New 2700 user

Rik · May 22, 2009, 19:13:11

The hosting service may be blocking our domain or IP range. I've sent you a couple of emails, from two separate accounts, to your original email address. If the one from idnetters.co.uk doesn't get through, but the other one does, then it points to a block somewhere.

Lance · May 22, 2009, 22:46:34

Hi Mark, what are your line problems and what have you tried so far?

Marksfish · May 22, 2009, 23:17:11

Hi Lance, time for a bit of Jackanory

I am on a long line, but have always managed a steady 2mb connection since upgrading to MAX. Towards the end of March/ beginning of April, I began to experience a drastic drop in synch and intermittent disconnections. It coincided with a) exchange upgraded to 21CN, b) lots of rain and c) roadworks in the locality.

The line has a history of being problematic, but any problems can usually be fixed using the BT online fault checker. This time the checker hasn't been working for some reason or other. I thought my filtered faceplate may be playing up, so I put the old faceplate back on and changed filters on all extensions. No change. I then plugged the router into the test socket and synch dropped to around 400kbps for a while. I reported the fault and was told by the ISP that my line could only be expected to receive 512- 1mb according to BT records. Now, my ISP have records showing a consistent synch of over 2300kbps for the best part of 2 years and once I even had a profile of 3Mb!! (only for a week or so though $:-\$ ).

After battling with my cut & paste answers ISP, they finally involved BT with the obligatory threat of £140 or so +vat if the fault was found with my wiring or equipment (I had been using my trusty Belkin, tried my ISP supplied Voyager and even bought a Netgear), so I know it wasn't my fault. It was at this time that an ISP rep on another forum suggested this router "may" be of benefit to me, so ebay to the rescue

By the time the engineer arrived, the synch had stabilised at around 1900. The engineer spent about 3 hours putting my socket back together and checking the wiring. He then went to the cabinet (about 100 yards away) and spent 1/2 hour or so there. When he returned, I received the "I can't find any fault on your line and the maximum synch I can get at the cabinet is 2100. I'll put in my report, but if you keep losing connection we may have to lay a new pair from the exchange to the cabinet (pigs might fly!!)". Anyway, when he left the line was 200kbps below what it was before the visit

. In the meantime my line has been dropping 10- 15 times a day since the visit.

I put the new router to work today and immediately got a synch of 2432 for about 3 hours. The router has since dropped connection and is now around 1800. The fault is still open with BT, but it looks as though I am no further forward

. That said, the router is a nice piece of kit though

Mark

Rik · May 23, 2009, 09:50:52

What are your downstream line stats, Mark, ie sync speed, noise margin and attenuation?

Marksfish · May 23, 2009, 10:12:05

At this current moment in time the stats are:

Downstream Rate: 1856 kbps
Upstream Rate: 448 kbps
Channel: Interleaved
Current Noise Margin: 10.0 dB (Downstream) 18.0 dB (Upstream)
Current Attenuation: 61.2 dB (Downstream) 31.5 dB (Upstream)
Current Output Power: 16.8 dBm (Downstream) 12.2 dBm (Upstream)

They have been MUCH better, but they have also been MUCH worse! when the line is behaving, the snr usually sits around 3- 6db.

Rik · May 23, 2009, 10:17:26

It looks like your target NM has been increased to 9 or 12db, do you know what it shows immediately after a re-sync? It suggests a noisy line (I have one too, so run with a target NM of 9), which coupled with the length, about 6km, means you're always going to be struggling for speed. Many lines, particularly longer ones, seem to have degraded since ADSL launched. My own theory is that, as more people get broadband, the crosstalk on cables increased, hitting speed. Add to this the fact that there will be more joints on a long line and a lot more opportunity to pick up noise and it's not a pretty picture. Fibre is the only realistic way for us to get good speeds.

Sebby · May 23, 2009, 11:17:53

On the whole Fusion thing, I'm wondering if your 2700 is a single SSID model in which case there wouldn't be a Fusion SSID.

Marksfish · May 23, 2009, 11:38:38

Hi Rik

Yes, the line has always been temperamental, but to lose 1/2 meg of speed in a few days is pretty abysmal in my book. It is like buying a litre of water and finding only 750ml inside and being told "it's within operating limits"

Hi Sebby. Appears to definitely be a twin SSID as both are on a label at the bottom of the router. I have a SSID for a Broadband wireless hub and a SSID for BT Fusion - 3831, bith with WEP keys. Obviously I have changed the SSID for me and also the security to WPA, all I have managed to do with the BT Fusion one is to hide the SSID.

Mark

Rik · May 23, 2009, 11:40:09

Hi Mark

Do you know what your maximum stable rate is?

Marksfish · May 23, 2009, 11:41:12

Is that the same as my IP profile?

Rik · May 23, 2009, 11:44:33

No, it's the figure set by BT during your initial training period. That determines the fault threshold rate (70% of MSR), which will ultimately determine whether your ISP can raise a fault with BT on the speed issue.

Marksfish · May 23, 2009, 11:47:06

No, I haven't seen that since moving to MAAF, it was available when on F9 though. At that time it was 2.5meg from what I recall. The ISP agent has stated in the ticket that I am synching below the FTR. I am hoping BT do what they say and lay a new cable. Oh, did I just see a flying pig

Mark

Marksfish · May 23, 2009, 11:49:32

Okay, so scrolling through my open ticket, it says it is 2400.

Rik · May 23, 2009, 11:50:29

If you're below FTR, then BT should address the fault, however, they can refuse to do so on the grounds of cost - in which case, you can end up with your line being classified as not suitable for ADSL. You need to keep pressure on your ISP to get this sorted, but be prepared to back off if you're told that your choice is living with the speed or having the service withdrawn. Unfortunately, BT don't have any obligation to provide ADSL.

Marksfish · May 23, 2009, 11:55:52

Problem is that others in the street have also noticed a deterioration, i'm wondering if the exchange "upgrade" is the issue? none of them are that interested in pursuing a complaint to their isp's though, so it is me on my jack.

It's a shame there is no other option locally. In a place we stay in Spain, they have a small aerial (similar to the Ionica ones, remember them?) attached to the wall outside and the whole connection is wireless from a mast about 10 miles away. Cable passed the bottom of our road and didn't turn in. Mobile broadband isn't that much of an option as the signal area here is flaky, to say the least, so BT have the monopoly on my dosh at the moment!!

Mark

Rik · May 23, 2009, 11:58:49

It could be at the exchange, Mark, or could just be a local degradation of the cable - only BT will know for sure. It's a shame your neighbours aren't prepared to take up cudgels as the more issues raised, the more likely BT is to act.

I remember Ionica well.

The effective monopoly of BT outside major conurbations, inside some of them, has held back UK broadband services, but it seems as if Ofcom see their role as protecting BT, not consumers.

MisterW · May 23, 2009, 13:09:29

QuoteHi Sebby. Appears to definitely be a twin SSID as both are on a label at the bottom of the router. I have a SSID for a Broadband wireless hub and a SSID for BT Fusion - 3831, bith with WEP keys. Obviously I have changed the SSID for me and also the security to WPA, all I have managed to do with the BT Fusion one is to hide the SSID.

It doesnt matter whether the h/w is single or twin SSID its the firmware version that implements the Fusion.
AFAIK all f/w from 5.29.107.12 implemented Fusion. I've got a single SSID which originally came with 4.25.33 but now running 5.29.107.12 and it has Fusion.
Anyway you disable it from here http://home/xslt?PAGE=C01. If its enabled then there should be a 'Disable' button next to the label 'Fusion Devices' about halfway down the RHS of the page ( see attached screen shot).
N.B mine is already disabled as you can see.

[attachment deleted by admin]

Rik · May 23, 2009, 13:10:47

That's the same screen I have.

Marksfish · May 23, 2009, 13:18:48

That is my screen too. I thought that using the disable button would disable anything that was connected during that session, didn't realise it disabled the feature full stop. I have now done the same. Many thanks for your help

Mark

Rik · May 23, 2009, 13:24:42

I've turned off USB too, Mark, but I'm like that - if I don't need it, I like it disabled.

Marksfish · May 23, 2009, 15:26:27

Just to let you know Rik, the notifications from last night are appearing now, along with loads of other email. It seems (according to this site http://www.levinecentral.com/mail_parse/default.aspx) that my web host has had a 21 hour delay!! I thought it was quiet

Rik · May 23, 2009, 15:28:03

That's a relief, thanks for letting me know, Mark.

Marksfish · May 23, 2009, 18:44:46

The synch is rising, it just needs a bit of stability:

Downstream Rate: 2656 kbps
Upstream Rate: 448 kbps
Channel: Interleaved
Current Noise Margin: 9.0 dB (Downstream) 19.0 dB (Upstream)
Current Attenuation: 61.2 dB (Downstream) 31.5 dB (Upstream)
Current Output Power: 17.7 dBm (Downstream) 12.2 dBm (Upstream)

Rik · May 23, 2009, 18:45:48

Marksfish · May 24, 2009, 23:23:02

Had a catastrophic loss of synch and subsequent re- synch of 1400

. A manual disconnect for 5 minutes and reconnect gave me....... 1400

. I disconected again and left it for 10 minutes and got a re- synch of 2528. Still a long way to go though

Mark