heels_fan
1.20.09 The start of Socialism
Premium
join:2003-02-07
Columbia, TN
| reply to FAQFixer
Re: Is your DSL connection interrupted by Lightening?
said by FAQFixer  :As Wayne pointed out the Westell 6100's chipset is purposely very sensitive and has the ability to pick up usable signals at a lower SNR and greater distances than any previous modem. Since there is no free lunches in this world that increased sensitivity to pick up weak signals comes with the possibility to be easily overwhelmed by any interference. If you have a line that is marginal, not bonded, or susceptible to interference you run the risk of having more issues. The 2Wire is less sensitive and will not have as many interference issues, but won't pull a weak signal as well. This isn't rocket science...just a trade off. Find out what your needs are and use the appropriate modem. I have used a Westell 6100 for 3 years and have never lost synch in a storm. Even the bad storms that hit Atlanta about a month ago didn't have any effect. I was surfing in the lightning and hailstorms. My local loop is in good condition, less than 10 years old, and well bonded/grounded. Well then, I will just hush up and count my blessings of having a good loop/bonding/grounding.
Now If I could just get off of this interleave profile I will be happy. |
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KeysCapt
Premium,Mod
join:2001-07-11
Keys Exile
clubs:
Host:
Time Warner Cable ..
Weather
Ham Radio
Sports Chat
| reply to Splitpair
said by Splitpair :Not all modems are equal some models such as the Alcatel STH will hold synch when a lightning hit vaporizes the house next door yet it will not pull good margins at 17Kf conversely a Westell can work all day at 17Kf but a loud fart will cause it to drop synch. Wayne This quote gets my vote for the absolute best statement in this thread, and the award for best use of humor in a serious topic! Laughed out loud, I did.
It also pretty much puts the whole thing to bed, at least for me.
Thanks Wayne! Your dependability is second to none.  |
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Canezoid
join:2001-02-16
Powder Springs, GA
 ·Comcast
| reply to Splitpair
I don't think it's debatable at all, as I said, just not buying the lightning thing.
The OP's "count" per his location is riddled w/ DSL subscribers into his subdivision, as I'm also sure it's not the only 6100 on the field loop. With f2/f3 that large highley unlikely this would be the only one, that's all I'm trying to say.
I can also mention that there is the possibility of an over extention on the field side from his ped that may need to be looked at, but since the sync is not dropping more consistantly, might not even be an issue. |
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Splitpair
Premium
join:2000-07-29
Cow Towne
 ·T-Mobile US
2 edits | said by Canezoid :I don't think it's debatable at all, as I said, just not buying the lightning thing. Then you fail to understand the basics of noise mitigation and I am not going to take the time to convince you otherwise.
Wayne
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If you cannot fix it with a buttset and some bennies you ain't a technician.
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Pashune
Inhaling at 675 KB per sec.
Premium
join:2006-04-14
Gautier, MS
·CableOne
 ·AT&T Southeast
| reply to et1212
Heh, lightning had struck my backyard just a few weeks ago, but did you think that Netopia was going lose sync? Nope, he just kept chuggin' along... chugga-chugga-chugga-chugga.. toot, tooooooot. Heh, smoke would have probably arisen from my Westell 6100 if it were being used at the time (extreme sarcasm).
The end result of the lightning strike? Well, my monitor had changed colors (I had to use degauss since I'm on a CRT) and I did lose a filter..so apparently SOMETHING was struck. I just sincerely hope my Netopia wasn't damaged at all in the process, though it was kind of my fault for leaving everything on...but then again, the storm woke me up and sent me to typing noaa.gov in my web browser..
Nothing else in my house (as far as I know) was affected.
--
I have achieved 3 meg , fastpath sync on a 15,700 ft. 26 ga copper line. =] |
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BigVe
join:2005-07-15
Gulliver, MI
·CenturyLink
| reply to et1212
If it's storming outside i unplug everything anyway so i really have no idea if bad weather like that will affect my connection.Call me chicken if you want but i have had enough damage from lightning thru my phoneline and don't need anymore if i can help it. |
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Canezoid
join:2001-02-16
Powder Springs, GA | reply to Splitpair
You don't have to because it's BS. Noise mitigation? LOL, I bet you actually think about that stuff don't you, please.
Cane out. |
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switched84
join:2008-02-15
33456 | reply to et1212
just checking past posts...home networking is free for xtreme 6.0...jsut call billing and have it be added to your account...no additional charges....
-88 |
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et1212
join:2005-10-23
Mableton, GA
·AT&T Southeast
1 edit | reply to et1212
Update:
After replacing the Westell 6100 modem with a Netopia 2210 modem we had a few thunderstorms but I was not home so I cannot tell for sure that the problem is solved. However the modem log shows no disconnection. So maybe modem does make a difference.
However I found out my service will be be disrupted whenever I plug an unfiltered line to any socket in the house. Do you have the same problem?
---
PS... The connection type changed from Interleaved to FAST.. I never had any CRC error with Westell but I have occasional crc error now. |
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et1212
join:2005-10-23
Mableton, GA
·AT&T Southeast
1 edit | Here comes the good part:
I got the bill today. ATT charged me $85 for paying a visit to my house and $75 for the modem.
If they do not waive these charges I will be back to cable service.
--- update 2.. They agreed to waive the charge |
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et1212
join:2005-10-23
Mableton, GA
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to et1212
Another update.
We had severe thunderstorms Friday (5/23) and my wife told me the service was interrupted once (I was not home). In the past, this would render the Westall 6100 unusable for the full duration of the storm (it would cut in and out constantly). So the new modem (Netopia 2210) does make a difference.
In addition, the modem log never reported any loss of connection. (While the log for Westall 6100 would show DSL coneection is lost). Apparently my connection between the router and the modem got interrupted (it does not show up in my router log, though). The disconnection also happens whenever I plug in an unfiltered phone cable to any wall socket in the house.
This is different from my past problem (the dsl actually lost sync).
My router DI-614+ is showing its age. I think I am going to use the modem as the router in the future to see this happens at all. |
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NewLife
Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming
join:2001-07-31
Calhoun, GA
·AT&T Southeast
·Comcast
| reply to et1212
I have lost sync a couple of times, but it was coming major storms near our house. We recently moved and I had to decide to keep Bellsouth or switch to Comcast. Comcast was faster but reliability on Bellsouth was my deciding factor. I have to have a very stable connection and Bellsouth provides that for me. By the way, my modem is a Speedtouch Home.
--
With hurricanes,tornados,fires out of control,mud slides,flooding,severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another,and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks,are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge |
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rambo30117
join:2006-10-15
Carrollton, GA | reply to heels_fan
i thought your bug was a knat on my screen and started to swat it |
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dsldaddyo
join:2002-09-11
Montgomery, AL
| reply to et1212
Was there any consensus developed in this thread regarding best modem to use to avoid sync loss during lightening? It happens with my Westell 6100 every single time lightening is nearby. It's very frustrating, especially during this stormy time of year. |
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dandeman
Premium,MVM
join:2001-12-05
Chapel Hill, NC
·AT&T Southeast
1 edit | I have a Westell 6100 and I've never seen it interupted by lightning. I have IP addr monitoring software that catches every time the IP address changes (that will occur when the DSL connection goes down) and the IP addr changes when they do occur, do not correlate with lightning.
One possible major factor that could be the difference. The Westell 6100, network, and computers) are run from a commercial ferroresonant design UPS I have (with continuous 2000:1 line to load transient attenuation).
It could be that Westell 6100 power brick is susceptible to power line transients rather than the connection dropping from induced telco line noise from lightning.
I also have commercial quality lightning surge suppressors on the telco line but doubt that is a factor.. |
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Mr_A1
join:2004-04-14
Dickson, TN
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·Vonage
·AT&T CallVantage
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to dsldaddyo
I had the same problem with my Westell 327w with lighting and heavy rain causing the modem to lose sync even if the storm was miles away on the old copper. I called tech support and after a few minutes on hold while the support person talked to someone higher up the chain, he came back a verified that the Westell modems do have this problem for some reason. They sent out the new 2wire Homeportal(2701HG-B) to replace the Westell for free. Today, we had a severe storm this morning and this afternoon with alot of ground lighting around the house, and the 2wire never lost sync once. So, if you are having this problem, you might try calling the support team and see if they will swap the modem to see if that will fix it. |
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Pashune
Inhaling at 675 KB per sec.
Premium
join:2006-04-14
Gautier, MS
·CableOne
·AT&T Southeast
| said by Mr_A1 :I had the same problem with my Westell 327w with lighting and heavy rain causing the modem to lose sync even if the storm was miles away on the old copper. I called tech support and after a few minutes on hold while the support person talked to someone higher up the chain, he came back a verified that the Westell modems do have this problem for some reason. They sent out the new 2wire Homeportal(2701HG-B) to replace the Westell for free. Today, we had a severe storm this morning and this afternoon with alot of ground lighting around the house, and the 2wire never lost sync once. So, if you are having this problem, you might try calling the support team and see if they will swap the modem to see if that will fix it. Wow. I never thought tech. support would actually come to admit that the Westells have that type of problem... heheh. |
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et1212
join:2005-10-23
Mableton, GA
·AT&T Southeast
1 edit | reply to Mr_A1
said by Mr_A1 :I had the same problem with my Westell 327w with lighting and heavy rain causing the modem to lose sync even if the storm was miles away on the old copper. I called tech support and after a few minutes on hold while the support person talked to someone higher up the chain, he came back a verified that the Westell modems do have this problem for some reason. They sent out the new 2wire Homeportal(2701HG-B) to replace the Westell for free. Today, we had a severe storm this morning and this afternoon with alot of ground lighting around the house, and the 2wire never lost sync once. So, if you are having this problem, you might try calling the support team and see if they will swap the modem to see if that will fix it. Lucky you. This is the answer I got from tech support: we have never heard of such a problem.
Well, after switching to a netopia modem from a westell 6100, my lightening problem has been cured. I still don't have a good explanation but it worked for me. |
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Hayward
K A R - 1 2 0 C
Premium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
| reply to dandeman
said by dandeman :I have a Westell 6100 and I've never seen it interupted by lightning. I have IP addr monitoring software that catches every time the IP address changes (that will occur when the DSL connection goes down) and the IP addr changes when they do occur, do not correlate with lightning. Only under 3mb service... 3mbs and above are all static IP no matter hown long the interuption. Haven't checked lately but even 1.5mbs may be static now too.
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»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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Mr_A1
join:2004-04-14
Dickson, TN
·AT&T U-Verse
·Vonage
·AT&T CallVantage
·AT&T Southeast
1 edit | reply to et1212
said by et1212 :said by Mr_A1 :I had the same problem with my Westell 327w with lighting and heavy rain causing the modem to lose sync even if the storm was miles away on the old copper. I called tech support and after a few minutes on hold while the support person talked to someone higher up the chain, he came back a verified that the Westell modems do have this problem for some reason. They sent out the new 2wire Homeportal(2701HG-B) to replace the Westell for free. Today, we had a severe storm this morning and this afternoon with alot of ground lighting around the house, and the 2wire never lost sync once. So, if you are having this problem, you might try calling the support team and see if they will swap the modem to see if that will fix it. Lucky you. This is the answer I got from tech support: we have never heard of such a problem. Well, after switching to a netopia modem from a westell 6100, my lightening problem has been cured. I still don't have a good explanation but it worked for me. The tech tried that line with me and I asked him to research it and that alot of people have had the same problem; that is when he put me on hold to check higher up the tech chain, then came back and said that it has been confirmed in certain areas that storms can cause this issue with Westell modems.
The 2wire is doing better than the Westell because my SN went up and became very steady while the DSL was tied to my POTS. I just last week had the DSL moved to the Fastaccess Direct and the signal got even better. The 2wire reports that my line can now go up to 14 M down / 1.5 M up and the tech said that was incredibly good since I am on the end of the old copper from the CO which is about a mile driving distance away. |
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