Losing sync all the time

qweezy · Mar 18, 2010, 15:36:50

Just trying to write this I have lost sync 7 times.

This has been a constant problem with my connection and its barely useable.

I dont care if I have to drop in speed, I just want it stable.

And why arent my sync speeds going down if it drops out so much?

Same in Test socket, nothing else plugged apart from the router and routerstats isnt compatible with my router. I did think I solved the problem with using a shorter ADSL able, but no.

Rik · Mar 18, 2010, 15:43:36

Your best bet would be to try a different router as a first measure if the test socket doesn't help. If that fails to improve matters, then try using a de-tuned MW battery-powered radio, tune it off station until you get just white noise, then follow the path of the phone cable from entry to router, listening for an increase in volume. If you find one, it suggests local interference. If neither of those actions help, then it's probably time to get a BT engineer out, but you risk a £170 fee if you do.

qweezy · Mar 18, 2010, 15:46:51

Is it possible that the router can be casing these issues?

I have a Belkin, which arent the best.

With the radio, what sort of noise can be considered interference?

Thanks.

Rik · Mar 18, 2010, 15:52:24

It can always be the router, it or its power supply can be dying.

Louder white noise is a sign of interference.

Dangerjunkie · Mar 18, 2010, 16:30:11

Hi there,

Welcome to the gang.

What sync speed are you getting?

Is this an installation that has never worked right since the day it was put in or did it used to be fine but now isn't?

Which brand of filter are you using, where did it come from and how long have you had it?

If you plug a phone in and make a voice call how does it sound? Good, faint, crackly, hissy, buzzy?

Do you have a cordless phone? Is the base station near your router or phone wiring?

Can you borrow another router to test (or get one free on Freecycle)?

Cheers,
Paul.

qweezy · Mar 18, 2010, 16:33:26

There doesn't seem to be an extra white noise around the ADSL cable.

If I continue to have issues is there any way my line can be made more stable?

I have had a BT engineer out before a few years ago and it solved nothing.

Also, why isn't my speed decreasing as its unstable?

I have only recently switched to ADSL2 and it seemed really stable in the first week or so, but now its just terrible. The loss of sync problem has always been there though.

I have noticed if I have the phone plugged in, there are crackles and hisses on the line when the router is trying to gain sync.

I am using a fairly new ADSL Nation XF-1e.

Rik · Mar 18, 2010, 16:39:25

What are your line stats? It may be that your profile isn't being affected by the resyncs because the target noise margin is already set as high as it can go. A BT speed test would be useful to tell us what the profile is doing.

ATM, unless you have maximum target NM and interleaving turned on, there's nothing that can be done to make the line more stable, other than to try a new router, phone and filter. In the future, ISPs should be able to override DLM to control the characteristics of a line, and that may help.

ADSL2+ is inherently more sensitive to noise, so I'm surprised you found it more stable.

The fact that you are hearing the router on the phone troubles me, so I would definitely start by changing the filter to eliminate that as a possibility.

Dangerjunkie · Mar 18, 2010, 16:43:12

Hi,

The crackles and hiss make it sound like there's a problem with your filter or router to me. ADSL Nation make fantastic filters but it might be worth trying another one (do you have an old filter anywhere?) just in case you've got the one faulty one in the batch of n-thousand.

Do you have a burglar alarm? Is it connected to the phone line? In the past we've seen numpty alarm installers attach alarms directly to the screws on the back of someone's master socket or onto a junction box without filters. In that situation the test socket will have the problem too.

Cheers,
Paul.

Rik · Mar 18, 2010, 16:45:17

Good thinking, Paul.

qweezy · Mar 18, 2010, 16:53:18

Okay, im going to try and fish out an old filter.

No Alarms at all!

It could be the router, but I remember having the same problem a few years ago when I was using a modem.

The BT Speedtester site is down at the moment. Or at least it is for me, haha.

The loss of sync seems to be quite random. I can have perfect connection for hours maybe even a day, but then it goes boom. Like today, my internet has been fine since this morning and about 2.30 I have been losing sync every few minutes.

Thanks.

Rik · Mar 18, 2010, 16:59:18

It could be external noise. What browser are you using, a BT test is essential in this sort of case.

qweezy · Mar 18, 2010, 17:25:24

Okay, this is what I get.

Download speedachieved during the test was - 1847 Kbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speedsis 400-2000 Kbps.
Additional Information:
Your DSL Connection Rate :3162 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 888 Kbps(UP-STREAM)
IP Profile for your line is - 2000 Kbps
The throughput of Best Efforts (BE) classes achieved during the test is - 11.32:23.23:65.46 (SBE:NBE:PBE)
These figures represent the ratio while sententiously passing Sub BE, Normal BE and Priority BE marked traffic.

Rik · Mar 18, 2010, 17:34:59

BT aren't even going to look at your line, I'm afraid. Although the profile is 500k low for the sync speed, your throughput, at 1847, is well above NT's minimum acceptable figure of 400.

Self-help is the order of the day, starting with the filter and then maybe the router.

Glenn · Mar 18, 2010, 17:41:44

Strange how what BT consider as acceptable follows the sync lower.

Rik · Mar 18, 2010, 17:43:50

IDNet have just tested your line qweezy, and everything points to a router issue as DLM is not seeing connectivity failures but router disconnects. It could be the power supply, it might be overheating, but beg, borrow or steal a different router and see if that helps.

Rik · Mar 18, 2010, 17:44:16

Quote from: Glenn on Mar 18, 2010, 17:41:44
Strange how what BT consider as acceptable follows the sync lower.

Bare minimum, you mean. I know.

qweezy · Mar 18, 2010, 23:40:06

Thankyou for the help.

I don't have another router available to me, so I'll take the plunge and buy another. This Belkin has been around for a while anyway.

Any pointers to a good router? Nothing overly expensive

Cheers

Rik · Mar 19, 2010, 09:28:27

Given your line length, it might be worth trying a 2-Wire 2700, around £10-15 from eBay (can be a lot cheaper).

Dangerjunkie · Mar 19, 2010, 11:35:15

Hi,

Another vote here for the 2700HGV. It's a great little router. I have one and it got me another meg and a half out of my line (5 meg up from 3.5). I don't promise it will give you that much extra but I would expect it to do better than the Belkin. You can find instructions on how to program it to divorce it from BT Internet and set it up for IDNet (and loads of help) in the 2-Wire 2700 Router issues board on here.

The other router I would recommend is the Draytek Vigor 2820n which is marginally better on my line than the 2700 and has n-type wireless if your laptop supports it. However at £140 it does go against your desire for something not too expensive.

Cheers,
Paul.

DorsetBoy · Mar 19, 2010, 11:49:10

Quote from: Dangerjunkie on Mar 19, 2010, 11:35:15
Hi,

Another vote here for the 2700HGV. It's a great little router. I have one and it got me another meg and a half out of my line (5 meg up from 3.5). I don't promise it will give you that much extra but I would expect it to do better than the Belkin. You can find instructions on how to program it to divorce it from BT Internet and set it up for IDNet (and loads of help) in the 2-Wire 2700 Router issues board on here.

The other router I would recommend is the Draytek Vigor 2820n which is marginally better on my line than the 2700 and has n-type wireless if your laptop supports it. However at £140 it does go against your desire for something not too expensive.

Cheers,
Paul.

I have the Vigor 2820 (non wireless) it is a superb piece of kit. It's good to have firmware that is specifically written for UK broadband too.

qweezy · Mar 19, 2010, 12:50:27

Thanks again guys.

Bought a 2700HGV 2 off ebay. Just have to wait for delivery!

Rik · Mar 19, 2010, 12:54:19

qweezy · Mar 25, 2010, 15:47:54

Hey guys,

Just got the new router (2700HGV) set-up and all seems good.

Syncing slightly better and getting 1mb extra download.

Lets just hope there is no dropping!

Thanks.

Rik · Mar 25, 2010, 15:48:48

The 2700 has worked some magic for a number of us with poor lines.

qweezy · Mar 25, 2010, 16:08:16

Just wondering, what would make the sync rate rise?

This is the first time I can see my line stats properly and 'apparently' I should be able to get around 5mb with 45db downstream attenuation. I am only syncing at 3443 currently.

Thanks.