Loss of synchronization - Normal in first few days ADSL Max connection?

[Rik]

I only had the one long cable sitting around.

[Thirles]

Sitting on the second step of the stairs, midi tower PC between the kitchen
and front doors, CRT monitor on the PC box now

Ran various tests to check the router stats with different configurtions:

Stats on normal state house wiring:
System Up Time 386:19:54
Port Status TxPkts RxPkts Collisions Tx B/s Rx B/s Up Time
WAN PPPoA 3374514 5224591 0 488 4827 158:02:12
LAN 10M/100M 49579047 55530211 0 1796 1101 386:19:49


ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 6368 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 42 db 13.5 db
Noise Margin 7 db 22 db

Stats at test socket:
System Up Time 00:11:30
Port Status TxPkts RxPkts Collisions Tx B/s Rx B/s Up Time
WAN PPPoA 28 90 0 4 10 00:10:39
LAN 10M/100M 404 349 0 269 65 00:11:25


ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 7456 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 42 db 13.5 db
Noise Margin 6 db 21 db

bt speed test at test socket:
Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test:  -provides background information.
    IP profile for your line is - 5500 kbps
    DSL connection rate: 448 kbps(UP-STREAM)  7456 kbps(DOWN-STREAM)
    Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 5149 kbps

after a power down on router still on test socket:
System Up Time 00:01:55
Port Status TxPkts RxPkts Collisions Tx B/s Rx B/s Up Time
WAN PPPoA 18 27 0 12 28 00:01:27
LAN 10M/100M 364 274 0 1518 314 00:01:51


ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 7328 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 42 db 13.5 db
Noise Margin 6 db 21 db

Power down on router changed adsl filter
System Up Time 00:04:00
Port Status TxPkts RxPkts Collisions Tx B/s Rx B/s Up Time
WAN PPPoA 19 51 0 11 37 00:03:18
LAN 10M/100M 1074 1168 0 1354 880 00:03:55


ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 7040 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 42 db 13.5 db
Noise Margin 6 db 22 db

Switched back to connecting on extension wiring:
System Up Time 00:04:26
Port Status TxPkts RxPkts Collisions Tx B/s Rx B/s Up Time
WAN PPPoA 19 50 0 9 29 00:03:56
LAN 10M/100M 511 384 0 904 182 00:04:21


ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 6976 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 42 db 13.5 db
Noise Margin 6 db 20 db

Power down and connected to Master socket:
System Up Time 00:02:57
Port Status TxPkts RxPkts Collisions Tx B/s Rx B/s Up Time
WAN PPPoA 17 37 0 15 47 00:02:06
LAN 10M/100M 160 106 0 365 75 00:02:52


ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 6944 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 42 db 13.5 db
Noise Margin 6 db 21 db

Sent these results off to suport, thought I'd get a second opinion from you guys, off to get a cushion for the bottom step where I hae been forced to move to.

[Rik]

Don't make any more changes! You're getting very near the point at which the line management software will decide your line is unstable and lurch into action.

Clearly your internal wiring is picking up noise, resulting in a significant drop in sync speed. A filtered faceplate with a Cat5 cable run to the router would probably be a good idea, but for starters, disconnect the ring wire from terminal 3 at every socket.

[Thirles]

@Gizmo

A better technique would be to power down the router for a few seconds. As the power decays, the router sends a 'dying gasp' signal to the DSLAM, effectively waving goodbye. The DSLAM notes this and doesn't see the re-sync as instability.

I followed this advice in powering down.

I have one master socket with one extension that my router is normally on, so only one ring wire unless I delve into BT territory, guess I'll leave the connection up an hour or so before doing this if you think bt software may react. Kinda think I'd be better off if the did drop my profile so wouldn't be suseptible to re-syncs, no?

[Rik]

That advice on power downs is for general use. Ten or more re-syncs in an hour is seen as instability no matter what (USB modem users take note). You should be able to remove the ring wire without powering down the router, then just re-sync tomorrow morning and see what your speed is (because you will be getting into increased noise by then, so will get a lower speed).

What you could do is ask support to get your noise margin pegged at 9db. This will reduce your sync speed by 500k or so, but will improve stability. Another possibility would be to pick up a 2700 router, that both improved my stability over the Netgear and my sync speed (+1000k).

[Thirles]

With salves for my sore butt, dressings for the wound caused by the hall cloakroom door handle (yes I found another door adjacent to the new "workstation") and the carpet cleaner for the spilt tea, finances are tight atm for a load of new gear and bt wiring visit. Middle of next month I'll be able to splash out though

Sadly my last test was the master socket so would have to disconnect to access the ring wire, will wait til I get a reply from IDNet support anyway.

[Rik]

I don't think you'll need to get BT involved, unless you're very unlucky. I suspect the ringwire may be enough to solve the problem.

[Thirles]

disconnected ring wire from extension,
moved evertthing back to extension in living room:
System Up Time 00:20:49
Port Status TxPkts RxPkts Collisions Tx B/s Rx B/s Up Time
WAN PPPoA 265 327 0 26 98 00:20:08
LAN 10M/100M 3060 1343 0 658 143 00:20:44


ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 7488 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 42 db 13.5 db
Noise Margin 6 db 20 db

So anything I do at my end just sends the speed up or down the Noise Margin stays the same. My IP Profile has always been set at 5500 kbps for all the speed tests I done over the last two weeks. I raised the subject of pinning the noise margin at 9db with support and asked them what I might expect with even a 12db pin.

Lets hope that the unconnected ring wire will cut down the spikes and keep me stable.

It's frustrating though, everyone sees the speed as the be all and end all and I want stability.

[Rik]

Removing the ring wire has pushed your speed up because it's reduced noise on the line. ADSL Max will try to sync at the highest speed possible with the target noise margin of 6dv (the default). What your tests have pretty much proved is that the ringwire was picking up a lot of noise. It might be worth having a walk around with a de-tuned, ie off-station, MW radio and see if anything near the phone line is giving off noise, eg the computer's PSU.

You may, iac, find that the line is much more stable, but if not, pinning the target margin at 9dn should give you enough headroom, with a sync speed of around 6700-6900, probably a profile of 5500k.

Like you, I prefer stability to speed, and that's what I did.

[Thirles]

Well the speed increased but as the evening progresses the speed remains higher than my profile and the reported noise margin is hovering around 1 or 2db, saw it go to 0db briefly, but no loss in sync. Time for me to take my frustrations out in a virtual world

[Rik]

Netgears are notorious for wildly fluctuating noise margins, but they tend to hold sync down to about -2db (theoretically impossible!). It will take a few days for your profile to catch up with your sync speed - assuming you maintain the latter.