Why am I on an MER connection?

[SamSays]

Hi guys,

My Sky Unlimited broadband went live yesterday and it has already gone pear shaped.

I'm on an MER connection with a 4Mbps speed cap. I live round the corner from my local exchange.

What is going on?

[Isitme]

Your connection goes through a training period which should have been explained to you on the literature you received from Sky. The training period can last from a few days up to 10 days. As it does not start immediately this can mean 13-14 days before your line is fully trained. With a good line it can be over in about 3 days.

You look good for the maximum speed, but your noise margin could be a bit higher. Plug your router into your Test socket and take the stats from there. Use only the ADSL cable supplied by Sky, do not use a trailing extension. You will not see an increase in speed, but hopefully an increase in your downstream noise margin.

[SamSays]

Thanks for the reply Isitme,

My landline is really good condition. My previous router with my last ISP was synching at 23,986kbps but actual download speeds were roughly 20Mbps.

I still don't know why I'm on an MER connection and not PPPoA? Why is the VPI 40? I thought Sky broadband used 38?

[Isitme]

Some of Sky's users have been moved to MER, those who are on Sky Voice and Broadband Network. I think its supposed to be an improvement. It uses a different VPI from PPPoA and I think it may also use a different MTU.

[Shonk]

Sky are changing over to mer from ppoa

Let us know in a few days what speed you get up and down
will be interesting to see if dlm gives you over 19999
and what upstream you get

[Tal71]

Some of Sky's users have been moved to MER, those who are on Sky Voice and Broadband Network. I think its supposed to be an improvement.

I just have broadband from Sky (line is still with BT) and I've been moved to MER. I have noticed a slight drop in the speedtest results since moving to MER, around 400 kbps down on what I was seeing when on PPPoA, but my downstream sync is 17022 kbps, so the drop isnt noticeable.

[Isitme]

Yes, it seems to be ones who have Dlink or Sagem routers. The Netgears may not be compatible.

[SamSays]

Some of Sky's users have been moved to MER, those who are on Sky Voice and Broadband Network.

Yup I have Sky talk + broadband. I accept that they may be using MER connections but that doesn't explain why I've got a capped connection at 4Mbps when my line is well capable of ADSL2+ speeds.

I'll give it a few more days. If I don't see any changes I'll have to give Sky a call.

[Scubbie]

The figures in your post are those initially set before DLM starts to work.

If you have only just been connected, then do not worry.

If you have been connected for a week or longer, check your account page on the Sky website to see if DLM has completed.

If there is still an issue, call sky.

[Isitme]

but that doesn't explain why I've got a capped connection at 4Mbps when my line is well capable of ADSL2+ speeds.

Didn't you read the first paragraph in my first post or the letters you have received from Sky? Leave your router plugged in and powered up and let the system do its job.

You are on ADSL2+!