BT Planned Engineering Works

Ardua · May 03, 2011, 17:14:00

The BT Planning Engineering Works Schedule for next week shows three nights when my exchange may suffer disconnections of up to 2 hrs whilst ATM cards are switched. The list of exchanges each night are different. In a couple of instances. my exchange is listed twice on the same night in different lists. Worst case: I could be looking at 10 hours of disruption over 3 nights or, most likely case, up to 2 hrs of disruption on one of the 3 nights. As I am usually in dreamland at this time, the PEW programme is of little concern but, seriously, how do businesses dependent on the internet cope with what seems to be a scant level of information?

Rik · May 03, 2011, 17:16:24

We're talking about BT here. Sadly, they show little or no regard for their customers and are appalling at communicating (or keeping to their published schedules).

Glenn · May 03, 2011, 17:17:00

http://clueless.aaisp.net.uk/pew.cgi has a large list of exchanges with planned works.

Ardua · May 03, 2011, 18:00:56

Quote from: Glenn on May 03, 2011, 17:17:00
http://clueless.aaisp.net.uk/pew.cgi has a large list of exchanges with planned works.

That's where the information for my post came from. I assume that that BT's systems are clever enough to ignore these disconnections when it comes to loss of synch, drop in IP etc?

Rik · May 03, 2011, 18:04:06

I really wouldn't bet on that. I tend to turn my router off overnight if I know there's work being done.

Ardua · May 03, 2011, 18:21:13

Quote from: Rik on May 03, 2011, 18:04:06
I really wouldn't bet on that. I tend to turn my router off overnight if I know there's work being done.

I think that I need to go and lie down again.

Rik · May 03, 2011, 18:26:00

I generally do at night.

pctech · May 03, 2011, 18:26:22

1 hate to come to BT defence here maintenance has to happen sometime and better it happen in the early morning than during the day or evening surely?

Rik · May 03, 2011, 18:28:48

Oh definitely, Mitch. The problem is that they don't factor in the potential effect on ADSL customers, and make a point of giving them good information in advance.

zappaDPJ · May 03, 2011, 20:13:54

I used to monitor PEW lists but I found that my connection rarely dropped if my exchange was on the list. It used to drop regularly when it wasn't and I'm pretty sure that a 15 minute to 4 hour loss of sync was down to a PEW. It actually hasn't been so bad in recent weeks (that's jinxed it I know) and as I tend to carry out remote server work at night I hope it stays that way

I'd guess that two lines on different infrastructure (pref. cable for one) is the only way to ensure maximum up time.

pctech · May 03, 2011, 20:22:21

Either that or a leased line with DSL as a backup Zap.

zappaDPJ · May 03, 2011, 20:27:33

I would love one but I think they are still a bit pricey?