Is this the beggining of the end?

Technical Ben · Sep 12, 2009, 18:35:03

It may just be coincidence. It may be a sign. But my internet is playing up!
I have a netgear DG834, and this last week it seems to be loosing connection. Needs a reset/power off or power on to get it going again, but works fine after that... [it crashed just this second...]

Not sure if it's the box, or because BT are installing 21CN PSTN this month. The box gives a red light on the internet connection, not on the others.

Not got any logs as I reset the router to get the net back. Will see if I can get them off of lan if it dies again. Any idea how to diagnose this?

Rik · Sep 12, 2009, 18:44:09

Hi Ben

IIRC, Netgears don't have separate lights for sync and PPP do they? It's a while since I used one, but istr it just having a single light for the whole connection. If that's the case, you need to look at the logs or the status to see whether you are dropping sync or PPP.

It's entirely possible that BT work is the problem, but it's equally possible that it's the router or your internal phone wiring. Can you remind me if you have an NTE5 master socket, the type where you can remove the bottom part of the faceplate please? If so, is it feasible to connect the router to the test socket which is revealed by doing so? It would also be worth running Routerstats, to see what's happening to your noise margin.

Technical Ben · Sep 12, 2009, 21:15:51

I have a master socket. I'll wait until it happens again. So I can view the logs. I think I would be classed as a total noob with Routerstats. Where would I get it from?

Simon · Sep 12, 2009, 21:18:44

http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/internet/files.htm

Technical Ben · Sep 12, 2009, 21:26:26

Thanks, google gave that as the first link, but was not sure about spyware etc without recommendation

.

Simon · Sep 12, 2009, 21:33:20

Thanks. It's the link Rik put in the forum FAQs.

Technical Ben · Sep 12, 2009, 21:47:11

I'm sure he did. But my brains been a bit washed out this week at work. So I'd get snow blindness looking for the links

It just went again, while I was resetting the password to type it into Router stats. I just unpluged the socket and repluged it back in and it's working. (no reset on the router this time, I learnt from that mistake)

The router log says the internet disconnected. And now has reset the time to Jan 2003. No idea what that means as I never turned off the box
BT just dropped my sync by 1meg

Guess its cos I unplugged the line. Stats are:

Sync Down 6752kbps Up 448kbps
Line Atten' Down 4.0db up 4.5db
Noise Margin up 16.5db down 16db

[edit] No idea what it is doing. Cannot get BT speedtest to work, and now my sync is back to 7392. Noise is a bit wobbly.

Simon · Sep 12, 2009, 22:06:31

Sorry, Ben, I've no idea what it's doing either.

Technical Ben · Sep 12, 2009, 22:25:07

Ok, I think I broke something.

Download speed achieved during the test was - 1196 Kbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speeds is 600-7150 Kbps.
Additional Information:
Your DSL Connection Rate :7392 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 448 Kbps(UP-STREAM)
IP Profile for your line is - 6000 Kbps

That is not right, as actual speed in downloading is... Hmm. 1.4mb. Not been that slow in ages.

Sync drops to zero every couple of minuets. I will use the master socket tomorrow. The box just did a hard reset to itself. So It may be dying. Not sure how likely a hack would be, and that would show in the logs right?

Lance · Sep 13, 2009, 00:38:06

Not likely to be a hack.

My guess is either a line fault or indeed, your router.

Sebby · Sep 13, 2009, 01:55:13

It's very unlikely to be a hack. It could be the router, but more likely is exchange congestion or maintenance work.

Rik · Sep 13, 2009, 11:15:35

I'd be looking at the power supply, Ben, that might be failing or the plug is loose in the router.

Technical Ben · Sep 13, 2009, 13:21:30

Seems to have fixed itself. I get a drop now an again. But it's been fine for an hour or two.
My noise down margin was all over the place. Seems level now. Don't think it's the power. Although the wire does run close to the door. So I could have caught it.

I'm just really paranoid over 21cn, and all that's related.

Rik · Sep 13, 2009, 15:19:07

Don't be, Ben, it's getting better almost daily.

Technical Ben · Sep 22, 2009, 21:30:43

Seems ok now. Although I have not got around to putting the faceplate back on.

Seem to be getting the first sign of congestion. But will keep an eye out at pings in case it's just a one off.

Rik · Sep 23, 2009, 09:39:39

I've not seen any congestion, just the occasional BT snafu where the line runs well below profile for a few days. BT seem to be applying fixes on the hoof, and I get the impression that they are changing the rules. I've clearly had a target NM of 3db for the past 48 hours (more incredible, my line is stable at that margin!).