ADSL speed issue, please help...

L

Leakysandwich

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2007
Messages
134
Reaction score
1
Location
Somewhere, nowhere, everywhere...
Hi all

I have a problem which i'm struggling to identify on my ADSL line and i'm hoping some people may be able to guide me. :confused:

(I know some ppl dont like wall of text explanations, but I want to be thorough, so I have included a cryptic version of the problem below)

First, the details:
I have a 4Mbps line from Telkom (was activated 1 March)
I am currently using Afrihost as my ISP
I am the only user on the network
I am using a Netgear router

Cryptic version:
4Mbps internet line VERY (VERY!) slow until I reset my router every evening. Sometimes I need to do this 2-3 times an evening. Telkom doesn't see anything wrong on my line...

Expanded version:
The problem I have is every evening my internet is VERY slow. As in 384kbps or less slow. Sometimes it gets so slow that sites wont even open and speedtests just hangs.
My LOCAL latencies also sometimes goes up to 200-300ms...
Using speedtest.net or other speedtest sites confirms this slow speed and latencies.

I have checked for malware/virusses and there is nothing on my PC that could be responsible for the slowdowns.

What i've found though is that after I reset my router, the speed goes up to between 2.5 and 3.6Mbps again, which is normal for a 4Mbps line. (What is weird is that when the line is 'fast' any type of video streaming constantly pauses to buffer yet torrents runs full speed).
This only lasts for a few minutes or maybe an hour before the speed again gradually drops and another reset is required.

Now I know there are peak times when latency and speed will drop, but this is ridiculous AND my line is unshaped via Afrihost aswell...

I have called both Telkom and Afrihost with regards to this.
Afrihost tech told me that they detect port errors on my line and I should ask Telkom to re-port and reset the line and maybe drop it to 3Mbps.
Called Telkom on numerous occasions but they cannot see any problems on my line, even when it is so slow :confused:. Asked them various times to reset/re-port my line but even after they do it, the speed still drops shortly afterwards.
Also had the line dropped to 3Mbps and it's still happening...
I have also tested the line with an old router that I have and get the same results, so its not my hardware.

No one else I know with a 4Mbps line has this problem and they are getting constant high speeds whether it is downloading/streaming/browsing etc.

So basically I'm sitting with definite line problem, but Telkom doesn't see anything wrong on my line.
What am I supposed to do...?
 
Maybe your line cant handle the 4Mbps line? Try slowing the line down a bit and check download speeds then... Unstable?
 
Silly question but it has to be asked, is it a wireless router?

If the answer is yes possibly someone is piggybacking on your bandwidth?.
 
Ensure that your ADLS router's wireless is switch off or that you're using WPA2 encryption / MAC filtering.

Also, post your line attenuation and SNR (noise) margins, which you can get off the router's web frontend.
 
It is a wireless router, but i specifically didnt include it in the problem description because i have already disregarded it as a possible cause.
I have tested it with the wireless switched off and it still does the same.
AND i do have WPA2 encryption and filtering set so even if it is on, it shouldn't be the case (but I know cracking the wireless isn't so difficult, but thats besides the point)
so yeah...
 
Last edited:
Hi

have you tried another ADSL account from a non IS reseller?

I have noticed some crazy local latency with afrihost accounts, tried a telkom and webafrica account and the latency was fine, switch back to afrihost and it was in the 200's again.
 
Interestingly I had a similar issue when I upgraded to 4Mb. The line would be fine and would then slow to a crawl, so much so than nothing wanted to work. Reset the router and all was perfect for a few hours. This was with a Netgear DG834. I was a little hesitant to phone Telkom as I didn't want them to downgrade my line yet. Also, my stats showed that I can have at least an 8Mb line. So, I tried a spare D-Link DSL2540 that I had and everything was perfect. It's still running from when I upgraded and I've not yet had an issue.

BTW, there's nothing wrong with the Netgear, as that was running my 384k line for months without an issue.
 
gbyleveldt said:
Interestingly I had a similar issue when I upgraded to 4Mb. The line would be fine and would then slow to a crawl, so much so than nothing wanted to work. Reset the router and all was perfect for a few hours. This was with a Netgear DG834. I was a little hesitant to phone Telkom as I didn't want them to downgrade my line yet. Also, my stats showed that I can have at least an 8Mb line. So, I tried a spare D-Link DSL2540 that I had and everything was perfect. It's still running from when I upgraded and I've not yet had an issue.

BTW, there's nothing wrong with the Netgear, as that was running my 384k line for months without an issue.
Click to expand...

So you are saying the the netgear you used when you had this issue is not defective, but that using a different router solved your issue?
My Netgear router is brand new though (its a Netgear DGN2000 WirelessN ADSL router) , and as stated I tested my previous router as well... no joy.
 
Having the same problem. My fault is still open and i phoned them to tell them i'm still not satisfied and they opened it again to be tested. Will wait for a techie to phone me.
Here are my status:

Connection Status Connected
Us Rate (Kbps) 503
Ds Rate (Kbps) 4021
US Margin 11
DS Margin 7
Trained Modulation ADSL_G.dmt.bis
LOS Errors 0
DS Line Attenuation 57
US Line Attenuation 35
Peak Cell Rate 1186 cells per sec
CRC Rx Fast 243
CRC Tx Fast 0
CRC Rx Interleaved 0
CRC Tx Interleaved 0
Path Mode Fast Path
 
Leakysandwich said:
So you are saying the the netgear you used when you had this issue is not defective, but that using a different router solved your issue?
My Netgear router is brand new though (its a Netgear DGN2000 WirelessN ADSL router) , and as stated I tested my previous router as well... no joy.
Click to expand...

Yup, I'm saying exactly that. I'm no boffin in this area though, so I'd rather not offer up an explanation for why this is.
 
Oops... yeah missed that bit where you said you used an old router o_O

Does the problem surface when you do not have any torrents downloading and are using only plain old http in a browser with no other p2p software running? Are you using the Peerblock software?
 
I HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM!

I Also use a Helkom 4MB "fastest" line with afrihost as my ISP. I have seen a steady degregation of speed over the past few months. Right now my 4MB line is in fact slower than a 56K dialup modem. I have phoned all around, logged problem messages with every service provider I can think of and no one can give me a definitive answer.

Finally I spoke to some technichian that told me that the problem is with my exchange, that all people on the 4MB service are complaining that they have poor speed. He sugested that I downgrade my line speed to a 3 or 2MB. I did this with no success. First down to 3MB, and then to 2MB. Will you believe that not even their online fault logging system works.

Needless to say I'm at the point where I am ready to burn down the helkom offices.(for those concerned, I'm not really intending to do that).

So, I'm paying nearly R1000 per month for a 28.8K dialup account, so to speak. If the problem does not get rectified soon, or at least communicated to me, I will be canceling my ISP and helkom line and go for vodacom business or something.

I have spoken to other friends and they all have the same problem with their 4MB line. These people all use different ISP and connect via different exchanges. The only common denominator seems to be the sluggish helkom line. So for all of you who blame your routers and ISPs, rest assured, IT IS HELKOM!!!!

Please let me know If there is anything you have discovered regarding the issue.
 
ALWAYS suspect your router.

I didnt, I thought my DSL Dlink modem was fine cause it showed no errors, and showed my line only syncing at 2.8mbps.

Telkom said its probably a line noise problem. I just left it like that for ages.

The other day I tested a firewall/dsl/modem combo from a friend, and suddenly realized it synced at 4.0mbps.

I tested my downloads, their speeds literally doubled!

So, even if your modem appears to be fine, always try another to make sure.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X