BT broadband speed..help please

[RJRB 688]

I received an e mail from BT about 6 weeks ago to say that I could now access a download speed of over 50 Mbps.

I checked this with Ooklah and I was indeed getting around 47Mbps.

After finding that things seemed slower over the last few days I checked again with Ooklah which at various times during the day struggled to approach 3 Mbps.

I then checked on the My BT website that indicated that the service to my house was still over 47Mbps.

Last night I checked with Ooklah after midnight and their indication at that time was around 35 Mbps.

All the checks have been done with only one i pad connected to the Internet.

My question is why is there such a wide variation and what can I do to achieve the 47Mbps which BT say I should be getting.

The upload speed is steady at around 10 Mbps.

Thanks

[geared 302]

You shouldn't be doing speed checks over wireless, the connection to the router can vary quite alot of make massive differences to the speedcheck.

 

It needs to be a computer plugged directly into the router with a network cable.

[RJRB 688]

But the main issue is not what speed is at the router,but what speed can I get over wireless when using either my lap top or I pad.

Is such a disparity of 47 Mbps to 3Mbps normal and why has it varied when checked wirelessly from 3Mbps to 40 Mbps.

I appreciate your comments

[geared 302]

Yea could be, BT routers aren't known for being pillars of reliability so if there was a bunch of interference or the thing was just throwing a hissy fit you can get much reduced speed.

[RiffRaff 10]

I had an iffy HomeHub 5 with similar issues a few months ago. Got on to the BT helpdesk who decided after a (very) few tests that a replacement unit was due.

Have to say I wasn't convinced that they were correct, and apart from that, wasn't too keen on forking out £120 (?), but they stated that replacements were free to contracted users.

(The fact that my contract had finished months before didn't seem to bother 'em!)

Sure enough, a few days later a brand new unit arrived.....

Did it improve matters?

No, not really.

One piece of advice that was passed on was to turn the unit off overnight if/when nobody had need of it...helped with possible overheating issues.

[RJRB 688]

Thanks for above.

I have just gone through the turning off the router routine and turning back on,and I now seem to be getting the 50 Mbps level again.

Perhaps I should have tried this earlier!

[Antics^^ 10]

One piece of advice that was passed on was to turn the unit off overnight if/when nobody had need of it...helped with possible overheating issues.

 

This is usually a bad idea as the system that monitors and sets your speed the DLM system will think there's a fault on line and slow down your speed.

[RiffRaff 10]

This is usually a bad idea as the system that monitors and sets your speed the DLM system will think there's a fault on line and slow down your speed.

 

Just repeating the advice that the BT helpdesk gave.

Sounded as if the latest batch of HH5s are causing a bit of concern.

[walkerx 10]

if you keep rebooting the hh4/5 or 6 the system thinks you have a problem and drops your line speed - over a period of stability the speed may increase but can take ages.

[RiffRaff 10]

That's interesting : I wonder why the helpdesk - a Level 1 guy, by the way - is giving out that advice?

I've been in the habit of unplugging everything electrical (excepting the 'fridge and, up until now, the router) overnight for more years than I remember, so their information didn't sound out of place.

Sounds like I'll have to resort to leaving it switched on...

[geared 302]

Standard level 1 helpdesk spiel is :

 

Is it plugged in

Is the light on

Have you tried turning it off and back on again

[martin6 10]

Ooklah with all it's advertising is far from reliable anymore