Improving My Sync Rates

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Handle9

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Topic # 132259 15-Oct-2013 08:04

I live at a house (I own) which has mediocre ADSL performance. We're on Telecom.

I've installed a master filter in the ETP with a straight run of CAT5e to a dedicated jackpoint for the ADSL. I'm confiedent that it's terminated correctly, with Scotchlocs etc. We're running a Draytek Vigor 120 in PPPoA to PPPoE bridge mode.

I live right on the edge of an exchange area the house over the fence is on a cabinet so I'm aware that it may just be a limitation of the exchange (Blockhouse Bay in Auckland). The Chorus network map does suggest we should get >10Mb

The one interesting thing is we do sometimes get a bit of a crackly phone line, it is intermittent though. It doesn't seem to affect ADSL performance.

I'm just curious is there anything else I should be doing or getting Telecom to have a look at? Modem stats are as below, and performance is stable and consistent.

--------------------------- ATU-R Info (hw: annex A, f/w: annex A) -----------
DSL Modulation : ADSL2+(G.992.5)
State : SHOWTIME
DS Actual Rate : 6337313 bps US Actual Rate : 977022 bps
DS Attainable Rate : 6060000 bps US Attainable Rate : 977000 bps
DS Path Mode : Fast US Path Mode : Fast
DS Interleave Depth : 1 US Interleave Depth : 1
NE Current Attenuation : 34 dB Cur SNR Margin : 11 dB
DS actual PSD : 18. 1 dB US actual PSD : 12. 1 dB
ADSL Firmware Version : 321311_A
-------------------------------- ATU-C Info ---------------------------------
Far Current Attenuation : 17 dB Far SNR Margin : 11 dB
CO ITU Version[0] : 00004244 CO ITU Version[1] : 0000434d

plambrechtsen

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Reply # 915267 15-Oct-2013 10:31

If you get crackle on the line you need to log a case and get Chorus out and get them to check it out.

You can email me "pl at telecom.co.nz" and I can run a line test.

Handle9

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Reply # 915693 15-Oct-2013 20:14

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Thanks Peter, I have sent you an email. The crackle is very intermittent, we have had Chorus out previously and they weren't able to find / fix it.

Handle9

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Reply # 923262 28-Oct-2013 21:35

Hi Peter. Did the line test find anything?

Handle9

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Reply # 929978 9-Nov-2013 14:08

Hi Peter. Did you ever get a chance to run this line test?

plambrechtsen

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Reply # 930235 10-Nov-2013 12:02

I didn't get the email, try again as it may have slipped through my spam filter.

Handle9

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Reply # 930243 10-Nov-2013 13:02

Ok, have resent now.

Handle9

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Reply # 930503 11-Nov-2013 07:56

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Just in the interest of full disclosure I thought I better let you know we are moving our broadband back to vodafone naked - nothing against the Telecom service, we just have come to the conclusion we really don't need a landline.

michaelmurfy

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Reply # 930505 11-Nov-2013 08:04

Handle9: Just in the interest of full disclosure I thought I better let you know we are moving our broadband back to vodafone naked - nothing against the Telecom service, we just have come to the conclusion we really don't need a landline.

Why? Coming from a Christchurch point of view is the safety of your family worth a saving of a few dollars per month? Landline was the only thing really working in Christchurch during the events.

Even for I, who doesn't use a landline this came in VERY handy. Telecom does Naked with a landline still active (but barred and can call 111) as long as you have a mobile account with them, so $39 mobile plan + $30 discount off your broadband is a better deal IMO.

Phone them before jumping to conclusions.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
A quick guide to picking the right ISP | The Router Guide | Community UniFi Cloud Controller | Ubiquiti Edgerouter Tutorial

plambrechtsen

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Reply # 930598 11-Nov-2013 11:01

I hate to say it but you are right on a Cabinet boundary so you are exchange connected showing up at 2km away from the exchange.

It really looks like your master filter may not be good, or there could be issues running back to the exchange (which Chorus would need to fix, but often they say "working within spec nothing to fix").

I'm running a 24 hour test to see what it gives back, but there may not be much that can be done in your case.

Handle9

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Reply # 930914 11-Nov-2013 17:38

michaelmurfy:
Handle9: Just in the interest of full disclosure I thought I better let you know we are moving our broadband back to vodafone naked - nothing against the Telecom service, we just have come to the conclusion we really don't need a landline.

Why? Coming from a Christchurch point of view is the safety of your family worth a saving of a few dollars per month? Landline was the only thing really working in Christchurch during the events.

Even for I, who doesn't use a landline this came in VERY handy. Telecom does Naked with a landline still active (but barred and can call 111) as long as you have a mobile account with them, so $39 mobile plan + $30 discount off your broadband is a better deal IMO.

Phone them before jumping to conclusions.

There are a number of reasons but the main one is we just don't use it. Coupled with us being on an exchange with Vodafone LLU gear makes Vodafone a really good choice. With their lower SNR they get better speeds.

Previously we were with Vodafone and the only reason we changed was they didn't offer large data caps.

I have a work phone and my wife has minimal use of her $19 100 minutes so upgrading her plan doesn't appeal.

It just seems a better product fit for us. We've been very happy with Telecoms service and IMO their call centre staff are great, it's just their offering doesn't suit.

Handle9

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Reply # 930917 11-Nov-2013 17:41

plambrechtsen: I hate to say it but you are right on a Cabinet boundary so you are exchange connected showing up at 2km away from the exchange.

It really looks like your master filter may not be good, or there could be issues running back to the exchange (which Chorus would need to fix, but often they say "working within spec nothing to fix").

I'm running a 24 hour test to see what it gives back, but there may not be much that can be done in your case.

Thanks Peter. If it's my wiring I'll replace the master filer and rerun the Cat5e from the ETP. It's not too hard to get at.

Thank you for this Peter, I really appreciate it.

Handle9

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Reply # 937027 18-Nov-2013 22:10

So I have done some tests - used a new clean piece of Cat5e and bypassed the master filter + tested with the master filter and it made no difference to my sync rates. I'm increasingly confident any issues are upstream of me.

The speed has gone up by about 60% (8Mb on speedtest vs 5Mb) by moving to Vodafone but the attenuation has been a constant 32db.

Is this something worth raising with my ISP (now Vodafone) or am I stuck with what I have?

Ragnor

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Reply # 937401 19-Nov-2013 16:21

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32dB of attenuation indicates about 2.3km of copper between you and the exchange.

You are getting higher sync rate on Vodafone LLU because they use lower noise margin (buffer of unused frequency in the ADSL2+ range, used to prevent disconnections from noise) than Chorus (6dB vs 12dB). Basically Vodafone LLU use more aggressive settings on their own gear.

Ideally you should be able to get ~10Mbit at 2km but 8Mbit isn't that bad, not sure you're going to have much luck with logging faults with your ISP, there's probably some minor issue upstream of you but it may be like finding a needle in a haystack. Your port would have been changed switching from chorus to vodafone gear so it's likely something in the actual cable/bundle between you and the exchange.

This is a classic example of why we need the UFB rollout, better technology that doesn't degrade so quickly over distance. Unfortunately the bulk of Blockhouse bay isn't in the the rollout plan for the next couple of years.

Handle9

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Reply # 937596 19-Nov-2013 22:11

Ragnor: 32dB of attenuation indicates about 2.3km of copper between you and the exchange.

You are getting higher sync rate on Vodafone LLU because they use lower noise margin (buffer of unused frequency in the ADSL2+ range, used to prevent disconnections from noise) than Chorus (6dB vs 12dB). Basically Vodafone LLU use more aggressive settings on their own gear.

Ideally you should be able to get ~10Mbit at 2km but 8Mbit isn't that bad, not sure you're going to have much luck with logging faults with your ISP, there's probably some minor issue upstream of you but it may be like finding a needle in a haystack. Your port would have been changed switching from chorus to vodafone gear so it's likely something in the actual cable/bundle between you and the exchange.

This is a classic example of why we need the UFB rollout, better technology that doesn't degrade so quickly over distance. Unfortunately the bulk of Blockhouse bay isn't in the the rollout plan for the next couple of years.

Kind of figured that was the case. The thing that I do find interesting is that Chorus list us as 10Mbit+ when clearly that isn't possible on their gear with being 2km from the exchange. I'm not bitter and twisted about it, just find it a bit disappointing.

As Peter pointed out if I was over the back fence I'd be able to get VDSL but thems the breaks.

You're not wrong about needing UFB, just we aren't getting it anytime soon. That and we are on a cross lease with 8 sections so everyone agreeing will be fun ;) By the time it comes along we'll be moving again anyway.