DSL intermittent slowness

[cbuser8532]

I've got the 7-15Mbps plan but most of the time lately I only get about 2Mbps.  On rare occasions it will get up around 5 or 6 but that's rare.

Here's what my actiontec modem says.  I have wifi disabled.  I only have one phone jack and it's filtered.  Cables are all ok.

SNR Downstream :	6 dB
SNR Upstream :	9 dB
Attenuation Downstream :	35 dB
Attenuation Upstream :	18 dB
Power Downstream	20.8 dBm
Power Upstream	12.2 dBm

From my understanding of things, the SNR is pretty low.

Is there any other information that might help me figure out what's going wrong?

[cbuser8532]

Here's the complete information if it helps (it's now down to 5 dB SNR).

Broadband Parameter Status

VPI:	0
VCI:	35
Broadband Mode Setting:	ADSL2+
Broadband Negotiated Mode:	ADSL2+
Connection Status:	CONNECTED
Downstream Speed:	15311 Kbps
Upstream Speed:	1045 Kbps
Retrains:	0
Retrain Timer:	0 Days, 1H:58M:56S
ATM QoS class:	UBR
Near End CRC Errors Interleave:	240
Near End CRC Errors Fastpath :	N/A
Far End CRC Errors Interleave :	0
Far End CRC Errors Fastpath :	N/A
30 Minute Near End CRC Interleave :	411
30 Minute Near End CRC Fastpath :	N/A
30 Minute Far End CRC Interleave :	0
30 Minute Far End CRC Fastpath :	N/A
Near End RS FEC Interleave :	0
Near End RS FEC Fastpath :	N/A
Far End RS FEC Interleave :	0
Far End RS FEC Fastpath :	N/A
30 Minute Near End FEC Interleave :	378416
30 Minute Near End FEC Fastpath :	N/A
30 Minute Far End FEC Interleave :	0
30 Minute Far End FEC Fastpath :	N/A
30 Minute Discarded Packets Downstream :	0
30 Minute Discarded Packets Upstream :	0
SNR Downstream :	5 dB
SNR Upstream :	9 dB
Attenuation Downstream :	35 dB
Attenuation Upstream :	18 dB
Power Downstream	20.8 dBm
Power Upstream	12.2 dBm

[cbuser8532]

OK, so the SNR doesn't seem related to the bandwidth problems.  This morning I ran a speedtest and got 13Mbps while my modem was reporting a downstream SNR of 4!  So I really have no clues at this point.

I know that getting advertised bandwidth is not gauranteed but I'm not even getting a third of advertised minimum speed most of the time.  I really really do not want to give up on Verizon.

[smith6612]

SNR is just a measurement of signal to noise. You can run with an SNR of 0, meaning signal is equal to noise for as long as no additional noise appears and still maintain a connection. Most equipment below an SNR threshold or after so many errors will re-train the line.

When you see your speed decreases, are any of the following values showing low speeds as well?

Downstream Speed:	15311 Kbps
Upstream Speed:	1045 Kbps

If they remain quite stable there, it isn't a sync issue but it could be a congestion issue, or perhaps it is an error issue on the line. You seem to be hitting a good amount of errors on the line due to noise. A stready stream of uncorrectable errors can reduce speed but not drop your sync. Interleaving is correcting many of them from the looks of things, but you may wish to consider getting the line turned down to 10Mbps/1Mbps, or ideally 13Mbps/1Mbps as an intermediate profile.