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rtm330
join:2001-09-13
Dayton, OH | Connection buffoonery in Dayton Zoomtown at (allegedly) 5Mbps for the last year. Nine years of Ameriyuck/ATT/Yahoo/SBC before that. Not new to DSL at all.
Two days ago, I noticed a problem with Youtube buffering. Thought nothing of it.
Yesterday, I can't get a reliable connection. I get a browser window up, and run a speed test at speakeasy.net. Speed varies between 1 and 2MBps. very inconsistent.
I haven't messed with the physical plant (Westell 6100 modem, Linksys WRT350N and all the wiring) in months. We haven't had rain here in three weeks, let alone lightning strikes. No chance of that. So I call Zoomtown service. Go thru the standard steps, recycle the modem, recycle the router, no difference. No help at all, in fact.
Later, I try and pull some newsgroup headers ... and the connection appears to stay alive for a few seconds, and then dies for awhile, and then comes back. I then remember that I can log into the Westell, and I do so.
What I find disturbs me. Router shows as being set for 4000 / 768. 1000 lower than it should be. More disturbingly, it comes on for 10 seconds or so, and then recycles for 30-45 seconds. Not consistent in terms of times, but consistent in terms of behavior. I decided to let things lie overnight.
This morning I broke out the backup gear. I changed DSL filters (I'm on a single filter -- for the past 10 years with no failures [!] -- in the NID) to no effect -- same behavior.
I broke out the steam-driven Westell Wirespeed dating from my original installation of Ameriyuck 10 years ago. I ran tests when I first got Zoomtown, and found that I lost a little more on the top end with the Wirespeed than I did with the 6100 -- difference was a top out at 480ish KBps with the Wirespeed versus about 520-530 with the 6100. Which has been the setup for awhile.
Anyhow, I put the Wirespeed in the line, and lo and behold, we now have sort of reliable DSL again.
Now, the really screwy part. A couple speed tests show inconsistent nums between 109KBps and 183 KBps down. But, when I pull newsgroup headers (6 threads going), I can get up to 345 KBps.
BOTTOM LINE: My Westell 6100 doesn't work right,a nd I think its broken. Second, I think they've capped me.
Does the forum know a guaranteed way to get to a Level 2 tech? In the Ameritech "Funhouse", they had a service called SBC direct, that got you in with a tech who could solve problems beyond: "recycle your modem" and "I can't do anything". | |
rtm330
join:2001-09-13
Dayton, OH | And here's an update.
The neighbors are dialed back to 4032 down as well. Bye-bye 5Mbps.
So I start the rehearsals for tomorrow morning: "And it's such a shame that you dialed Zoomtown back to 4Mbps, because it really was working great at 5Mbps. And just before I was considering changing my wireless plans or to switch from Time Warner ... let's see, where was that number for Uverse again ... "
rtm330 | |
qnadad
join:2004-05-30
Covington, KY | reply to rtm330
Here is a guarenteed way to get a level 2 tech.
Call tech support and go through the hoops.
When / if that fails to fix it, ask to be escalated.
Voila. Level 2 tech. | |
rtm330
join:2001-09-13
Dayton, OH | Thanks qnadad.
When I called the next day, I b!tched my way to a level 2 tech. Who acknowledged ... nothing. She was kind enough to input a 4500 setting on her end that totally fouled the connection. I find it hard to believe any surprised explanation they might provide as to why after 11 months at rock-freaking-solid 5000, my connection, along with two others in my general vicinity needed to be dialed back. Other Zoomtown friends in other regions are not capped, but in my neck of the woods ... we are.
And whenever I pop in that Westell 6100, the connection goes to sh!te. Using the 10 year old Wirespeed, at least it gets to 4000ish speed.
I'm still annoyed. If you're reading this out there Cinbell, take heart that I'm telling all my friends that you have no problem with lowering the service speed as you see fit ... not only without telling the consumers, but also denying that it ever happened in the first place. | | |
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