Topic: What is line profiling?

[Clive]

Thanks very much for that Sandra.  I will definitely give that a try.

[Rik]

Hi Clive

For your attenuation, you should be syncing at a much higher speed. However, your target noise margin appears to have been raised from 6db to 15db. This is done by the line management software when it thinks the line is unstable, lots of disconnections, and each 3db step lowers sync speed by 5-700k, so you've lost about 2000k from what your line should be able to support.

This may just be a characteristic of your line - overhead lines in particular are susceptible to noise pick up, and this can trigger the re-syncs. However, if you can maintain a constant sync for 14+ days, then the target noise margin should reduce by 3db, and repeat the process until it reaches 6db again, or the line becomes unstable.

As Sandra says, connecting at the test socket will eliminate any local issues (if you have any extensions), and as Simon says your throughput is a little low for the profile, but not unduly so. If it's any consolation, I live in a town and have worse stats and a slower connection. Don't worry about testers giving different results at different times, there is a number of factors which affect the results, as all testers 'cheat' to produce a figure, and a small change in speed will usually be amplified as a result. The only one which really matters is the BT one.

[Clive]

Thanks very much for all that info Rik.

[Rik]

NP. If the stats improve at the test socket, then there's a little trick you can do to improve things, often dramatically.

[Clive]

I'm going to have to borrow a wired phone to carry out this test.  All my phones are wireless! 

[Rik]

Just plug the base unit into the test socket, Clive. I'm more interested, though, in what the router stats are like there.

[Clive]

OK, I've borrowed a wired phone (sorry Rik I didn't see your last post) and unscrewed the cover of the ADSL socket to reveal a hidden phone socket.  Plugging the phone in and dialing the number Sandra provided invoked the quiet line test which appears to be fine.  However, the router goes dead (well not the power) when the cover is removed and there is nowhere to plug it in inside. 

[Simon]

You need to use a microfilter at the test socket, Clive. 

[Clive]

My ADSL socket has an inbuilt microfilter so I have never had to use those dangly things that come with routers. 

[Rik]

I can always send you one, Clive.

[Simon]

I've got a spare one too, or could you perhaps borrow one from a neighbour, Clive?

[Clive]

I'm sure I don't need one Rik.  I have a BT ADSL v1.0 box which was installed by BT.  It has a phone socket and a separate router socket.

[Rik]

Is that at the master socket, Clive?

[Clive]

Oh I probably have some lurking in at the back of drawers myself.  

[Clive]

I think so Rik.  But I'm really not certain.