Slow Internet speeds since returning home

[AvidTechUser]

Hi, I have been a longtime visitor to TPU but only recently decided to sign up as a forum member. I hope somebody can help me with my issue. I live in Australia and use iiNet as my provider.

Basically I was away for a bit and when I came back home I was informed that the company that owns our alarm system "fixed" one of our phone line outlets by installing the following device (which I suspect is kind of an inbuilt phone line splitter):



Firstly, I need confirmation whether this is actually a splitter or not. (The device does not seem to detach from the wall - haven't tried using a screwdriver yet).

Secondly, since this adapter or whatever it is was installed, my internet has been noticeably slower than usual. In addition, since it has been installed I cannot use the other active phone line outlet to plug my modem into, even when using a portable ADSL/phone splitter that plugs into the phone socket.

For those who think the following information might be relevant:

- I am on an ADSL2+ plan (I am currently not shaped)
- I use a Netgear AC1600 Wifi Modem Router
- my distance from the exchange is about 2.3km (1.43 miles) I think
- I am getting speeds of about 3.87 megabits download, and 0.80 megabits upload

Do my speeds sound about right?

I appreciate your time,
Thanks.

 

[Silas Woodruff]

If you notice you have slower internet speed than usual did you try to contact your provider on the matter ?

 

[AvidTechUser]

If you notice you have slower internet speed than usual did you try to contact your provider on the matter ?

I did. They ran through all the necessary steps with me to check and said they cannot see a problem on their end.

 

[Nosada]

Quickest way to check if it's indeed that device causing the issues would be to simply remove it and perform a speedtest once your connection is reestablished. If this is indeed the case, inform the alarm-company their device is causing interference.

Low quality DSL splitters can indeed have a detrimental effect on your internet speeds, so your assumption sounds very likely.

 

[Steve-007UK]

Due to your line length i would expect to see at least 12Mbps on ADSL2+

Good little tool here http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/max_speed_calc.php

If you can get into your router options and find your Downstream Attenuation and enter it into that tool, it will give you a rough idea of what your line should be able to get.

I remember a time when SKY used some splitter thing when ordering their net and tv package and for some people this splitter used to cause nothing but problems with the internet side of things.

 

[AvidTechUser]

Due to your line length i would expect to see at least 12Mbps on ADSL2+

Good little tool here http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/max_speed_calc.php

If you can get into your router options and find your Downstream Attenuation and enter it into that tool, it will give you a rough idea of what your line should be able to get.

I remember a time when SKY used some splitter thing when ordering their net and tv package and for some people this splitter used to cause nothing but problems with the internet side of things.

I did the test and this is a screenshot of my results:

Looks like the distance from the exchange is greater than I initially thought. Still, I think my speeds ought to be faster than what I am currently getting, or am I reading the table incorrectly?

 

[Caring1]

...Basically I was away for a bit and when I came back home I was informed that the company that owns our alarm system "fixed" one of our phone line outlets by installing the following device (which I suspect is kind of an inbuilt phone line splitter):
View attachment 66397
Firstly, I need confirmation whether this is actually a splitter or not.

It's not a splitter, it appears to be a piggy back plug to give you a second outlet on the phone line, unless you have two lines coming in and they are both connected through that set up.
A splitter would look more like the small white unit on the cable end plugged in to the outlet.

 

[AvidTechUser]

It's not a splitter, it appears to be a piggy back plug to give you a second outlet on the phone line, unless you have two lines coming in and they are both connected through that set up.
A splitter would look more like the small white unit on the cable end plugged in to the outlet.

We used to have two separate phone lines (one for regular phone and one for fax), now we only have a single phone line as we don't use a fax machine anymore.

Also, just to note: the modem does NOT work if plugged into the kitchen phone jack (which I think is the original) but DOES work when plugged into the other extension jack (piggy back one) as shown in the OP.

Does anybody know why this might be the case?

 

[Caring1]

It may be that your kitchen phone is the secondary socket.
My last home was similar in that the phone would only work when plugged in to the initial socket, and not the secondary as the main.
I find it odd that the old style three pin wall sockets were used to create the twin socket set up, instead of changing the wall plate for one with two RJ12 sockets. There may be resistance there slowing you down a bit.

 

[Steve-007UK]

I did the test and this is a screenshot of my results:

View attachment 66424

Looks like the distance from the exchange is greater than I initially thought. Still, I think my speeds ought to be faster than what I am currently getting, or am I reading the table incorrectly?

If everything was perfect then you could see upto 6Mbps based on your Downstream Attenuation but the line would have to be 100% perfect but due to overheads and how ADSL2+ works your max profile would be around 5.2Mbps.

Many things can effect ADSL2+ such as water getting into the cables somewhere or interference from an outside source (Known as REIN in the UK) and also faulty filters.

 

[AvidTechUser]

It may be that your kitchen phone is the secondary socket.
My last home was similar in that the phone would only work when plugged in to the initial socket, and not the secondary as the main.
I find it odd that the old style three pin wall sockets were used to create the twin socket set up, instead of changing the wall plate for one with two RJ12 sockets. There may be resistance there slowing you down a bit.

What's really strange is that the PHONE works perfectly when plugged into the kitchen socket, but the MODEM will not connect when in the same socket. (Using or not using a splitter/filter). Does this indicate anything I am overlooking?

 

[eidairaman1]

you might need the splitter in that area or you have a dedicated pair to that room.

 

[Rhyseh]

Find out in detail what the alarm company have done. Something seems screwy with those lines.

 

[eidairaman1]

i hate when they chop telco lines

 

[cadaveca]

What's really strange is that the PHONE works perfectly when plugged into the kitchen socket, but the MODEM will not connect when in the same socket. (Using or not using a splitter/filter). Does this indicate anything I am overlooking?

Not really. One thing you can look for is an in-line filter. This can help ensure that the plug the modem is attached to gets the cleanest ADSL signal. I had to do this until I was upgraded to a fiber line, or I had similar behavior as you seem to.