BT internet woes again

[stolzy]

So, I have a place in the UK with BT internet. Every time I go there the internet speed has dropped to 0.2 Mb/s. My neighbour (10m away) is consistently on 5 Mb/s

The explanations from BT for why my internet is 25 times slower than my neighbour include 'weather conditions', my line to the exchange might be longer or loopier

Seems to be something that happens when we're away from the house for a while, although the router is never switched off. Each time they put the line in stabilisation mode which means it stays very slow, but gradually improves so that after 7-10 days its back to 5 Mb/s. Unfortunately I'm rarely here for longer than a week at a time.

Other than change my lifestyle to better suit BT, is there anything I can do?

 

[illustratedman]

Mine drops regularly even though it's used permanently, soon as i reboot the modem it goes back up most times. worth a go if you havent tried it.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Mine drops regularly even though it's used permanently, soon as i reboot the modem it goes back up most times. worth a go if you havent tried it.

Had the same lately and re boot. They have been playing with the line locally though and t's been fine for a few weeks

It's probably worth asking BT for a new modem if you have continuing issues.

 

[ianf]

Is it an old white home-hub, on an adsl2+ line? (capable of 20mb if you were closer).

They don't play well together, even if the line tests with no errors there will be loss of framing etc that causes the line to train down.

Might be better having the router off when not in use, or negotiating a newer router that knows adsl2+.

 

[Bryn]

John, I've been with BT for phone and internet for some time.. .and its always been slow as feck... until a couple of months ago...Rang them once again threatening to go elsewhere... they suggested BT infinity.... I said yes as it wasn't going to cost me any more...

So the engineer arrived, put in a new line and new wireless router..... problem solved... before I couldn't even watch a you tube clip without it reloading....

Haven't had a problem since

 

[stolzy]

Mine drops regularly even though it's used permanently, soon as i reboot the modem it goes back up most times. worth a go if you havent tried it.

It doesn't drop the line, its quite consistent, but at only 0.2 Mb/sec

 

[stolzy]

Had the same lately and re boot. They have been playing with the line locally though and t's been fine for a few weeks

It's probably worth asking BT for a new modem if you have continuing issues.

Modem is less than 6 mo old.

 

[stolzy]

John, I've been with BT for phone and internet for some time.. .and its always been slow as feck... until a couple of months ago...Rang them once again threatening to go elsewhere... they suggested BT infinity.... I said yes as it wasn't going to cost me any more...

So the engineer arrived, put in a new line and new wireless router..... problem solved... before I couldn't even watch a you tube clip without it reloading....

Haven't had a problem since

But there's slow and there's slow.

This is 25 times slower than even the meager 5Mb/sec they promised.

Watching videos on YouTube is a dream, even the front page of UKGSers takes 20-30 sec to load.

 

[cookie]

Switch to O2 or Be LLU , they use an entirely different model for line training.

 

[GlynnJ]

meager 5Mb/sec

I wouldn't call 5Mbps "meager". My max is 478kbps Unlikely to get better anytime soon. Still, a small price to pay for living where I do

 

[wessie]

Switch to O2 or Be LLU , they use an entirely different model for line training.

*ding* - I've been happy with Be* for the last 18 months

You can find out if you have any LLU providers on your exchange by going to http://www.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search

 

[illustratedman]

It doesn't drop the line, its quite consistent, but at only 0.2 Mb/sec

No, sorry to confuse, the line doesnt drop out but the speed reduces, reboot cures it for me.

 

[Mr K]

Switch the hub off when you're away.

 

[longdog]

BT have a Twitter account, @BTCare, that is solely for faults. I had issues and they 'phoned me within a few hours of my posting.

 

[stolzy]

Switch the hub off when you're away.

In fact, they originally said that was the problem and told me to leave it switched on when I was away

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

seeing as you are only there occasionally and your neighbour has good speeds - why not share your line with him - maybe on a pro-rata basis ?

 

[Mr K]

In fact, they originally said that was the problem and told me to leave it switched on when I was away

I'm not broadband trained, but as I understand it the hub, when switched on will acheive the fastest speed it can. Over time it will "train" to a compromise of speed/reliability.

 

[stolzy]

I'm not broadband trained, but as I understand it the hub, when switched on will acheive the fastest speed it can. Over time it will "train" to a compromise of speed/reliability.

Well the connection speed is currently 0.24 Mb. I turned the router off and back on and the connection speed is 0.24 Mb

I'm sure you're right, but there is something broken here which overwhelms the training issue.

Needless to say the promised call (within 4 hrs) from the next tier of support never materialised.

 

[wessie]

When I switched from the BT network to Be's LLU the line from their equipment to my house (owned by BT) could not work at full speed. Be paid for "specialist network" BT engineers to come out to find a fault on 2 occasions. They were hopeless and I remained at 1.5Mb/s and Be escalted the problem with BT.

A few weeks later the phone line developed a hiss which I reported to BT. Phone line engineer arrived, did an earth leakage test and found a fault. He swappped me to another cable into the exchange and I now get the 6Mb/s promised.

So, if you don't get any joy with the BT Openreach people try reporting a voice fault.

 

[jumperboy]

What speed does the BT site say your should get on your line ?

Here can give a basic speed test:
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=25633

This site can give you what your line is capable of:
http://speedtester.bt.com/

Post back the results.