• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Increase Broadband Speed

  • Home
  • Guide
  • Speed Test
  • Best Routers
  • Best Wi-Fi Access Points
  • About
  • Blog

Tip: Optimise the target SNR margin

Tweaking the target SNR margin is a great way to increase speeds of basic broadband. The target SNR margin set on an ADSL or ADSL2+ broadband connection (by the BT exchange equipment shown in the photo below) has a significant impact on download connection speed, as described in our target SNR margin tweaking page. The greater the target SNR margin, the lower the download connection speed. In most cases, a broadband connection can work well with an SNR margin of 3 dB.

DSLAM equipment in BT exchange

When a broadband connection is first made live, a default target SNR margin is set. For a BT-based ADSL or ADSL2+ broadband service, this is 6 dB. When a broadband connection with TalkTalk first goes live, a 9 dB default target SNR margin is set. Users migrating from BT-based services to TalkTalk LLU services should be aware of this since initial download speeds may be slower since the default target is higher than BT-based ADSL services (6 dB).

We believe the initial default target SNR margin with TalkTalk services (9 dB) is too high. The good news is that it is possible to get TalkTalk to reduce the target SNR margin from 9 dB to 6 dB by making a request to decrease the target SNR margin on the TalkTalk Members Forum.

Intended to help maintain a stable connection, Digital Line Management continuously monitors a connection. For a number of reasons (such as line drops due to thunderstorms or increased errors on the line due to radio interference), the exchange equipment can increase the target SNR margin. As the target SNR margin is raised, so downlink connection speeds are substantially reduced.

In some situations, the target SNR margin can be increased up to 18 dB, which can have a dramatic negative impact on download speeds.

BT Broadband users generally cannot get the target SNR margin changed, which can be particularly frustrating if the target has increased to relatively high levels. Users of BT-based broadband services will also struggle to get their target SNR margin changed since BT is resistant to doing this for other ISPs.

Rather than putting up with the target SNR margin that the BT exchange equipment sets for your line, some modems allow you to tweak the target SNR margin setting to a lower value and, hence, substantially increase downlink connection speeds.

Tweaking of your target SNR margin is covered in more detail in our dedicated SNR margin tweaking page. All modems are different, and many modems do not allow you to change the target SNR margin. If you are considering the purchase of a new modem, we would recommend that you purchase one that has the ability to adjust target SNR margin. Our favourite modems with advanced target SNR margin adjustment capability include the Billion 8800NL, 8800AXL and Billion 7800DXL. For more information on how to tweak the target SNR margin with these devices, please visit:

Billion 8800NL review and set-up guide

Billion 7800DXL review and set-up guide

Billion 8800NL

 

Bear in mind that reducing the target SNR margin on some lines may cause the broadband signal to drop more often, so you have to balance the increased speed with reliability. For many, the compromise may be perfectly acceptable and the line may not drop, even with low SNR margin, for weeks or indeed months.

We are fans of target SNR margin tweaking, as it can make a huge difference to downlink speeds. Many broadband users find that a high-quality Billion modem can hold its connection for several weeks at a time with an SNR margin of about 3 dB. However, bear in mind that your line may be different. If you find that your line becomes unstable at low target SNR margins, you can simply increase the target until it becomes stable.

 

Next Tip: Opt for ADSL2+ over basic ADSL (standard broadband only)

Return to our Increase Broadband Speed Guide

Primary Sidebar

Most popular guides

Increase Broadband Speed Guide – Top 15 Ways to Boost Speeds
 
How to Speed Up DNS Look-ups
 
How to Fix Bufferbloat
 
How to Set Up and Improve Wi-Fi
 
10 Gigabit Ethernet Guide: is it time to upgrade to 10 GbE?
 
15 Ways to Improve Video Conferencing

Equipment Guides

Guide to Choosing the Best Wi-Fi Router/Hub
 
Best Wi-Fi Access Points For 2020
 
Best Routers For 2021

Test Your Broadband

Run Our Broadband Speed Test
 
Online Speed Tests – the Best and Worst and How to Use Them

 

Recent blog posts

  • ‘A Perfect Planet’ and ‘Dr Who’ Demonstrate 4k HDR at its Best on BBC iPlayer but We Want More
  • Review of the Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine (UDM) Pro Router – ideal for ultrafast broadband connections
  • Government Cuts Gigabit Broadband Investment and Targets, So Why Not Do It Yourself?
  • A 4k HDR Christmas Present from Sky: movies go HDR with Dolby Atmos
  • 10 Gigabit Ethernet Guide: is it time to upgrade to 10 GbE?
  • 15 Ways to Improve Video Conferencing including Zoom and Skype
  • Guide for Rural Communities: How to Get Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) Now!
  • Wi-Fi Setup Guide: What is a Good Signal Level or Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) for Wi-Fi?
  • The 2020 Guide to Setting the Best and Fastest DNS Servers for PS4
  • How to Disable Wi-Fi with Sky Q and Use Ethernet Instead
  • TV and Video Will Triple Average Home Monthly Internet Usage to Beyond 1 TB By 2025
  • Disney Plus in the UK Finally Matches Bit Rates in the USA
  • Review: Sky Finally Launches HDR With Its Ultra HD 4k Service and It’s Fantastic But…
  • Online Speed Tests: The Best and Worst and How to Use Them
  • How To Speed Up DNS Look-ups for Faster Performance
  • Chart of Fibre Broadband (FTTC) Speed Versus Distance From the Cabinet
  • Review of Disney Plus in the UK: Shame About the Picture and Sound Quality
  • Amazon’s Music HD Service Spells New Era for CD-Quality Music Streaming
  • Bufferbloat: Why it is Harming Your Broadband and How to Easily Fix It
  • Review of Apple TV+: Apple’s Streamed Service Leads the Pack in Picture Quality

Superfast/ultrafast broadband

What is Fibre Broadband? FTTC and FTTP Explained
 
Ten Reasons You Need Superfast Broadband
 
Ten Reasons You Need Ultrafast FTTP Broadband
 
Chart of BT FTTC Speeds Versus Distance From the Street Cabinet
 
Which Fibre ISP?
 
What's Involved in a Fibre Broadband Installation?
 
What is G.Fast?
 
UK Broadband Statistics

How to Improve your existing connection

Increase Broadband Speed Guide
 
How to Determine Your Connection Speed
 
Fit a Filtered Faceplate
 
Which ISP?
 
Get a Better Router
 
Speed Test Guide
 
Tweak Target SNR Margin
 
Chart of ADSL Speed Versus Distance From the Exchange
 
How to Improve Wi-Fi
 
Best DNS Server Settings

Copyright © 2021