No service or anything

[Technical Ben]

Posting from iffy phone so will be quick. No service. Checked 2 routers plus wires and phone and filters. No response at all. only socket is master and faceplate. Very sad. Thanks in advance cos I know your great.

[Simon]

What's your exchange?

[Simon]

From BT Status Page:

Dialling codes affected: 01406

Estimated time to resolve: 2hrs

We are aware of a temporary problem in the Holbeach area that may be causing some users difficulties accessing the Internet. Our engineers are working to resolve this problem and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

[Technical Ben]

Thanks. With no access I was unable to check. If I'd known I'd have taken them a cup of tea. Hope it's up by sunday. No chance they could fit asdl2+ as well?

[Niall]

Strangely my sisters connection has a problem too. They're connected according to the router, but cannot access the net at all, on two different PCs. My connection is fine and there's nothing on the BT status page for this area, or any mention on the IDnet status page of any problems.

My initial thought was a DNS problem, but they can't even connect to sites using IP addresses. Oddly, my connection is flying along with no problems at all and I'm on the same connection/package as them, and I'm only half a mile away from them.

[Steve]

Could be a stale session  turn off for 30 mins and try again

[Niall]

I suggested that to them, and I noticed that they'd posted a reply to something on Facebook, so I think it worked

Why would that happen though? I've never had it happen to me on any ISP.

[Technical Ben]

Thanks. All is back today.
Was worried I'd need a new router, and as I've got plans and things to organise in the coming week, did not want to have to search around for a new one. Although, that was a silly thing to worry about, as I have a spare. 

[Lance]

Why would that happen though? I've never had it happen to me on any ISP.

Could be something BT did at the exchange/ on the vp.

[Technical Ben]

Happened every night at 7-8ish over the weekend until the morning. Did not post here as on Saturday onwards, I could not even connect via mobile broadband. So something to do with then entire connection (guessing an actual physical connection, as the mobile net and ASDL follow different virtual paths?).
I've got to quickly do all my internet banking now!

[Rik]

That is odd, Ben. I wonder where the mobile service joins the network.

[pctech]

Mobile operators that cannot achieve line of sight to a Radio Network Controller using a microwave link are tending to use SDSL for backhaul as its cheaper for them than a leased line, this will be linked to the nearest exchange the same as when you order a connection at home so it sounds like an exchange or BRAS failure.

You may get a signal but you would not be able to make calls or send or receive data although 3G employs mutual authentication where the SIM authenticates itself to the network and the network authenticates itself to the SIM so this may fail as well.

[Rik]

Thanks, Mitch. 

[pctech]

NP

Bet worrying the mobile operators are relying on BT.

Thankfully the masts near me seem to have microwave backhaul which is always the preferred option as I understand it.

[Rik]

That seemed to be the case in Scotland too, to judge by the problems I see occurred while I was away.

[pctech]

Providing coverage in the Highlands has always proved an issue for the operators and only in the last few years have they begun to address the problem.

[Rik]

I actually went into the 3 shop and asked if they had a coverage map - I got greeted by a blank look.

[Simon]

Saturday staff? 

[Rik]

On a Monday?

[pctech]

Maybe it hasn't been open that long.

[Simon]

Maybe they'd been there all weekend? 

[Rik]

Maybe they didn't like the question.

[Glenn]

I don't think any of the operators publish detailed maps of their coverage, but they must know how far each mast signal propogates.

[Rik]

You can find fairly good ones on the websites, Glenn.

[pctech]

But one thing to bear in mind is that the ones on the operator sites are based on computer prediction rather than actual drive testing by the engineers so its no guarantee.

[Rik]

Agreed, Mitch, but it's the best we've got.

[Glenn]

I can get good maps here, just need to speak the right people.  

[Rik]

Any networks, or just the one?

[Glenn]

Three and possibly T-Mobile, they both use the same company to manage their networks.

[Rik]

Well, if you came across a 3 map for the Inverness/Forress area... (Would you believe  they held the Forres Games on the Saturday we headed south  )

[Technical Ben]

Found this on AAisp.

Please read the following incident report as it could have an impact on some of your end users     
          
     BT Incident Reference:    20109         Issue :    FINAL    
     Detected Date:    16/07/2010         Detected Time:    20:20    
     Start Date:    16/07/2010         Start Time:    20:19    
     Actual Clear Date:    17/07/2010         Actual Clear Time:    03:25    
          
     Incident Headline:    : HOLBEACH MUX 301 : LOSS OF SERVICE    
          
     Incident Details:    Some of your Broadband End Users will have experiencied a loss of Broadband Service.
   
     Progress Details:    Service has been restored by completing a card reseat.

This issue may have been due to an equipment failure.

BT regrets any inconvenience this may have caused.    
     Dialling Codes Affected:    01406

They could have asked me to do that for them.
Why it happened 3 days is a row is beyond me. Oh well, lets see what happens at 7 tonight...

[Rik]

The Archers?

[Glenn]

Sound to me like the card is faulty, as it has happened for 2 or 3 days, it coincides with BT switching to their evening phone tariff.

[Rik]

Good point.

[Technical Ben]

It's three minutes past seven! I reckon I have another five if it's going to fail again...

[Rik]

Tick, tock.