Billion UK Forum

I am on the "Up to 20Mbs Package" with Orange.

I have been having problems with download speed for a long time but on reading various forums I have slowly been able to get my speed up from 0.5Mbs to 2.5Mbs by replacing face plates, disconnecting the bell wires and making sure all connections are good.

I purchased the 7800N because I thought my noise margin at 13dB, was very high and I wanted to reduce this margin hopefully to increase download speed. It did not work, it had the opposite effect because everytime I tried, the modem dropped the line and that was detected by the exchange as a drop out and they pushed up the noise margin to try to stabilise the line, I entually ended up with a noise margin of 18dB.

Last week I sent an email to Orange telling them that I had had enough and if they did not sort out the problem I would be changing to another ISP.

I received an explanation about why download speeds can be so erratic but also this information:-
"I've checked the BT database and this shows your line can achieve speeds up to 4000kbps, as long as your router is connected at all times.
I've checked your speed profile and this is currently set at 2709kbps.
I've therefore arranged for this to be reset and your speed will gradually increase over the next 10 days"

When I tried a speed test with the new speed profile I was acheiving download speeds of over 5mbs until 17:00 last night and they have not gone back up today.

Attenuation 32.4/51.5dB
Connection speed 6843 kbps
Noise Margin 1.0 db and very steady, 0.1dB fluctuation either side but no more.
up rate 987 kbps
down load speed ranging between 0.9 and 2.6 mbps

when my speed profile was set at 2709 kbps my download speed was exactly the same as I am getting now.

I do not suffer from interference or dropouts so why, if my speed profile has been increased and I could get a download speed of over 5 mbps has my download speed reverted back to what I was getting on the lower speed profile and why are BT stating that my line is only good for speeds up to 4,000kbps when I have been getting speeds of over 5mbps?

Hi trumpar10

There could be many reasons

1. BT profile has kicked in again after the reset by orange
2. Your low SNR 1.0db
3. Have you asked your ISP if there are any CRC or FEC errors? (if you are a advanced user you can use the telnet commands to check this "adsl info --stats)

Things you can try to get the most out of your internet

1. Ask your ISP to change your default SNR to 6db or 3.5db
2. Make sure you are plugged up to the main telephone socket coming into the house

The reason BT have stated your should achieve 4000kbps or 4mb service is this is the best speed they think you should get on a 6db SNR profile. (6db for stability with BT Homehub, which I assume uses a different chipset to the Bipac 7800N, we all know the 7800N can hold a lower SNR then 6db, but BT recommend the lowest SNR setting of 6db for BT lines and BT equipment)

I hope this helps

Hi billion-fan

Thanks for the info, at the moment the SNR has increased slightly and is fluctuating slowly between 1 dB and 1.6 dB over the course of a day, the download speed is very stable at 5.77Mbps on a line speed of 6752Kbps.

Before buying the 7800N I was lucky to get 2.5Mbps so I am not to dissapointed I just could not understand why Orange did not start at 20Mbps and lower the speed until the line became stable.