Weird line issues.

[Gary]

Sunday my line started dropping, my snr drops to 0.1 then to -0.1 in the middle of the day, I have tried two routers, no change. I was running happily with a profile of 13.3 on adsl2+ now its down to 10. Loads of major roadworks in the area which already took out talk talks LLU at our exchange, just wondering if anyone has any thoughts. My cabling is fine, multiple routers are fine, been running for a year with no issues till the drainage works started. Not sure if its coincidence or what 

[Simon]

More than likely.  Roadworkers took out the entire village of Warninglid (near H/Heath) the other week, and it was 48 hours before BT could fix everything. 

[Gary]

More than likely.  Roadworkers took out the entire village of Warninglid (near H/Heath) the other week, and it was 48 hours before BT could fix everything. 

I did wonder, just set up a TBBQM and so far the yellow maximum latency spikes make it look like a comb for your hair. 

[Gary]

Arghhh well its BT engineer time, luckily I have a BTw engineer mate so he is coming to check things my side once again, as I cant get down to the faceplate as I'm in wheelchair these days. My line is acting like a reine event is on the cards. snr 6.1 all night sync of 11677Mbps, jumps to 11.5 snr in the morning at 8am, then I can get the full 15100Mbps sync back, at 11:30-12pm if I have resynced to 15100Mbps which it used to hold night and day it drops to -0.1 resyncs to 11577Mbps or lower, then at 6:30pm another reine event can knock it out and its happy all night when no road works occur. Now there are massive roadworks in the village putting in new underground pipe due to road floods. Sadly we don't get FTTC till 2014. So I have to wait for my BTw friend to come out do the test, then get another engineer out to do the test again to fine the fault <sigh> 

[Polchraine]

It is not just the chance of the cowboys putting a digger through the cables - which they do on a regular basis.  On my exchange they were told where not to bore holes - but they ignored the advice and took out nearly 20,000 lines!

The other problem is with their generators,  compressors and traffic signals.    The RFI they produce is astronomical and totally unshielded.   If one of those is running anywhere near a line or cabinet - it can easily kill at ADSL/VDSL access.    I have seen the results of it and had to deal with it.     

[Simon]

That sounds like a very good point!

[Gary]

It is not just the chance of the cowboys putting a digger through the cables - which they do on a regular basis.  On my exchange they were told where not to bore holes - but they ignored the advice and took out nearly 20,000 lines!

The other problem is with their generators,  compressors and traffic signals.    The RFI they produce is astronomical and totally unshielded.   If one of those is running anywhere near a line or cabinet - it can easily kill at ADSL/VDSL access.    I have seen the results of it and had to deal with it.     

Good point, they have traffic lights and generators and lights for night time to show the hole. Support said to leave it till the works are finished and then see what happens, the pattern is so much like reine from that sort of rfi output as the works are on the main cable ruining down from the exchange. Not much can be done anyway tbh at this time. Damn annoying losing 3meg though.

[Polchraine]

Good point, they have traffic lights and generators and lights for night time to show the hole. Support said to leave it till the works are finished and then see what happens, the pattern is so much like reine from that sort of rfi output as the works are on the main cable ruining down from the exchange. Not much can be done anyway tbh at this time. Damn annoying losing 3meg though.

It gets complex but there are rules on RFI.

Basically, equipment should not emit RFI at a level where it causes undue interference with any other equipment or interferes with a service being provided.    If it does,  the suppliers/owners of the equipment should take reasonable steps to mitigate the problem.   

Find out the name of the company responsible for the works - call their head office and tell them they are causing a nuisance and if they do not stop within 4 hours you will take the issue further.  Mention legal and press action.    Then call OFCOM and get them to act.

[Gary]

It gets complex but there are rules on RFI.

Basically, equipment should not emit RFI at a level where it causes undue interference with any other equipment or interferes with a service being provided.    If it does,  the suppliers/owners of the equipment should take reasonable steps to mitigate the problem.   

Find out the name of the company responsible for the works - call their head office and tell them they are causing a nuisance and if they do not stop within 4 hours you will take the issue further.  Mention legal and press action.    Then call OFCOM and get them to act.

I think they will tell me to get stuffed  The road works commenced on the 3rd with a talk talk buisness usres being wiped out in our village when they went though the cable.  Since then the reine effect has followed the 8am to 6PM pattern, not helped by myself trying out three routers and a few reboots of my own. <sigh> At this point since my snr has now risen to 15db and my sync profile is only a little more than I had on good old adsl max I may as well wait for the works to finish on the 20th then get my line reset. I have lost 6meg in less than a week. 

[Polchraine]

I think they will tell me to get stuffed The road works commenced on the 3rd with a talk talk buisness usres being wiped out in our village when they went though the cable.  Since then the reine effect has followed the 8am to 6PM pattern, not helped by myself trying out three routers and a few reboots of my own. <sigh> At this point since my snr has now risen to 15db and my sync profile is only a little more than I had on good old adsl max I may as well wait for the works to finish on the 20th then get my line reset. I have lost 6meg in less than a week. 

Don't accept that.     There are too many who just ride rough shod over users and local authorities.

We had one lot of builders working in our local town and the just double parked lorries on double yellow lines and more.  Putting barriers up to stop pedestrian access (without permission) and more.     The council really hit them hard and parking tickets galore have been issued.

Other works where they decide to start on Sundays - and close roads without approval.  Again the council soon put a stop to it.

Another lot of contractors were digging up a road and I saw they had made a large hole in a drainage pipe which served some neighbouring properties.     I actually asked if they were going to repair it and go a "just *** off"  type response.    Got a picture of it,  and as soon as they started to fill the hole, I contacted the local authority.     And guess what,  they were soon back to dig it all out again, and were forced to repair the damage.

They do not have any right to interfere with your services and as for cutting through cables - it shows how they just do not care.

[Simon]

I think Polchraine is quite right.  OK, I can understand Gary not wanting the hassle of taking further action, but all too often, as with the instance of lack of gritting in my area on Monday, companies, and indeed, local authorities, treat us with contempt, disrespect, and a total lack of concern.  Mostly, we just put up with it, as we can't be bothered to make a fuss, but perhaps it's time for 'us' to stand up and stop taking all the sh*t that's generally thrown at us by the big organisations.  Power to the people!! 

[Gary]

Don't accept that.     
They do not have any right to interfere with your services and as for cutting through cables - it shows how they just do not care.

I think it comes to the fact they wont stop major roadworks to stop the village flooding because of adsl issues. Yes it shows they have made a mess of things and its extra odd that 11:30am each day the noise gets worse.  The pattern is so accurate I could set my watch buy it. Support suggest waiting it out. I agree they should not be allowed to get away with this but equally getting out of the village without 3ft of flood water is also important.

[andrue]

Power to the people!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMKsR_wUSfA

[Gary]

IMostly, we just put up with it, as we can't be bothered to make a fuss, but perhaps it's time for 'us' to stand up and stop taking all the sh*t that's generally thrown at us by the big organisations.  Power to the people!! 

Very true Simon but unless a rein engineer is sent out and I bet they charge for that big time nothing will get done anyway.  By the time the red tape and bureaucracy is hurdled by myself trying to sort this out the road works will have stopped 

[Simon]

I know, just as my complaints about the non-gritting will dissipate now the snow has stopped.  Doesn't make it alright though. 

[Simon]

Can't view the video at the moment Andrue, but I'm guessing it's either Wolfie Smith or Cliff Richard! 

[Gary]

Can't view the video at the moment Andrue, but I'm guessing it's either Wolfie Smith or Cliff Richard! 

Def not Cliff Richard 

[Gary]

I know, just as my complaints about the non-gritting will dissipate now the snow has stopped.  Doesn't make it alright though. 

True but there are bigger issues affecting folks, and having slower adsl line due to roadworks is such a first world issue <sigh>

[Polchraine]

I think it comes to the fact they wont stop major roadworks to stop the village flooding because of adsl issues. Yes it shows they have made a mess of things and its extra odd that 11:30am each day the noise gets worse.  The pattern is so accurate I could set my watch buy it. Support suggest waiting it out. I agree they should not be allowed to get away with this but equally getting out of the village without 3ft of flood water is also important.

I did not suggest them stopping but they are not outside the law.

They should use equipment which complies with legal requirements and they have a duty of care.    They need to be told to comply.    As your service is degraded, why not invoice them for the cost of your service during the time they were there,  why should you pay when someone else makes it nearly unusable.


BT has a large team in various offices around te UK - they will provide any contractor with information on the location of BT services FREE OF CHARGE.    However, along side them are more staff who are responsible for invoicing contractors who damage BT plant and they raise tens of millions every year from cowboys who do not bother to ask,  or dig anyway.   

[Steve]

Something seems to be missing - proof. i.e. is their road-working equipment distributing RFI in excess amounts. Sadly Gary's adsl line is not classed as a suitable frequency detector.

[Gary]

Something seems to be missing - proof. i.e. is their road-working equipment distributing RFI in excess amounts. Sadly Gary's adsl line is not classed as a suitable frequency detector.

tbh Steve, it is what it is, not much I can do, the  generators multiple traffic lights, JCB,s pipe welding machine floodlights etc all probably produce a ton of RFI noise but as you say no proof. Without a suitable engineer to show that's happening with multiple tests from both sides ad infinitum there is no point kicking up a fuss.

[Gary]

Aghhhh I have had it now, once again just after 6:30pm massive RFI spike and my line goes down, I have lost 10meg since Sunday.  At this rate I wont have any internet.

[Gary]

Well dumping the Active Adsl nation faceplate for a passive BT VDSL one has helped a bit, roadworks finish in three days but they seem to have packed up early anyway, although more are going to start right across from the cab I'm linked to on the 20th. Still a drop of 5db from 11am till about 4pm meaning I cant get my 15 meg sync back. Stays at 5db all night but at 7am it rises to 10db. I give up  something is not right, still, thinking going to priority on the exchange may help... I'll wait for the ten day training period to mellow out again though and keep an eye on my stats. I hate problems like this, in fact never had a problem like this 

[Gary]

11:25am once again snr dropped and by 5db by 11:35am

[Steve]

I wonder where that RF noise is coming from?

[Gary]

I wonder where that RF noise is coming from?

Nothing has changed at home, Steve. Turning everything off made no difference, now I went out with Justina came home and the router had rebooted at 1:45pm and is now running closer to 15meg I know an snr reset is like a training period so maybe the line is in training again, but I also know at 11:35 tomorrow morning it will probably drop. <sigh> right now I am so fed up its untrue. Although this time the upstream has lost a little snr and the downstream has gained it which is more healthy, still not enough to survive a 5db drop though unless interleaving has kicked in.

[Gary]

So tonight my line download speed went to 3Mbps even though I was synced at 12.40Mbps, snr was around 6.8db then at 7pm it drops then at midnight its up again. My attenuation is 33 down 18.7 up  snr is now 6.9db down and 6.1db up but it dropped to 0.9 down and 6.1 up at 7pm as I mentioned, all night it will now be fine and I bet it drops again at 11:25am  What is going on? Line has been fine for 4 years then last Sunday bang it goes mental and since then makes no sense. Roadworks didn't help I'm sure but they are not happening now...

[Steve]

Have you gone back to basics Gary, soap and rope , swap router test socket yet , I know it may well be a waste of effort but does rule out anything your side of the master socket.

[Gary]

Have you gone back to basics Gary, soap and rope , swap router test socket yet , I know it may well be a waste of effort but does rule out anything your side of the master socket.

I had my BT engineer mate in Saturday Steve, I can't do a lot myself being wheelchair bound these days. I have tried three different routers, two new faceplates oddly the aldsnation one I had performed worse than the BT ones I was plugged into test socket. I have done BT tests showing my download lower than the minimum for my profile, BT also tested line via support and said they saw no issues last week..   

[Gary]

Right now my snr is 7.1db and im syncing at 14335Kbps

Edit at 7:25am my snr downstream went to 3.0

[Gary]

Spoke to support, my BT guy is going to run tests himself, he thinks its not a line fault but an ADSL 2 port issue  my snr went back up to 7.1 from 2.8 in the end at 8:25am. A BT speedtest just before showed my downstream was 3.95Mbps on a 12.65Mbps profile. 

[Gary]

Well now my broadband is flying but I have no telephone just noise oh and now a siren Its in the hands of support.

[Steve]

 

[Gary]

No engineer till Wednesday so no phone till Wednesday, not good since I have a careline

[sobranie]

No engineer till Wednesday so no phone till Wednesday, not good since I have a careline

Surely if you have a care line BT must attend to the fault post haste.
My care line went down a few years back and BT responded within a few hours.

[Gary]

Surely if you have a care line BT must attend to the fault post haste.
My care line went down a few years back and BT responded within a few hours.

Seems not told support I have a careline and they said Wednesday  In facet Wednesday is pretty good, my Engineer friend said he knows of people with neither Broadband or phone for up to three weeks! Cuts and they expect the service to keep going.

[nowster]

Just be glad you're not on the phone line that my parents have (with IDNet). Four miles of wet string with countless joints which crackles a lot when the weather is mild and damp. BT engineers can only fix stuff if the voice path is noticeably impaired.

[Gary]

My BTw mate to the rescue, lets see if it all holds now  have voice and broadband.

[Gary]

Joy of joy 1.75Mbps on a 12.65Mbps profile and a snr of 0.4. Of course every time support checks its when the line is showing fine 

[Gary]

well its down to support and BT now. Captured speedtests and tonight it says I have a 243ms latency, maybe that explains the 2Mbps out of 12Mbps profile...lets hope the engineer finds the issue, because they will be coming at the wrong time of day of course. So fed up of this

[Niall]

If my experience is anything to go by, BT should sort it either:

A) Never
B) Bodge it after a year of complaining
C) Bodge it then deny bodging it, lie about bodging it then not reply to IDnet's queries as to why they've done what they have, but are denying doing.

[Gary]

If my experience is anything to go by, BT should sort it either:

A) Never
B) Bodge it after a year of complaining
C) Bodge it then deny bodging it, lie about bodging it then not reply to IDnet's queries as to why they've done what they have, but are denying doing.

I have an inside man on the engineering side so he will keep me posted about what happens, so hopefully if anything dodgy happens I have a wedge to drive into the armour of the appropriate foe...well that's a theory, never had such cr@p line in all my time with idnet. Then again you have suffered much longer than me sadly

[Gary]

BT chappy thinks its a card fault, but getting anything done about it is another matter, as my line is up and down at such odd times even though I have proof in line tests I have done because he cant test at those times I'm kinda stuffed. 

[Niall]

That's what the engineers keep telling me too, and my mother when they investigate problems on her phone line. They ALWAYS say it's a board at the exchange, then reset the lines and then say it wasn't a fault at the exchange after all. *******.

[peasblossom]

Oh for the day when BT do not have a monopoly on this. (Sadly, but one can dream...)

[Polchraine]

Oh for the day when BT do not have a monopoly on this. (Sadly, but one can dream...)

BT do NOT have a monopoly.    Any other company can decide to install their own network and provide services if they wish.

[Lance]

You're right, BT only have a situation which is effectively a monopoly due to the barriers to entry any potential competitor would have to overcome.

[Polchraine]

You're right, BT only have a situation which is effectively a monopoly due to the barriers to entry any potential competitor would have to overcome.

No,  they are the only player in a field where others do no want to play.    There are no legal or political  barriers to anyone entering the full network provision but when they see all te problems that BT as to overcome to supply service throughout the UK they decide the game will be too expensive!

[Gary]

That's what the engineers keep telling me too, and my mother when they investigate problems on her phone line. They ALWAYS say it's a board at the exchange, then reset the lines and then say it wasn't a fault at the exchange after all. *******.

No reset here, I have a snr or 0.8 with an attenuation of 33db and 18.7 down with an snr of 6.3db. I have a download speed of roughly 1.8Mbps on 12.65Mbps profile synced at 14.35Mbps. Its like surfing though treacle. Not happy. The engineer said Indet need to push for a lift and shift onto a different rack, and he would try but because the stats at the time were fine a manager somewhere will just say no. Thank god BT is not in charge of our legal system. Somehow I cant see this getting sorted in a hurry. 

[Gary]

Support have said BT will do a lift and shift within the next 72 hours 

[Simon]

[Gary]

LIft and shift did not work, same pattern and now my line seems actually slightly worse. So fed up with this, at this rate going to Xilo is my only option but if a rfi issue then thats not going to help either. 

[Simon]

Have the roadworks gone now?

[Gary]

Have the roadworks gone now?

They have simon, 4 routers three adsl faceplates, test socket and still the same issue, I had to re boot tonight and loose even more  speed juts to be able to browse. I literally went from a 12.65 profile synced at 14335Kbps to 856Kbps my upload was faster than my download just after 5pm. I could hardly browse let alone download anything  what's happened to my line. it all stated 11 march.

[Simon]

Probably a silly question, but I presume you've eliminated any local software from being the cause. 

[Gary]

Probably a silly question, but I presume you've eliminated any local software from being the cause. 

Same thing happens with just the router running on its own and I log in with my phone at the right time to check. It will also do it just after 7am as well till 8am, I lose 6db in five minutes its crazy yet runs fine all day long, last night my snr came back just after midnight. I now have to sync deliberately low to maintain a connection. 

[Simon]

[Gary]

Oddly bank holiday Friday and no morning line drop...also a neighbour has gone away. I think this still may be a rein issue, now if my line (syncing at 15170Kbps) stays up tonight then it could be them as this issue has happened over weekends when business is shut, but with them gone its could pint to them and they are on the same horrible piece of Aluminium I am. I may just be grabbing at straws now  Anyway BT engineer coming out again tomorrow.

Edit: Forget that as the line snr dropped to 1.3db at 11:30am I just give up 

[Gary]

Saturday came and went and still not fixed, the engineer noticed on the log that when my line drops snr its actually dropping out every 250ms. Now they want a 2nd lift and shift to make sure I'm on a new card, also maybe taking me off the line I'm on which is underground and onto a overhead poll across the road. I did get a RF3 filter fitted which has increased my upload connection speed, but it did not stop the drops in snr on download.

[Glenn]

They do seem to be taking the issue seriously they can resolve it once an for all with the next 'Fix'.

[Gary]

They do seem to be taking the issue seriously they can resolve it once an for all with the next 'Fix'.

Its destroying my internet useage, and trying to resync on a low snr to keep things stable is a nightmare, Glenn. As BT/IDNet will do a line test and its all messed up again. BT are being very good about this but tbh its very frustrating and I just want it fixed, whatever 'it' is  My BT mate is going to monitor the logs from his end when it goes weird and hopefully that will show what's happening better.

[Gary]

Well the current thinking is that as I loose thoughput but my line speed stays the same so maybe a exchange fault as Rein would effect my linespeed... Although BTw may not see it as that and I'm going in circles with a profile that's decreasing slowly due to a 5-6db drop and recovery process that the DLM is not dealing with at all.

[Simon]

Sometimes I feel blessed just to have a ~4Mb steady ADSL connection. 

[andrue]

Well the current thinking is that as I loose thoughput but my line speed stays the same so maybe a exchange fault as Rein would effect my linespeed

I'm pretty sure that's possible with FTTC at least because that's what I get (due this Saturday at 4pm in fact) but at least mine only occurs every 60 days and lasts less than a week. In my case latency suddenly goes all squiffy and throughput becomes highly variable, dropping by 50% at times.

[Gary]

I'm pretty sure that's possible with FTTC at least because that's what I get (due this Saturday at 4pm in fact) but at least mine only occurs every 60 days and lasts less than a week. In my case latency suddenly goes all squiffy and throughput becomes highly variable, dropping by 50% at times.

I wish mine did Andrue my throughput drops by almost 90%  or more at times, my upload can be faster than my download.  BT how now out of the blue suggested its REIN, and want me to look around the flats I live in (I live in a Bungalow) for sources of REIN  I can't even get outside in my wheelchair at the moment, but BTw are very process driven. according to my SNR I had 12 hours of REIN yesterday, and oddly this morning when I should have it I don't and my snr has risen to 11.1db If I resync at this snr I'll have a sync of 14335 then when the supposed REIN comes back the snr goes down to 1db or less and I get a thoughput of about 1mbps or less even though my sync speed stays the same.

Btw also are now threatening the old 'it will cost you money' for a engineer if its REIN in your property which tbh I know it isnt as I turned every thing off and still had issues.  , even though not one Engineer thinks its REIN anyway of course. It really feels like BTw just want me to go away and shut up. 

[andrue]

It can be maddening dealing with some faults especially when people ask you to do the same thing again. Nick from IDNet suggested I try a direct connection to eliminate my router as the fault - something I've done on previous occasions to no avail. But I got home and there was nothing else to try so I thought I'd give it a go - at least then I could tick a box that I'd jumped through that hoop.

As it happens it did result in a fix but not in a sensible way. My laptop seemed unable to connect even using the connectoid from last time. It just caused the HDD light to come on after a few seconds then my laptop slowed and eventually I had to power cycle it to recover. Not what you want to see when attaching your computer directly to the outside world ( ) but it didn't claim to have connected anyway so just bloody irritating. Anyway I gave up after two attempts and let the router connect and all was fine. Well - I had a sore throat from shouting obscenities at my laptop but at least my connection was back 

What bugs me the most though with these faults is that they just need proper diagnostic processes. I'm an engineer (well - software engineer) and I don't think BT has an adequate process. It drags on too long and gets pased from pillar to post and all too often notes get lost. Along with any incentive to act.

[Simon]

It drags on too long and gets pased from pillar to post and all too often notes get lost. Along with any incentive to act.

Sounds just like the NHS. 

[Gary]

What bugs me the most though with these faults is that they just need proper diagnostic processes. I'm an engineer (well - software engineer) and I don't think BT has an adequate process. It drags on too long and gets passed from pillar to post and all too often notes get lost. Along with any incentive to act.

BT sfi engineers find they hit walls with BT management, it helps if you ISP pushes and I have to say IDNet have pushed very hard so far but they have hit a wall too, and find it odd the BTw now say its REIN after all these visits and tests. The sfi guys like my friend would know that the issue may need a E side swap, but if the line registers ok at time of test, even though the work my help, if the engineer spends two hours doing this their management ask why, with no fault test they get trouble they don't need.

The Radio test I will do, but I think if its rein then BTw may not be able to fix it anyway, then my outlook is grim till FTTC. BT need to look at all the information presented including that from the ISP and not rely on the actual test as faults may manifest at different times of day. I wonder how many extra boxes I need to tick to go in circles again. One one hand I am glad IDNet are understanding and don't script read, Simon (not IDNET Simon or forum Simon) who has been helping me is great, Top guy. But if I paid sky's prices it would not sting so much but I would also not get the help IDNet provide. Catch 22 but of the fault cant be cured is there a point paying the extra for a top notch provider on a second rate line.

[Gary]

Sorry about the typos in the above post, it was late and I'm a a lot of painkillers right now.

[Simon]

I'm glad ONE of the Simons around here is being of some use! 

[Gary]

I'm glad ONE of the Simons around here is being of some use! 

I'm sure you are very useful Simon, fancy a walk with a detuned radio?

[Simon]

[Gary]

Well uisng a Detined radio at 2:22am last night (I was still up) the noise was coing in the loudest at the mains wires coming up from the floor to my meter  The buzz was very loud and Justina went outside and when you amed the radio at our Bungalow it hummed massively. This morning the Mains line is quiet  and no REIN so technically its not my problem I imagine but down possibly to the electricity supply company, what to do now. Is it someone using power plugs for internet, is that possible 

[lozcart]

Have you got an Economy 7 electric supply Gary? If so I was wondering if this is causing the problem at night, but has switched off during the day.

[Gary]

Have you got an Economy 7 electric supply Gary? If so I was wondering if this is causing the problem at night, but has switched off during the day.

Nope Just Gas for heating which is off now anyway. Its so odd the noise was really loud at that cupboard and inside, but turning everything off made no change, I couldn't turn the whole board off at it was the middle of the night, but nothing was running, and if I turn everything on in the day it wont do it, only at these odd times both night and day and then I have no idea why unless the interference is coming from further down the line

[lozcart]

This web site has a lot of information on it which could answer some of your questions Gary,

http://www.emfields.org/howto/what-to-do-about-dirty-electricity.asp

[Gary]

Soooo Southern Electric came out and nope nothing wrong with the incoming power its a healthy 0.07 Ohms and a steady 238 Volts <sigh> which makes using a mw radio for fault finding as useful as a chocolate teapot, turns out most power supplies like laptop ones produce RFI noise at 612Khz on MW as you can see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofN1EsZVoGY. So that's handy 

[Simon]

[Gary]

Well its all back to BT yet again, checked my home for Rein and god knows, I can turn the mains power off in the house and just have the Mac and router etc running off the Smart UPS and still get the issue, (APC UPS makes no weird radio noise) So its not coming from my home, tbh I don't think this will get fixed.  SimonM_IDNet is being very patient and helpful and doing all he can with BT but this is dragging on at some point I may have to make a decision now if its worth staying with IDNet or go with Sky/BT and pay less and careless for what may now be a permanent yet mysterious cr@ppy line.

[Simon]

[nowster]

Ah, the infamous "no fault found" fix. Blame performance-related pay. Engineers were marked down on the number of faults they found, supposedly to prevent them "inventing" faults to boost their apparent activities.

[Gary]

Ah, the infamous "no fault found" fix. Blame performance-related pay. Engineers were marked down on the number of faults they found, supposedly to prevent them "inventing" faults to boost their apparent activities.

Not really the case as I know it. I have a friend who works for BT he says the number of times they know it could be something that say a E side swap could cure but because they cannot find a fault they are not allowed to do the work because managers complain when they do something based on experience rather than fact, or they know its an change issue but since that could be sostly the notes seem to vanish between the engineer and the ISP about the issues  Why would BT want to replace a line card if only a few people actually notice the issue, because people who visit forums like this are an exception to the rule.

[RandomGeeza]

Mate, reading through all of this, I know your pain.

Very similar situation here. Although, I have been lucky enough to pinpoint how to make the issue happen. And therefore, theoretically, one would assume easy to demonstrate and identify (BT engineer's experience permitting).

I haven't got any suggestions. But wanted to let you know, you are not alone. I have literally turned bald with frustration and sympathise 100%.

I hope you get it sorted. I will be going down the engineer route myself, once I speak to Nick on Monday (tomorrow). And I suspect a similar experience to yours.

Best of luck.

[Gary]

Mate, reading through all of this, I know your pain.

Very similar situation here. Although, I have been lucky enough to pinpoint how to make the issue happen. And therefore, theoretically, one would assume easy to demonstrate and identify (BT engineer's experience permitting).

I haven't got any suggestions. But wanted to let you know, you are not alone. I have literally turned bald with frustration and sympathise 100%.

I hope you get it sorted. I will be going down the engineer route myself, once I speak to Nick on Monday (tomorrow). And I suspect a similar experience to yours.



Best of luck.

Having had two engineers out BT got snotty and threatened it would cost if it was my gear causing REIN...but thats all been tested so many times it gotten silly. It all started with roadworks in the village, but BT deny any issue there, I'm left with its 'REIN' or munchkins biting the wires after a lift and shift and so many line tests its maddening. My cable is underground so not much to look at although why they put the RF3 filter by the demarcation point in my property and not by the NTE5 socket baffles me, as the entire inside wiring can act as an aerial for RFI  Glad you have isolated your issue, BT engineers are pretty good, mine all know my engineer mate, so that's been helpful but two months now and no resolution in sight is making me despair.

Hope your visit sorts your problem out.

[Gary]

Looks like I'm going to have to give up on my line issues. BT are being gits, the 'REIN Team' I have found out from my BT mate is one guy and he is not even fond of doing the job due to the fact his hands are tied in most cases and he has no remit to enter other properties if that's where its coming from in the first place. Example, new housing block, everyones connections goes flaky now and then, turns out its when people come out of the lift and the new style LED light bulbs come on in the hallways, but the building owners wont change them 

I am saddened I have hit a wall of impenetrable of cow dung so to speak where BT is concerned though... they say they can only look back a few days on my line history but the engineers can look back weeks, if not months it appears.  I'll be staying with IDNet, at least they offer good support.

May as well close this thread now.

[RandomGeeza]

That's a shame dude... Again, I sympathise and understand the frustration.

Have you tried naming and shaming on some of the social media BT may use... Twitter, Facebook etc. That tends to get the attention of the right type of people, who might be able to help you out... Just a thought, and one I would follow up as a last ditch attempt.

Or even an MD/Press complaint, which having worked for a big corp and dealing with MD/Press complaints. The remit is often, get it fixed regardless.

[Gary]

That's a shame dude... Again, I sympathise and understand the frustration.

Have you tried naming and shaming on some of the social media BT may use... Twitter, Facebook etc. That tends to get the attention of the right type of people, who might be able to help you out... Just a thought, and one I would follow up as a last ditch attempt.

Or even an MD/Press complaint, which having worked for a big corp and dealing with MD/Press complaints. The remit is often, get it fixed regardless.

With BT now trying to push though the cost of the two visits on us, even though that makes no sense as a lift and shift was done and a RF3 filter was fitted on the second it seems rocking the boat may not be the best thing to do  We have enough stress in our every day lives right now and my Osteoporosis is getting alot worse so I have to prioritise what is best for my health and my wife's stress levels, without BT adding to it tbh.  Thanks for the thoughts on the subject though.

[Simon]

Sorry to hear that news, Gary.  I guess, as you say, there comes a time when other things in life take priority. 

[Gary]

Sorry to hear that news, Gary.  I guess, as you say, there comes a time when other things in life take priority. 

Exactly, anyway one day FTTC will appear and if I'm brave enough (or silly enough) I may jump on board unless my line has somehow fixed itself by then 

[RandomGeeza]

Exactly, anyway one day FTTC will appear and if I'm brave enough (or silly enough) I may jump on board unless my line has somehow fixed itself by then 

My feelings exactly. Although, rather than wait for it to come to me, I think I will go to it. BTW, my issue ain't fixed. Three drops last night, all random... back to square one. Been here, done this already... *Tuts!*

[Gary]

My feelings exactly. Although, rather than wait for it to come to me, I think I will go to it. BTW, my issue ain't fixed. Three drops last night, all random... back to square one. Been here, done this already... *Tuts!*

I wont get FTTC till 2014...bit of a wait. I had to do some cabling, well my carers had to do some cabling and my line is wizzing along at 14.5Mbps and later today my SNR will drop to less than 1 and ill have no thoughput, where upon ill have to reboot the router and then sync at about 11.3Mbps that's a fair whack to lose for a fault no one can cure  but I just cant be bothered anymore. IDNet did there best but BT are a a hellish company and as I said I have other things to get on with. Sorry to hear yours is not cured. Seems to be alot of this going on at the moment, maybe its a side effect of  FTTC being rolled out, who knows. 

[Gary]

Well after a long Chat with Brian it seems the DLM never kicked in on my line  you would think it would with an snr going from 6 to 0.9db in about a minute at random times. No interleaving it was turned off and that was after a new ten day training period! So he suggested a Super Stable profile to see if that kicks the DLM into life on my line, then we can fiddle next week if that does not work out, failing that another Engineer visit, and not to worry about BT trying to charge, as its not my equipment. Must admit its given me more hope and more options just when I gave up. IDNet are doing there best. Trying to sort this out with BT would be hell. Luckily my line had gone bonkers when he looked yesterday as I could not load pages as my snr fell to 0.8 with virtually no throughput, which helped.   

[Gary]

Well I have noticed FTTC cabinets going up (one by my cab) I'm wondering if all my line issues are being caused by FTTC being put in and somethings cocked up my line in the process. Brian put me on Super Stable and its upped my snr to 9db but im still swinging 5db...I think Super Stable will just keep knocking the snr up because the issue is not being fixed by increased snr  No idea when FTTC goes live. Its meant to be by end of 2014 but I have no experience from when cabinets first appear to when the service is available. Also dreading upgrading with this issue, and also the cost. Infinity 2 would looks more promising if I didn't know what BT are like to call up when you have an issue  So it will be fibre with IDNet.

[Lance]

Round here, the cabinets were live about 3 months after appearing. During that three months power was installed and the fibre fed through and then, finally, equipment installed in the exchange.

[Gary]

Round here, the cabinets were live about 3 months after appearing. During that three months power was installed and the fibre fed through and then, finally, equipment installed in the exchange.

Cheers Lance, so many of the roads in the village have been dug up I'm thinking this is more my issue than anything else as it all started when the first roadworks happened and it still seems to much of a coincidence its been worse these last two days with the BT work over the bank holiday. Cheers for the info on the roll out, I'll keep my eyes open for end of summer/autumn time. Of course we need a summer first