Can I make my Broadband Faster?

[LFC Muppet]

Hi All,

I have broadband with BT but don't use the line for anything else, we don't even have a phone connected. Also, there is only 1 telephone socket in the house, if this makes a difference.

Can I get a little bit more speed from my broadband?

Reason I am asking is because a few month ago I read something about increasing your speed with BT from your own home, but can't find it anywhere.

[Mickey]

There is a few utils about that can optimize and speed up your settings

[beerman]

Use the test socket. It'll be behind the socket panel. Tombott posted a pic of one a few days ago but can't be arsed to find it

What router do you have? Some (like my DG834GT) allow you to set the signal to noise ratio. I managed to tweak another 1.5Mb out of my line on Be unlimited 24mb.

[LFC Muppet]

I have a BT Home Hub.

I am a complete beginner at all this stuff, learning as I go along.

[Mario87]

The best way to increase line speed (from your end) would be to re-wire your house. New copper cable will transmit data more easily than older copper wire....but I thing thats a bit over the top.

As for using the test socket, not all places have them. We never had one until 2 or 3 weeks ago when we had problems with our broadband and BT sent a technition round (ended up being that BT had placed TWO caps on the connection at their end!).

Our house is quite new as well. I remember seeing them get built when I was about 10, now im 21, so its only 11 years old and it never came with one.

If you have one, simply unscrew your main phone socket and have a look to see if there is another socket behind it. If so, thats your test socket, if not, then you dont have one.

If you dont have one then getting one will improve your connection because they have noise filters on the new wall sockets that have test sockets. When the BT guy fitted one for us and tested the line we got an extra 500 Kbps (according to his test equipment).

[LFC Muppet]

Will take some photo's of what I have, I can briefly remember about disconnecting a couple of wires depending on which box and wires you have.

Does this jog anyones memory or am I thinking of something else?