Updated connection speed not behaving as expected - Tests are controversial

[Crius]

Sorry for the title, but I am really confused here and couldn't find a title that sums it up effectively.

I live in a newly built house, finished 2 years ago.

Fibre connectivity was installed from the beginning and the very first (and only) provider at the time was BT, so I subscribed with them for a 100Mbps. Tested the first months of free 500Mbps just to see if it was working, and it indeed was. We didn't really need it, so I let the offer expire and have been happy with my 100Mbps.

Now a couple of weeks ago I get the reminder that the contract is close to expire and I can upgrade to a 500Mbps for £4 less per month so, after thinking about it a bit, I decided that after all I had been having no issues with BT for these two years so why not.

Now, quick jump back in time, around the start of 2025 I noticed that when playing online I was having some bad packet loss. No clue why, it didn't really happen prior to that date, but there we were. Turn out it was the Wi-Fi of my new desktop, so I started looking for alternatives and, in the end, settled on a TP Link Powerline Kit. I tried 3 different brand and models, but they all had some issues, until this one: TP-Link TL-PA9020PKIT

Things went great. I was going nearly full speed in terms of bandwidth (115Mbps average, the measured by the speed test on the BT App was 120-130Mbps).

Back to the present, I get the email confirming the activation of the new contract and for good measure give a restart to the router (BT Smart Hub 2).

Check the speed and see that on speedtest I reach around 505Mbps on my desktop. Happy as a clam, I go about my day.

Now, this morning, I try and download something from Steam and notice that the download speed doesn't move over ~ 115Mbps. Surprised, I try and change CDN location in Steam and notice that things don't change.

I run some ipconfig shenanigans (flushdns, release, etc) and apparently after a restart of the Steam application, things start to get better. I don't pay much attention to it and move on with my day.

Now tonight I try and download something else and see that, again, the speed is barely 1/5 of what I should get. I start the same tricks but this time no luck. I jump onto speedtest and see that even there my speed is effectively around 120-130 Mbps.

So, I start tpPLC, the application to manage the powerline and see this:

Which, beside the weird behaviour of having a higher rate upward (toward the router adjacent powerline) rather than downward, still shows that there is bandwidth between the two powerline adapters for at least 500Mbps. While I was there, I also updated the firmware on both to the latest version (Apr 2025)

The next step then was to check the router speed. And here is where things get even more confusing for me.

When checking from the website, this is what I saw:

This is the third time I run this from my PC, so forgive me if I don't press the button again. Goes without saying, that nothing changed (or I wouldn't be creating this topic).

Now, from my phone app, this is what I am seeing instead, when I run the speed test:

So, which one is correct here? Does my connection need improvement, or it's perfectly fine? xD

Just for completedness, this is a test run with speedtest.net:

Let me throw a last curveball here, this is a test ran using the Wi-Fi connectivity instead:

So, better, but still not even close to the 500Mbps I should get. Which is irrelevant anyway as the two powerline have clearly a detected bandwidth of 500Mbps and up and are rated to support up to 2000Mbps (I know, it's never really that).

Someone help me, I am drowning out here! 😐

[iniltous]

Have you done any tests with a wired Ethernet connection, if you have (so far ) only used your ‘powerline’ adapters and WiFi , then potentially both were fine when you were on a 150Mb connection (FF100 is 150Mb ) but the speed uplift to 500Mb has highlighted the limitations of both WiFi and your ‘powerline’ devices …..if you get 500Mb using a wired connection ( on a capable device ) then you have proved the issue isn’t really with the FTTP network or your ISP ….FWIW , powerline type adapters claim speeds that are never really achievable in real world situations

Lastly , and slightly irrelevant, BT have never been ‘the only choice’ on Openreach FTTP , even in new builds there has never been an exclusivity for BT to use Openreach, if you were told this , possibly by the developer, they misled you …..it’s never been allowed by Ofcom for BT to have ‘first dibs’ , it simply has never been the case .

[Crius]

Have you done any tests with a wired Ethernet connection

Do you know what a powerline is? What is the use case for a powerline? By the fact that you use is in quotation marks, it seems to me that you do not. Are you suggesting that I move my desktop downstairs to try and connect directly with the router?

On top of that, I wrote clearly that at some point the speed reached was the one expected. So what's the point of this test beside risking damaging my desktop?

Why are you so intent on "defending" BT? I didn't point the finger on BT at any point, simply stated the test I ran and that they are confusing.

Lastly , and slightly irrelevant, BT have never been ‘the only choice’ on Openreach FTTP , even in new builds there has never been an exclusivity for BT to use Openreach, if you were told this , possibly by the developer, they misled you …..it’s never been allowed by Ofcom for BT to have ‘first dibs’ , it simply has never been the case .

When we moved here, BT was the only one offering the service. It's not something the developer or anyone else told us. I went only and checked for the address. BT was the only one covering for this location. Most probably it was a matter of just being a new address, I suppose so, but nonetheless, other operators (Vodafone, Sky, Virgin as well as minor ones I tried even calling directly after not seeing them on the major comparison websites) could not open a contract with me as they could not see the address as valid.

powerline type adapters claim speeds that are never really achievable in real world situations

Yeah, as I just said at the end of the message:

So, better, but still not even close to the 500Mbps I should get. Which is irrelevant anyway as the two powerline have clearly a detected bandwidth of 500Mbps and up and are rated to support up to 2000Mbps (I know, it's never really that).

Which you clearly only skimmed as apparently the line in which I say "it was the only option available" really upset you for some reason.

It is known that powerlines tend to not be reliable in how they are advertised, which is why I did my researches and tested several differnt models before landing on the current one.

Some examples:

Ooh look it's a tread of mine, from 2 years ago: https://community.bt.com/t5/Home-setup-Wi-Fi-network/First-month-of-a-Fibre-100-got-boosted-to-500-b...

Or this one, stating there is a known issue between negotiating the speed between the Hub and powerline: https://community.bt.com/t5/Home-setup-Wi-Fi-network/Powerline-adapter-capping-at-100mbps-down/m-p/2...

I don't know, back in my time before replying one would:

1. Read the thread

2. Have something substantial to contribute

Thank for the partecipation anyway.

[licquorice]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Win_Friends_and_Influence_People

[iniltous]

BT have never had any exclusivity on Openreach products , that’s a fact , obviously you can believe whatever you want , you’ll still be wrong though .

As far as dragging you PC to be nearer the ONT for testing purposes, that’s up to you , if want to continue to misdiagnose the issue , that’s your prerogative 

As far as understanding ‘powerline’ type devices and putting it in quotation marks , it’s to indicate the genre of product rather than your individual brand .

Anyway , I’m sure others , considering your less than gracious reply , will be falling over themselves to offer advice .

[HHGTTG]

This is the second 'rude' person on here since last Friday. What's going on?

[WSH]

Actually, the third.  Yesterday was the second time in 24 hours that someone had reacted that way when I tried to help, which is why I bit.  Usually, I'll just ignore it, as everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Edit:  I will also add that iniltous is one of the more authoritative voices on here and one of the people whose opinion I value.

[Crius]

So sorry to have upset your private circle of friends using the BT community forum "Home setup, Wi-Fi & network discussions" to ask for clarifications.

I'm sure you'll have a wonderful day. I'll look for solution where there are competent people.

Cheers

[HHGTTG]

@Crius

Hmmm, the very example of an ingrate.  I hope you have luck elsewhere. 

[WSH]

Many years ago I was with Sky.  It was back in the days before Sky even though of a customer forum and there was an unofficial forum called "SkyUser".  The main moderator on there went by the handle of Scoobie and had a tag on the bottom of her posts:

"Never argue with an idiot because they'll drag you down to their level and then defeat you with experience."

After many years in IT, and many a knowledgable customer, I'm beginning to understand what she meant