Sky router stats (speed, noise, attenuation) explained

[diandave]

Hi
I'm only 1.65K from the exchange so my connection speed looks very low, I list the stats below, what do you think?

ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 2432 kbps 416 kbps
Line Attenuation 63.5 db 31.5 db
Noise Margin 10.2 db 14.0 db

[Saturday]

You may only be 1.65km from the exchange as the crow flies but your attenuation shows that unfortunately that's not the route your line takes!

A connection speed of 2432kbps is good for an attenuation of 63.5db. That's all you are going to get until such times as the technology improves.

[Saturday]

@rwdjones

Your stats look fine.

What speedtest server are you using? Bear in mind that server load may cause you to believe that your download speeds are much lower than they actually are.

Namesco BroadbandMax ADSL Broadband Bandwidth speedtest | Test your ADSL Broadband connection speed is generally a reliable site.

[rwdjones]

Hi Saturday
I am using Namesco
and the last test shown on my post was the bad one (copied and pasted here), i appreciate that things get slow with heavy loads but in some cases i have had to reload the namesco page just to get to the test option as the page loads so slow. Also why when getting crap speeds does it change dramatically if i unplug the router, leave for 30 secs reconnect and then get fantastic speeds for a while and why does my upload speed exceed my download somtimes?
Any suggestions ?
Regards
Bob

ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 15323 kbps 764 kbps
Line Attenuation 31.0 db 17.5 db
Noise Margin 8.4 db 12.0 db

Last Result:
Download Speed: 456 kbps (57 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 624 kbps (78 KB/sec transfer rate)
Results for 30/12/06 14.20

[Saturday]

No - the behaviour you describe isn't normal.

Unfortunately there are several reasons this might be happening. Each one a bit out of the norm and so not easy to fix. You've done the obvious as far as I can tell so all I can do is list a few things for you to consider:

Noise

Noise can be continuous or intermittent, the latter being the hardest to cure. Both cause transmission errors and when they build up the connection is likely to degrade.

• Can you hear any hissing/crackling on your line in voice calls.
• Earlier you talked of "swapping lines", presumably you made new connections? Can you remake those and if you're talking about IDC terminals then you did use a krone tool? If not then the terminals may be damaged.
• Do you have another RJ11 you can try to rule out a cable fault?
• Do you get the same problem when connected to the test socket?
• Did the problem start about the time Christmas lights went up?

Router

• Is your router running very hot? Is it on end on the supplied feet?
• Do you have access to another router to try?

HTH

[rwdjones]

Hi Saturday
1. No hiss or crackle on line
2. Router not running hot
3. Slight confusion over my post about cables, i was using my old router to tel cable and then swopped it to the sky supplied cable, which is when i tought ewverything was sorted.
4. Have only had sky since xmas (tree) lights up, but they are not always on.
5. yes i do have my old Belkin ADSL wireless F5D7632-4 router, but thought i could only use the sky supplied router???
I am no techno, but no idiot, so this is driving me mad
Regards
Bob

[Saturday]

OK - doubt Christmas lights are to blame but it's not only your house to worry about. If your line runs by a set of lights somewhere between you and the exchange, that could affect things. But as I said, I doubt this is the issue.

You didn't answer whether you saw the problem when connected to the test socket which you'll find behind the faceplate of your master socket (assuming you have an NTE5).

Yes you can use another router. See the tech forum sticky for details. If you do however, you will be breaking Sky's T&Cs.

If all else fails and you still have a problem then consider setting your noise margin at 15+db or maybe a different ADSL mode to see if this makes the connection more stable (ref Mognut's utility also in the sticky).

[Wizard Of Oz]

If I'm reading this all right then that means that the lower the line attenuation the better the connection should be.
My sky broadband started working this morning and while checking my down speed is at about 8000 kbs, and the up speed is around 400.
I have checked out my router and some information and have found that my line attenuation is 16db downstream and 11 db upstream. My noise margin both up and down is about 8.5.
I have also checked out my exchange and found that I am 300 metres away from it. The is also a friend of the family who lives a few streets away who gets around 15mbs speed.
Based on all this information I think I should be ok to get the maximum with no caps.
I'm going to call them up and ask to speak to tier 3 and get the caps taken off, but I just wanted to check that everything I have listed above makes sense and I'm on the right track.

[reddwarfcrew]

Yep, sounds about right.

Try mognuts utility to post your detailed router stats: DG834GT

[Wizard Of Oz]

would do, but I'm currently nowhere near home and won't be back there until friday at the earliest. Is there a little guide or something though that explains all the options in mognits utility? I won't be able to check my router til friday or saturday but I'd like to know what the utility contains