This topic

Re: High ping / packet loss

strawbicus — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 21:25:39 GMT

Hi all,

The last six months has seen my internet speeds up and down like a yoyo. Promised/guaranteed 26 mbps and regularly getting between 3 and 12mbps, with speed tests showing an oddly sluggish initial connection then ramp up to 20 something then fall off to 5. Varies.

I have Part-Fibre (FTTC - Fibre to the Cabinet).

A neighbour recently had his lines replaced with overhead cables due to poor service. During the visit the engineers explained that they were surprised any internet was working to any of us as the underline cables were so bad they could see the copper... some areas with now shielding at all. Were expecting to come back and replace ours. However we just get engineers who try and hunt down corrosion at the pole connectors or our wall.

After multiple engineer visits and various fixes of oddities outside our network, service stabilises, then goes back and forth to 'promised service' (minimum of 26 mbps) to varying speeds ranging from almost nothing to around 12 mbps but flaky to say the least.

At bad times, switching the router off for 5 minutes to obtain a new IP address to try and start a fresh on a different 'blade' helps for a while, but then reverts to poor/flaky.

Below are various screenshots of speed tests for Wi-Fi and hard wired/LAN and also tracert (before and after a router 5 minute reboot) and WinMTR results.

Any help or advice much appreciated.

Any deeper investigations / confirmations and line replacements by BT engineers even more appreciated!

This one after a reboot and five minutes:

Re: High ping / packet loss

strawbicus — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:42:12 GMT

Just tested later at night (00.35). Seems excellent at near half past midnight today!

Evidence of exchange overloading as 30 times worse ping earlier that evening?

That amazing ping and 'as expected' speed test... only past midnight?

[ Unless someone has intervened since I posted my earlier message, above?! ]

Re: High ping / packet loss

strawbicus — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:11:05 GMT

UPDATE:

While we were out yesterday (2026-09-28) an engineer visited and left a message to say he had been investigating the grey box where wire come out of the floor to our front wall.

Internet was still really bad and lots of the above tracert and 1000ms+ ping were from the evening (last night after he visted).

However, the 00.35 result from early this morning show great result (best we normally get) and so far today things are looking as fast and stable as we have had it in years. Not sure what changed.

I guess I ought to brace myself for when people come home from work and school and start logging on again.

Currently 09.51 (2026-09-29)

tracert and speed test just now:

This last one is as fast as I expect it to ever be 'down my lane' with FTTC

Re: High ping / packet loss

strawbicus — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:13:15 GMT

UPDATE:

13.09 (2026-09-29)

Still going strong, but bracing for 16.00 onwards...

Re: High ping / packet loss

Leanne_T — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:11:52 GMT

Hi there @strawbicus

Thanks for coming to the community.

If this happens again, you can find troubleshooting tips and ways to report the connection issues using our Fix your BT Broadband connection problems page.

Thanks.

Leanne.

Re: High ping / packet loss

strawbicus — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:04:22 GMT

UPDATE 16.00 (2026.09.29)

Internet showing the most stable it's been in years. See below screenshots.

Awaiting 19.00 to 22.00... :]

Will update with prime time results later...

Re: High ping / packet loss

strawbicus — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:12:38 GMT

Hi Leanne,

Thanks for your input.

Results seem to indicate there is nothing I can possibly do about it via troubleshooting, as the fault is outside my house.
Reporting wise, I have used that and will continue to use it.
Hopefully, the BT infrastructure that serves my property will continue to be as stable as it has been for the last 16 hours, and not revert to how it has been for the last couple of years.

Many thanks!

S

Re: High ping / packet loss

strawbicus — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:35:15 GMT

UPDATE: 19.30 (2026.09.29)

Still looking good.

Noticed a short blip to 1000ms+ at about 17.15 but after that. ping returned to very good. See below 19.30 result.

Re: High ping / packet loss

strawbicus — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 21:11:40 GMT

UPDATE: 22.08 (2026.09.29)

I can conclude my line has been very stable all day. This result from 22.08.

Whatever changed late yesterday has made a massive healthy difference.