I've been experiencing poor internet rates lately and so I thought I'd have a play around with a few things. I'm currently with BT on an unlimited 8meg connection and ran the tests around 1800 local time (UK).
The starting point was with my PC connected to an extension socket upstairs and this is what my modem reported:
Data rate: Down - 3776, Up - 448
Noise margin: Down - 15.3, Up - 16.8
Output power: Down - 19.7, Up - 12.3
Attenuation: Down - 28.5, Up - 30.0
Running the BTspeedtest produced:
IP Profile - 2500
Up stream - 448
Downstream - 3776
Actual IP throughput - 2326
I then changed the filter & cable from the wall socket to the modem for brand new ones and ran the same tests. This time I got:
Data rate: Down - 6560, Up - 448
Noise margin: Down - 14.6, Up - 21.0
Output power: Down - 17.8, Up - 12.3
Attenuation: Down - 16.5, Up - 7.0
Running the BTspeedtest produced:
IP Profile - 2500
Up stream - 448
Downstream - 6560
Actual IP throughput - 2332
For the final test I connected to the BT master socket (inside the house's prime socket) with the new cable/filter and received these values:
Data rate: Down - 6624, Up - 448
Noise margin: Down - 14.6, Up - 24.0
Output power: Down - 15.8, Up - 12.4
Attenuation: Down - 15.0, Up - 6.5
Running the BTspeedtest produced:
IP Profile - 2500
Up stream - 448
Downstream - 6624
Actual IP throughput - 2367
Now out of all this it would appear that changing the cable/filter for new items produced a significant increase in the downstream connection rate (3776 upto 6560). There would appear to be a small loss by using an extension socket rather than the master BT socket.
The BT speedtests seem to confirm the modem reported downstream speeds in each case but, according to BT, the actual IP throughoughput never really changes. Does anyone know why? I assume it's to do with the IP Profile figure which, to my simple brain, seems to imply the line is capped at 2500.
If the line is capped, is this because I've been acheiving poor data rates around the 3500 mark? Now that I can connect at 6000+ will I see an automatic increase in the IP Profile or do I need to contact BT(
) to request a line recalibration?
I hope all the above makes sense
Finally, can anyone explain in layman's terms what noise margin, output power & attenuation are, as reported by my Belkin router, and whether high or low are better values.
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Edited to add:
Now 1930 UK time and having used the BT speedtester again its reporting:
IP Profile - 500
Up stream - 448
Downstream - 6240
Actual IP throughput - 318
Is it possible that my connection has been throttled back from its previous level of 2500?