Packet loss and dropouts - can it be router?

[Simon]

I haven't really noticed any correlation with the weather, but yesterday when it happened it was getting rather dark and cloudy.  I could do without the wired phone for a while, as it's just there for emergencies, in case of a power cut.  As you say though, it could be a long time between incidents, but at least if it happened while the phone was disconnected, that would rule that out as a cause. 

[Technical Ben]

People don't go out in bad weather and watch more netflix?

[Simon]

It wasn't that bad.   

But, it was Easter Sunday, so I guess there could have been more traffic online.   

[Simon]

Just a thought though, with most people now going on to fibre, does that reduce the load on the normal ADSL systems? Or, doesn't it work like that?   

[Lance]

It would certainly reduce noise on the E-side i.e. from the exchange to the cabinet given you'll still be on the copper whilst obviously those who are in fibre will be on the new fibre link.

I'm not convinced though you'll really see much difference because of this.

[Simon]

I've not had any further notable outages, but I do notice there's a slash of red around 5pm.

[Adrian]

I don't think that is anything to worry about, and you didn't lose sync. I used to get those occasionally on ADSL.

[Simon]

That's the sort of thing I was getting with the Asus, only, with more regularity.  I didn't lose sync with that router, but t'internet was hard work at times.  I'm tempted to buy yet another router, in case both of these have issues, but I'll just hold on for now and see how things go.

[nowster]

Definitely keep a DECT phone base station well away from your router. Two feet is probably not enough.

[Simon]

I've heard that said before about DECT phones. But wouldn't the issue be more frequent and consistent if it was the phone?  It's on my computer desk, where it's always been, and the router is mounted on the wall behind the desk.  I guess I could move it, but it's convenient where it is, and that's obviously where the phone socket is.

[Simon]

Another red spike, followed by a drop in minimum latency around 2pm, but my SNR seems to have risen (now 10.1), and I've lost a bit of sync speed.  No idea what all this means! 

[zappaDPJ]

Probably the same as last time and unfortunately unless your line suddenly becomes stable it'll probably revert back any time soon

[Simon]

And it has.   Which proves it isn't the wired phone, as that's been unplugged for the last few days. 

[zappaDPJ]

My inclination would be to plug your router into the master socket and run a temporary cable (less than a tenner for up to 50 meters) to your main PC. If the problems persist then you can be reasonably sure the problem is outside of your control.

[Simon]

It would be more practical to get a WiFi dongle for the PC, as the master socket is actually outside of the flat.  Otherwise, it would mean either drilling a hole in the floor, or running a cable through the letterbox. 

[zappaDPJ]

It would be more practical to get a WiFi dongle for the PC, as the master socket is actually outside of the flat.  Otherwise, it would mean either drilling a hole in the floor, or running a cable through the letterbox. 

I've read recently that some new-builds have eternal master sockets some of which seem rather problematic. I'm not sure what to suggest, what do support have to say about it?

[Simon]

I haven't actually contacted them on this occasion, as we went all around the houses last time, and it was only their suggestion of swapping to PPPoE which seemed to stabilise the connection.  It's liveable with at the moment, but if it becomes too problematic, I'll obviously have to raise it with them.