Topic: What is line profiling?

[Rik]

You could try asking BT to put you on a fixed 2Mbps service, Clive. That would be more reliable.

[Simon]

That would be a touch ironic, as Clive was one of the first people here to get a 2Mb service!

[Rik]

Well, if Clive is like me, reliability is more important than absolute speed...

[Clive]

These past two days I've consistently achieved 2.3Mb but I'm still paying for "up to 8 Meg".  I'm not a downloader so anything over 2Mb is acceptable but still galling since, as Simon says, I've gone backwards by several years!

[Rik]

The problem is that 'up to' means what it says, Clive, and BT are not obliged to provide ADSL at all, so it's always an uphill struggle getting these kind of issues resolved. To an extent, you can see it from BT's point of view. The cure in your case would probably cost £10,000+. You'd have to spend a lot with them to justify that.

[Clive]

Yes, I know it's a bone of contention with many customers. 

[Rik]

We need the monopoly broken up.

[Clive]

Yesterday I obtained 3.3 Mb.  Today the BT test shows:

Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test:  -provides background information.
    Your DSL connection rate: 736 kbps(DOWN-STREAM),  448 kbps(UP-STREAM)
    IP profile for your line is - 500 kbps
    Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 436 kbps

Does this mean they've changed my line proifile again?   

[Simon]

Got any Christmas lights up?

[Rik]

Yes, the profile has changed, Clive, it reflects your current sync speed. As Simon says, Xmas lights can play havoc with ADSL.

[Clive]

Got any Christmas lights up?

As Simon says, Xmas lights can play havoc with ADSL.

Oh come on you two!  This is supposed to be a serious forum!  The lights have been up for 10 days and I was getting over 3 meg yesterday!   

[Simon]

Apparently they can cause electical noise, Clive, but Rik will have to explain it! 

[Tony]

Yes, I know it's a bone of contention with many customers. 

it's not the bone that matters more the ratios , I'd say Clive. 

[Rik]

Apparently they can cause electical noise, Clive, but Rik will have to explain it! 

It's nothing to do with politics, Simon.

If the lights are flashing or chasing types, Clive, the control gear, which is made for about 10p in China usually, often is very electrically noisy. It's worth noting that it doesn't have to be your own lights, those of a neighbour can be just as bad.

[Clive]

After phoning the very apologetic man in India and insisting that it's a problem at the exchange - my latest results:

Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test:  -provides background information.
    Your DSL connection rate: 5120 kbps(DOWN-STREAM),  448 kbps(UP-STREAM)
    IP profile for your line is - 4500 kbps
    Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 4236 kbps

I am convinced that there is foul play afoot within the exchange and someone else is getting my bandwidth.  I have a BT engineer living opposite who uses BT Vision and I know he has access to the exchange.  Is it possible that he is boosting his connection at my expense?