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[can2002]

I switched over from ADSL2+ to FTTC at the beginning of January.  I live just outside Chertsey in Surrey in a small sem-rural village that is half-served by the Chertsey exchange with the other half served by the exchange in Ottershaw.  I'm the last house on my side of the road served by Chertsey and frustratingly, my cabinet is 2.09KM from my house (my neighbour is 0.6KM from his cabinet).

On ADSL2+ I was achieving rates of 3.5Mbps down and a fraction under 1Mbps up.  After nearly two months, my FTTC stats are 2.6Mbps down and not much over 0.4Mbps up.  While I'd not expected miracles, I'd (perhaps naively) expected to at least match my ADSL speeds with the hope that future developments of VDSL might gradually bring some improvements.

Openreach have been out a couple of times now and carried out a whole bunch of tests on my line and on each occassion they tell me the line is absolutely fine...

I've attached various screenshots from dslstats; I hope I've included everything important.  My main observation (compared to postings from other people) is that there's a big hole in the bitloading graph.  The FEC errors are noticeable, but I'm not sure whether they're particularly high?

I would appreciate any advice or feedback people can provide!

Regards,
Chris

[waltergmw]

Hi Can 2002,

If your line really is 2 km (presumably plus routing lengths as well) you're probably doing quite well for VDSL !

My first question is did Openreach examine your entire internal network as well as just from their test socket within the NTE5 master socket ?

Next I suggest you install an unlocked Huawei and run the modem monitoring firmware from baldeagle1 and that lovely Black pussy.
The Hlog graph can point to problems quite often.

Kind regards,
Walter

[can2002]

Thanks Walter,

I guess it could be slightly closer - the 2K is measured by road from my position on the road to the cabinet - two Openreach engineers have confirmed where my cabinet is. 

Regarding the firmware, I'm running the following:

bcm96368MVWG_fs_kernel_HG612V100R001C01B030SP06_Wolfy_Unlocked

I presume this won't allow the monitoring you mentioned?

Regards,
Chris

[roseway]

You can display the HLog graph in DSLstats. Look on the "Items to monitor" section, under Configuration.

[burakkucat]

Regarding the firmware, I'm running the following:

bcm96368MVWG_fs_kernel_HG612V100R001C01B030SP06_Wolfy_Unlocked

That firmware will be fine for line monitoring. As you are already using DSLstats, perhaps you would configure the utility to produce the Hlog graph, please, as explained by Eric.

(Just outside Chertsey, Surrey. Almost within trundling distance of Walter's Wheelbarrow!    )

[can2002]

Brilliant, thanks both and will do!!

Sent from my GT-i9100 using Tapatalk

[waltergmw]

@ BKK,

That thought had also crossed my mind. Let's see what develops (and whether a canoe is still required). Incidentally I doubt whether all BT u/g joints can withstand submarine pressures either !

Kind regards,
Walter

[can2002]

Hi again,

Sorry for the delay in responding, I've attached the hlog graph.

Chris

[waltergmw]

@ Can 2002,

The Hlog confirms that all is far from well with your line and / or internal phone wiring.
I would start by checking you are on the first and only master socket with an integral filter faceplate direct off the incoming cable**, that no ring-wires are connected anywhere within your house - i.e wires are only connected to pins 2 and 5.  ** Check both inside and outside of the house for connector boxes without any star wiring. Once you are absolutely certain that your wiring is perfect, then check Hlog again and if it's still similar openreach need to look for bridged taps and crossed pairs.

Kind regards,
Walter

[can2002]

Hi Walter,

Thanks for the comprehensive reply!

I don't have any extension lines in my house at all and the modem definitely connects directly into the newly fitted filter plate on the master socket (installed when I was migrated to fttc in early Jan).

The feed to my house is via an underground cable, which terminates in a small junction box outside the house, which in turn feeds directly to my master socket (I actually have two phone lines fed from the same 3 pair cable up to the master sockets, which are next to eachother).

My isp is going to send openreach out again, so I'll mention exactly what you suggested.

Sent from my GT-i9100 using Tapatalk

[waltergmw]

Hi Can 2002,

The reason I'm suggesting all is not well are illustrated in the thread below where an excellent Openreach engineer discovered we had crossed pairs.
Although the scales are different you'll see that the post-discovery curve is very much smoother.

http://forum.kitz.co.uk/index.php?topic=13505.0

If your phone provider supports 17070 option 2 quiet line test and option 1 ring back test you could try those tests on both lines.
Otherwise you might try ringing the VDSL line whilst you watch the modem's lights when there's practically no other traffic.

Perhaps the real Gurus might like to comment too ?

Kind regards,
Walter

[burakkucat]

I am at a loss as to what to type regarding the Hlog graph. I have never seen one that exhibits "straight-sided wells", such as the above. 

This is a FTTC service, isn't it? (Rhetorical question, no answer required!) There should be 4096 tones accessible . . . 

[can2002]

Hi and thanks both.

It is an fttc line, yes. Funnily enough when I first bought the Huawei modem I had an odd problem where it wouldn't sync at all unless I put the very latest hacked firmware (which burakkucat gave some advice on), which now makes me wonder if there is a shared root cause...

I'll try the last couple of suggestions from Walter (thanks).

Chris

Sent from my GT-i9100 using Tapatalk

[can2002]

Hi again,

I have an openreach engineer booked for this Wednesday and would like to be as prepared as possible for the visit.

Does anyone believe they will be interested or influenced by the graphs I've collected to date?  Also, if there are specific questions I can ask (Walter suggested asking about crossed pairs or bridged taps)?

Lastly and regarding the 17070, the line is with BT at the moment so this should be fine.  Sorry if it's a silly question, but should I be doing anything with dslstats while running the test, or is the goal just to run the test and listen to the results?

Thanks,
Chris

p.s. I hadn't enabled the QLN graph in Dslstats before - in case it's of use/relevant, I've attached a screenshot.

[burakkucat]

I would really like to see a re-plot of the Hlog graph, using the same x-axis scale as the QLN graph and showing all potential 4096 tones.

Perhaps Walter would care to don his waders and trundle the wheelbarrow to a village just outside Chertsey?