Noise Issues - Narrowed It Down

[RamboRab]

Hi

I've been having problems with fluctuating noise margin. It would go between 6.2db and 3.9dB throughout the day. This, along with a poor(ish) noise margin anyway, is causing my connection to sync at around 15-16.5Mbps. The line attenuation suggests that I should be able to get a sync speed of around 18-19Mbps.

I have just began testing by removing the faceplate from the master socket and plugging the router and filter straight into the test socket. Straight away the connection synced at 18Mbps with a stable noise margin of 6.3dB. The noise margin has only gone up by 0.1dB however the speed has gone up quite a bit so the noise margin isn't expected to increase much when the speed increases too.

DLM has capped the connection to 18Mbps so it would appear if it was to run again, I might be able to squeeze a bit more out of it.

So now I need to see where the problem is coming from. It seems that it's internal and it's not the filter as that's still connected to the hub. There are another 4 phone sockets in the flat. Only 2 are being used (1 for Sky HD box and 1 for telephone). Each device has a brand new ADSL Nation filter on it. Obviously since I'm using the test socket at the moment the telephone and Sky HD box aren't connected to the line.

I can connect the telephone to the test socket as well as the Hub to see if that changes things.

Could the issue be the wiring between the test socket and the master socket faceplate?

Who would be best to fix the problem? I assume BT would charge a fortune as it's an internal problem?

Sorry for the long post. Hopefully someone can provide me some help.

Many thanks!


P.S.

Here are the most recent stats from the test socket:

System Up Time: 00:26:16

Port Status TxPkts RxPkts Collision Pkts Tx b/s Rx b/s Up Time
WAN MER 52941 77315 0 52 355 00:24:34
LAN Down 0 0 0 0 0 00:00:00
WLAN Up 80266 55479 0 51348 5332 00:26:16
Broadband Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 18008 kbps 1197 kbps
Line Attenuation 22.5 dB 13.9 dB
Noise Margin 6.3 dB 9.9 dB

[Scubbie]

Could you post some photos please?

The Test Socket should be part of the Master Socket.


If you have a 2nd Master Socket, with capacitors, this can affect you line in a negative manner.

[Isitme]

Fitting and using a filterplate on your master socket would be the best solution, but in the meantime, if there is a wire on the number 3 terminal on the faceplate, pull it off, and retry your stats from the faceplate.

[RamboRab]

I can't post pictures at the moment but the master socket is the latest Openreach one.

The bell wire is still connected. I'll try removing it and check the stats.

[RamboRab]

Just removed the bell wire and plugged the faceplate back on. Syncing at 16Mbps. 2Mbps less than through the test socket!

What is likely the problem then?

[RamboRab]

Back to 18Mbps when using the test socket again.

I'm tempted to just use the test socket permanently. Only other device on the network is my Sky HD box. If I get the RTX phone wireless senders will they interfere with my ethernet home plugs or are they ok? I can't see any reason why they should but just wanted to check before I buy the RTX adapters.

[Scubbie]

I would suggest that you consider fitting and using a filtered faceplate.

Whilst it is a little more expensive than the others, the VDSL filtered faceplate is easy to setup and appears to offer the best connection speed compared to the others:

BT VDSL/ADSL Premium Faceplate - VDSL I Plate

[RamboRab]

Ok, I'll look into that. In the meantime I'll keep using the test socket.

If I could get sky to re-run DLM do the stats posted above show any chance of a possible speed boost? I'd like to think that a 22.5dB attenuation could support over 19Mbps sync.

[Scubbie]

This is possible. Certainly it is worth a try.

[RamboRab]

Do I just explain to them that the line was issues during DLM and they are sorted now and I'd like DLM to be re-run?