Weird line issues.

[Gary]

Sunday my line started dropping, my snr drops to 0.1 then to -0.1 in the middle of the day, I have tried two routers, no change. I was running happily with a profile of 13.3 on adsl2+ now its down to 10. Loads of major roadworks in the area which already took out talk talks LLU at our exchange, just wondering if anyone has any thoughts. My cabling is fine, multiple routers are fine, been running for a year with no issues till the drainage works started. Not sure if its coincidence or what 

[Simon]

More than likely.  Roadworkers took out the entire village of Warninglid (near H/Heath) the other week, and it was 48 hours before BT could fix everything. 

[Gary]

More than likely.  Roadworkers took out the entire village of Warninglid (near H/Heath) the other week, and it was 48 hours before BT could fix everything. 

I did wonder, just set up a TBBQM and so far the yellow maximum latency spikes make it look like a comb for your hair. 

[Gary]

Arghhh well its BT engineer time, luckily I have a BTw engineer mate so he is coming to check things my side once again, as I cant get down to the faceplate as I'm in wheelchair these days. My line is acting like a reine event is on the cards. snr 6.1 all night sync of 11677Mbps, jumps to 11.5 snr in the morning at 8am, then I can get the full 15100Mbps sync back, at 11:30-12pm if I have resynced to 15100Mbps which it used to hold night and day it drops to -0.1 resyncs to 11577Mbps or lower, then at 6:30pm another reine event can knock it out and its happy all night when no road works occur. Now there are massive roadworks in the village putting in new underground pipe due to road floods. Sadly we don't get FTTC till 2014. So I have to wait for my BTw friend to come out do the test, then get another engineer out to do the test again to fine the fault <sigh> 

[Polchraine]

It is not just the chance of the cowboys putting a digger through the cables - which they do on a regular basis.  On my exchange they were told where not to bore holes - but they ignored the advice and took out nearly 20,000 lines!

The other problem is with their generators,  compressors and traffic signals.    The RFI they produce is astronomical and totally unshielded.   If one of those is running anywhere near a line or cabinet - it can easily kill at ADSL/VDSL access.    I have seen the results of it and had to deal with it.     

[Simon]

That sounds like a very good point!

[Gary]

It is not just the chance of the cowboys putting a digger through the cables - which they do on a regular basis.  On my exchange they were told where not to bore holes - but they ignored the advice and took out nearly 20,000 lines!

The other problem is with their generators,  compressors and traffic signals.    The RFI they produce is astronomical and totally unshielded.   If one of those is running anywhere near a line or cabinet - it can easily kill at ADSL/VDSL access.    I have seen the results of it and had to deal with it.     

Good point, they have traffic lights and generators and lights for night time to show the hole. Support said to leave it till the works are finished and then see what happens, the pattern is so much like reine from that sort of rfi output as the works are on the main cable ruining down from the exchange. Not much can be done anyway tbh at this time. Damn annoying losing 3meg though.

[Polchraine]

Good point, they have traffic lights and generators and lights for night time to show the hole. Support said to leave it till the works are finished and then see what happens, the pattern is so much like reine from that sort of rfi output as the works are on the main cable ruining down from the exchange. Not much can be done anyway tbh at this time. Damn annoying losing 3meg though.

It gets complex but there are rules on RFI.

Basically, equipment should not emit RFI at a level where it causes undue interference with any other equipment or interferes with a service being provided.    If it does,  the suppliers/owners of the equipment should take reasonable steps to mitigate the problem.   

Find out the name of the company responsible for the works - call their head office and tell them they are causing a nuisance and if they do not stop within 4 hours you will take the issue further.  Mention legal and press action.    Then call OFCOM and get them to act.

[Gary]

It gets complex but there are rules on RFI.

Basically, equipment should not emit RFI at a level where it causes undue interference with any other equipment or interferes with a service being provided.    If it does,  the suppliers/owners of the equipment should take reasonable steps to mitigate the problem.   

Find out the name of the company responsible for the works - call their head office and tell them they are causing a nuisance and if they do not stop within 4 hours you will take the issue further.  Mention legal and press action.    Then call OFCOM and get them to act.

I think they will tell me to get stuffed  The road works commenced on the 3rd with a talk talk buisness usres being wiped out in our village when they went though the cable.  Since then the reine effect has followed the 8am to 6PM pattern, not helped by myself trying out three routers and a few reboots of my own. <sigh> At this point since my snr has now risen to 15db and my sync profile is only a little more than I had on good old adsl max I may as well wait for the works to finish on the 20th then get my line reset. I have lost 6meg in less than a week. 

[Polchraine]

I think they will tell me to get stuffed The road works commenced on the 3rd with a talk talk buisness usres being wiped out in our village when they went though the cable.  Since then the reine effect has followed the 8am to 6PM pattern, not helped by myself trying out three routers and a few reboots of my own. <sigh> At this point since my snr has now risen to 15db and my sync profile is only a little more than I had on good old adsl max I may as well wait for the works to finish on the 20th then get my line reset. I have lost 6meg in less than a week. 

Don't accept that.     There are too many who just ride rough shod over users and local authorities.

We had one lot of builders working in our local town and the just double parked lorries on double yellow lines and more.  Putting barriers up to stop pedestrian access (without permission) and more.     The council really hit them hard and parking tickets galore have been issued.

Other works where they decide to start on Sundays - and close roads without approval.  Again the council soon put a stop to it.

Another lot of contractors were digging up a road and I saw they had made a large hole in a drainage pipe which served some neighbouring properties.     I actually asked if they were going to repair it and go a "just *** off"  type response.    Got a picture of it,  and as soon as they started to fill the hole, I contacted the local authority.     And guess what,  they were soon back to dig it all out again, and were forced to repair the damage.

They do not have any right to interfere with your services and as for cutting through cables - it shows how they just do not care.

[Simon]

I think Polchraine is quite right.  OK, I can understand Gary not wanting the hassle of taking further action, but all too often, as with the instance of lack of gritting in my area on Monday, companies, and indeed, local authorities, treat us with contempt, disrespect, and a total lack of concern.  Mostly, we just put up with it, as we can't be bothered to make a fuss, but perhaps it's time for 'us' to stand up and stop taking all the sh*t that's generally thrown at us by the big organisations.  Power to the people!! 

[Gary]

Don't accept that.     
They do not have any right to interfere with your services and as for cutting through cables - it shows how they just do not care.

I think it comes to the fact they wont stop major roadworks to stop the village flooding because of adsl issues. Yes it shows they have made a mess of things and its extra odd that 11:30am each day the noise gets worse.  The pattern is so accurate I could set my watch buy it. Support suggest waiting it out. I agree they should not be allowed to get away with this but equally getting out of the village without 3ft of flood water is also important.

[andrue]

Power to the people!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMKsR_wUSfA

[Gary]

IMostly, we just put up with it, as we can't be bothered to make a fuss, but perhaps it's time for 'us' to stand up and stop taking all the sh*t that's generally thrown at us by the big organisations.  Power to the people!! 

Very true Simon but unless a rein engineer is sent out and I bet they charge for that big time nothing will get done anyway.  By the time the red tape and bureaucracy is hurdled by myself trying to sort this out the road works will have stopped 

[Simon]

I know, just as my complaints about the non-gritting will dissipate now the snow has stopped.  Doesn't make it alright though. 

[Simon]

Can't view the video at the moment Andrue, but I'm guessing it's either Wolfie Smith or Cliff Richard! 

[Gary]

Can't view the video at the moment Andrue, but I'm guessing it's either Wolfie Smith or Cliff Richard! 

Def not Cliff Richard 

[Gary]

I know, just as my complaints about the non-gritting will dissipate now the snow has stopped.  Doesn't make it alright though. 

True but there are bigger issues affecting folks, and having slower adsl line due to roadworks is such a first world issue <sigh>

[Polchraine]

I think it comes to the fact they wont stop major roadworks to stop the village flooding because of adsl issues. Yes it shows they have made a mess of things and its extra odd that 11:30am each day the noise gets worse.  The pattern is so accurate I could set my watch buy it. Support suggest waiting it out. I agree they should not be allowed to get away with this but equally getting out of the village without 3ft of flood water is also important.

I did not suggest them stopping but they are not outside the law.

They should use equipment which complies with legal requirements and they have a duty of care.    They need to be told to comply.    As your service is degraded, why not invoice them for the cost of your service during the time they were there,  why should you pay when someone else makes it nearly unusable.


BT has a large team in various offices around te UK - they will provide any contractor with information on the location of BT services FREE OF CHARGE.    However, along side them are more staff who are responsible for invoicing contractors who damage BT plant and they raise tens of millions every year from cowboys who do not bother to ask,  or dig anyway.   

[Steve]

Something seems to be missing - proof. i.e. is their road-working equipment distributing RFI in excess amounts. Sadly Gary's adsl line is not classed as a suitable frequency detector.

[Gary]

Something seems to be missing - proof. i.e. is their road-working equipment distributing RFI in excess amounts. Sadly Gary's adsl line is not classed as a suitable frequency detector.

tbh Steve, it is what it is, not much I can do, the  generators multiple traffic lights, JCB,s pipe welding machine floodlights etc all probably produce a ton of RFI noise but as you say no proof. Without a suitable engineer to show that's happening with multiple tests from both sides ad infinitum there is no point kicking up a fuss.

[Gary]

Aghhhh I have had it now, once again just after 6:30pm massive RFI spike and my line goes down, I have lost 10meg since Sunday.  At this rate I wont have any internet.

[Gary]

Well dumping the Active Adsl nation faceplate for a passive BT VDSL one has helped a bit, roadworks finish in three days but they seem to have packed up early anyway, although more are going to start right across from the cab I'm linked to on the 20th. Still a drop of 5db from 11am till about 4pm meaning I cant get my 15 meg sync back. Stays at 5db all night but at 7am it rises to 10db. I give up  something is not right, still, thinking going to priority on the exchange may help... I'll wait for the ten day training period to mellow out again though and keep an eye on my stats. I hate problems like this, in fact never had a problem like this 

[Gary]

11:25am once again snr dropped and by 5db by 11:35am

[Steve]

I wonder where that RF noise is coming from?