Consistent DSL speed issue whether wireless or wired

We've had the Verizon 1.5-3mbps Residential DSL for years and we've consistently had download speeds that never exceed 200kbps. We've called customer support and they've run all of the line tests (which always come out fine) and then they make a call to the local center, who then leave me a voicemail a day later and tell me that I should see speed increases within the day. Of course, the speed increases never happen. So, now that's getting to be an issue to even watch a standard def Netflix movie without buffering issues, I'm beginning to lose my patience and hoping to find some relief in this forum.

Here is (hopefully) all of the relevant info:

- Actiontec GT704-WG modem/router (firmware version 3.20.3.3.5.0.9.1.3)

- Both my roommate and I are using Macs running OS 10.6.7 (I'm on an iMac and she's on a Macbook Pro -- both with Airport Extreme; we've had this issue using every operating system since Tiger, and also using different Macs throughout the years)

- We're both running wirelessly, but we have the same speed when we're plugged directly into the router via ethernet -- we see no increase by being wired in.

- We use the OS X app-specific firewall, though we've also turned it off to no effect. Also, no other security or virus-protection.

- WEP security

- The modem/router always lists our current down/up speed as: 1792 / 448 kbps. Again, while we never exceed 200kbps download, we actually achieve about 350kbps upload.

- Location: Brooklyn, NY

I'd be happy to supply any other necessary information. Hope someone can help. Thanks!

Accepted answers

smith6612

Alrighty. In this case, yes just ask Verizon if they can add ADSL2+ to the line. The phone reps may not know what this is at first, some may direct you to the 10-15Mbps package which requires ADSL2+, but then some might also be able to put the request in for you. None the less, it should be available to use (with some DSLAMs, it's a simple software upgrade). Trying out the Verizon Direct forum over at DSLReports may help you obtain ADSL2+ quicker. Additionally, there are some Verizon employees who help people out around here that tend to stop by. If one of them can help you with this, that would be awesome as well. It's also worthwhile to see what can be done to the line itself, should ADSL2+ be unable to be provisioned for whatever reason so that the speed may increase.

As for Actual Throughput you're receiving, let's figure that out now. On a Hardwired PC with nothing else using the connection, perform this speed/network tes from one of the following servers, posting up the details and Statistics portions of the test:

http://ndt.iupui.lga01.measurement-lab.org:7123/

http://ndt.iupui.lga02.measurement-lab.org:7123/

http://web100.rit.edu:7123/

Both servers are located in New York City, with the RIT server being located in Rochester on campus to RIT. Additionally, visit http://lg.dreamhost.com/ perform a traceroute to your connection, posting up the results. The final hop in the trace will be your connection, and it will show your IP address along with your Hostname containing your IP address. Remove your IP address before posting up the trace.

All comments

dslr595148

#1 In the Actiontec GT704-WG go to Status -> DSL Status

#2 Post the info that you see there.

#3 You should be are aware that WEP can hacked into in about 1 to 2 minutes.

Source..

Security Now! with Steve Gibson, Episode 89 for April 26, 2007: Even More Badly Broken WEP

This is at

http://www.grc.com/sn/sn-089.pdf

http://www.grc.com/sn/sn-089.txt

http://www.grc.com/sn/sn-089.htm

BKinBK

Thanks for the quick reply. Here's the DSL status from the Actiontec:

VPI: 0

VCI: 35

DSL Mode Setting: MMODE

DSL Negotiated Mode: G.DMT

Connection Status: Showtime

Speed (down/up): 1792 / 448 Kbps

ATM QoS class: UBR

Near End CRC Errors: 9/0

Far End CRC Errors: 299/0

Near End CRC(Within last 30 mins): 0/0

Far End CRC(Within last 30 mins): 0/0

Near End RS FEC: 748/0

Far End RS FEC: 55235/0

Near End FEC(Within last 30 mins): 0/0

Far End FEC(Within last 30 mins): 0/0

Discarded Packets(Within last 30 mins): 0

SNR Margin (Downstream/Upstream): 13/23

Attenuation (Downstream/Upstream): 38/25

As far as WEP security goes, this is the modem that Verizon sent us, and as far as I can tell, there's no WPA option. I've been considering getting a new modem/router altogether (with 802.11n, since both of our Macs can use it), but I want to troubleshoot the speed issue first to make sure that it's not just a modem/router issue.

Also, just to be clear, I understand the translation of kbps to mbps. So, our average download speed is usually about 150-175kbps, which would put us in the 1.2-1.4mbps arena. Like I said, we never exceed 200kbps, which would put us just over the minimum at 1.6mbps (and that happens once every other month or so). If this is an issue of congestion, I'd be willing to pay the extra $5/month for 4-7mbps service if it guaranteed at least the minimum, which would be more than double our current speed.

smith6612

Your line won't take the 4-7Mbps package in it's current state. At the moment, it would barely hold 3Mbps, despite being in range for 3Mbps due to noise. If you have access to your NID, getting the Transceiver Statistics you posted above from the NID may give better results. If you don't have access to a NID, check over your home's wiring to make sure everything is free of corrosion and nothing is unfiltered or has dirt on them.

I'm reading what you mentioned as your download being 200 Kilobits a second, which is very bad but is something we can probably get solved as well. Your line should be testing at 1500 Kilobits (kbps) and be downloading at 188KB/s (Kilobytes a second). Netflix should be able to stream with little issue on a 1.5Mbps connection, provided you give it the minute or so it needs to buffer up data.

BKinBK

Sorry for the mixup -- I meant to post as KB/sec. Yes, we're getting (on average) 150-175 KB/sec download. We rarely get above 180. And, yes, we do successfully get Netflix streams (never HD, because of the speed), but all-too-often we end up in the buffer zone, even with a fairly decent leeway. It takes hours to download a standard def movie from iTunes.

My frustration is around the fact that we barely ever hit the 1.5Mbps speed, and 1.5-3 is a no-man's land that we NEVER see. This makes HD streaming virtually impossible. Hence my willingness to just go to the next tier, but it sounds like that's not even possible? Unfortunately, I don't have access to the NID. I'm in an apartment building, which also makes checking on the wiring difficult, as well. I'm willing to stick with Verizon if there's a solution. But, it also has me wondering about cable as an alternative.

Again, sorry for the speed confusion!