jswilson64
join:2005-07-09
Dallas, TX
| Would a splitter help?
I've got AT&T DSL, formerly at 1.5 M, just ordered the 3.0 M option. My 45-year-old house has phone wiring issues, to say the least, so a couple of years ago I installed a mini-DSL-filter (the in-line duplex kind that comes with a self-install kit) in the outside NID. Connected the the "phone" side of the filter to the test jack to filter the voice in the whole house, and ran a Cat 3 cable from the NID in a window to the DSL modem. I consistently got 1.2 MBps with this set up on the 1.5 M package.
I keep checking to see whether they've flipped the switch on my higher speed order, and it appears that "something" has happened. I ran the DSL test from this site and another site, and now show 1.8 MBps - a 50% increase, but not what I was hoping for. I haven't got confirmation yet that my order is complete, so maybe I should wait for that, or maybe I need to wait a few days for the modem to optimze or whatever it does.
I read in the FAQ that filters can be speed-limiting - could my mini-filter "ghetto" install be part of the problem? I had considered installing a splitter at the NID and running CAT 5 to the DSL modem. It wouldn't be too hard, just never got around to it.
Is there any way to tell before I install a whole-house splitter whether it'd bump my speed up, or am I just limited by my distance to the CO, quality of my neighborhood's copper lines, etc.??
Also, where the heck do you get a DSL splitter? I found one site, (phone-man) but not much more... |
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d_l
Barsoom
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-08
Reno, NV
| There is a 10-day speed ramp if you upgrade to Pro and are connected to a CO rather than an RT. 1984 is the first speed step in the ramp, followed by 2496, and then the full 3008 if the line is successfully ramped. Leave your modem on 24/7 during the ramp.
If you don't make it to full speeds after 10 days post here and we can advise you if something in your home wiring caused a failed ramp. Then if the wiring is ok, you can get a manual raise to full speed in the AT&T Direct forum.
Your micro-filter as a splitter should be ok during the speed ramp, but its long term viability is suspect. This FAQ has POTS splitter suppliers: »AT&T Southeast Forum FAQ »Splitter, DSL/POTS ? Where can I get one? , but they might be outdated. |
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jswilson64
join:2005-07-09
Dallas, TX | reply to jswilson64
Hey, thanks for the info. I'll keep an eye on the speeds, and check that thread out. |
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jswilson64
join:2005-07-09
Dallas, TX | reply to jswilson64
OK, it's been over a week (but not yet 10 days) since the phone call indicating the switch had been made.
Still stuck at 1800 Mbps. What's the first thing to check? |
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d_l
Barsoom
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-08
Reno, NV
| reply to jswilson64
Post the stats from your modem to see if there is a problem with your inside wiring that might prevent the speed ramp from fully completing. If you stats look good (other than the speeds), you will probably have to post in AT&T Direct for them to manually raise your speeds after the 10 days are up. |
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wayjac
Premium
join:2001-12-22
Indy | reply to jswilson64
If you have a modem that has line stats, sync speeds would be the first thing to check.
What is the make & model of the modem?
I doubt that your " mini-filter ghetto install" is the cause of the slow speeds. I suspect a failed "ramp up" |
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jswilson64
join:2005-07-09
Dallas, TX | Speedstream 5100b in bridge mode, using a Linksys WRT54GL.
I'll research how to pull modem stats and then post them once I figure that out... |
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twdallas
join:2001-02-20
Dallas, TX
| I'm having somewhat the same problem on my speed increase. I ordered it online about a week ago. I've always had a rock solid d/l of around 1280 on the 1.5 plan and upload of around 315. I noticed on a speed test Friday that the d/l is exactly the same but the upload more than doubled to 680. Granted, I'm still in the "ramp up" period. But at another residence a couple of years ago when I requested a speed increase it was instantaneous the day it happened. How long has this ramp up thing been going on I wonder? |
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jswilson64
join:2005-07-09
Dallas, TX
| reply to jswilson64
OK, it took me a while to get back to this. I have updated the modem firmware to 1.0.0.53. Currently it shows connection stats of 1984 down, 512 up. SN Margin (dB) 8.0 down, Line attenuation 55.5 down. From the log, it shows Hybrid1.
Not sure what other stats to post. I saved the log, stats, and technician readouts before and after I updated the firmware. |
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d_l
Barsoom
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-08
Reno, NV
| reply to jswilson64
You can use this tool to estimate the maxrate your line can handle: »SBC DSL FAQ »How can I check for the maximum attainable sync speeds with a 5100b/4100 modem? You might also try it tested directly in your NID to see if you have any inadvertent problems with your home run.
I think your line's attenuation is too high to be able to handle faster speeds. Unless something shows up in the DMT chart that might suggest you have a loop impairment such as a bridged tap that would raise the attenuation, then you maybe simply too far from the CO for faster speeds. |
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jswilson64
join:2005-07-09
Dallas, TX | Thanks - I'll try that tool tonight at home (need to save that file in the way it wants it saved...)
Is there some guideline as to what connection speeds various signal/noise and/or attenuation values will support? |
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d_l
Barsoom
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-08
Reno, NV
| reply to jswilson64
Experience has shown that 55.0 dB attenuation is just about the limit for 3008 speeds for most loops. Usually someone with that attenuation level can get full speeds reliably, but they might need AT&T Direct to manually push the loop to the full speed after their speed ramp fails.
Unfortunately, your loop seems to be the exception to that rule-of-thumb.  |
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jswilson64
join:2005-07-09
Dallas, TX
edit:
August 8th, @06:39PM
| :-(
Downstream Maxrate (Estimated): 2168
Upstream Maxrate (Estimated): 726
So, looks like 1984 is about as good as it's going to get.
edit: That brings me back to a question I wondered about a while ago: This reflects my ADSL 'speed limit' in connecting to the CO, correct? And may not (or may) have any relation to speeds I might get in switching to U-verse, which is connected to a remote terminal in my neighborhood? |
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wayjac
Premium
join:2001-12-22
Indy | Did you post the stats you get at the nid? |
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d_l
Barsoom
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-08
Reno, NV | reply to jswilson64
Yes, please check your stats at your NID. Also post the link to the DMT chart collected from there. You never know what might turn up in your tone bins.  |
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jswilson64
join:2005-07-09
Dallas, TX
| I connected the thru-the-window cable directly to the test jack (bypassed the filter) and ran a speed test without the filter, and only got about 1000kbps. That led to panic, and I replaced the thru-the-window cable with a new one that I'm going to have to shorten as soon as I get to Frys to pick up some RJ-11 connectors.
With no filter, running the cable thru the window to the router, I get Est. Maxrate down 2376, up est. maxrate 726.
That chart is here:
»/users/deblin/···aph=true
With a new filter (since I had one) back on at the NID, I get 2372/726. |
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d_l
Barsoom
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-08
Reno, NV
| reply to jswilson64
With a NID test, you know what the maximum your line pair is capable of handling so you can tell how much loss, if any, your inside wiring or home run-POTS splitter is "costing" you.
There are no obvious problems on the DMT chart other than the high attenuation which keeps the tone bins confined to the lower number frequencies.
Sorry, I don't know what to say other than the wire pairs out on the street don't seem to be up to the average pair.
You might be able to get faster speeds, say 2496, by being placed on interleaved profile, but even that looks to be a long shot. Most people don't want the higher latency of the Pro interleaved profile either. |
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jswilson64
join:2005-07-09
Dallas, TX
edit:
August 10th, @12:28AM
| It's an older neighborhood (for Dallas) - built out in the 1940s-60s. They have run fiber along the street poles for U-verse, but the wiring in the alley is probably 40 years old or so.
Now I'm wondering where my speed went. I have seen 1.8mbps, but now it's hovering around 990-1000kbps. I wish I had run a test before I jacked with the wiring...
Edit: I also took my 5100b out of bridge mode and adjusted the router settings so the modem is handling the PPP, and I can see the modem GUI without monkeying with cables. Speed is at about 1000kbps down, about 100 up. My modem is reporting connection at 1984/512, so this is really hacking me off!!! >:( |
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kg74b5
join:2001-04-11
Fort Smith, AR
edit:
August 10th, @04:55AM
| I had the same issue but was worse, I think at the time my noise margin was 58 and like 17 up. So i was stuck on the 1.5/256 I know my homerun was perfect and also used a outdoor dsl splitter that cost $50 bucks. I had called att and they did a manual loop test and said I was close enough to the co that I could recieve pro but the system never let me upgrade. Anyway about a 5 weeks ago I notice att trucks all around my area and they installed a VRAD but its still no power to it but my guess is they were conditioning the lines because I was then able to upgrade to the pro and noticed my line noise dropped to 54/10 and I get the full 3008/512 now after I ordered the upgrade online and was a great deal getting double the speed for 5 bucks extra. I am sure uverse is going live in my area in Nov. I hope once their done with the lines in your area you might have the same thing happen. |
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jswilson64
join:2005-07-09
Dallas, TX | Where did you buy your outdoor splitter? |
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