Wildly Variable Speeds

[scallybert]

Over the last two weeks (or so), I've noticed that  MSTeams Video calls would periodically 'pause', with the audio cutting out for a few seconds each time.

Running various broadband speed tests, I see the download speed varying wildly. While often above the (nominal) 200Mb/s, it would sometimes be as low as 20Mb/s, other times around 60Mb/s all of these in tests run pretty much 'back to back'.

Similar on upload (max 20Mb/s) - but that might do down to near-zero.

I seem to see this with various devices, some on wired connections.

I don't *think* it's a device here bandwidth hogging.

TBH, I probably wouldn't have noticed except for the MS Teams glitches - which are a pain.

It also seems to happen mostly during 'office hours'.

Any thoughts ?

[Adduxi]

Could be over utilisation as more people are now back to working from home.

However, try checking with Area faults on 0800 561 0061 or if you have a VM landline 150 first.

Also setup a BQM to record and monitor your incoming circuit  www.thinkbroadband.com/ping  Once done we can comment on that.

Post your power levels, Pre and PostRS errors and Network log as well. Do NOT use screenshots, just copy and paste the information into several posts.

[scallybert]

3.0 Downstream channels

Channel Frequency (Hz) Power (dBmV) SNR (dB) Modulation Channel ID

8	194750000	5.800003	38.983261	QAM256	8
6	178750000	5.599998	40.366287	QAM256	6
7	186750000	5.800003	38.605377	QAM256	7
9	202750000	5.599998	38.605377	QAM256	9
10	210750000	5.000000	38.605377	QAM256	10
11	218750000	4.500000	37.636276	QAM256	11
12	226750000	4.400002	37.355988	QAM256	12
13	234750000	4.599998	37.355988	QAM256	13
14	242750000	4.599998	37.355988	QAM256	14
15	250750000	3.900002	36.609653	QAM256	15
16	258750000	3.700001	37.355988	QAM256	16
17	266750000	3.799999	36.609653	QAM256	17
18	274750000	4.300003	37.355988	QAM256	18
19	282750000	4.599998	37.355988	QAM256	19
20	290750000	4.800003	36.609653	QAM256	20
21	298750000	4.400002	37.355988	QAM256	21
22	306750000	4.000000	36.609653	QAM256	22
23	314750000	3.799999	37.355988	QAM256	23
24	322750000	3.599998	36.609653	QAM256	24
25	330750000	3.099998	36.386890	QAM256	25
26	338750000	2.599998	36.386890	QAM256	26
27	346750000	2.400002	36.609653	QAM256	27
28	354750000	2.299999	36.386890	QAM256	28
29	362750000	2.400002	35.779911	QAM256	29
30	370750000	1.900002	36.386890	QAM256	30
31	378750000	1.099998	35.779911	QAM256	31
32	386750000	0.700001	36.609653	QAM256	32
34	394750000	1.000000	36.609653	QAM256	34
35	402750000	1.099998	36.609653	QAM256	35
36	410750000	1.000000	36.609653	QAM256	36
37	418750000	0.599998	36.386890	QAM256	37

[scallybert]

3.0 Downstream channels

Channel Lock Status RxMER (dB) Pre RS Errors Post RS Errors

8	Locked	38.983261	0	0
6	Locked	40.366287	0	0
7	Locked	38.605377	0	0
9	Locked	38.605377	0	0
10	Locked	38.605377	0	0
11	Locked	37.636276	1	0
12	Locked	37.355988	1	0
13	Locked	37.355988	0	0
14	Locked	37.355988	0	0
15	Locked	36.609653	1	0
16	Locked	37.355988	1	0
17	Locked	36.609653	0	0
18	Locked	37.355988	1	0
19	Locked	37.355988	0	0
20	Locked	36.609653	3	0
21	Locked	37.355988	0	0
22	Locked	36.609653	1	0
23	Locked	37.355988	0	0
24	Locked	36.609653	1	0
25	Locked	36.386890	3	0
26	Locked	36.386890	2	0
27	Locked	36.609653	3	0
28	Locked	36.386890	2	0
29	Locked	35.779911	9	0
30	Locked	36.386890	3	0
31	Locked	35.779911	8	0
32	Locked	36.609653	4	0
34	Locked	36.609653	2	0
35	Locked	36.609653	0	0
36	Locked	36.609653	3	0
37	Locked	36.386890	4	0

[scallybert]

3.0 Upstream channels

Channel Frequency (Hz) Power (dBmV) Symbol Rate (ksps) Modulation Channel ID

1	25800000	46.270599	5120 KSym/sec	64QAM	4
2	46200000	45.520599	5120 KSym/sec	64QAM	1
3	39400000	45.020599	5120 KSym/sec	64QAM	2
4	32600000	45.020599	5120 KSym/sec	64QAM	3

3.0 Upstream channels

Channel Channel Type T1 Timeouts T2 Timeouts T3 Timeouts T4 Timeouts

1	US_TYPE_STDMA	0	0	14	0
2	US_TYPE_STDMA	0	0	1	0
3	US_TYPE_STDMA	0	0	1	0
4	US_TYPE_STDMA	0	0	21	0

[scallybert]

> Also setup a BQM to record and monitor your incoming circuit  www.thinkbroadband.com/ping  Once done we can comment on that.

I think I've set that up. I've not seen results, yet.

> Post your power levels, Pre and PostRS errors and Network log as well. Do NOT use screenshots, just copy and paste the information into several posts.

Posted. Nothing in Network log.

[Adduxi]

Stats look okay apart from the number of T3's, but they could be historical?  When did you last reboot the Hub?

Also post the shared link of your BQM so we can see the state of your circuit.

[jpeg1]

You said in your OP,

"I seem to see this with various devices, some on wired connections"

WiFi connections will by their very nature vary considerably in speed and quality, due to a number of local factors and also because the VM Hubs have very basic WiFi capability.   The speeds are only guaranteed for ethernet wired connections.

To establish where the speed loss is happening, you need to do all tests on a single wired device with all other apps and devices disconnected. This will show if it's an external or internal problem.  What speeds are you getting this way?

[Gareth_L]

Hello scallybert

Have you been able to follow the advice given above

Also just wanted to check how things are now 

Gareth_L

[scallybert]

Hi Gareth_L,

Not entirely...

One problem I have is that the directly connected PC that I used for BQM is often used with a VPN - which (I guess) interferes with BQM ?

It seemed there was a possibility of having BQM doing it testing 'on the router', but the instructions were different to the router menu options.

Performance over the last few days has been far worse, with iPlayer, etc regularly buffering or worse.

What *seems* to happen, is that the download speed is fairly consistently good (>200Mb), but occasionally down to 60Mb; but the upload speed is a mess. While it's often >20Mb, it will often be about 6Mb, or zero.

I assume the upload issues impact the downloading protocols.

https://care.virginmedia.com/care/check-services gives:

///

Looks like there are issues in your postcode affecting your services

There's a broadband issue in your area and our engineers are on the case to fix things. Check back here at any time for updates.

///

 but there's no sign of any progress.