation figures.

I am 200m away from cabinet at end of road, which is 400m away from FTTC cabinet.    A few months ago, after removing several trees, I paid Openreach for a new dropline.   There is no internal wiring, just a Master Socket 5c.

I just now ran a quietline test against the Socket (not the internal test socket), and it came back quiet.

Here are the figures I used to get from BT:

DSL uptime:0 Days, 0 Hours 4 Minutes 58 Seconds
Data rate:8.84 Mbps / 44.00 Mbps
Maximum data rate:8842 / 48822
Noise margin:6 dB / 7.5 dB
Line attenuation:19.9 dB

Here are PlusNet figures:

1. Product name:	Plusnet Hub
2. Serial number:	+xxxx+xxxx
3. Firmware version:	Software version 4.7.5.1.83.8.259 Last updated Unknown
4. Board version:	Plusnet Hub One
5. DSL uptime:	0 days, 17:15:20
6. Data rate:	6732 / 38601
7. Maximum data rate:	6736 / 44401
8. Noise margin:	6.0 / 6.0
9. Line attenuation:	29.0 / 19.3
10. Signal attenuation:	28.7 / 17.0
11. Data sent/received:	258.1 MB / 5.7 GB
12. Broadband username:	xxxxxxx@plusdsl.net
13. 2.4 GHz Wireless network/SSID:	PLUSNET-xxxxx
14. 2.4 GHz Wireless connections:	Enabled (802.11 b/g/n (up to 144 Mb/s))
15. 2.4 GHz Wireless security:	WPA2
16. 2.4 GHz Wireless channel:	Automatic (Smart Wireless)
17. 5 GHz Wireless network/SSID:	PLUSNET-xxxxxx-5ghz
18. 5 GHz Wireless connections:	Enabled (802.11 a/n/ac (up to 1300 Mb/s))
19. 5 GHz Wireless security:	WPA2
20. 5 GHz Wireless channel:	Automatic (Smart Wireless)
21. Firewall:	Default
22. MAC Address:	xxxxx
23. Modulation:	G.993.2 Annex B
24. Software variant:	AA
25. Boot loader:	1.0.0

I am not sure how to compare the attenuation figures from before with now - but i see higher numbers, and i have a slower download speed, so assume the two are connected.

I understand the DLM might take 10 days on a new connection, but assume these attenuation figures may indicate some problem?

If I understand the stats correctly, it seems my download rate is now 38 out of a possible 44 - with BT it was 42 out of 47.

My actual (Thinkbroadband.com) speed test download was 38 with BT, and is 34 now.   Upload was 7 with BT, and is now 4.

My PC use and speed tests all use ethernet cable, not wifi.

Thanks.

Moderator's note by Adie (Dvorak) redacted personal information as it's an open forum.

[#2]

Hi @bathsheba

Thanks for getting in touch.

I have run a test on your line and can see that this is running at 38Mbps which is lower than the estimate for your line. As your service has just connected I would suggest to monitor the speed and try running through the troubleshooting guides here if you don't see an improvement.

I would also recommend plugging your router in to the test socket should the speeds not improve, we have another guide on how to do this here

If you have any further questions please get in touch.

[#3]

Interesting,  a week on and things have got better...

1. Product name: Plusnet Hub 2. Serial number:   3. Firmware version: Software version 4.7.5.1.83.8.263 Last updated 12/04/19 4. Board version: Plusnet Hub One 5. DSL uptime: 0 days, 09:42:27 6. Data rate: 6910 / 55726 7. Maximum data rate: 6917 / 55849 8. Noise margin: 5.9 / 3.6 9. Line attenuation: 29.3 / 19.4 10. Signal attenuation: 28.6 / 17.6 11. Data sent/received: 6.1 GB / 122.8 GB 12. Broadband username: ..... 13. 2.4 GHz Wireless network/SSID: PLUSNET-P53S 14. 2.4 GHz Wireless connections: Enabled (802.11 b/g/n (up to 144 Mb/s)) 15. 2.4 GHz Wireless security: WPA2 16. 2.4 GHz Wireless channel: Automatic (Smart Wireless) 17. 5 GHz Wireless network/SSID: PLUSNET-P53S-5ghz 18. 5 GHz Wireless connections: Enabled (802.11 a/n/ac (up to 1300 Mb/s)) 19. 5 GHz Wireless security: WPA2 20. 5 GHz Wireless channel: Automatic (Smart Wireless) 21. Firewall: Default 22. MAC Address: .... 23. Modulation: G.993.2 Annex B 24. Software variant: AA 25. Boot loader: 1.0.0

This line is now running much faster (48.9) than a month ago on BT (34), so I am happier - although the upload speed is only half (3.9) what it was on BT.

However, the above speed test results () on Thinkbroadband still comes a lot lower than the router states possible.

I assume the faster speed is associated with the noise margin figure reducing to 3.6 over the last few days.

However, I am still curious as to why the attenuation figures on the PlusNet router are higher, (and why more of them) than the BT hub6.

Are there any possible explanations why the imbalance between download better, but upload worse than BT?

(I also see the plusnet hub firmware got updated over the last few days)

Thanks & regards

[#4]

If you have a Smarthub 6 then use that. It's a better router than the Plusnet Hub One, which is really a disguised BT Home Hub 5a. Setting instructions are here. https://community.plus.net/t5/My-Router/Using-the-BT-Smarthub-6-on-a-Plusnet-Account/m-p/1587673#M85...