Upload speed

[#1]

I'd assume the BT tester will test the route from your house to the BT exchange/data centre, while the Plusnet test will test between your house and Plusnet's data centre. Similarly other testers will route beyond BT's data centre.

To me that suggests there is a cap on the data rate being applied somewhere between BT and Plusnet.

That can easily happen with a static IP, but I'm not sure about a dynamic IP. 

[#2]

@Notoriousxx  You can check the Plusnet profile that can in some circumstances cap the download speed. Open the Broadband tab in your member centre account, look for the  Current Line Speed value. It should be close to 30Mbps.

[#3]

I see. This is frustrating because I am paying for 30mbps upload and the contract says minimum 27mbps!

I have tried it all. Wired, rebooting, sitting right next to router wired, wireless, moving router and all still 20mbps upload.

Is there anything else to do? I have called the Plusnet support which did nothing to help. In the small print it says if they can't get the speed correct within 30 days, I can leave my contract. I don't want to do this, so please, what else can I try?

[#4]

There is nothing of interest in the broadband tab. It just says:

Your broadband product:
Full Fibre 145

????

[#5]

Can you try this one: thinkbroadband :: UK Broadband Speed Test ?

You say in post #45 that the BTw test reported 31.13Mb/s - so you are getting that. I suspect the other tests are for some reason reporting erroneous figures.

[#6]

@Notoriousxx  Sorry about that, looks like Plusnet have changed the web page. It certainly used to show the current line speed, I don't know any other way of finding it.

[#7]

I have just tried the test you provided, and again, it's 20.1 upload.

[#8]

Very strange - and yet the BTw test reported 31.13Mb/s? Which happens to be the one Plusnet will work off.

[#9]

Yes, correct.

Could it be the router? Or the BT Box? Location of the router? (In Hallway Cupboard) ? Should I try another router (I shouldn't have to fork out any extra cost though!)

[#10]

NO - it is not the router. It is the speed test sites.

[#11]

Even Plusnets OWN speed test site?

[#12]

Apparently - but as I say,  the definitive test is that from the BTw site.

@Anonymous  / @corringham  / @RealAleMadrid  - any thoughts, because something doesn't add up here, and I'm out of ideas?

[#13]

I don't doubt that the upload line speed is running at 30Mbps. I find it hard to believe that every speed test site (except BT's) sees exactly the same max upload speed by some fluke.

That does strongly suggest that something is limiting the speed to 20Mbps.

The observed speed test results aren't random figures (as could be caused by congestion), but are almost exactly 20Mbps - just what would be expected if there was a speed cap being applied. 

If it was the PC or the router limiting the upload throughput, then the BT test would also be limited.

Maybe a traceroute to the various speed test site would be interesting? It would show what commonality the various routes have.

[#14]

@corringham The traceroute idea was in my head, thanks. I just find it strange that all the test sites, except BTw, are reporting the same figures. I guess from this that the BTw test takes a totally different route - don't know, hence the 'guess' comment.

I would volunteer to try, but I don't go anywhere near the BT routes.

[#15]

I would expect that the BT tests are from the nearest point-of-presence to the user - i.e. pretty much as soon as it enters the BT network. That eliminates congestion in other parts of the internet, and shows what the BT/OR part of the network is achieving.

I expect that in most cases that will be before traffic reaches the ISP's network.

So my suspicion is that a limit is being applied somewhere in Plusnet's network to limit the speed to 20Mbps - as was done with some older deals. But I am just guessing (but using the available facts).