This discussion topic has been answered Discussion topic: How can I keep my full fibre broadband running at a constant speed?
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Message posted on 20 Apr 2025 08:49 PM
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Hello All. I upgraded to full fibre 150 plus a new router around 6 months ago and everything has been running very well. I am informed by Sky's service checker that my router has received a constant speed of 150 -152mbps every single day, since the upgrade. Which I occasionally confirm myself, using the Ookla speed test. The router is positioned very close to my desktop and the wifi is working perfectly. My problem is that occasionally the speed drops dramatically to under half of what it should be and then, with a bit of luck, it returns to normal at around 150mbps. This occurred very recently. For the last few days my speed, per Ookla, reduced right down. But It's now returned to normal, which is very pleasing. Is there something I can do, to prevent this happening? I am aware that my router channel is currently set on 'auto' and I believe this is the recommended setting. Do I need to change the router channel occasionally, or should I leave it well alone? Am I the only person that has these occasional wild fluctuations? According to the service checker, nothing is ever wrong with my speed. Any ideas?
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Message posted on 21 Apr 2025 07:27 AM
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@NicholasLBH there are multiple possible reasons for variable speed test results here are a few
- other devices on your network using bandwidth while testing - devices can use bandwidth to update during downtime dont assume they aren't
- variable WiFi conditions due to interference which tends to get worse at peak times
- contention issues on your local Openreach fibre distribution point as up to 30 connections share a connection with a download speed of 2.48Gb/s
- contention on the backhaul connection from the exchange to Sky's core network
1 and 2 are very common 3 while looking highly likely is apparently still rare as few users use more than a fraction of the bandwiidth they buy except when testing. Going back a few years 4 was quite common but Sky like most of the larger ISPs have greatly improved their networks.
You can exclude 1 & 2 by only testing using a device connected by a gigabit ethernet cable with all other devices disconnected. Alternatively simple dont stress over test results unless you hit issues in normal use not least because reason 3 and 4 are outside of your and in reality Sky's control.
65inch Sky Glass, 3 Sky Streaming Pucks, Sky Ultrafast + and Sky SR213(white Wifi Max hub) main Wifi from 3 TP-Link Deco M4 units in access point mode
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Message posted on 20 Apr 2025 09:16 PM - last edited: 20 Apr 2025 09:17 PM
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Re: How can I keep my full fibre broadband running at a constant speed?
@NicholasLBH There is nothing that you can do, there is NO 100% absolute you will/must get full speed all the time, if the OR/BT backbone get's snowed under with data, then something has to give, speed get's reduced and as you may see, can be short lived, as long as it goes back to behaving as you expect.
The service checker is a snap shot one time per day, how is the system doing, but trust me when it tanks or gets an issue you will see so.
Message posted on 20 Apr 2025 09:42 PM
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Re: How can I keep my full fibre broadband running at a constant speed?
Hi. That's very interesting. Do you happen to know what time of the day or night, the service checker kicks in? Plus, do you have any comment as to whether the router channel is best left well alone, or not ? Bearing in mind it's currently set on 'auto' the recommended setting, I believe. Many thanks.
Message posted on 20 Apr 2025 09:55 PM - last edited: 20 Apr 2025 09:59 PM
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Re: How can I keep my full fibre broadband running at a constant speed?
@NicholasLBH Auto should be fine, not sure what router you have or it can be changed by you, SR203 can you wold need to analyze the wi-fi around you to see what you could do with the bands, and you will have to look on your router log to see what time the check is done. Mine is at 8.41pm every evening. And the service checker has a last checked at?
Message posted on 21 Apr 2025 12:29 AM
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Re: How can I keep my full fibre broadband running at a constant speed?
Yes, I have an SR203 router and SKY took a reading at 10.08pm tonight. I didn't realise the time was shown. Seems incredible to me that heavy broadband traffic can make a significant difference to my speed, which I thought was more or less guaranteed. It's not something that I have ever come across before, or is advertised by broadband providers, for obvious reasons. Yes, I should imagine that the Easter period is a busy time for broadband users. Thanks anyway.
Message posted on 21 Apr 2025 07:15 AM
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Re: How can I keep my full fibre broadband running at a constant speed?
@NicholasLBH Although SKY do not profess, below is the relevant from the OR/BT side blurb....
1. FTTP is a contended service, up to 32 users can be sharing the 2.5Gb backhaul, so you can never expect the full speed all the time, you may get 900mb when there are fewer people using it. I expect that you are sharing the backhaul with many users. If everyone was using it fully, you may only get 78mbs. Its called statistical multiplexing, which relies on the fact that all users are not utilising their connection fully, all of the time.
BT quote up to 900mb, so you are likely to get much less than that during peak times.
Speed tests pass very little data, so normally give a much higher speed.
2. The max OR connect to a splitter is 30 ( 32 is the splitter maximum but policy is 30 ) not every CBT port provided is likely to have a customer using it , so unless on a ‘new site’ that has no alternatives to OR FTTP the actual number on a splitter is likely to be way less , OR currently have about a 30% take up, so maybe 10 users per splitter , plus the majority don’t take 900Mb but slower profiles , and the chances of those ‘on line ‘ at any one time all and doing something intensive, rather than browsing / Netflix that may be consuming less than 30-100Mb , is slim , that’s why there is a 700Mb minimum speed guarantee on 900Mb …..the 2.4Gb will be plenty ,you would have to be incredibly unlucky to have any consistent congestion.
If you suspect PON congestion, try at a time when there won’t be much activity, late evening or early morning .
Although you have tried somethings to ‘ isolate’ the problem , the most obvious thing to do ( that you haven’t apparently tried ) is use the BT router , without doing that , you haven’t really proved anything , your third party router may great , but even great routers can be mis configured or faulty
Message posted on 21 Apr 2025 07:27 AM
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Re: How can I keep my full fibre broadband running at a constant speed?
@NicholasLBH the maximum speeds I can reach on motorways decrease in accordance with the amount of motorists.
Broadband speed is affected by the amount of traffic/ contention from within your own property as well that of your neighbours.
Each ISP may manage the traffic speed to its customers differently.
1000/115 FTTP (Aquiss) to Zyxel DX3301
3 x Asus XT9s + 2 x RT-AC58U V3 for WiFi (AP mode)
65" Samsung S92C OLED TV
C430 Samsung soundbar with subwoofer
6 other streaming TVs
43+ network connected devices
Message posted on 21 Apr 2025 07:27 AM
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@NicholasLBH there are multiple possible reasons for variable speed test results here are a few
- other devices on your network using bandwidth while testing - devices can use bandwidth to update during downtime dont assume they aren't
- variable WiFi conditions due to interference which tends to get worse at peak times
- contention issues on your local Openreach fibre distribution point as up to 30 connections share a connection with a download speed of 2.48Gb/s
- contention on the backhaul connection from the exchange to Sky's core network
1 and 2 are very common 3 while looking highly likely is apparently still rare as few users use more than a fraction of the bandwiidth they buy except when testing. Going back a few years 4 was quite common but Sky like most of the larger ISPs have greatly improved their networks.
You can exclude 1 & 2 by only testing using a device connected by a gigabit ethernet cable with all other devices disconnected. Alternatively simple dont stress over test results unless you hit issues in normal use not least because reason 3 and 4 are outside of your and in reality Sky's control.
65inch Sky Glass, 3 Sky Streaming Pucks, Sky Ultrafast + and Sky SR213(white Wifi Max hub) main Wifi from 3 TP-Link Deco M4 units in access point mode
Message posted on 21 Apr 2025 08:21 AM
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Re: How can I keep my full fibre broadband running at a constant speed?
Many thanks for all the contributions.
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