Connection issue

[cs]

Having some odd connection problems... Just been the last 2 days so it may well be due to the other router issues that are reported here but I seem to be having different symptoms, would appreciate any advice.

I keep getting random 'blips' in connection. I am signed out of MSN messenger, anything i am downloading fails and anything else I am doing online is cut off. But literally 2 seconds later everything is fine. This has been happening at least a couple of times an hour for the last 2 days.

My router is logging nothing. I was on 479 hours uptime on the router's WAN port, before I reset it. My connection is normally rock solid as I live just 600 yards from the exchange.

I have tried unplugging everything else from the phone line but didn't seem to make any difference. I also have an ADSL nation faceplate installed.

LAN activity is unaffected so I don't think its related to this PC or the wireless network internally.

Router stats in case that is helpful:
ADSL Link            Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 8128 kbps   448 kbps
Line Attenuation   23 db         7 db
Noise Margin        8 db          29 db

Any thoughts/advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Chris

[Inactive]

Hi Chris,

Sorry that I cannot help you, other than to say that my connection is fine.

Somebody will answer in the morning.

Cheers In'

[Lance]

Hi Chris.

My first thought when reading this was that it was the LAN playing up, but you then go on to say that the LAN is fine.

My second thought is that it is dropping either PPP or sync, and the router isn't reporting it. However, this is unlikely as this would take longer than a couple of seconds to come back.

My final thought is maybe the router is playing up, but unless you have a spare router to hand this isn't easy to prove.

Sorry I can't be more help!

[talos2]

Happens to me on occasion, I find rebooting the router seems to help.

[Lance]

Although it appears that Chris has already tried rebooting 

[talos2]

Although it appears that Chris has already tried rebooting 

AHH!
                             How about hearing crackling noises on the phone ? we've had a lot of wind lately( only applies if lines overhead)

[Lance]

we've had a lot of wind lately( only applies if lines overhead)

Something you ate? 

[cs]

Thanks for the comments.

Maybe it is the router playing up. Don't have another I can test with unfortunately.

There is no noise on the phone line. Are lines are underground anway.

I'll see how it goes today..

[Tacitus]

I also have an ADSL nation faceplate installed.

Have you tried by-passing the faceplate and plugging into the socket at the rear?  I have heard of filters going bad - rare, but apparently it does happen.

[cs]

No I haven't tried that yet, might try it later.
Although, I've been on for an hour this morning and no problems so maybe things have resolved themselves...........

[Rik]

ATM I would be thinking router or filter, but it's going to be quite hard to diagnose given the lack of symptoms. What make is the router, Chris?

[Lance]

I'm guessing a netgear because of the format of the stats...

[Rik]

That's what I was thinking.

[cs]

Yep, Netgear DG834

[Rik]

In that case, I'd suggest you run a copy of Routerstats, and see if that gives any clues on what might be happening. Later Netgear firmwares seem to have stopped logging sync drops.

http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/internet/files.htm
http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/moreinternet/files.htm

[cs]

Well, I haven't had a single problem today, so I think for now, I'll leave it alone in case I make it worse!

[Rik]

Try running Routerstats, Chris, it doesn't require a router re-boot.

[cs]

OK I am running it now, what is the most useful information to get out of it?

[Rik]

Just look for any brief drops in the Rx noise margin to 0 or below and any drops in the Rx speed to 0 - the latter indicates the router is re-synching.

[cs]

Many thanks, I will leave it running for a while and see what the stats look like