BT Exchange Problem

[smeagoly1]

Originally Posted by Noggo

If you know your SNR and Attenuation, look here:
ADSL and ADSL2+ Line Capability Estimator

Is it a Speedtouch you've got? If yes, try DMT tool. You may want to read The DMT Tool for dummies guide

Hi Nogo and thanks for that link, just tested it with my current settigs:- line sync 1856 kbps
Line Attenuation :- 29db
Noise Ratio :- 7db

It does say i am failing the speeds for adsl and should get 6700 kbps for those settings.

Just to add, i ran the bt speed test, same connection speeds, but said my IP profile was set at 1000kbps... not sure if this has any bearing on the current matter in hand.
Hope this information helps.

Regards
smee

Originally Posted by smeagoly1

Hi Nogo and thanks for that link, just tested it with my current settigs:- line sync 1856 kbps
Line Attenuation :- 29db
Noise Ratio :- 7db

It does say i am failing the speeds for adsl and should get 6700 kbps for those settings.
Hope this information helps.

Regards
smee

I tried that page earlier on with my data, and then had a play with it, inventing other data combinations to see what it had to say.

Based on the attenuation and noise margin you have supplied, a sync of 1856 is very, very poor. My attenuation is 61 with noise margin of 15, and it states that my current sync of 2785 is better than I should hope for (actually I've had it synced much faster than that).

So you should absolutely, definitely be getting much better than 1856 with attenuation and noise as low as you have.

Unfortunately my one major doubt here is whether you will be able to get anyone at VM to take you seriously. In my experience they don't react awfully well to people who phone them up armed with hard technical data. Not in India, anyway. Maybe you would have some luck if you bullied your way into talking with a second line tech. Ask for a MAC code, that usually scares them into connecting you to someone in the UK.

[Noggo]

I know Bethere have told you 0.9meg, just post your line stats on the Beforum (`Be & O2 Discussion' section) and ask what speed you should be able to get. Sometimes the info they have is wrong and judging on what connection speed you had before and what your neighbours have got, you should be able to get some good download speed from your line with 29 dB attenuation look at picture on first post

Remember Bethere.co.uk for gaming if you need it, as O2 doesn't have fastpath option available.

[smeagoly1]

Thanks for all the replies and information guys, it's much appreciated.
I'll try and get in to them after work today, see if i get anyplace.

I agree with chris, everytime i get India i have no joy, but UK support seem to take everything on board and try to see what can be done. Hopefully i can get through there.

As ever much appreciated.
Regards
smee

Just wondering how you got on with this? As it happens my line has developed an audible crackle again today, and surprise surprise my internet has also become unstable. In fact I can knock my DSL connection offline simply by making a phone call.

I'm glad I recorded my stats in this thread the other week as it gives me a comparison. On 12th March my downstream attenuation was 61 with noise margin of 15, sync at 2785. Right now, I have attenuation 62, noise 6, sync 3552, although I'm expecting that to drop while it tries to find a new stable level to work at.

The noise has been as low as 2 or 3 this afternoon. My reading up on the subject suggests that it should be between 6 and 15, so in a couple of weeks its shot from one end of the acceptable range to the other, and is now occasionally dropping right below it.

I have deployed my usual strategy - complain to BT about the audible noise on the line rather than arguing with VM about the intermittent dropping of my DSL service. Hey presto, BT engineer booked for tomorrow morning. I'll let you know how it works out.

[smeagoly1]

Hi Chris, think i may just have to go down yoru route there Tried calling BT a couple of times to be confronted as usual by the "NOT out problem call your ISP"
I know it's not a VM fault, so no reason for me to complain to them, just to be told the same lol
My noise and atenuation levels remain roughly the same 24/7. Connection levels well lets say are now bouncing between 2100kbs down to 700kbs at times.
Funny thing was i work mate just asked me today, how mine was as he is now getting 16meg on adsl on the next exchange to mine, when he changed ISP.
Think i am just going to badger BT for another week. But one can only take so much stonewalling, not CS fault.

The key is to log it as a problem with the voice line, not as an internet problem. I know it sounds stupid, and it is, but they don't care that it's the same wire between you and the exchange. All they care about is who's paying them, and you're not paying BT for your internet connection.

When the tech comes out to me tomorrow I'll be telling him all about the crackly line but I'll make darned sure he sees my modem/router's DSL status page as well. I have no doubt he will be happy to investigate and fix everything that's wrong with the line.

EDIT

And, when you call, make sure you do it from a corded phone attached to the test socket inside your BT master. They ask you to do this to prove it's not equipment inside your home or extensions you have installed that are causing the problem. Doing it before they ask you to just makes the process of getting them to accept they need to send an engineer out a bit quicker.

[smeagoly1]

Thanks Chris, i deffo will do that next week, as i have time off then during the day.
Hope things go well for you when your engineer arrives

Well, he spent a good half hour here and has just left. He checked at the exchange before coming here, and he's going to check along the line later this morning. So far, no fault found.

Mind you, the audible crackle has disappeared this morning, as has the unstable internet connection. For the time being, all is rosy. He said it might be a wet joint; if that's the case it'll come back again eventually, but for now I'm happy. He fitted a nice new 'Faceplate 2000' while he was here so I don't need to use a separate microfilter any more.

He also remarked that had I phoned in a broadband complaint, rather than a problem with the voice service, I'd have been waiting at least a couple of weeks for him to come out. In his own words, "Virgin don't like calling us out because it costs them a couple of hundred quid, you'd probably still be arguing with them about it." A lesson worth learning there.

Needless to say, as predicted he did a full broadband health check on the line while he was here.