This topic

Your home connection could be improved

kylescudder — Mon, 29 May 2023 11:19:12 GMT

Hi all,

I have recently noticed that my download speed has fallen below the BT guaranteed minimum and the upload speed has fallen below the expected speed (I can't find any guaranteed upload speed on my account) which is of course concerning, especially since I work from home.

I ran the BT speed test and was greeted with a page titled "Your home connection could be improved", it states below that the hub will be restarted and a brief explanation about what the different lights could mean etc. However it the only change it says it will make will be the put the wifi on the fastest channel. This confuses me slightly, as I am not sure exactly what they mean by this. My understanding is that the router is a dual band router/modem support 2.5GHz and 5GHz, and each device is capable of joining either band depending on the signal strentgh etc. So what does "puts your wi-fi on the fastest channel" in the context of a router that has many different devices on it split across those to frequencies. Have a misinterpreted the use of the word channel in this context?

My goal is to replace the BT Smart Hub 2 with a TP-Link Archer VR2800 in the near future anyway as I need to be able to change the DNS server of the router for my pi-hole setup, but until that time my BT router is set up in an almost stock confuguration (due to the lack of customisation I can actually do) so other than potentially changing the external IP address (this would cause a massive pain in the butt for my VPN config) if I was forced to restart the server.

Any help would be greatly appreciated on this topic.

Re: Your home connection could be improved

NigelB72 — Mon, 29 May 2023 12:23:15 GMT

As far as I understand the SmartHub has multiple channels on each WiFi frequency so it's possible the ones that were in use were either picking up interference or local congestion so it's switched to a less busy channel automatically.

Re: Your home connection could be improved

kylescudder — Mon, 29 May 2023 12:29:43 GMT

Do you know if it will give me a choice on what devices to switch? I have some home automation things set up that I would rather BT doesn't touch.

Re: Your home connection could be improved

imjolly — Mon, 29 May 2023 12:33:07 GMT

when you move to a third party modem/router bear in mind that if you use your landline for making/receiving calls then when you are moved to digital voice (in 2025 or probably before) it requires the use of the SH2 as the primary connected device

Re: Your home connection could be improved

kylescudder — Mon, 29 May 2023 12:39:41 GMT

We do not own a landline, so this is not a concern, thank you for the information though.

Re: Your home connection could be improved

WSH — Mon, 29 May 2023 12:52:05 GMT

BT can’t change your devices.

There are 13 sub-channels within the 2.4 GHz band. If your wireless is using the same one as a neighbour’s they essentially cooperate and take turns at using it. Of course, if your wireless is only getting half the time, transferring data could take twice as long. Hence the idea of “slow”. 5GHz is similar. The router will switch to a channel that no one else is using, (or more likely, the least busy it can find).

As far as your devices go, they will look for your SSID and use whatever channel it is being transmitted on. It’s automatic.

Re: Your home connection could be improved

kylescudder — Tue, 30 May 2023 08:10:26 GMT

So this would make sense if the device getting the below guaranteed speeds was using the WiFi, I think I understand that now. However it is through a Cat5e cable into a HP ProCurve1810G-24, then another Cat5e cable from the switch to the device, so this device would be uneffected by the aforementioned bands and sub-channels, right?

If this is correct then I would still be eligible for some kind of compensation?

Re: Your home connection could be improved

WSH — Tue, 30 May 2023 08:54:47 GMT

I believe any guarantee offered would only cover from the ISP to the router. That’s the only bit they control. The other side of the router is your own network and your own responsibly. They have no control over that.

Sounds like you need to pin-point exactly where it is slow. If it is in your own network, couple of things you could try. Your switch and the devices will auto-negotiate as to the best speed both ends can manage. (You can’t have one end doing 1000Mb/s when the other end can only manage 100Mb/s etc.) Occasionally something will screw over this auto-negotiation and they’ll drop to 100 instead of a 1000. Quickest fix is just to unplug the cable and plug it back in again. What we call ‘reseating the connections’. (The network equivalent of turn it off and turn it back on again). This triggers the auto-negotiation to run again. Also note, to get 1000Mb/s all eight wires need to be connected but only four wires are required for 100Mb/s. It’s possible that a duff connection on one pin is dropping it to 100Mb/s. Over time, expansion and contraction can move the connectors just enough to do this. It’s known as ‘thermal creep’. Reseating the connections fixes it. This tends to be especially common if the switches are near a radiator, in the sun etc. It could also be a defective cable. They do fail very occasionally. Lastly, cat 5e is working flat out a 1000Mb/s so it doesn’t take much to upset it, especially if it is a very long cable run. Cat 6 is better these days.

Re: Your home connection could be improved

TimCurtis — Tue, 30 May 2023 10:10:55 GMT

@kylescudder

Post the SH2 stats from the Technical Log page. That'll give a good starting point.

Re: Your home connection could be improved

WSH — Tue, 30 May 2023 18:56:01 GMT

@kylescudder

Having just re-read your original post, I would have to agree with TimCurtis.

The use of the expression “speedtest” and talking about wi-fi threw me, but if you meant BT’s diagnostics said there was a problem then that will be your external connection. Posting a copy of the router stats page may allow us to identify the problem.

Re: Your home connection could be improved

kylescudder — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 22:31:50 GMT

"The other side of the router is your own network and your own responsibly."

Is this true even when using the BT Smart Hub 2?

Re: Your home connection could be improved

garybs29 — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 09:19:25 GMT

@kylescudderwrote:
So this would make sense if the device getting the below guaranteed speeds was using the WiFi, I think I understand that now. However it is through a Cat5e cable into a HP ProCurve1810G-24, then another Cat5e cable from the switch to the device, so this device would be uneffected by the aforementioned bands and sub-channels, right?

If this is correct then I would still be eligible for some kind of compensation?

Eh? You admit it's cables etc that you've installed then start asking ablout compensation. If this device that you'r eexperiencing issues with is connected by cables etc try changing them first as it's likely not a BT fault

Re: Your home connection could be improved

kylescudder — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 16:04:42 GMT

Issue occurs even when Cat5e cable is plugged directly into router.

What other scenarios should I test to confirm if the problem is on my end, or theirs?

Re: Your home connection could be improved

kylescudder — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 16:06:31 GMT

Where would I find this page in the Hub Manager?

Re: Your home connection could be improved

kylescudder — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 16:07:21 GMT

Have no desire/need for landline so this is not a concern, thank you though.

Re: Your home connection could be improved

imjolly — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 16:14:00 GMT

in order for the forum members to help please can you post the stats from your router (if hub enter 192.168.1.254 in your browser) and if HH5 then go to troubleshooting then helpdesk and if HH6/SH2 then advanced settings then technical log information .

enter your phone number and post results remember to delete number https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

Someone may then be able to offer help/assistance/suggestions to your problem

Re: Your home connection could be improved

kylescudder — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 16:41:16 GMT

Isn't using BTs own data rate test a bit like a kid marking their own homework? Are there not other reliable tools from impartial providers?

Re: Your home connection could be improved

imjolly — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 16:49:00 GMT

Posting the hub stats will show speed at the hub and running the dslchecker will show what is estimated speed range expected from your connection. Can then see if your current connection speed is within expected range

Re: Your home connection could be improved

WSH — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 17:08:55 GMT

Sorry, only just seen the question you asked on the 10th.

Yes, everything in your own network is your responsibility as BT, (& Openreach), has no control over it. Of course, if the SH2 itself is faulty then that is the responsibility of BT.