opterongeek
join:2004-06-21
Colorado Springs, CO
edit:
June 21st, @03:54PM
|  Reasons behind signal issues?
Hi folks, using a 2Wire 2701HG-D modem, which is also modem #2 in the past 3 weeks. Have had DSL here since they introduced the 768 plan a few years ago. Been using it since then. Upgraded from 768 to 1.5 and again to the 7 plan.
Every year, around this time and again in the winter, I start getting spotty service. I have the Upto 7 Meg plan and for the most part the service is speedy, reliable and flat out works great.
Lately however, starting in March, my modem drops me every few minutes. I keep a log and it looks pretty much like this:
1:22pm - Dropped
1:25pm - Dropped
1:28pm - Current Noise Margain: 6 dB
1:35pm - Dropped
1:44pm - "digital fart" while on the phone and line dropped momentarily (voice was fine, kept talking, but checked modem page to see "acquiring DSL signal")
1:45pm - Current Noise Margain: 9 dB
1:50pm - Current Noise Margain: 12 dB
1:55pm - Current Noise Margain: 19 dB
2:00pm - Dropped
I'm on the replacement modem I was sent two weeks ago and I'm using the in-box filter which a tech installed last week. Before he installed it, my inside line quality was pretty horrid - or there was noise, whatever.
I had another tech out the next day because I was still getting dropped. He checked the line quality again with the same kind of device and found that I was getting superb quality inside, and that there wasn't a reason he could see why it would drop me.
In the period of typing this, I've been dropped twice and it reconnects. The modem is NOT rebooting, as I can access the modem control panel while the DSL light blinks.
The most it stays down is a few minutes with most episodes lasting 10-20 seconds or so.
Today I had a CSR on the line who was apparently talking to a "tech" and that "tech" told him to tell me I had too many computers connected to the modem (I use a gigabit switch for my local network, and there's about 7 devices connected at any given time). I've had it running like this on the last 3 modems without issue, so why would that matter? To humor him I did run it on just one computer for a day - didn't make a damn difference, I was still dropped all the time.
I have a spare actiontec modem here and I'm seriously considering reconnecting it in light of what's going on here, but I want to be sure that all the steps have been taken that should be. For the record, I'm within walking distance of my local CO. I could get up and walk outside and be at the CO in 5 minutes flat at a normal pace. |
|
wingman99
join:2003-12-18
Bettendorf, IA | You could have the tech to line cut and switch you to a different line out side also at the dslam try switching ports |
|
opterongeek
join:2004-06-21
Colorado Springs, CO
| We've already been "switched" on the DSLAM (I put it in quotes because I don't know for sure if anything was really done other than to take me off the internet while this allegedly occurred.
An interesting little factoid since I posted this. I got another tech to come out tomorrow (the best that Stateside support, Mike ID # FRO could do for me apparently) so not pleased with that, I decided to use my old Actiontec GT701 modem. The stupid thing couldn't train at anything higher than 128 Kbps down (that's not a typo) and 486 Kbps up.
So I disconnected that one and reconnected my old ass archaic Actiontec 1524 and guess what!? FULL SPEED. NO DROPS! EVERYTHING WORKS!
I've been online now since about 20 minutes after I made this post here without any drops.
2Wire modems are $h!t! |
|
D1sclaimer
join:2007-11-03
Bennington, NE
 ·Qwest.net
| reply to opterongeek
Another one of the problems could be one of your phone line filters. How many do you have attached? This could cause a weaker signal especially since you said it happened when you were on the phone one time. One of them could also have become faulty over time and cause interference.
Or... it could be the 2wire. I've got one as a back-up and have a bad opinion of mine as well. Many have good experiences with them though, so idk.
Best of luck. |
|
questionable
join:2005-10-18
Phoenix, AZ | reply to opterongeek
my 2700 and my 1701 have never had issues I've had dsl since 98 ish various others and so far the dsl works great |
|
opterongeek
join:2004-06-21
Colorado Springs, CO
edit:
June 26th, @04:48PM
| reply to D1sclaimer
Well, here's an update...
I let them send another tech out, and it turned out to be the same guy who installed my POP filter/bridge outside. He tested the lines again, and we noticed a problem with either a magnetic distortion building up in the line (which was isolated to be my old 1524 modem) or something else was amiss. He replaced my refurb modem (the one qwest sent me a few weeks ago) with a new one, and I have to say, ever since the visit, I've been online. But this is how it has always gone. Right when I get my hopes up, the connection starts experiencing problems.
I had an outstanding ticket in to comcast to have them install HSD in my house yesterday, and I'm already regretting that decision to follow through. It was nice once it got running, but I noticed today that I'm down to 50 KB/sec downloads and web pages aren't loading quickly - even after a reboot of the hardware attached.
I did a side by side of my cable and my DSL, and it was sickening. I tested with several different sites and downloading big files - the cable would accelerate and decelerate to a max of 100 KB/sec whereas the DSL would not only start higher, but stay higher - hitting mighty G's of around 500-600 KB/sec. When the cable was working properly yesterday, I was hitting 950 KB/sec (8 meg plan with speedboost). I was downloading from the same site and was still having better luck on the DSL.
Everyone else here at home noticed a drop in performance when I switched everything to the cable as well, the DSL is just far superior for us over here.
So, hoping that the DSL stays online and that my problems are gone for now, I'm taking the cable modem back to the local Comcast office and giving up on that pony.
I just wish I could do something about my anemic upload. 864 Kilobits compared to the 2 megabits that Comcast was giving me (which never faltered by the way) was just too nice for words.
Edit - forgot to mention, the tech gave me his pager number for future issues with the connection. I believe his name is Mike?
Thus ends this saga... thanks for the feedback everyone. |
|
opterongeek
join:2004-06-21
Colorado Springs, CO
| STILL having problems. Have the pager number for a local tech (Mike) and have had him out countless times. He's installed the filter bridge in the grey box outside, I've had him look at the line quality inside the house (he even mentioned that he didn't charge us for it). I've had the modem replaced three times, this last time was a brand new one (not a refurb unit!) three weeks ago, and it
STILL
DROPS
ME
EVERY
5 GODDAMN
MINUTES
I've been told that the port I'm on is too crowded and that they would need to move me over to another one, and that a tech dispatch would be necessary, so I'm expecting another tech tomorrow sometime between 8 and noon.
Guys, at what point here do they fix this problem? I rely on this for work, and it's not reliable at all. I signed up when DSL was first available out here a few years ago, I've had the DSL for at least 3, maybe 5 years - before this past 15 months, the connection was ALWAYS online, ALWAYS stable, and the only time it dropped off was when the power went out (duh).
I'm going to write a very nasty letter to corporate as soon as I post this, and I'm going to be calling the billing center monday and requesting a full refund on my DSL line. I don't care if it's not the full amount, but it's about time Qwest realized that they can't charge me for a line that is never working more than 50% of the time. Just while typing this, I've seen the DSL light on my modem go out three times. I type at 72 WPM. Do the math.
What else can I do besides calling support every time I have an issue, and bugging poor Mike? I doubt the corporate letter will get me anywhere, and even more laughable is the fact that somehow I expect them to refund my money for the time lost here.
Cable is not a viable option, it is too cost probhibitive. |
|
mrhuggles
join:2007-03-29
Ames, IA | find someone with a name brand modem and ask if you can borrow it |
|
wingman99
join:2003-12-18
Bettendorf, IA
·Qwest.net
edit:
July 26th, @11:39PM
| reply to opterongeek
best bet is to get them to do the things on this list, if thay can't find a problem
possibility's
DSL Home run.
Switch to a different port at the Dslam.
Line cut, to a different pair of phone wires to the DSLAM.
Also switch to a different line card, that one did it for me.
Change pot spliter.
Different modem.
That's the list of what can be done.
Usually they don't do all that, they just lower your speed.
Get them to do the things on the list and it will be fixed. |
|
opterongeek
join:2004-06-21
Colorado Springs, CO | We've done all of that except for the DSL Home Run. However, seeing as how I'm now connected directly to the grey box outside and I'm still having issues... |
|
viperlmw
Premium
join:2005-01-25
·Qwest.net
| A couple of questions:
Last you mentioned about your 1524 was it was causing "a magnetic distortion building up in the line (which was isolated to be my old 1524 modem)". Ok, I'm no super guru, but WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? A MAGNETIC DISTORTION BUILDING UP? I'm sorry, but I have never heard of that, and I've been around for a while. I don't even know what type of test gear a telco tech would have that could measure something like that. I would sure appreciate some educatin' about how an Actiontec 1524 could do that. In the mean time, if you plug it back in, does it work?
You mention you were cut to a different pair. Was there any difference in performance? Are you on a straight pair from the DSLAM, or is there a cross-box in between, and if so, was that other pair cut? Is there a Build Out Capacitor (BOC) anywhere? Ask the tech if they can do a 196khz stress test, or a 'Resistive Fault Locate'. Is there any sort of hum on your line (even listen amplified with a speakerphone). Any sort of a hum indicates trouble. Your line should be 'slick and clean'. Are there any large intermittent electrical loads on the cable route (large pumps, sawmill, etc.)?
FWIW, an oversubscribed DSLAM will not cause DSL train issues. The Physical layer and layer 1 are unaffected by over subscription.
BTW, post all your stats.
Good luck. |
|
mrhuggles
join:2007-03-29
Ames, IA
| reply to opterongeek
reiteration: name brand modem to try, also try augmenting the grounding!
if you have access the best way is to run a wire from the devices ground to literly the ground like a nail with the wire wrapped around it and stuck into the ground, it sounds retarded if u dont know about it but honestly, try it.
as far as magnetic distortion, thats silly, thats their way of saying something is building up and they dont know enough to know wtf is going on, its like static electricity, or something like that, magnetic things are static, like a magnet can make a magnetic field, or moving electricity, but moving electricity doesnt build up, static electricity can tho, or like also maybe you have some noise on the line like from someone elses DSL modem bleeding over, then the 2 modems are trying to get over the top of eachother, that would do that sorta thing too, but grounding might fix that too :P
im not sure that can happen with dsl, i know it could with dialup tho. |
|
opterongeek
join:2004-06-21
Colorado Springs, CO
| reply to viperlmw
DSL Connection Details
DSL Line (Wire Pair): Line 1 (inner pair)
Protocol: T1.413
Downstream Rate: 3072 kbps
Upstream Rate: 640 kbps
Channel: Interleaved
Current Noise Margin: 17.0 dB (Downstream), 16.0 dB (Upstream)
Current Attenuation: 23.4 dB (Downstream), 16.0 dB (Upstream)
Current Output Power: 5.9 dBm (Downstream), 9.3 dBm (Upstream)
DSLAM Vendor Information: Id: {39} Rev: {0x07} Std: {0x01}
PVC Info: 0/32 |
|
viperlmw
Premium
join:2005-01-25
·Qwest.net
| How's it been running lately? Those stats look about the same as mine, I also have 3 meg service. My connection is rock solid. It might also be interesting to see the error stats. Does the 'Noise Margin' fluctuate? If it gets much lower than 10db, it's in trouble. BTW, how does the phone sound? Any hum or clicking (impulse noise)?
LOL |
|
hurley1904
join:2008-07-06 | reply to opterongeek
did you get this fixed, i was hoping to see what the solution to this is. |
|
Pashune
Your average, anemic person.
Premium
join:2006-04-14
Gautier, MS
 ·CableOne
·AT&T Southeast
edit:
September 2nd, @07:24PM
| I'd give this a try. Though you have Qwest, all general DSL systems operate the same. Try checking for interference (light dimmers, ungrounded wires, etc.) Interference can also come from a neighbor's home nearby (Though less common, it can still happen)
»Ameritech - SBC FAQ »My DSL loses sync regularly. How can I detect interference with an AM Radio?
This can happen even when you have a direct run to the NID. |
|
