Help! Why has my connection gone from hero to zero?

emvisi · Sep 04, 2009, 18:34:49

Too late, unfortunately. Forgot they finish earlier on a Friday. I was going to call at 6 if I hadn't heard back from Brian. I did and got the office hours greeting. Any point leaving a message for them?

So, in the unlikely event that BT are still working on my line, or have completed it, should my modem just pick up the new connection? I've been restarting it periodically, but nothing yet.

Rik · Sep 04, 2009, 18:37:29

Yes, leave a message, Mike, no service rates as an emergency and will get a response - though if BT have messed up, it may take till Monday.

Do you have sync atm? If not, then yes, it should pick up automatically. If it's in sync but PPP won't authenticate, then you probably want to power the router down for 20 minutes or so and try again, so that any stale session problems are resolved.

emvisi · Sep 04, 2009, 18:42:26

Thanks, Rik. Yes, it appears to be syncing so I'll power down for 20 mins or so. If there's still nothing then I'll phone and leave a message.

Rik · Sep 04, 2009, 18:46:23

Whoever's on call will be able to look at the radius server and see what's happening to login attempts, Mike, so leave the router on until you get a response.

emvisi · Sep 04, 2009, 19:46:45

"Sorry, but the user's mailbox can't accept more messages".

Still no PPP auth -- tried both routers for good measure. I'll keep trying the phone on the off-chance that someone clears the mailbox. Any point in sending an email?

Rik · Sep 04, 2009, 19:48:52

OK, I'll get that error fixed asap. Try again in a while. Email might get a quicker result.

emvisi · Sep 04, 2009, 20:06:15

Thanks. Will do both.

emvisi · Sep 04, 2009, 21:32:07

Email sent and voicemail left.

Simon · Sep 04, 2009, 22:29:41

Hope it gets sorted for you soon Mike.

emvisi · Sep 05, 2009, 10:28:55

So BT broke my connection and won't say what's wrong. IDNet have had heated discussions with BT and escalated the issue as high as possible. And I've a pile of work I can't do...

Rik · Sep 05, 2009, 10:30:27

That's the problem with BT at weekends, Mike. IDNet will be using all their contacts to escalate within the out of hours setup, but their hands are somewhat tied because of BT's working week.

emvisi · Sep 05, 2009, 10:52:57

I appreciate IDNet's efforts in seeking a resolution. The upgrade should have completed a month ago but BT repeatedly cancelled it, citing an open order on the line. Mystified by this, I phoned BT customer services last week, who confirmed there was no such order, only for BT to once more attempt to get IDNet to cancel and re-order for the same reason yesterday. IDNet dug their heels in, and the rest you already know.

Rik · Sep 05, 2009, 10:54:13

BT's ordering system seems chaotic, to be polite about it. ;(

Lance · Sep 05, 2009, 10:55:37

Don't the business packages have a faster turn around time on faults, or is that only with the enhanced care? I'm assuming it's a business package your own as you mentioned about work to do.

Rik · Sep 05, 2009, 10:56:10

You have to be paying the extra for enhanced care, Lance.

Lance · Sep 05, 2009, 10:58:43

Ah, I did wonder but couldn't be bothered to look from my phone. I would imagine that it depends how critical the work is ad to whether or not you pay for it.

David · Sep 05, 2009, 11:00:57

Heres hoping Mike

Rik · Sep 05, 2009, 11:02:16

Quote from: Lance on Sep 05, 2009, 10:58:43
Ah, I did wonder but couldn't be bothered to look from my phone. I would imagine that it depends how critical the work is ad to whether or not you pay for it.

Indeed. How's the course going?

Glenn · Sep 05, 2009, 11:03:47

Quote from: Rik on Sep 05, 2009, 11:02:16
Indeed. How's the course going?

Shouldn't there be a "now, get back to work" on the end of that sentence?

Rik · Sep 05, 2009, 11:04:43

I was leaving that for ~~Miss Whiiplash~~Jill.

Lance · Sep 05, 2009, 11:05:54

Just on a break but starting again now!

Rik · Sep 05, 2009, 11:06:50

What is this one?

emvisi · Sep 05, 2009, 11:14:54

I don't have a business connection as I don't need super-strength industrial reliability. I can tolerate the occasional drop in speed or loss of sync.

No connection at all, however, is not acceptable whatever the package.

Heh: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/sep/05/broadband-speed-legal-advice

Rik · Sep 05, 2009, 11:18:43

Sadly, it will be the ISPs taking the flak, and BT washing their hands of everything. Because their contract with BT is a business one, not a consumer one, they have far less protection.

Tacitus · Sep 05, 2009, 11:35:41

Quote from: Rik on Sep 05, 2009, 11:18:43
Sadly, it will be the ISPs taking the flak, and BT washing their hands of everything. Because their contract with BT is a business one, not a consumer one, they have far less protection.

It's not simply that Rik. It's the 'good' ISPs like iDNet, Zen etc who do try to provide a decent service, that get tarred with the same brush as the 'pile it high' merchants. The latter don't really care, as in a lot of cases broadband is simply a loss leader to enable them to sell other stuff.

The general public, the majority of whom regard anything above the lowest price obtainable as a 'rip off', present company excepted of course

expect to get a Rolls Royce for the price of a Ford and, start whining when predictably it doesn't happen.

When ISPs like iDNet fall foul of BTs machinations and the service falls below par, the public then take the view that since 'they're all the same' they may as well go with the cheapest. The result is a race to the bottom with the good guys getting squeezed out. The end result will be a few major suppliers for whom the idea of offering a decent service is an alien concept and, whose sole purpose is to extract as much money from the customer as is legally possible.

It's all very sad