Sudden slow and erratic speeds on Fibre Extra

[#1]

I've been with Plusnet for a couple of years now with consistent speeds throughout but for the past week or two I've been having trouble. 

Normally I get a solid ~70mbps. These are the estimated and guaranteed speeds on my Plusnet account page:

• Product: Unlimited Fibre Extra
• Estimated Download Range: 58 - 72Mbps
• Estimated Upload Range: 17 - 18Mbps
• Minimum Guaranteed Speed: 52.8Mbps
• Current Line Speed (Download): 72.4Mbps

Currently however, I'm hovering anywhere from 20-40mbps. Notice the slow ping also. If I'm lucky, I may get a result of 60mbps, but test again in five minutes and it's back down. 

The above test was taken on my PC which is connected to the router via ethernet and Powerline adapters. Performing a test on my phone gives the same results. Tests are performed whilst monitoring task manager to ensure no other hefty data is being unknowingly transmitted over the network. 

I have restarted the router, Powerline adapters and the PC to no avail. Nothing about my setup has changed to have caused this drop in performance. I have no new software, no antivirus or firewall software other than Windows Defender.

Here is the information that my router gives (I've removed the serial number, username and MAC address):

1. Product name:	Plusnet Hub
2. Serial number:
3. Firmware version:	Software version 4.7.5.1.83.8.289.1.3 Last updated 22/11/21
4. Board version:	Plusnet Hub One
5. DSL uptime:	0 days, 00:56:33
6. Data rate:	19999 / 74966 (this looks fine, right? so... things are ok at the router itself?)
7. Maximum data rate:	21214 / 75164
8. Noise margin:	6.1 / 6.0
9. Line attenuation:	16.3 / 14.7
10. Signal attenuation:	16.1 / 14.8
11. Data sent/received:	1.4 GB / 12.7 GB
12. Broadband username:
13. 2.4 GHz Wireless network/SSID:	PLUSNET-J2G8
14. 2.4 GHz Wireless connections:	Enabled (802.11 b/g/n (up to 144 Mb/s))
15. 2.4 GHz Wireless security:	WPA2
16. 2.4 GHz Wireless channel:	1
17. 5 GHz Wireless network/SSID:	PLUSNET-J2G8
18. 5 GHz Wireless connections:	Enabled (802.11 a/n/ac (up to 1300 Mb/s))
19. 5 GHz Wireless security:	WPA2
20. 5 GHz Wireless channel:	44
21. Firewall:	Default
22. MAC Address:
23. Modulation:	G.993.2 Annex B
24. Software variant:	AA
25. Boot loader:	1.0.0

Any ideas? Thanks in advance

[#2]

@R17L29XI 
You can’t trust test results over wireless OR Powerline devices can be relied upon.

You need to test with a direct Ethernet cable between the hub and PC. See also. https://community.plus.net/t5/Tech-Help-Software-Hardware-etc/Powerline-Unit-Performance/m-p/1607450...

[#3]

Hiya @R17L29XI, thanks for getting in touch.

I'm really sorry that you are having some issues with your speed. I have tested your line and this shows a sync speed of 75mb with no issues being highlighted.

I would firstly recommend to follow @Baldrick1's advise and run a test directly over Ethernet, with the powerline adaptors disconnected just to rule out those causing a problem.

Can you let us know how this goes?

[#4]

Thank you both for your responses and for testing my line. It sounds like it's probably a hardware issue on my side so I'll continue to monitor the problem and see if I can find a way to connect my PC directly via ethernet in the meantime. 

Thanks again.

[#5]

@R17L29XI 

A quick Google search will show that you can get a long Ethernet cable for very little money. It’s worth having one for fault finding over a hard wired connection even if it’s not a permanent proposition. Get one rated at CAT 5E.

[#6]

No worries, let us know how you get on or if anything changes in the meantime.