Adsl Connect Speed

[vengavenga]

My 256 ADSL connection has been upgraded to a 2mbit one this morning.

 

When I connect, it shows the connection speed as 2mbit, however speed tests/downloads etc all indicate a "real" downstream of around 26Kb/s.

Upstream is higher.

 

I'm not sure how good the extension phone wiring is in this house, it might well need improving, however - before I start moving stuff about, does anyone know:

 

1) Is wiring a likely cause? I'm assuming they must have carried out a line test before upgrading.

 

2) Does the fact that it shows the connect speed as 2mbit suggest that wiring is probably OK and that it's an ISP/Contention issue? The reason I ask this is that when I recently moved computers, I found that my (old) connection was connecting at 192 when it had always been 256 before ... it turned out that the lead I'd plugged into the modem from the phone extension socket was the one that had previously been connected to the phone. Swapping them round solved this, so I assumed that one of the leads was of an inferior quality. On that basis, if the extension is no good, I'd be getting a lower indicated connection speed.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks,

 

Ali

www.vengavenga.com

[MikeJ]

When I connect, it shows the connection speed as 2mbit, however speed tests/downloads etc all indicate a "real" downstream of around 26Kb/s.

Upstream is higher.

Is that 26KB/s, as in 26 kilobytes or roughly just over 192 kilobits?

 

I've never had ADSL (I have SDSL which runs on a separate line) so I'm not sure exactly what to tell ya, but I do know that the wiring in your house can have a significant effect on the quality of the line.

 

According to the FAQ entry on slow DSL at broadbandreports.com:

 

DSL Interference. DSL operates across a wide frequency spectrum, and particular ADSL and G.lite, can vary speed downwards in response to noise on the line. There are often no user visible statistics on whether this is happening, and the only symptom is poor performance. Checking around the house for possible sources can sometimes reap rewards of immediate speed gain. Things such as poor house wiring, long home phone cable runs (rather than locating the DSL modem as close to the entry point of the line as possible), or in the case of ADSL, micro-filters of insufficient quality, or being installed backwards, older fax machines, or poor quality phone extension handsets. Even cordless phones and floro lights should be regarded with suspicion. By a process of elimination though, you can determine which if any of these possible problems is the cause of your persistent poor speed.

 

Home alarm systems, installed "in-series" to your phone line, can ruin an ADSL signal. placing them on another run with a filter should be a top priority.

 

If you look at the Full FAQ there, and scroll down to section 8, "Home Wiring", you can find several suggestions.

[xGrendel]

That is where the DSL and Cable companies getchya. The little letter B makes a big difference. Why can't we just go back to using a "baud" rate!