MikroTik SXT LTE Kit – The obvious next step.

Image result for mikrotik sxt lte

I’ve recently been lucky enough to be included in a friends deployment of a MikroTik SXT LTE kit.
Having previously had a full hands on play with the kit, it is typical MikroTik quality, average quality plastic with a brilliant performance for a less than average price.

The purpose of the installation was to remove the tired fixed wireless link he had which was only the region of around 10/2Mb and wasn’t the most cost effective solution.
Being a semi rural location meant a fixed line solution wasn’t going to work and mobile phone signal wasn’t awful returning better than wireless access speeds.

The decision was made to put in an SXT and with the help of an unlimited data SIM card, he is getting speeds far superior to the FWA, cheaper monthly outlay and it’s unlimited which is something the WISPS tend not to do.

When there is 4G access this good it is a stark signal that there is light at the end of the tunnel for those who aren’t blessed by Openreach and their fibre.

Speedtest result of a recently deployed SXT LTE

FTTC Fast Path (Interleaving) removal with Plusnet

A quick and free boost for my broadband connection this week. I’d been monitoring my DSL service and was noticing some errors on the downstream and with some quick research Interleaving was a common cause of this. Interleaving in short splits your packets down and reassembles at the far end, it’s great for stability but does increase latency. It’s not great if you use VOIP and if you’re a gamer it can increase that all important response time which you need as low as possible.

A quick webchat with Plusnet support and I’d asked for my service to be put on “fast track” or in other words, having interleaving removed. A 24 hour wait and to my surprise my connection has improved!

Before;

After;

 

The only issue with this is if Interleaving was helping the connection there is a possibility it will wobble and DLM will re-apply it but the service in general is very stable so I am hopeful that the change will last.