Sonnie
join:2010-12-11
Luverne, AL | [CenturyTel] Poor Line Attenuation We have had Centurylink DSL (no phone service, just Internet) for several years now and about a year or so ago they raised their minimum DSL package to 1.5Mbps... where it was previously 765Kb (or something close). When we were on 765Kb we were actually only getting about 4-500Kb. Once they started offering higher speeds and we increased to 1.5Mb we started getting 1.5Mb, but we also started getting a lot of timeouts.
When they first contacted us they told us we could upgrade to a 3Mb and we jumped on it. We could not stay connected for more than a few minutes and it timed out. They told us then that because we were on the edge (about 3.6 miles out) that our line attenuation was high and we would not be able to keep the 3Mb plan and would have to drop to 1.5Mb. While this did make the timeouts less frequent they are still consistent, about 2-3 per hour and requires either a 5-10 minute wait or a restart of the modem
I wish we could find where the limit is to prevent any timeouts and set it there, but I am told there are only two choices, 1.5Mb or 3Mb.
As stated, we have DSL only, no phone service. From the box outside I have a Cat5 line run to a terminal block inside. From there I have one end of a phone line connected to the terminal and the other end plugged into the Westell modem. I have tried running another line, using a jack, etc, etc, to no avail.
Is there anything I may be missing or anything else I might could try to improve the timeouts?
Is there any hope that one day CenturyLink can improve line attenuation or is there anything we can purchase at a reasonable price to improve it?
It hurts to pay 50 something dollars every month for sub par service. Maybe they should charge based on line attenuation... giving those with higher attenuation a little bit of a break because we are not getting the same service as others.
I am looking for anything... hope... or perhaps it is all just wishful thinking.
Thanks,
Sonnie |
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Sonnie
join:2010-12-11
Luverne, AL | I meant to include our stats:
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 billaustinthey call me Mr. BillPremium,MVM
join:2001-10-13
North Las Vegas, NV
kudos:3 | Connect the modem to the test jack at the NID using a short (6ft or less) cord, and check the line stats again. The distance from the CO is your main problem, but you also need to check for any possible issues with your inside wiring.
There is not really anything you can do to improve your connection, other than moving closer to town. If there is a Best Buy within a reasonable distance, you could try a newer modem. They have an Actiontec C1000A in CenturyLink packaging for $99. If it doesn't help the connection, return the modem for a refund. |
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Sonnie
join:2010-12-11
Luverne, AL | Thanks Bill... I will check the stats at the box and make sure we are good there... and will also try out that modem. Anything is worth a try. |
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 NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9
 ·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| reply to Sonnie
You are ~3.6 wire miles from the DSLAM? That is ~19,000 ft! Attenuation is roughly a measure of the wire distance: Higher means a longer loop. Under those conditions, AT&T would only provision at 768k/384k.
The only hope for improving your attenuation is that CenturyLink deploys a remote terminal closer to you, which will shorten the wire distance.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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Sonnie
join:2010-12-11
Luverne, AL | Yep... somewhere between 3.5 and 3.7, depending on how the line runs from there to here. A technician was suppose to come out Friday and double check things outside, but I never heard from them. I stayed home from the office until noon, which was the end of the time frame they were suppose to be here. I am guessing they may have shown up because from yesterday evening when we got home until now the margin has been running from 8.8 to 9.4, which is about as high as I have ever seen it. It could merely be a coincidence. I asked that they call me when they were on their way or at the house, but never heard from them, so just not sure if they showed or now. I haven't heard from CenturyLink either.
How much does a remote terminal cost (installed)... any idea? |
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NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9 Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| said by Sonnie:How much does a remote terminal cost (installed)... any idea?
No clue. The ones I have seen are powered cabinets on concrete pads. I am sure they require permits from whichever agency handles building permits for a given locality. Plus coordination with the electric utility to run wires to the cabinet; and, eventually, to light it up.
Even more if they have to go underground with a Controlled Environment Vault (CEV).
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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| reply to Sonnie
get rid of that westell modem sonnie i used to have the same one and it gave me bad line stats. with the westell modem i was getting about 8db noise margin i switched to a zyxel and my noise margin went up to 15 along with a lower attenuation i also live pretty far away from the telco and ive noticed that the best modem to give me good line stats is the zyxel 660 but if your gunna use that you would need your own router |
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| reply to Sonnie
Hi Sonnie. Joey with CenturyLink here. Sorry that you're having ongoing issues. Our team is happy to look into the trouble you're having with your DSL. Send us your information and reference this post to TalkToUs@CenturyLink.com. Thank you.
Joey H
@CenturyLinkHelp Team
TalkToUs@CenturyLink.com |
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Sonnie
join:2010-12-11
Luverne, AL | reply to codyyy
I ordered the Actiontec C1000A and got it in today. I will try that and see what happens. If it does not improve things, I may try that Zyxel 660. I have a Linksys E4200 router already. |
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Sonnie
join:2010-12-11
Luverne, AL | reply to CenturyLink
Hi Joey...
I will shoot you an email. Thanks! |
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Sonnie
join:2010-12-11
Luverne, AL | reply to Sonnie
Well I swapped out the modem and gave the Actiontec a try. Does not look too favorable to me... nothing improved and the speeds got a lot worse.
Westell results prior to disconnecting it are show first.
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billaustinthey call me Mr. BillPremium,MVM
join:2001-10-13
North Las Vegas, NV
kudos:3 | Have you checked the line stats with the modem connected directly to the test jack at the NID? |
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Sonnie
join:2010-12-11
Luverne, AL | I have not, but will shortly.
What I have found is that while the speeds are much slower and pages load a good bit slower most of the time, there have been no timeouts... and it's been 2.5 hours (solid Internet use since I installed it - about to take a break). Usually I would have already been so aggravated with timeouts that I would have switched over to our satellite connection. |
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Sonnie
join:2010-12-11
Luverne, AL | reply to Sonnie
I fixed up a testing session outside... power, laptop, new phone line from the Actiontec C1000A kit, Ethernet cable, and both the Westell and Actiontec modems.
Here is what I got from each modem by connecting them with the new phone line directly into the NID outlet.
No improvement from inside... and if anything the C1000A is slightly worse.
My parents are right next door... the distance from the Centurylink box at the road to their house is about the same as it is to our house. I had her check her DSL stats and they are getting 61 dB line attenuation with an 8.5 dB Margin... yet their speeds are only 608Kbps. I know I have checked their speeds before and got 1.5Mbps, so I am not sure what is going on right now. Anyway... I can go down there and not ever get a timeout using their DSL.
It seems the timeouts might be better with a slower speed. Does CenturyLink have some way to cap the speed limit to say 1.0Mbps and let me test the timeouts? |
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billaustinthey call me Mr. BillPremium,MVM
join:2001-10-13
North Las Vegas, NV
kudos:3 | Checking outside helps to eliminate your inside wiring as an issue. Your problem is distance. If you can get then to provision your line for a little slower download speed, it should help a lot.
Send a message to Joey at CenturyLink. He has been very helpful when I have had issues in the past with my line. Reference this thread (he posted in it), and provide the DSL number and other details. |
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Sonnie
join:2010-12-11
Luverne, AL | Yes... I have been in contact with Joey and in hopes they can help in some way.
He said I was showing 14,000 feet in distance, which is only 2.65 miles. |
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billaustinthey call me Mr. BillPremium,MVM
join:2001-10-13
North Las Vegas, NV
kudos:3 | You are quite a ways out, but should be able to pull 1.5 down. The condition of the copper wire, and the number and quality of splice points, can greatly affect the ability of the DSL signal to pass over the wire.
Hopefully, they can get you a steady, stable connection. I know Joey will do whatever he can to help. |
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| reply to Sonnie
said by Sonnie:Yes... I have been in contact with Joey and in hopes they can help in some way.
He said I was showing 14,000 feet in distance, which is only 2.65 miles.
you might have a wiring problem between you and the telco i live about 2.50miles away from the telco and i get a pretty steady connection at 4megs but it differs from different places |
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