4mb unshaped SpeedTest.net @ 2mb~. Pics and info included

I

Issendyl

Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2008
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
Hello,

I've got an ongoing problem of slow speeds on my ADSL line.

I'm going to list some details to start off:
I have an Unshaped 4mbps 5 gig Imaginet Account (This is my 'fast' line)
I have an Shaped Uncapped 4mbps Afrihost Account (This is my 'slow' line)
I use a Planet Modem/Router
I'm in Port Elizabeth, my area does have the 10mb line upgrade but my line speed is supposedly at 4mb.
For fast speed results, I will always use my Imaginet line, then for cross-reference testing, compare it to my Afrihost account


In the past my Speedtest.net results, on my Imaginet, would normally reach about 3mb/s (Generally average about 3.2mb/s download).

However, when I test now, I get these results (Imaginet):
1554424367.png

2.06mb/s Download

Tested again 3 more times to verify it's not once-off:
http://www.speedtest.net/result/1554432784.png (2.09mb/s download)
http://www.speedtest.net/result/1554434207.png (2.03mb/s download)
http://www.speedtest.net/result/1554439865.png (2.02mb/s download)

Here is the information that is displayed on my router's page:
planetmodem.gif


Have a look at the Red Circle I've added. It shows a Data rate of 2400.

I have no understanding of Line Attenuation or what figures are meant to be reflected there, however I'm sure the 2400 figure is incorrect.


As you can see, I clearly do have some problems and after continuous problems for years, it's putting my stress levels to the point of it being a medical concern.

Can someone please give me some advice as to what measures I need to take to get this sorted out.

So far, I've been told that my line is syncing at 2~ mbps. Some other people have just plain outright said it's too complicated (Line attenuation etc.) and I may as well just live with it.



** My apologies for images not displaying in the post, I must have used the
 
I've reset my router (please note this gets done quite often because of one of my iMacs) and now the Data rate on the Modem page is at 4320.

Speedtest.net results: (3.58mb/s)
http://www.speedtest.net/result/1554476058.png

Modem page:


So it seems that a lucky modem reboot has possibly solved the huge reduction is speed.

However, could someone please have a look at the latest modem screenshot and check if the Attenuation values are correct? Should my Speedtest.net not be synced/displaying 4mb/s?

I plan on Bonding two ADSL lines in the near future, but it peeves me to think that if I'm not getting the best out of 1 line, I'm wasting money on bonding to semi-good lines.

I thank you for any input.

Kind regards,
Martin
 
The line attenuation is the amount of signal loss on the cable, and you can roughly estimate it from the length of your ADSL cable: downstream line attenuation = cable length [km] * 14 [dB/km]

According to your downstream line attenuation, you are fairly close to the DSLAM, which means that you should be able to get like 10Mbps if your Exchange supports it.

Currently your ADSL modem is connected to the DSLAM at 2400kbps down/640kbps up, instead of like 4096kbps down/512kbps up - like a 4Mbps Telkom ADSL connection should connect at. I would urge you to phone Telkom and ask them to reset your speed profile to like 4Mbps or you can try and ask for 10Mbps even.
 
My previous post was a response on your first post.

Here's an update with regards to your second post:
I would suggest that you borrow a friend's D-Link/TP-Link ADSL modem if you can, because your SNR margin (the signal quality) is quite poor for your ADSL line conditions. I have no experience with Planet ADSL modems, but from the screenshot that you've posted, it looks like a rather poor modem.

The data rate would fluctuate this much if your ADSL connection is suffering from strong interference - like CCFL (cold-cathode fluorescent lamps), in which case not even a decent modem would fix it.
What you could also try is to disconnect all the other telephonic devices (telephone, fax, alarm & ADSL filter) and connect the ADSL modem directly to the Telkom line.
 
Thank you for both of your posts Pada.

Yes, the Planet modem is indeed very old with at least 5 years of use. The person who sold it to me is still around and obviously states there should be nothing with it, however I will be putting in an order in a moment for something of better quality.

I will proceed with disconnecting every device that utilises the phone line (Base wireless phone system with 3 handsets) as well as the cluster of components I have around my computer (Sound studio) and will post results in case it helps anyone in the future.

Thank you Pada for your assistance and it is highly appreciated (doing my homework on the links in your signature).
 
Hi again.

I haven't been able to disconnect my components yet as there was work to be done, but I will be tackling that tonight.

However, after constantly watching the modem page, I've noticed that the "Data Rate" is constantly dropping down to 2000~. Resetting the router on it's Admin page or manually will bring it up to a random 4-thousand number, one reboot it will be 4200, the next 4600, then 4300~. Not long has to pass and it's back down to 2000~. One thing that I think remains constant is the Upload data rate at 640.

I am waiting for my new modem to be delivered and will post line attenuation screenshots in case this is might help someone else in the future.
 
Issendyl said:
Summerstrand, bottom of 7th Avenue by the beach.

041-583****
Click to expand...
Damn, you are around the corner from the exchange (cnr Skegness Rd/Bognor St) and it is 10Mb enabled as well. Probably less than 1km....

Good news is that you are in line for a further upgrade next year - 20/40Mb !!

My first guess is that it is your modem/router (old). If you test it with another (newer) modem/router and get similar results, then log a fault and immediately request them to escalate it to the local cable conformance testing section.
 
Also check to see on your router if you cant change your modulation from G.dmt to ADSL 2+
 
Hi again.

Sorry for the delay in response, been really busy with work.

During the week, the same happenings would occur with the data rate dropping from 4k~ down to 2400.

I eventually managed to disconnect everything in the premises and to my surprise, the data rate has shot up to 6144 (I've apparently been on the 6mb line for some time according to Telkom). The last units which seemed to make the change was the 3-handset wireless phone set which ran through the Telkom filter as well as a recording device we use for certain phone calls (We do this legally). Right now I have a standard phone plugged in without the filter for testing purposes.

Showtime Firmware Version: 3.50
Line State: SHOWTIME
Modulation: G.dmt
Annex Mode: ANNEX_A
Startup Attempts: 1
Max Tx Power: -38 dBm/Hz
CO Vendor: UNUSED_VENDOR_0
Elaspsed Time: 0 days 0 hours 12 minutes 26 seconds


Downstream / Upstream

SNR Margin 20.0 12.0 dB
Line Attenuation 14.8 5.0 dB
Errored Seconds 0 0
Loss of Signal 0 0
Loss of Frame 0 0
CRC Errors 0 0
Data Rate 6144 640 kbps
Latency FAST FAST

SNR seems to fluctuate a large amount. It's generally sitting at 19~, but when I start loading a start (running Speedtest.net for example), I've seen it drop to 14, jump to 16 and then up to 21.

I have no idea if the Data Rate is still resetting to 2400 as I only did the changes today..

My new modem did arrive (D-Link DSL-2540U), but the ADSL/phone line-in light doesn't show and according to forum searches, it's most likely a faulty unit like many others out there. *sigh* :( I should have taken a friends advice and gone for a Cisco.

Done a few SpeedTests.net and only about 1/5 times will I get 3mb+ Reported Download speed on the site. Most of the time it's 1mb or below. The fastest I've been able to download at (torrent or regular download) is at about 350kb/s, which is slower than what I got previously at a 4k data rate, maxing at about 450kb/s.

I appreciate all the help so far and will write a full 'report'/fix/analysis on everything once I manage to get it sorted further.
 
george21 said:
Also check to see on your router if you cant change your modulation from G.dmt to ADSL 2+
Click to expand...

This modem is fairly ancient (Will hopefully be replaced soon) and ADSL 2+ is not in the list unless it's under a different name.

My options are as follows in case I should be picking another:
G.dmt/G.lite
T1.413
G.dmt
G.lite
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X