Plusnet Speed Test

This diagnostic utility validates the performance of your Plusnet broadband connection. Plusnet operates on the Openreach network, meaning your speed is determined by the physical infrastructure available at your street: Fibre (FTTC), which uses copper from the cabinet to your home, or Full Fibre (FTTP), which uses a direct glass fiber connection.

Understanding Your Speed Metrics

When analyzing your connection integrity, focus on these three performance vectors:

Download Throughput: On Full Fibre plans (Full Fibre 145, 500, 900), speeds should be rock solid. On standard Fibre (FTTC) plans (Fibre 66), speeds are "distance dependent." If you live far from the green cabinet, your physical line speed may be capped lower than the advertised 66 Mbps.

Upload Throughput: Plusnet plans are Asymmetrical. For example, the "Unlimited Fibre Extra" plan typically offers ~20 Mbps upload. Full Fibre 500 offers ~70 Mbps upload. This is standard Openreach provisioning.

Latency (Ping): Plusnet is popular with gamers because it often routes traffic efficiently within the UK. Expect 10-20ms ping. If ping spikes >50ms, check if anyone is uploading photos to the cloud, as the modest upload speeds on FTTC can easily be saturated.

What Results Should You Expect?

The "Hub Two" Upgrade

Your hardware makes a massive difference. Benchmarks include:

Plusnet Hub Two: This is a rebranded BT Smart Hub 2. It handles Gigabit speeds easily and has excellent Wi-Fi stability.

Plusnet Hub One: This older white router often struggles with 5GHz Wi-Fi separation. Users frequently see speeds stuck at 40-50 Mbps over Wi-Fi simply because the router has pushed them onto the slower 2.4GHz band.

Minimum Guaranteed Speed: Check your signup email. If your wired speed drops below this specific number (e.g., 45 Mbps), you have the right to leave your contract penalty-free.

If you pay for Full Fibre 900 but your test result is exactly 94 Mbps, you are almost certainly using a cheap Cat5 Ethernet cable or a laptop with a Fast Ethernet port.

Why Is Your Plusnet Connection Slow?

Before calling the Sheffield support team, verify these common faults:

The "Test Socket" (FTTC Only): If your speed is low, unscrew the faceplate of your Master Socket and plug your router directly into the hidden "Test Socket" inside. This bypasses your home's internal wiring. If speed improves, the issue is your internal wiring, not Plusnet.

Separate Bands (Hub One): On the older Hub One, the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands often conflict. Logging into the router and renaming the 5GHz SSID (e.g., adding "-5G" to the name) allows you to force a connection to the faster band.

Microfilters: If you don't have a pre-filtered Master Socket, you must use a microfilter on every phone socket in the house. A missing filter causes the internet to drop every time the phone rings.

Plusnet Technical Configuration Data

How to Get an Accurate Test

Wireless testing is unreliable due to interference from neighbors and thick UK brick walls.

To confirm the actual speed delivered to your home, connect a Cat6 Ethernet cable directly from the Plusnet Hub's yellow GigE port to a laptop. This isolates the connection. If this wired test meets your "Minimum Guaranteed Speed," the issue is your Wi-Fi environment.

When to Call Support

Escalate the issue to Plusnet support if you observe these specific failures:

Solid Orange Light: The hub is connected to broadband (Sync) but cannot log in to the Plusnet server. This is an authentication error.

Red "B" Light: On the Hub Two, a red light on the "B" icon means the physical line is dead.

Noise on Line: If you hear crackling on your landline phone, the copper wire is damaged, which will severely impact internet speed.

You can check service status and run line tests via the Plusnet Member Centre or by calling 0800 432 0200.