RgrRamjet
join:2009-02-17
San Diego, CA
|  Need a line check if possible - new wiring.
Hi All, After years of having excellent DSL service and upgrading to the 6Mb/768 service I now have, I've been periodically experiencing drop outs. What i mean is that the sync light will go out, reset indicating it's resyncing the line, and then sometimes it will take more than ten minutes to sync back up. Most of the time, my line tests at full speed but periodically it's been getting worse. BTW I had the Telco out about 6 months to look at the issue after going through Tier 2 but all that was done is they dropped off a new DSL modem and reconnected the phone pair backwards at my NID. Things appeared to improve after I straightened out the wiring the next afternoon but, it's been getting worse. So, I finally ran my own CAT 6 line from the NID to a whole house DSL filter, and then ran a new CAT 6 line from the DSL filter to my computer room where the DSL modem is. I also reconnected the house wiring to the "Phone" output on the DSL filter so the phone still works as it should. So far I'm very pleased and the line at the moment is very solid. No more static on the phone when I had it all on the old house wiring (which I found out was a bunch of patches and really crappy wiring).
I'm an IT professional and I recently was downloading new OS's from my Technet Plus subscription and I could hardly get a 2GB file to come accross in a matter of days. I can now do it in less then a couple of hours. Let me know if you can take a look at my line just to see what the numbers are coming back.
Thanks, RgrRamjet  |
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dslx_gm
Premium,VIP
join:2002-12-26
Winnetka, CA | Please feel free to send me a PM with your DSL Extreme account info. I would be happy to run your current line readings for you.
Thanks |
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RgrRamjet
join:2009-02-17
San Diego, CA
| I just Pm'd my account info. Thanks for checking my line.
BTW I have just been experiencing the same drop outs and my DSL modem has just lost synch and reset a couple of times. This is getting frustrating. Now my bandwidth has been reduced upon the last re-synch. I'm only getting 2.3Mb/380K instead of the 5.1Mb/651 I'm used to. Looks like I might have make a permanent change soon. :-( |
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dslx_gm
Premium,VIP
join:2002-12-26
Winnetka, CA
| Your current line readings are below. I show you in sync at the full 6000/678. Your line readings to still look a bit marginal. Hopefully the line will remain steady there.
DN STREAM SPEED The line is running at the maximum bit rate of 6016 kbps.
UP STREAM SPEED The line is running at 576 kbps, which is 25% below the maximum bit rate of 768 kbps.
DN STREAM S/N The line noise margin is 10.0dB, which is above the target noise margin of 6.0dB.
UP STREAM S/N The line noise margin is 11.0dB, which is above the target noise margin of 6.0dB.
DN STREAM POWER The line power is at the maximum of 20.0dBm.
UP STREAM POWER The line power is 12.0dBm, which is below the maximum of 13.0dBm.
--
George
General Manager
DSL Extreme
Will work for reviews.  |
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RgrRamjet
join:2009-02-17
San Diego, CA
| Thanks George! I appreciate the quick turn around and as always the technical response from DSLX has been outstanding. Now I have to decide if DSL is the way to go for me. These numbers indicate that noise is a factor on my line and i might never be able to mitigate it. If so, it's time to think about my alternatives. I've been paying a premium price because i think good service is worth paying a little extra for and so far the bandwidth provided has been very good. However, if i can barely maintain a 6Mb signal then maybe it's time to make AT&T prove my line is OK by moving to their offering.
Trust me, I don't want to do that but I'm also not going to continue to pay a premium price for a substandard delivered service. I'm not blaming DSLX but if I can't get reliable service due to bad lines then there isn't anything anyone can do about it. Reducing my service speed is not an option for me. In fact, I'll be looking at methods of getting faster service whether cable or UVerse or what ever.
I'm sure you understand. Thanks again. |
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dslx_gm
Premium,VIP
join:2002-12-26
Winnetka, CA
1 edit | Have you spoke with our support team regarding it lately or have we had a ticket open with AT&T to test the line? I would at least recommend that first.
Thanks |
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RgrRamjet
join:2009-02-17
San Diego, CA
|  Well, I might give it one more try tomorrow. Today, the drop outs have been so bad I'm this close to canceling my account. At the moment my line will only sync to 3MB/500K and this is, once again, unacceptable for what I'm paying. So here is what I'm going to do. I'm going to punch a 24" piece of cat6 wire through my house wall and connect it directly to the dsl modem. (I will not even bother hooking up the DSL filter or a phone on the line.) Then I'll run a brand new CAT 6 line from the dsl modem to my router (about 35 ft.) Then I'll call support and have them open a ticket with AT&T. If anyone even thinks of trying to tell my I have bad wiring in my house I will drop this account like a hot potato. Then I'll call UVerse and tell them to sign me up for the same bandwidth I know I should be able to get with DSLX. If I have to do this, I'll bet that the UVerse system will not drop out like the DSLX signal is. Yes, just for clarification, my DSL modem loses sync, flashes red, then flashes green and then comes on solid green like normal, and then with in minutes it will do it again. Houston, you have a problem! |
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RgrRamjet
join:2009-02-17
San Diego, CA
| One last note. So from the time the Football game ended (Chargers vs: Giants) my internet connection has been basically useless. Know it's dinner time on Sunday, and finally I'm getting 5.1Mb/ 650Kb DSL test again and the connection appears to be pretty stable for the moment. Coincidence, I think not. |
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RgrRamjet
join:2009-02-17
San Diego, CA
| Hi George, If you get a minute to re-run a line check on my connection I'd appreciate it. I now have about 4 ft of twisted pair (Cat 5 spec) running from the NID at my house directly to the DSL modem. No DSL filters or phones connected at this point. I then purchased some CAT 6 connectors so i could build a proper CAT 6 cable from the DSL modem directly to my router / fire wall. At the moment the signal is again stable and no drop outs. Earlier today before I made these changes, it wasn't so good. At about 2:30PM to 3PM (when the local schools get out) I once again could not maintain a sync on my one year old Motorola ADSL modem. If things still look marginal, I'll call support and have them make a call to AT&T. If the problem does not clear up, and believe me I really want it too, then I'll have no choice but to get a different provider. BTW Even if things do check better, I'm eventually going to have to run the POTS wire back in the wall so i don't have a cable sticking out in the middle of my living room. For now I'm really trying to prove that this will work, and that if it doesn't, it won't be because of my physical wiring or premises. Thanks. |
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dslx_gm
Premium,VIP
join:2002-12-26
Winnetka, CA
| Your current line readings are below. They look a bit better than before. Hoping it will remain stable. If not let's definitely open a ticket with AT&T to have a Telco technician come out to the location and test the line.
DN STREAM SPEED The line is running at the maximum bit rate of 6016 kbps.
UP STREAM SPEED The line is running at the maximum bit rate of 768 kbps.
DN STREAM S/N The line noise margin is 11.0dB, which is above the target noise margin of 6.0dB.
UP STREAM S/N The line noise margin is 11.0dB, which is above the target noise margin of 6.0dB.
DN STREAM POWER The line power is 17.0dBm, which is below the maximum of 20.0dBm.
UP STREAM POWER The line power is 12.0dBm, which is below the maximum of 13.0dBm.
--
George
General Manager
DSL Extreme
Will work for reviews. |
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RgrRamjet
join:2009-02-17
San Diego, CA
| Thanks for the check George. I knew you were out so i didn't expect a reply so soon. This is why i want to remain a DSLX customer. BTW I called tier 1 today about 10AM when the problem was once again causing problems. They are sending a new modem and I'll have it tomorrow. At the moment the sync is stable and the line is quiet but I'm only getting 3Mb download but still 651Kb upload on the speed test. I should be getting 5.1Mb download with out any line issues. I hope someone didn't cap my service.
Thanks again. |
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RgrRamjet
join:2009-02-17
San Diego, CA
| Hi All, The new D-Link DSL modem arrived today and is now in place. This would normally be a good thing but i think someone at tech support is trying to pull a fast one. I checked my line speed both before and after the modem swap and it really looks like someone has changed my service and that it is now capped. I'll let the line settle and the modem adapt first but if I find my service has been capped to fix this problem, (with out letting me know first) then someone should be getting a pink slip. I'm paying for "high speed" DSL not rate limited DSL at the moment. I'll wait a couple of hours and then report back. |
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dslx_gm
Premium,VIP
join:2002-12-26
Winnetka, CA
| Just checked your current line reading and am showing you in sync at the full rate.
DN STREAM SPEED The line is running at the maximum bit rate of 6016 kbps.
UP STREAM SPEED The line is running at the maximum bit rate of 768 kbps.
DN STREAM S/N The line noise margin is 16.0dB, which is above the target noise margin of 6.0dB.
UP STREAM S/N The line noise margin is 12.0dB, which is above the target noise margin of 6.0dB.
DN STREAM POWER The line power is 18.0dBm, which is below the maximum of 20.0dBm.
UP STREAM POWER The line power is 12.0dBm, which is below the maximum of 13.0dBm.
--
George
General Manager
DSL Extreme
Will work for reviews. |
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RgrRamjet
join:2009-02-17
San Diego, CA
| Thanks George. Things do look better in these numbers. However, I'm still loosing about a full 1Mb of download speed which indicates to me that someone has changed my rollout package. I just updated ticket 3750013 with additional info. I sure hope this can be fixed. Tech support is due to call me at any time to get an update after the modem swap. |
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RgrRamjet
join:2009-02-17
San Diego, CA
| It's been a couple of hours and at the moment I'm back to full speed and the line appears to be completely stable. I'll keep and eye on it and report if anything changes but it looks like things are working just as they should. I'll give it a few days just to check it out and then by this weekend I'll be putting my CAT 6 wiring back in the wall where it belongs. Well done DSLX! |
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RgrRamjet
join:2009-02-17
San Diego, CA
| Ok, I wrote too soon. I was just on the phone with TIER 1 and they were following up on my notes about connecting the new modem. They wanted top know if i turned off or disconnected the modem since they couldn't see it. I looked at the modem and sure enough, lost sync and continual recycle until it finally synced again. They are opening a ticket with AT&T and will call back with the details. Since i have a 4 ft wire connected directly from the NID to the modem, they will finally take a look at the AT&T side of the problem. It took about 20 minutes for the modem to finally sync so i could update this post. |
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RgrRamjet
join:2009-02-17
San Diego, CA
| Hi All, hope you're feeling better George. I just had my appointment with the AT&T line tech and he indicated that by monitoring the line from the Street Junction box back to the CO he saw intermittent swings of up to 60dbm noise swing on that line. He told me that the AT&T spec limit indicated that they only allow +20dbm to -20dbm. He changed my line from the junction box to the Co and just to be sure put me on a different pair running from the street Peg (25 pair) to the junction box or "B Box" as he called it. Now having said all of the above, today was a perfect day for them to see the problem since the local high school got out early and right on queue, i started loosing sync just before the Tech arrived at the junction box. As soon I saw my line drop out, I walked to the front yard and saw that he was working the issue just 200 ft. down the street. So if you get a chance to run one more line check for me so i have a new baseline reading, I'd appreciate it. Thanks. |
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dslx_gm
Premium,VIP
join:2002-12-26
Winnetka, CA
| Thanks for the update. Glad AT&T was able to assist. Your current line readings are below.
DN STREAM SPEED The line is running at the maximum bit rate of 6016 kbps.
UP STREAM SPEED The line is running at the maximum bit rate of 768 kbps.
DN STREAM S/N The line noise margin is 16.0dB, which is above the target noise margin of 6.0dB.
UP STREAM S/N The line noise margin is 12.0dB, which is above the target noise margin of 6.0dB.
DN STREAM POWER The line power is 17.0dBm, which is below the maximum of 20.0dBm.
UP STREAM POWER The line power is 12.0dBm, which is below the maximum of 13.0dBm.
--
George
General Manager
DSL Extreme
Will work for reviews. |
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RgrRamjet
join:2009-02-17
San Diego, CA
| reply to RgrRamjet
Just wanted to add a closing post to this thread. I've been monitoring my DSL connection and now that the line is repaired, I finally have a completely stable and full speed connection with no sync drops. BTW I like the DSL modem the DSLX sent me better than the one that AT&T dropped off over 9 months ago as well. So I'm happy camper and life is good again. Thanks to everyone for the support. |
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dslx_gm
Premium,VIP
join:2002-12-26
Winnetka, CA | Awesome! Glad to hear that it is working well for you and that AT&T was able to find and resolve the issue fully. |
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