My Understanding ADSL mentions the importance of the terms:

Sync (also known as connection speed)
Attenuation
SNRM (signal to noise ratio margin)

All modern routers will display these figures, usually on a page called 'ADSL Status' or similar. But it's also useful to be able to automatically monitor some of your line's characteristics.

Monitoring SNRM - the noise on your line is especially useful. The more 'margin' you have in hand the least likely you are to drop your broadband connect.

Often throughout the day noise 'spikes' can be found - sometimes this is referred to as Repetitive Electrical Impulse Noise (REIN). If you are able to find regular patterns you can sometimes find the cause - finding the cause often isn't a simple thing! 

An example could be someone switching on a failing SKY box which causes lots of 'noise' - you will be able to see the change on your graph and tie it in with electrical appliances that were switched on in your house at the time.

Familiar causes are central heating controls (motorised valves) and florescent lighting etc. Anything that can arc when turning on/off can cause problems.

So being able to monitor your line throughout the day can be the start of improving your ADSL connection.

This is where the RouterStats  application comes in. The Windows software is free and written by an enthusiast. The writer is very accommodating, I've even managed to get a few of my requests included in the software.

RouterStats comes in two versions - full and 'lite'. The full version works with numerous routers offering more functionality with some than others. The Netgear range is particularly well catered for as this is what it was originally designed for.

I use RouterStats continuously with my Thomson Speedtouch 585v6 and the later versions have lots of added functions.

The 'lite' version is more universal - 'lite' as lots of the more advanced functions are removed.

The software is able to create graphs of your SNRM and line sync etc. A few graphs can be seen here to give you can idea of what you'll see.

You can also define your own graphs to capture other events - CRC errors and 'errored seconds' for example.

RouterStats also has the ability to run 'rules' or commands when certain events occur. So you can have an alarm sound if your connection speed drops for example, or even reboot your router when certain conditions are met.

Once you have RouterStats running it allows you to interrogate your router often in a much easier way than using the routers GUI (graphical user interface) or by manually issuing and deciphering complicated TELNET  commands.


So I am happy to thoroughly recommend the RouterStats application and give it 9.5/10. It would be 10/10 but as not all routers are catered for I've taken half a point away!
^Hmmm...