How can I test whether there is congestion on the VP's from my exchange
Perform a BTw Speedtest.
If your speeds on there are also low on there then its likely congestion at the exchange.
This speedtest is performed from your connection solely on the bTw network - providing you use the login on that page.
I have a problem with download speeds not being comensurate with line stats and there being large variations over a short time.
This is something fairly typical of max dsl across all IPStream ISPs.
Speeds will and do fluctuate, and Ive never seen any from from any IPStream ISP getting near full speeds during peak - nor have I seen anyone been able to say "I get a constant Xkbps" if they are capable of getting the higher speeds. :/
PN exchange status checker always shows green,
The information is supplied by BT and normally several weeks behind. From personal experience the exchange checker only gets classified as red once speeds start dropping below the equivalent of 400kbps on a 2 Mb connection.
Last year my speed dropped to below the 400kbp mark on the BTw Speedtester yet still my exchange was showing as green.
These days BT seem quite happy to let contention kick in - much more so than anytime in the past.
Logic seems to suggest that if congestion is the problem it is nearer to home....
Welcome to my world :/
Exchange congestion is something I have suffered from several times on the past - having been on the first exchange which
BTw publically admitted suffered from congestion - prior to that it was said it was impossible... and actually the reason why I began to research how adsl worked and ask a lot of questions from BT themselves.
Congestion comes about because IPStream adsl is sold by BTw as a contended product and therefore speeds you acheive are affected by what other users on your local exchange is doing. (
Explanation about contention).
Information of what BTw class as acceptable speeds