Wet Weather Issues in CenturyTel http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20270584 en Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:48:08 EDT Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:48:08 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20483693 chd176 : Since I switched to the 10 MB package and got a new modem I noticed that I now loose sync with pretty much any lightning in the area. I know it's not my increased speeds because they put me back to 1.5 after they found out 10 MB wasn't available in my area. I went from the Westell B90 to the Westell E90 so I'm not sure what happened if it was the new modem or being switched ports to the ADSL2 equipment.
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10,000/768 CenturyTel PPPoE DSL line (really 5,000/768 ;))]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20483693 Wed, 14 May 2008 20:32:51 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20480774 tstolze : Yep I have a splitter in my NID. The NID was replaced last year with a different model as suggested on this forum.

My tech dropped my download sync rate to see if that would help. We had a very weak system move through overnight, I did have one disconnect during it.

I have just ordered a new modem, although I have tried a friends modem recently with the same results. I read some instances with the Westell's and lightning disconnects.

I hate to say it, but my Charter connection was stable, I had terrible billing issues at times. The pricing is what is stopping me. In my mind if this isn't resolved by the middle of next month, I think I will be forced to switch. :(
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20480774 Wed, 14 May 2008 11:37:30 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20480680 bilybob : I scrolled thru the posts again and didn't see if you have a DSL splitter in your NID. I don't know if it is practical for you but I just had that installed and it bumped my margins up considerably and I don't have those disconnects any more. Unless ofcourse its a real loud thunder clap outside but not the kind where you just see the lightning 5 miles away and its disconnected. My line attenuation has gone down almost 3db and margin up about 5db.
DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 12474 891
Margin (dB) 16.0 16.0
Line Attenuation (dB) 27.5 12.0
Transmit Power (dBm) 22.0 11.9 ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20480680 Wed, 14 May 2008 11:19:38 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20473625 tstolze : Well tech arrived after I left for work, so my information is second hand from a wife and son who I love, but don't do the best job of getting the info I would have liked.

He came to my wife and asked her if maybe we damaged our drop during our fence installation. He stated he found an error in the line near a fence post. She told him that the drop was cut by the fence company and Centurytel repaired the drop.

He dug it up and said it was not spliced correct, stated he did a proper splice and hopefully it would take care of any problems we were having.

It would appear my downstream margin is down to 8 now, it had been running 10-11, that is the only major change I see. Connection has been steady and speedtest are still 10.6+ down and 750+ up.

FYI for nunya: I accept the blame for your troubles. You may not want to mention me, 1 or 2 of the techs that continue to arrive and do nothing may not care for me much! :o ;)

I am served out of the RT on St. Paul Rd. I am located of Highway P near Mt Hope.

(edit) Woke up by my weather radio just before 6, no luck on the fix, each lightning strike still takes out my connection. :(
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20473625 Tue, 13 May 2008 01:58:32 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20472092 nunya : Just an FYI: In the last storm(s) that came through this weekend, my line dropped out several times during the intense lightning. I only noticed because I was trying to work at the time.
I blame tstolze for jinxing me.
I'm on the North side of town, fed out of the C.O. I wander if the C.O. equipment isn't being affected somehow?
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All we need now is a car that runs on milk.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20472092 Mon, 12 May 2008 20:04:09 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20467850 Icon :
said by tstolze See Profile :

At this time would I get a better response calling in for phone line trouble?
Probably so. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20467850 Mon, 12 May 2008 00:02:50 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20467811 chd176 : I always had a better response (and outcome) when I report problems with landline rather than my DSL. Hopefully you'll get it sorted out, it still sounds like a cut in the line or something but I'm no tech :)
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10,000/768 CenturyTel PPPoE DSL line (really 5,000/768 ;))]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20467811 Sun, 11 May 2008 23:46:20 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20467469 tstolze : Sorry for responding to myself

During yesterdays storms I got on my phone and noticed static during lightning strikes. This was verified on several calls, both land line and cell phones.

I made another call between storms yesterday to the Internet Help Desk before I noticed the "static". Another ticket was issued with a visit scheduled for Monday.

At this time would I get a better response calling in for phone line trouble?
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20467469 Sun, 11 May 2008 22:25:29 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20450927 tstolze : So tech arrives, asks to see the modem. Suggests I remove it from the UPS I have the power supply hooked to and plug it straight into an outlet. Talk for a few minutes, show him some saved log files and he says to call back if the problems continue. :huh: Not a whole lot of effort, and he says he can not imagine what the problem is. Looks like it will be the squeaky wheel route as suggested... :D
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20450927 Thu, 08 May 2008 11:09:55 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20445443 tstolze : I placed another call in this morning. Appears I had 15-20 disconnects with a small line of storms about 6:30 am...
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20445443 Wed, 07 May 2008 12:18:54 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20442919 nunya : If there is a bonding issue, it usually takes a full work day or two to track it down. "Cut & Run" won't help because you're just moving to another pair under the same un-bonded sheath. About the only thing you can do at this point is become a "squeaky wheel" and report it every time. Eventually you'll wind up on a chronic list and get some OSP TLC.
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All we need now is a car that runs on milk.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20442919 Tue, 06 May 2008 22:42:49 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20439536 tstolze : Yea, we have changed pair 2 times now I believe. I have been told everything has been checked from my house back to the RT. I have no reason to believe it hasn't been done. Last time out after checking the line and stating nothing was wrong, he did change to another pair. Still have the same issue, although at first I thought it was related to rain. Now it is surely a lightning related issue.
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20439536 Tue, 06 May 2008 12:06:30 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20439390 Icon : It sounds like an outside issue, maybe a bonding problem like nunya mentioned. Haven't they changed your cable pair before?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20439390 Tue, 06 May 2008 11:38:03 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20438996 tstolze : As of now, I believe this has become lightning related. It seems that it doesn't even have to be "close". Sometimes if I just start to hear thunder the connection goes down.

Looks like some Westell modems are known for having this problem from searching around, and reading the thread in my previous post.
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20438996 Tue, 06 May 2008 10:28:52 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20436049 nunya : Could be a cable bonding issue. Lot's of open bonds since SM&P has been doing Century-Tel locates. An unbonded cable is like a big long antenna.

I would say maybe your trouble is drying out before CT gets there, but it would actually have to stop raining around here for a while.
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All we need now is a car that runs on milk.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20436049 Mon, 05 May 2008 18:16:10 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20435234 tstolze : Mine is defined

Line Mode: ADSL2+ Mode

Somewhere I came across a mention of some sort of lightening protection mode. I am wondering if any of our CT contacts can either enlighten us, or maybe do some deeper research into this situation for us.

I will have to see if I can get an older modem and test it during a storm event.

Added: Interesting conversation: »Is your DSL connection interrupted by Lightening?
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20435234 Mon, 05 May 2008 15:48:19 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20435152 bilybob : I have had the same problem ever since I switched to the 10mb service. Minor thunderstorm will disconnect everything and my service is pretty much useless during that time. Luckily (or unluckily) I still have my old westell 6100 C90 that is not ADSL2 capable and I fire that one up during storm and its rock solid at 6mb.
Here are my stats
Transceiver Revision: 5.2.2.0
Vendor ID Code: 4
Line Mode: not defined
Data Path: Interleaved
Transceiver Information Down Stream Path Up Stream Path
DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 12474 894
Margin (dB) 13.0 16.0
Line Attenuation (dB) 30.0 12.5
Transmit Power (dBm) 22.9 12.1

My line mode is always not defined, does yours say the same or does it say ADSL2+]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20435152 Mon, 05 May 2008 15:33:39 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20434403 tstolze : Well the problems still go on. Seems every storm that comes through takes my connection down until it moves on.

Now for my newest finding. I had switched to Charter :o for a year before coming back to CT. I just noticed the coax is still connected at the ped in my backyard. The other exposed end is hanging within 2 feet of my networking equipment, including my modem. I wonder if this could be causing the disconnects when lightning is near?
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20434403 Mon, 05 May 2008 13:04:31 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20287254 Icon : God luck. :)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20287254 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:08:30 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20287213 tstolze : Tech arrived around 9:30 this morning and ran usual test, found nothing and stated there was no resistance on the pair. He did a quick inspection of the inside lines with no issues noted.

I ask him what he thought about changing to a different pair ,and he agreed. Called back about 10 minutes later and said I was changed over. All stats are the same except the margin, which I gained 1dB on both transmit and receive.

Looks like we have more rain and storms coming around Tuesday. I will have to wait and see.
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20287213 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:02:16 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20282053 dsldude08 : Ok, sounds good, hopefully they can get out there yet today to check it, you opened it early enough it's possible, depending on the workload in the area. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20282053 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:21:03 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20281861 tstolze : Just got off the phone, trouble ticket entered, should see someone no later than Monday.
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20281861 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:48:10 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20281841 dsldude08 : No problem. If you need any assistance just IM me, I can make a few calls and see what we've got if Icon can't help you or is too busy. ;)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20281841 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:45:39 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20281487 tstolze : Yep I am on a remote, I drove the route back to it this morning looking for open peds or cross boxes, all appeared to be sealed tight. I am waiting for another call then I will call tech support. Thanks!
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20281487 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:44:07 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20281323 dsldude08 : Sounds like an exposed line somewhere, I've had that happen before. I'd just have them send a tech out to find the problem because there obviously is one, unfortunately that problem could exist anywhere along the line from you to the remote to the CO, if you're on a remote.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20281323 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:11:38 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20280292 tstolze : Well this morning went okay with the morning rain, then came a storm shortly after 1 in the afternoon. My connection actually started getting bad as soon as I heard thunder, then each clap of thunder I heard I noticed I would loose my connection. After awhile it would just not stay connected until the storm past, I had to leave for work, but it appears to have been out for around 1-2 hours. Attached is the modem log early on during the storm. I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. I guess I will need to call tech support. :(
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Ofallon, Mo Weather
4-3mdmlog.txt 14,652 bytes
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20280292 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:56:54 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20275097 GeekJedi :
said by Icon See Profile :

Definitely check your modem and monitor the stats to see how much they fluctuate during the bad times. It's probably a wet cable pair, and knocking your noise margins down to the point your modem drops the connection. And NO MORE RAIN!! I'm close to the Branson area tstolze, and we've recorded record flooding around here. Table Rock Lake is up about 14 ft in places! :huh: My ticket load has been very large to say the least.

Do you have a home run with a splitter in your new NID?

Fuffer, repeaters are only for circuits, and don't have regular POTS running through them. All the closures you see on an aerial cable (or the green pedestals for buried cable) are simply splice points, or openings to bring cable pairs out and tie in the customers drop line.

And yes, we have test equipment that measure distance to faults, shorts, grounds, cross-battery, open cable pairs, etc. Makes the job a lot easier most of the time, but even then sometimes there is no substitute for a good butt-set and some scotchloks.....and using the "divide and conquer" method. ;)
Gotcha! I was thinking of the little green peds, for some reason I remember an olg GTE tech calling it a repeater.

I agree with the butt-set statement! I have a Harris that I carry with me to check audio (and in-building telephone) on the 66 blocks all over the building.
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The goal of the broadcast engineer is to get all the meters on the transmitter to go as far to the right as possible!!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20275097 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:56:59 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20274363 tstolze : I looked back at my post in the old forum when they bumped me back up to 10/768 and the levels I posted are very close.
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20274363 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:00:44 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20274361 Icon : Levels look decent right now. Is that about where they normally are?

That black plastic stuff is called slicker cloth. There's an old saying that goes "Vinyl is final, but slicker is quicker." :D And unfortunately, slicker sometimes ends up being pretty permanent in some areas!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20274361 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:58:04 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20274341 tstolze :
said by Icon See Profile :

Definitely check your modem and monitor the stats to see how much they fluctuate during the bad times. It's probably a wet cable pair, and knocking your noise margins down to the point your modem drops the connection.

Do you have a home run with a splitter in your new NID?
Yes I have about 6 ft of cat5 for my home run with a splitter in the NID. Here are my current stats as I have the router removed.

DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 12538 894
Margin (dB) 10.0 10.0
Line Attenuation (dB) 38.5 20.0
Transmit Power (dBm) 22.6 12.2

I will have to take a drive in the morning to look for open/damaged "boxes". I have seen several that my line doesn't run through that are either open or have been destroyed and just have a plastic bag over them for several months now. :o
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20274341 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:49:44 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20274307 Icon : Definitely check your modem and monitor the stats to see how much they fluctuate during the bad times. It's probably a wet cable pair, and knocking your noise margins down to the point your modem drops the connection. And NO MORE RAIN!! I'm close to the Branson area tstolze, and we've recorded record flooding around here. Table Rock Lake is up about 14 ft in places! :huh: My ticket load has been very large to say the least.

Do you have a home run with a splitter in your new NID?

Fuffer, repeaters are only for circuits, and don't have regular POTS running through them. All the closures you see on an aerial cable (or the green pedestals for buried cable) are simply splice points, or openings to bring cable pairs out and tie in the customers drop line.

And yes, we have test equipment that measure distance to faults, shorts, grounds, cross-battery, open cable pairs, etc. Makes the job a lot easier most of the time, but even then sometimes there is no substitute for a good butt-set and some scotchloks.....and using the "divide and conquer" method. ;)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20274307 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:37:17 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20274099 tstolze : I have opened the NID several times with no sign of moisture. I will check in the morning if it hasn't started raining yet.

I am going to take my router out of the loop in the next hour or so. That way when I call tech support I will be one step ahead of them.

We are forecast for 1-4 inches of rain in the next 36 hours. Hopefully I can get some clues from the log in the modem.

Thanks! :)
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20274099 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:36:34 EDT Re: Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20271496 GeekJedi : Is there any sign of water in the NID?

I wonder if water is getting into a repeater box somewhere...

Icon probably knows the answer to this: Can they run a TDR or something down a copper pair to find the distance to a fault?
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The goal of the broadcast engineer is to get all the meters on the transmitter to go as far to the right as possible!!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20271496 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:55:26 EDT Wet Weather Issues http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20270584 tstolze : I am having disconnect issues lately during heavy rains. The disconnects only occur during the heaviest rain time, then clear up within 1/2-1hr after the rain either slows or stops. I originally thought this was interference from lightening, but the last rain event I didn't hear any thunder.

My modem is a westell bridged to a wrt54g linksys, I will have to change my configuration before I call tech support. If I am at a computer while this is happening, my connection will be fine, then just quit, a few minutes later it will happen again, usually in 1-3 minute cycles. My router logs show many reconnects and sometimes 10-20 minutes of not being able to connect at all. This is not normal for my line at all, I normally maintain the same ip for several days at a time.

I had a new NID installed last fall, and I have found no sign of water inside my home or near my wiring. I am assuming I am getting moisture in a splice somewhere, I wonder where along the 9000+ft? :D

Thanks or any suggestions.
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Ofallon, Mo Weather]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20270584 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:02:16 EDT