Any room for improvement???

[ryan1988]

I had recently called Sky to ask if my line can get better speeds as it is slower than I would like and takes longer to download large files. I was quoted between 5 - 9 for my line when ordering but was hoping for at least 6mbps as I am on the "up to" 20MB deal.

Here is my stats from my 2504n

Port	Status	TxPkts	RxPkts	Collisions	Tx B/s	Rx B/s	Up Time
WAN	MER	1626755	23241708	0	5620	0	1:36:08
LAN	Up	5118440	2735458	0	78	21	503:23:03
WLAN	Up	19491862	15955856	0	0	0	431:10:14

ADSL Link	Downstream	Upstream
Connection Speed	5024 kbps	796 kbps
Line Attenuation	44.0 dB	25.9 dB
Noise Margin	4.8 dB	11.0 dB

Could you tell me if there is any room for improvement in this speed. Sky support started DLM about two weeks ago but I rand the other day to see if there was any improvement and they said it was still in DLM.

My Noise margin is usually around 7.6db but today it seems to be hanging around 4 - 4.5db not sure id this is due to DLM or not but id be happy to hear from anyone and hopefully get my speeds up a little.

P.S I am in the main socket with no extensions in the house at all. Also I changed to a new filter and shorter filter to modem cable 30cm. lol

Also the up time is slow as I checking connections earlier. Checking speed on speedtest.net gives me 4.3 downstream and 0.59 upload speed.

I hope to hear back soon and thanks in advance.

[boothy_08]

You should be getting more speed than that.

At the moment you wont be getting any more speed until you improve the connection.

Are you connected to an extension or by master socket? Try the test socket behind the master sockets faceplate and then post the stats again.

[ryan1988]

Hi thanks for your quick reply. I have now removes the BT cover and plugged into the test socket and the router stats are as follows:

Port	Status	TxPkts	RxPkts	Collisions	Tx B/s	Rx B/s	Up Time
WAN	MER	6979	23831167	0	3438	0	0:11:15
LAN	Up	5180283	2768419	0	390	40	522:38:44
WLAN	Up	20108466	16738615	0	0	0	450:25:55

ADSL Link	Downstream	Upstream
Connection Speed	5020 kbps	796 kbps
Line Attenuation	44.5 dB	25.9 dB
Noise Margin	6.9 dB	11.0 dB

What does this suggest now do you think?

Thanks for your help

[ryan1988]

Here is the result I get on speedtest.net with the ethernet cable from the laptop to the router.

[pengy_666]

there is definatley a improvement with a direct plug into the master socket.

Having the noise margin around 7-8db is ideal I was informed. You may want to look into that issue as a start.

I would wait 24 hours with it plugged into master socket direct and see if there is a speed increase, It can take up to 24 hours to identify the line noise is reduced.

Or ring and moan and see if they have stabilised it at that speed.

Ring 08442 410096 tier 2 support team, these are the guys that work between NT openreach and sky BB team. These are the actual technical team. Just tell them you have had no joy from the technical bb line and the last guy told you to ring these guys up.

I fixed my slow speed with these guys and I am now ticking over @ approx 15Mbps.

[ryan1988]

Hi thanks for this. That seemed to do the trick. The lovely girl said that I was set at 5MB and she set it straight away to 8 but this is now my stats: What do you think?

Port	Status	TxPkts	RxPkts	Collisions	Tx B/s	Rx B/s	Up Time
WAN	MER	9104	23906857	0	75743	0	0:11:23
LAN	Up	5243833	2817690	0	10976	59895	527:09:36
WLAN	Up	20139641	16773123	0	0	0	454:56:47

ADSL Link	Downstream	Upstream
Connection Speed	6214 kbps	766 kbps
Line Attenuation	44.5 dB	25.7 dB
Noise Margin	4.6 dB	8.5 dB

Thanks again for your help

[ryan1988]

And on speedtest.net

[pengy_666]

WOW, slight improvement. are you still plugged into the master socket or have you have put socket back together because your noise margin is different.

It would either say you have put it back together or you may have corroded points on the line outside from the pole or at the end of the road in the bt box.

If this was me and you haven't put phone socket back together, I would keep calling teir 2 support number and tell them it keeps dropping and there is noise on the line, Whilst on the phone touch your stubble and it sounds like noise down the phone and then they will get openreach out, if it is a faulty line they will charge sky but if you are sure it isn't your side then I would pursue it.


If you have put it together, you need to check out whats going on. you could probably need to replace the extensions in the house or the actual master socket itself.

What does the master socket look like? how many wires come from outside the house from BT?

[ryan1988]

Hi thanks for this. Yes I still am in the test socket and did not put it back together. The strange thing is that my speed has dropped again. Here are the stats this morning?

Port	Status	TxPkts	RxPkts	Collisions	Tx B/s	Rx B/s	Up Time
WAN	MER	40437	24762920	0	3	1089	10:14:14
LAN	Up	5988749	3224808	0	1322	147	547:22:58
WLAN	Up	20292189	16938973	0	1089	1089	475:10:09

ADSL Link	Downstream	Upstream
Connection Speed	5362 kbps	945 kbps
Line Attenuation	44.5 dB	26.1 dB
Noise Margin	6.4 dB	8.6 dB

I do believe everything on my end is good but not sure why the speed has went down today. Could this be DLM? Would you suggest I contact them again about this. Yesterday the tech said that she was able to put it to 8 with no major errors on the line and it was coming in at the 6214 as above. It is so annoying when things like this happen as this speed can't cope with a busy household

[Isitme]

The only reason you got more speed was because your noise margin was allowed to go well below the default. Too low in your case, as it has dropped further and resynced at a sustainable speed. DLM is now setting some lines with a low noise margin, but only those with a good line which can sustain it. When this is done manually there is a good chance it will fail, as the agent can only see how your line has been performing with the previous noise margin. Because it is producing little or no errors when at the default, does not mean it will have none when the margin is dropped by a few dbs.

Your line should perform better, 7-8Mb but due to its condition you are not going to get much more than you have. The reason for this could be a fault on the line, low quality wire being used or simply old tired copper which cannot perform any better. Unless Sky can find a fault on your line you have little chance of improvement. If you have a large household and need a lot of bandwidth, maybe you should consider moving to Fibre if it available to you, or dare I say it, Virgin Cable.