ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Currently getting a bit peeved off with openreach faffing with fibre: Have 20Mb down 1Mb up. Within guaranteed minimum speeds. Latency is terrible, not measurable, it just hangs intermittently. 4G is ok upstream but unstable on download, I think this cell area is over-subscribed.

Recently been in Spain using PtP wireless internet using a Mikrotik outdoor G unit to a base station about 10km away and that gets perfect stable internet. Downstream is slower at 11Mb but upstream is 3Mb and despite the slower download it just "feels" faster than back home in general internet use on the same devices (laptop, iphone fire stick etc). Using G wifi too!

Now it could be the BThub screwing with me. But gut says it's the phone line/exchange, and as no fault is detected that's not going to get sorted by openreach anytime soon. What I could do with is befriending someone with fibre internet that lives in line-of-sight and setting up a point to point link

I noted some companies like Airband exist in the UK that provide similar services to what's common in Spain.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience.

IdonthaveaScooby

Mate in Kenya has microwave internet

scooobydont

I had a similar latency issue with my FTTC a few years ago, sync speeds were fine but latency was horrendous, synced at 80/20 but pings were were over 100ms randomly making it unusable. I just kept badgering BT and providing them the ping results (winMTR is a great tool if you have not used it yet, like a tracert but doesn't stop after it completes) and eventually got through to a specialist faults team that confirmed a faulty line card as the issue (but they had to have numerous faults recorded against it before they would replace it!). I know from your posts that you know your stuff so it is worth pursing with BT, eventually you get through to people that actually know what you are talking about. In the meantime can you swap out the hub for something else to help diagnose for yourself (eg Draytek 2700 series?, you will also be able to monitor your upload, if something is maxing out your upload, it will kill everything generally and cause the latency issues also, iPhones are brilliant at doing this, ask me how I know...), most of the BT FTTC use a unique username but a generic password that they will provide to the BT account holder if asked, the only issue being BT want their own kit on the end of it, but it would help rule out the hub as the issue.

We have some very remote customers that have ended up with satellite and to be honest it has been faultless (touchwood!) as the infrastructure just isn't in some rural areas, I am talking no 4g available either, it isn't cheap though.

I have heard of some community satellite offerings as well that have been subsidised if enough interest but don't know enough about it comment on constructively.

Happy to assist where I can

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Cheers for that. Will have to do ongoing diagnostics, its an **** as we know call centres aren't geared up for any more advanced problems. Bar modem resets, removing socket faceplates and using wired ethernet (yet call centre still blames the wifi ). And I am getting my guaranteed minimum, even though on the odd day I managed to get a sync at 2Mb on the upstream so the capability to go that fast exists but signal/noise is knocking it back down. When I first moved in I was getting 2Mb more often but I guess the exchange has since 'learnt' and put my line on a lower speed profile.

I'm on the brink of replacing all the network hardware at home so this is why I want it right at source. I do have an old draytek router but it's not VDSL. Although tempted to try as I'm only getting ADSL speeds anyway (I guess it just won't work as frequencies are different).

I'm last on the run on a overhead cable, don't know where the green box is as it goes underground when it reaches the main road. I'm guessing this is why openreach have "forgotten" me with fibre as they done the surround area except this run which requires main road closures and tree pruning for the cherry pickers.

What I need is better upstream for remote work and CCTV. With 1Mb upstream the cameras can easily overwhelm it. Can satellite do that as I was under the impression that upstream was restricted, unless things have improved.


As an aside I read some interesting articles on how switch mode power supplies operating in the same resonant frequency spectrums as VDSL can interfere. I've tried to isolate this as much I can; UPS and disconnecting non-essential hardware...except the BThubs's own PSU. But if BT have put me on a slower speed profile, it could take upto a month to show any change/improvement.

scooobydont

You can use the old Draytek (I am guessing adsl 2 only) in conjunction with a BT modem to get the FTTC connected to it, eg:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265276572...sAAOSw0AphH4Rw

You will need the username and password for the FTTC to configure the Draytek. You will however not see the sync speed as the modem is handling the sync and just passing everything through for the Draytek to manage:

https://www.draytek.co.uk/support/gu...openreachmodem

As with all the testing, you will want only 1 device plugged in directly to the router to do your speed and latency tests, wifi off, etc

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Are you running an external directional 4G aerial? If not, do so. It can/will make a load of difference.

I'm counting down the days until we get FTTP under our local voucher scheme - 1Gbs

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

No, just using phones out the window on the top floor (attic conversion). I can see a few mobile transmitters but don't know what network they are or what tech they are. Generally on O2 signal is ok but downstream is really unstable. One day I'll get 15Mb down 6Mb up, another day 1Mb down and 3Mb up there.

I need to borrow more guest's phones that are on different networks to do a speed test up

I keep getting emails from openreach about FFTP coming to my area but nothing seems to happen. Got some new neighbours up the road so may have natter and see if there is a joint interest (although they are on a different overhead cable).

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

I get gigabit broadband to my house in a tiny village in the Black Forest, you guys really need to catch up

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

It's not through want of trying

I have line of sight to a Tv transmitter 11miles away...If someone was smart enough to put a point to point base station there I probably could get 100Mb

JDM_Stig

iTrader: (3)

Im rural, since going 5G its mega, 300Mbps when the neighbours struggle to hit 30Mps.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

They installed a new phone mast about 0.9 miles away, don't quite have line of sight. But have no idea if it's actually working yet, what network it is or even if it's 5G!

JDM_Stig

iTrader: (3)

Why not do a 5G search or network search?
Must take longer to read and reply than actually do a check lol

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

The online checkers by providers for 5G coverage are too vague (hilly topography)

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Well update to this: It took a few "free" PAYG sims and borrowing to find the 5G mast is on Three (no one I know uses Three ).

Problem is whilst briefly I can get a iphone to lock on 5G, it'll drop back to 4G after 10seconds or so, albeit full signal strength. Not sure if there is any speed advantage of a weak 5G over a strong 4G. Either way it trounces the 4G speeds on O2 and Vodafone (cell over-subscribed I guess), as well as making my FTTC look like dial-up

In between this I tripped across a independent broadband provider that specialises in rural issues. And of course they have the ability to communicate with openreach as to how/when FTTP is coming. Turns out the scheduled area roll-out in this area is under way, but the particular leg to my house (three properties) has been permanently cancelled. So no FTTP -regardless of the "its comming" messages I keep getting, and BT salesmen trying to lock me into another contract with false promises of no penalty to upgrade when FTTP comes (it never will come, and I'll be stuck in a 24month contract with 20mb down/1mb up...w**kers ).

So it looks like I'll try and get a ZTE 801A 5G router on contract (cheapest option) and see what it'll do before the cooling off period expires.

Wondering if anyone has any experience with this unit in terms of external aerials and locking it to particular cell/bands?

Also if Three's "unlimited" data packages have any limits/restricting/traffic management/shaping etc.

IdonthaveaScooby

My mate signed up for a Three sim unlimited data , hoping he could do away the landline

then discovered he couldn't get signal ,much


its got better since he signed 18 month contract , the unlimited bit slightly mute point


( its better at high tide - and gets more of a view the signal mast - lives aboard )

scooobydont

Spotted this over on the hot uk deals site:

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/thr...onth-7-3929527

Not sure if it helps or not but they are starting to comment on antennas, We use Draytek/Unifi gear at work but no idea if the external aerials are compatible with other manufacturers I am afraid.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

That's a very good deal: direct its £11 a month for 6 months then £22 a month afterwards. So £462 vs £420.

Got it ordered now. Been looking at the ZTE MC801 and whilst it has aerial sockets, some have them disabled via firmware; There are are grey market ones floating about with German T-mobile firmware which have the aerial sockets disabled.

As far as I can tell, the Three version does have them enabled.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Well, got it: ZTE MC901A

It locked to 5G mast with good 4G signal and boarder line 5G, with good speeds. But then it dropped to 4G only with iffy signal strength pants speeds and was stuck there regardless of reboots and only locking on carrier band 1 . After some digging it turns out it locked to another mast somewhere that's clearly inferior, but seemed reluctant to jump back to the 5G mast. Grrr.

Further digging found a hidden debug menu that allowed me to lock it onto a particular mast. Took a while to work out the cell ID and ERFCN. Now can get Band 1, 3 and 28. However the 5G N78 band is sketchy.

Now the headache of finding best placement. Bought a Poynting A-XPOL-0002-V3-01 directional antenna which is the V3 version capeable if 11db gain on the 3400 – 3800MHz band (5G). Problem is it makes bugger all difference Another hidden menu has a antenna switch, again doesn't seem to work.

Here's the warning to anyone using external aerials...the connectors are a tight fit, and after I noted they seemed a bit wobbly after connecting. I then wondered how these connectors are secured inside the casing. Turns out they are just soldered to the circuit board with no bracing. I cracked it open to take a look (guides on youtube). Yes I'm taking apart a brand new router!

Because of the lack of bracing and the tight TS9 connectors, I broke the solder joints in both when attaching the external aerial connectors. That's why it made zero difference.

Crap design, easily rectified with solder skills. I can now understand why there's a company that modify these with proper SMA connectors!


Anyhoo at worst I get 75Mb down, 15Mb up. at best 189Mb down, 119Mb up.
BT fibre is currently giving me 15Mb down, 0.9Mb up. Fibre my ****!

JDM_Stig

iTrader: (3)

Cracking result in the end, I only have a standard issue router and spent some time making sure I had good 5G and 4G, but I cant argue with the speeds compared to the copper alternatives in my location.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Well today drove past the 5G mast (about 1 mile away) and there was a bloke messing in the cabinet again. Low and behlold internet goes down as a result. But got back from home, reset the router to get this:



Considering the best that BT, Sky, Talk Talk etc . could only give me 20Mbps / 1Mbps, thats pretty impressive for fringe area reception. Otherwise the only other alternative is Starlink which wouldn't be any quicker.