Help! Why has my connection gone from hero to zero?

emvisi · Oct 02, 2009, 14:51:24

Well, we're still trying to get this working...

It seemed that my IP profile was dropping due to errors on the upstream path so Brian asked BT to apply interleaving yesterday. My router retained sync overnight and the IP profile even crept up to 2500 kbps this morning. Target noise margin still seems a little high, but my throughput is close to the profile.

Anyway, there was an incoming phone call on the BT line this morning and I noticed upstream errors appeared while it was ringing. Afterwards I unplugged the phone (leaving just the router plugged into the filtered faceplate -- no extensions of any sort), called the BT line from my mobile and the router started showing upstream errors again. I powered the router down, swapped the (Clarity) faceplate for my new ADSL Nation one, reconnected the router and rang the line again. Guess what: upstream errors.

What does this indicate? Faulty filters? Something else upstream?

Rik · Oct 02, 2009, 15:36:14

That's an odd one, I can only think that the ringing current is generating noise, but with no phone plugged in, I don't see how. I'd have a word with Brian, he may be able to come up with something.

emvisi · Oct 02, 2009, 16:05:28

I emailed Brian straight away.

I wonder whether the master socket is faulty - the ring cap, perhaps?

Rik · Oct 02, 2009, 16:07:48

It's possible...

Rik · Oct 02, 2009, 16:36:07

Meantime, if you've got a 'soap on a rope' filter handy, try that in the test socket and see if it changes things. Also, try a new phone to router lead, just in case that's picking up noise.

emvisi · Oct 02, 2009, 16:49:33

Brian just suggested doing the same

Same result, by the way.

Rik · Oct 02, 2009, 16:50:47

I can't think why?

(We had a chat, he asked me to suggest it in case I got back to you before he did.

)

I suspect that's three of us scratching our heads, now.

emvisi · Oct 02, 2009, 17:01:03

Just what you need at 5pm on Friday

Rik · Oct 02, 2009, 17:06:12

Indeed. The two circuits really shouldn't be interacting, so potentially it's an obscure fault like an HR joint...

Glenn · Oct 02, 2009, 17:11:35

Where I work HR don't smoke or cook joints

The problem could be caused by the insulation breaking down somewhere on the line.

emvisi · Oct 02, 2009, 17:13:38

B'doom tish!

It's quite repeatable, by the way. If I ring in, the errors appear. However, if I pick up the phone and make an outgoing call: no problem.

Glenn · Oct 02, 2009, 17:16:50

Is this any help? http://www.marcspages.co.uk/tech/6104.htm

emvisi · Oct 02, 2009, 17:28:19

Thanks, Glenn -- it's an interesting read but doesn't help me at the moment, since I have removed all extensions while attempting to troubleshoot the issue. Right now I have a filter in the test socket, into which are plugged the router and one phone.

emvisi · Oct 02, 2009, 18:07:22

Almost identical issue here, except with me it's my upstream errors which appear:

http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/technical/3654828-adsl-drops-out-when-receiving-a-call-not-filters.html

My lift & shift doesn't appear to have cleared the fault, either.

Rik · Oct 02, 2009, 18:17:33

Time for an email?

emvisi · Oct 02, 2009, 20:34:14

Another email?!

On reflection I did notice line problems coinciding with phone calls before last week's lift & shift; I'd just never associated it with incoming calls only. A quick search with Google turned up lots of similar issues -- although my line doesn't actually drop, the number of upstream errors climbs very rapidly while the phone is ringing (fortunately the voicemail kicks in after a few rings!). This would explain why the profile keeps dropping.

On edit: suggestions of line problems such as bad grounding / high resistance connection / water ingress keep coming up for this particular set of symptoms.

Rik · Oct 03, 2009, 08:34:53

The kind of faults that BT have problems finding, unfortunately.