Tips for Getting the Best Broadband Speed

Microfilters (sometimes called splitters)

These are essential to get your broadband working properly. They stop the broadband signal and the voice service on your telephone line from interfering with each other. Not using microfilters, or not plugging them in properly may mean your broadband might be slow, might not work, or you might hear high-pitched noises when you make phone calls.

Make sure you plug a microfilter between your master telephone socket and your broadband modem or router. Then make sure you plug a microfilter into any other telephone sockets in you house which also have telephones or any other kind of device on the phone line. This includes things like:

• Satellite set-top boxes.
• Burglar alarm systems
• Fax machines

You can find out more information about the best way to plug your microfilters in by reading our guide to Fitting Microfilters.

Master telephone socket

Try testing your broadband service using your main (master) telephone socket with all the other devices unplugged from all other phone sockets. Your master telephone socket is generally the first socket where your phone line comes into your house. Many problems with slow speeds and disconnections are caused by faulty phone extension leads.

Your modem or router

Modems

Make sure that you've got the latest modem drivers installed. Not sure if you're using the latest ones? We suggest you visit the website of your modem manufacturer to see if updated drivers are available. Some customers may find they have older modems that simply can't handle fast broadband speeds. If this is the case we'd suggest buying newer equipment.

Routers

If you use a router you won't need to update any drivers.

Extension leads

If you've plugged your modem or router into a phone extension lead, this could cause disconnections and slowdowns. We recommend that you buy a phone extension specifically for broadband - so you can get the best performance. It's really important that you keep the length of the extension lead as short as possible too. Longer extension cables can cause interference, leading to lower broadband speeds.

Running a speed test

Perhaps the speed you're getting isn't as fast as you'd expected? After the 'testing period' for your broadband has finished (this happens during the first 10 days of your broadband service), you can run a speed test. This will show you how fast your broadband is.

To run a speed test on your broadband go to mybroadbandspeed.co.uk

Read about what happens during the first 10 days of your broadband service in our About High-Speed Broadband guide

Think you've got a fault with your service? Find out how to go about reporting a broadband fault

Interleaving

This is a used to improve the quality of your broadband signal. Interleaving is active on all telephone lines by default for new orders, and may be present where a fault has previously been reported. Interleaving is used by BT to give a faster and more stable speed where tests have shown that a phone line needs this. However, interleaving may add a small delay (or added latency) to the phone line and this may affect the broadband experience for gamers (although it won't affect your voice service). Removing interleaving after it's been switched can make a phone line less stable, so in most cases we don't recommended doing this.

If you do want to have interleaving removed from your phone line please use the Help Assistant to raise a Question. Follow the path - My Broadband Connection > DSL Max Interleaving

This page last updated 3rd April 2009