MK; Any ideas for future improvement?

[Tacitus]

TBH this can get to be an expensive game.  I'm in a similar, though not quite as bad position with a setup that's worked fine for a long time but has now fallen prey to deteriorating line syndrome.  After a lot of messing about, new NTE5A with XTE-2005 filter etc, I have come to the conclusion that the reason is not only the line problems but a new source of noise.  

Exactly what is producing the noise is difficult to determine, but using the MW radio there is definitely some being introduced in the region of the phone socket where I am connected.  I thought at first it was the computer power supply but ruled that out so I'm at a loss as to what is doing it.  It seems to occur in a 'pocket' rather than be a generalised thing.

Putting the router near the main NTE5 in the roof space - I'm in a bungalow - does stabilise things rather more and gives a slightly increased speed into the bargain.  Unfortunately the way I did the network wiring does not lend itself to a 4 port router being in the roof, quite apart from any temperature problems - cold in winter, oven in summer.  

So one possible option is to separate the modem and the router/firewall part, which is complicated, overkill and, probably expensive.  However the cheap part - the modem - would be in the roof, subject to the temperature fluctuations and, more reasonable to replace.  The expensive part would be in a more temperate climate.  

I could probably overcome, or at least reduce the temperature problems by making a small suitably ventilated, cupboard attached to the wall, so at present this is looking to be the most likely option.  Otherwise I shall have to redo the wiring which, since the place has recently been redecorated doesn't appeal....

I haven't yet investigated the homeplug route, so that's next on the list.  Wireless is not really an option.

Wonderful thing broadband isn't it?  

PS  I should add that I've received some good help from Brian at iDNet, something which makes me thankful I left Demon and the script jockeys...

[FoxtrotEcho]

TBH this can get to be an expensive game.

You are surely not wrong there!

Exactly what is producing the noise is difficult to determine, but using the MW radio there is definitely some being introduced in the region of the phone socket where I am connected.

Now you are giving me flashbacks! I caught a couple of lamp posts playing silly beggars with that technique! Got them and the problem fixed though!

PS  I should add that I've received some good help from Brian at iDNet, something which makes me thankful I left Demon and the script jockeys...

You'll notice I'm only considering using the wimax as a cheapish, "no contract" "second surfboard" to hop over to, so as to allow the BT Policy Politics side of this play itself out, no way I want to leave IDNet if at all possible to avoid it! Quite the opposite in fact. It's such a ridiculous little game BT turn this all into with their ill-conceived policies, all in the name of some kind of lock in too I'd guess - not that it worked in that way either! 

[Tacitus]

Now you are giving me flashbacks! I caught a couple of lamp posts playing silly beggars with that technique! Got them and the problem fixed though!

It's definitely not lamp posts although there is one in the close.  I recently had some insulation put in the roof, a lot of which contains aluminium foil, so there are several layers above the ceiling.  Since the noise seems to be RF, I wondered whether it is somehow getting bounced off the foil. 

I couldn't pin it down for certain but it does seem to have got worse since the work was done.  The main socket is above most, although not all, of it so wouldn't be affected to the same degree.

A lot of modern houses are using this sort of insulation (Celotex board or Tri-Iso multilayer foil) in the roof space, so it might be an increasing problem, unless the house is fed via an underground line. 

[Rik]

Interesting thought, Tac. Interaction between building techniques and ADSL wouldn't have been something I'd have taken into account.

[Tacitus]

Interesting thought, Tac. Interaction between building techniques and ADSL wouldn't have been something I'd have taken into account.

Interestingly some modern building techniques use this type of insulating board in the walls - it's a type of foam material (25-100mm), sandwiched between layers of aluminium foil.  Effectively this might create a Faraday cage,  although how effective it would be is arguable.

I've no real knowledge of radio stuff, so it would be interesting to hear from someone who does.

[Rik]

Faraday cages would be quite interesting for wireless networking, they should improve the reliability and speed.

[Tacitus]

Faraday cages would be quite interesting for wireless networking, they should improve the reliability and speed.

WiFi uses shorter wavelengths than that which causes RFI, so it would be interesting to see what effect the insulation had on different wavelengths.  ADSL tends towards the medium waveband circa 600Khz(?).  

[Rik]

I was thinking that it would tend to keep the internal signal in, and the external ones out, Tac, thus reducing interference between neighbouring networks.

[Fox]

Faraday cages would be quite interesting for wireless networking, they should improve the reliability and speed.

...not if you want to use your laptop in the garden 

[Rik]

True enough - you'd want to be able to 'lower the shields'.

[Gary]

Faraday cages would be quite interesting for wireless networking, they should improve the reliability and speed.

Surely a Faraday cage would block your wireless as they shield from such things?

[Rik]

It should keep other local networks out, though, Gary, improving the reliability within the cage.

[Gary]

It should keep other local networks out, though, Gary, improving the reliability within the cage.

But wouldn't it keep your own network out as well so reducing signal quality? If your home was a faraday cage fair enough (external walls) ceiling and windows, but if it was you inside one it would block everything I thought pretty much unless your router was inside with you, snug and not up Justina's street 

[Rik]

That's what I'm suggesting, though, Gary. The exterior walls make up the cage so that, within the house, only one set of signals was available, from your own router. In a perfect cage, it would also mean the overhead of encryption could be abandoned as no signal should get out.

[Tacitus]

That's what I'm suggesting, though, Gary. The exterior walls make up the cage so that, within the house, only one set of signals was available, from your own router. In a perfect cage, it would also mean the overhead of encryption could be abandoned as no signal should get out.

I wonder though whether the sides of the 'cage' would reflect interference as well as the good signal, possibly leading to more problems than it solved.

[Rik]

Are you volunteering to have your house set up as a test bad, Tac? TBH, I don't know, we need an RF expert for this.

[Tacitus]

Are you volunteering to have your house set up as a test bad, Tac? TBH, I don't know, we need an RF expert for this.

My walls don't have this type of insulation Rik, it's just the roof space that does.  My exterior walls are the standard cavity with rockwool insulation.  However I believe that some of the latest timber frame builds do incorporate Celotex board or similar on the interior side of the exterior walls.  A layer is also put under the ground floor and covered with a concrete screed to help meet the new insulation targets.  If the roof pitch also incorporates a breathable membrane with a foil type insulation underneath, you are approaching a Faraday style cage, albeit a weak one, since the aluminium foil is not that thick.

As you say, we could do with an RF expert.

[Rik]

I'm prepared to come and wrap your house in baking foil, Tac.