Low, inconsistent download speed in Worth Matravers Sunday

Posted on March 21, 2010 by David

Download speed had been more consistent this week but today it is all over the place again. Tests are returning anything from 1 to 4.5 Mbps – averaging about 2. Throughput is yo-yoing. I’m also still experiencing the CHAP authentication errors – I have to click ‘Connect’ in my router’s interface numerous times before I get an IP address.

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Slowness reported in Swanage?

Posted on March 19, 2010 by David

There are a few reports today of broadband slowness in the Swanage area. There are not enough reports to say there is definitely a problem, but if you are experiencing problems, please let us know.

Update: 14:32 – sounds like Upload Speeds are affected in Swanage – can anybody else confirm this?

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Fluctuating Broadband Speeds in Corfe (again)

Posted on March 16, 2010 by David

My broadband speed here in Corfe Castle has been relatively good since last week’s problems (on the 12th March), but this afternoon it has been going up and down like a yo-yo!

I’m fortunate enough to live about half a mile from the exchange and usually have a good connection of 6+ Mbps, but this afternoon speed is fluctuating from 1 Mbps to 4.5 Mbps.

I have also noticed that when I reboot (restart) my router there are a number of “CHAP authentication failed” errors. I’m not sure if this is related, but it would be interesting to know if other users in the Purbeck area are experiencing similar problems.

If anybody else is having similar problems, please leave a comment or contact us via our contact page.

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No improvement

Posted on March 14, 2010 by David

Download speed has been inconsistent over the weekend – there’s been no improvement since BT cleared the latest Major Service Outage. Four months of substandard broadband service and counting.

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Fluctuating download speed

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David

Download speed remains inconsistent and is fluctuating wildly. Nineteen hours have passed since the latest Major Service Outage (MSO) was cleared by BT (we haven’t heard back from our ISP regarding the Planned Engineering Work).

Results of a BT speed test run just after 8 p.m.:

Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test - provides background information

Download  Speed
1915 Kbps

0 Kbps  7150 Kbps
Max Achievable Speed

 Download speed achieved during the test was - 1915 Kbps
 For your connection, the acceptable range of speeds is 600-7150 Kbps
 Additional Information:
 Your DSL Connection Rate :8128 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 448 Kbps(UP-STREAM)
 IP Profile for your line is - 7150 Kbps

As you can see, download speed was less than a third of the 7150 Kbps that our telephone line supports (actual throughput yo-yoed during the test). Prior to December 2009 download speed rarely dropped below 6500 Kbps.

We’ve been monitoring this issue for about four months and there’s a definite pattern emerging: a gradual decline in the quality and speed of our connection; followed by a Major Service Outage; then a brief spell of high, consistent speed; then a gradual decline in the quality and speed of our connection… The pattern points to Corfe Castle and Worth Matravers experiencing another MSO in the coming days or weeks.

We can only hope that the Planned Engineering Work fixes the issue.

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BT Major Service Outage

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David

BT declared a Major Service Outage (MSO) for the Corfe Castle and Worth Matravers exchanges at 17:58 GMT on the 11th March (by this time many local households’ broadband connections had been unusable for a day or more because of very slow speed). Most households’ connections were down completely until BT issued the all-clear about seven hours later at 01:05 GMT on the 12th March. More details are available here.

A few minutes after the MSO was cleared our internet connection’s speed/throughput was a consistent 6.5 Mbps. Since then throughput has deteriorated and become inconsistent (as I type it is yo-yoing between 2.5 and 6 Mbps), which suggests that the underlying fault remains. (We have been informed by our ISP that the Planned Engineering Works (PEW) with reference number PW124654, issued yesterday, have yet to be completed.)

We experienced the same pattern – Major Service Outage, followed by high, consistent speed, followed by a gradual decline in the quality and speed of our connection – after the last BT MSO on the 21st February.

David has been informed by several other residents of Corfe Castle that they are still experiencing slow internet speeds, or have no connection at all.

We will publish more information when it becomes available.

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BT have acknowledged that there is a fault at a local exchange

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David

There is an acknowledged fault at a local exchange which is currently affecting some users in the Purbeck area. We received this update from our Internet Service Provider (ISP).

British Telecom (BT) have issued a Major Service Outage (MSO) at the exchange, with the reference of PW124654.

They’ll be working there tonight from midnight and service will be down for up to 2 hours during this time.

More information will be published when available.

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