ADSL versus VDSL - internet performance differences

[Ditto]

We current have an ADSL line supporting a landline(no longer used) and internet service at our HQ. We have had two new SOGEA (which I understand is akin to VDSL) lines which we will be switching to and turning off once the new lines are being used with new downstream hardware. A quick test today showed download speeds 10-15% slower than our current line, but 50+% improvement for uploads.

 

Is this something to be expected or could it reflect the different modem/routers in place?

[FN-GM]

VDSL is Fibre To The Cabinet (or Fibre To The Node). It should be better than ADSL as this is essentially Fibre to the exchange. I would not expect the download to be slower.

 

There could be something wrong with the line or maybe the router. Or maybe it is limited by the ISP or the package that has been purchased?

[Ditto]

Provider is suggesting a modem reboot at present - that'll be in the New Year now, but I'll update in due course. The ISP shouldn't be limiting, so maybe the line is the issue, but odd that 2 new lines are similar and below expectations.

[SchoolsBroadband]

It can be possible for adsl to out perform vdsl / fttc if the line length from the vdsl / fttc cabinet is very long.

 

Vdsl losses its speed quicker as an average than adsl does but vdsl has cabinet's which are generally closer to each customer and therefore normally out performs adsl but there can be exceptions.

 

Use https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL to give you an idea of what speeds should be possible.

 

Sometimes though the checker is wrong as ive seen premises connected via a different cabinet for example which is further away.

 

Your isp should be able to find out if the cabinet you've been provisioned on is the same one as the checker.

 

Also on your modem check the vdsl sync rate but also ask your isp for the BRAS profile.

 

The vdsl sync rate is maximum speed before overheads.

 

The BRAS profile is the speed profile the vdsl / fttc line will run at. Sometimes something called an SNR reset (which thr isp can initiate via BT) can reset the line and force the profiles to change.

 

Hope that's a bit helpful.

 

Dave

[Ditto]

Thanks David, really useful info. I think I know which cabinet the new lines are going to as I saw the 2 Openreach engineers working on them - yes, they really sent one for each line and they arrived 15 minutes apart. Will do a bit more testing come the new year.

[SchoolsBroadband]

Thanks David, really useful info. I think I know which cabinet the new lines are going to as I saw the 2 Openreach engineers working on them - yes, they really sent one for each line and they arrived 15 minutes apart. Will do a bit more testing come the new year.

 

did you get to the bottom of it in the end?

[Ditto]

did you get to the bottom of it in the end?

Not 100% yet. The provider suggested a modem reboot. When I'm next in the office I will do that and recheck, but that could be a week away. However, the two new lines were connected to a new Sonicwall firewall last week, with new managed switches and new APs. Everything appears to be running well, with a massive improvement in WiFi.

 

The old Draytek will be switched off and the old IT provider told we've shut them down and no longer want, what is laughing called their 'service'.

 

They really were obstructive. I asked for the IP address and admin password for the Draytek, and then they said it was an unmanaged router and they are usually set up with ip:xxxxx user admin/yyyy password - which seems like a security hole for starters! The IP address didn't work. Next they said they could see the logon page, but the password must be different as it didn't work for them. They said it'll need a factory reset and a reconfig. So I asked what IP address allowed them to get to the console login page. They then said, sorry, it turns out it is a managed router so we were not allowed to access it. If we wanted changes, to let them know. I explained we didn't want to make changes, we want to view the settings. As we were upgrading downstream kit, either they need to send a whole lot of screenshots or provide access. I even said they would hold no responsibility for any problems if we hit any. They refused again and said they'd work with our people doing the upgrades. Well, they won't get a chance, we are ditching them and we are not using their 'services' for internet provision any more. I'm might struggle to keep it polite when I tell them!

 

Grumbles aside, I will let you know the outcome of further speed tests, but even if each is slightly down, the whole with the other upgrades appears to have resolved a long running issue.