ozar
Premium
join:2008-04-13
USA
 ·Embarq
| Embarq Broadband DSL Loses Sync Often
For some reason, my DSL connection loses sync quite often here in Central Texas.
It seems that every few hours, just the DSL light on my Embarq 660 series modem will go off for a few seconds, then it starts blinking a few times before returning to normal. Naturally, I can't browse the web or download anything during this interval, and if I'm already downloading something when it happens, the download stops immediately.
I've explained this problem to the Embarq Support folks back when I was still on the 5 Mbps service and using their older 645 modem, and then again when I upgraded to their 10 Mbps service a few months ago. The temporary, but intermittent outages continue to occur.
Do any of you have any ideas about how this problem might be cured?
Thanks in advance to anyone that can provide any helpful tips.
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oz |
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Icon
Time Keeper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-01-07
Kimberling City, MO
·CenturyTel Inc.
| You'll need to post your line stats from your modem.
The problem could be anything. Do you have filters on all phones/devices hooked to a phone jack? You say that you were experiencing this problem when you have 5M service as well? It could be that you're too far for reliable 10M service, or there could be outside line issues (bridge tap, high resistance open, etc) causing your problems. |
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ozar
Premium
join:2008-04-13
USA
·Embarq
edit:
June 8th, @09:30AM
| Thanks for the reply, Icon.
I'm not really sure what info "line stats" would include, but here's some info from tests that I've run a few months ago:
»/linequality/nil/2374489
Edit: Oh, and yes, I have filters on all phone/jacks.
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oz |
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Icon
Time Keeper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-01-07
Kimberling City, MO
·CenturyTel Inc.
| said by ozar  :I'm not really sure what info "line stats" would include Your line stats can be found inside your modem's interface. I'm not certain with your modem what the IP address is, you should be able to find out by going to Start > Run > cmd > and type in ipconfig at the command prompt. Your default gateway should be the address to access your modem (this is assuming your computer is hooked directly to your modem with no other router/device in between).
Then type that default gateway into your address bar, and do some searching around until you find the Noise margin, or it could be called signal to noise ratio, and attenuation.
I'm sure an embarq user who's familiar with your modem of modem can give you some assistance as to exactly where the stats are in the modem. |
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fivepairpath
join:2007-09-09
| I would be willing to bet that its due to the older modem. when they upgraded you to a 10Mbit line, they should of sent you atleast a new 2 wire or the 660. But if anything else as stated above, your loop length may be to long or its bride tap. Next time you call them ask to see if the line has been conditioned and how big the loop is that your on. Another thing to check and as I said in another post, is that make sure its not a satelite box or alarm messing with your line. |
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ozar
Premium
join:2008-04-13
USA
·Embarq
| Hi, fivepairpath
I do have a satellite receiver connected to one filtered phone jack, but if I remember correctly it was doing this before I got the satellite hookup. Just to make sure, I'll disconnect the sat-receiver from the phone line for a few days to see what happens. If this fixes it, I'll post back.
Thanks for the suggestion.
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oz |
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Icon
Time Keeper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-01-07
Kimberling City, MO
·CenturyTel Inc.
| Ozar,
Have you tried getting into your modem to check the DSL sync stats? If not, then you really don't have anything to measure against when you make changes, ie unplugging things.
Your signal to noise ratio and attenuation will tell you so much about the health of your signal. |
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ozar
Premium
join:2008-04-13
USA
·Embarq
| Hi, Icon
No, I've not been able to get into it all. I've tried all the following addresses for it:
192.168.1.1
192.168.2.1
192.168.1.2
192.168.2.2
...but no luck getting in. No routers are attached, and no firewall running when trying to access it.
I guess I'm consfused... if the dropouts should totally stop after disconnecting the satellite receiver, wouldn't that be something to measure against?
That said (or asked), it didn't help and the DSL light is going on and off on the modem as I type this.
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oz |
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Icon
Time Keeper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-01-07
Kimberling City, MO
·CenturyTel Inc.
| Open a command prompt, and type ipconfig. What does it show for the default gateway?
I may have worded it a little wrong. If unplugging the satellite receiver helped your problem, then it would have been a start. What I was talking about was making a note of what your current snr was the way it is now, then unplugging the receiver and checking the snr again to see if it improved. If not, then you'd know it wasn't really affecting it.
You can try plugging a cord into the interface (NID) on the side of your house, and see how your connection holds. If it improves, then you know it's an inside issue. If not, it's an outside issue. Here again, it's helpful to be able to compare snr stats before and while you test from the nid. |
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ozar
Premium
join:2008-04-13
USA
·Embarq
| None of the numbers I posted above is related to the gateway. I have a static IP and the modem is in bridge mode, so perhaps that's why I'm not able to get into it.
I'm a bit afraid to press the reset button to start from the beginning because it took almost a full day (seriously) of being on the phone with Embarq tech support to get things running in the beginning, and then 3 or 4 different techs were involved even then. It was their idea to put it in bridge mode, but I really don't want to have to go through all that again.
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oz |
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Icon
Time Keeper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-01-07
Kimberling City, MO | reply to ozar
Ahh, that's why then.
You should still be able to test at the NID if you can and see what happens. |
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ozar
Premium
join:2008-04-13
USA | Icon...
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look around to see if I have a cord long enough to reach it, but it would probably have to be about 50 feet, or more.
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oz |
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Icon
Time Keeper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-01-07
Kimberling City, MO | reply to ozar
If you have a laptop you could just use an extension cord to bring the modem closer to the NID, then you wouldn't need a super long base cord. |
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ozar
Premium
join:2008-04-13
USA | No, I'll have to go with the long cord... no laptops in the household. |
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ozar
Premium
join:2008-04-13
USA
·Embarq
| It's kind of strange, though, because it's intermittent. Some days, it might go pretty much all day without dropping. At other times, like tonight, it's dropping out about every 5 or 10 minutes.
Note that it just dropped again as I was typing this.
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oz |
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dude34221
join:2002-06-13
Galena, OH | if you put your modem in "routing mode" behind a real router you can access both with the same effect as a bridged modem. i gave up bridging my modem due to 660 being a poorly designed modem. |
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ozar
Premium
join:2008-04-13
USA
·Embarq
| said by dude34221 :i gave up bridging my modem due to 660 being a poorly designed modem. I'm probably going to have to stick to the 660 for a while longer, but out of curiosity, what modems are considered good replacements for the 660 provided by Embarq?
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oz |
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dude34221
join:2002-06-13
Galena, OH | only used 660 myself no need for 2wire extra features, my 660 overheats even in an air conditioned house |
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ozar
Premium
join:2008-04-13
USA
·Embarq
| I'm noticing that this dropping of the DSL signal seems to be happening more at night, around 8 PM to midnight, here in Central Texas. I'm not sure what the time might have to do with it, though, unless that's just a very heavy usage period, or it has something to do with equipment temperatures.
I've also noticed that quite a few Embarq customers are posting about their DSL connections dropping, lately. I've ordered a new modem to see if that helps anything and will post back later with any new info. |
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ozar
Premium
join:2008-04-13
USA | reply to ozar
Ok, I've now installed a new modem on this connection and will watch it for a few days to see if the sync problem goes away, or remains.
Will report back on it either way. Thanks to all for the help.
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oz |
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