US Telco Support → FairPoint > [speed/latency] DSL congestion

[speed/latency] DSL congestion

Ever since this Monday every day from 11:00- 3:00 and even times later at night my modem Westell 7500 has issues.

Here is what I noticed.

1. DSL light flashes really fast then disconnects and says please connect a DSL line.

2. DSL disconnects and reboots and terrible speeds with 100-200 jitter and high ping, See pic
»www.speedtest.net/result/2683968067.png
»www.pingtest.net/result/80590105.png

I just had fairpoint here to take a look and my connection was absolutely terrible so what he did was disconnect and reconnect now the speeds are normal how ever he did tell me there is congestion in the town that may be causing the bad performance issues.

Fairpoint tech also told me that my connection is so good it is rated at 7.9Mbps how ever the highest stable connection is 6mbps to 6.5mbps but fairpoint only has plans for 3, 7, 10 and 15.

Sigh Why can't I get 6? How come the public can't have the highest stable plan and just pay more money? Heck I'll pay for the 7 package just to get any thing faster then 280-305 kylobytes a second.

Pings on Fairpoint DSL has been a terrible experience for me with netflix constantly buffering or game pings on world of warcraft, Battlefield 3 100-200 all the time.

How can one reduce ping in my games and have net netflix not buffer every 5 seconds?

I am the only one using my DSL 90% of the time how ever I do have a Netgear hub connected to it via Ethernet cord with 3 computers, 1 blue ray and 1 360 connected via the hub and 1 blue ray and 1 xbox connected via Ethernet to the router.

Sure that may seam like a lot but at any giving time only one device is active

At your speed first hop latency ought to be in the 25-35ms range. Exact value is a function of speed and interleave. Try running a traceroute (tracert in Windows) to stable sites like this one in good times and bad.

Horrible latency is typically an indication of congestion within the ISP network, not of the DSL connection itself. Latency should increase with distance and hop count, sudden unexplained increase in latency typically indicates congestion at that hop or previous.

I no longer have FairPoint DSL but this should give you an idea as to what to expect.

Tracing route to dslreports.com [209.123.109.175] over a maximum of 30 hops:
 
  1    <1 ms    <1 ms    <1 ms  192.168.2.1
  2    35 ms    35 ms    35 ms  xx.milford1-1.nh.g4.net [66.211.144.97]
  3    36 ms    35 ms    35 ms  gi-3-1.nashua1-1.nh.G4.net [216.177.5.178]
  4    37 ms    37 ms    36 ms  ge-24-v108.merrimack3-1.nh.G4.net [216.177.5.150]
  5    38 ms    36 ms    37 ms  gi-21-v358.manchester3-1.nh.G4.net [216.177.30.153]
  6    36 ms    35 ms    35 ms  gi-0-0-0-0-357.manchester1-9.nh.G4.net [216.177.5.137]
  7    38 ms    38 ms    38 ms  ge-7-20-247.car1.Boston1.Level3.net [4.53.48.17]
  8    66 ms    38 ms    38 ms  ae-2-7.bar1.Boston1.Level3.net [4.69.132.242]
  9     *       38 ms    39 ms  ae-0-11.bar2.Boston1.Level3.net [4.69.140.90]
 10    44 ms    43 ms    43 ms  ae-8-8.ebr1.NewYork1.Level3.net [4.69.140.98]
 11    44 ms    43 ms    43 ms  ae-2-2.ebr1.Newark1.Level3.net [4.69.132.98]
 12    43 ms    43 ms    43 ms  ae-11-51.car1.Newark1.Level3.net [4.69.156.5]
 13    44 ms    43 ms    44 ms  NETCCESS.car1.Newark1.Level3.net [4.26.16.186]
 14    45 ms    44 ms    44 ms  0.e3-3.tbr2.mmu.nac.net [209.123.11.77]
 15    44 ms    44 ms    44 ms  0.e1-1.tbr2.oct.nac.net [209.123.10.21]
 16    44 ms    44 ms    44 ms  vlan808.esd1.oct.nac.net [209.123.10.42]
 17    44 ms    44 ms    43 ms  www.dslreports.com [209.123.109.175]
 
Trace complete.
 

apparently it is not showing my trace route, going to reply again.

Copy and paste from the command window requires first to right click on the window to get a menu, then select, "Mark"; then you left click and drag to select the area you want to copy:

Copying from a command window.

Ping statistics for 2001:470:1f04:448::1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 24ms, Maximum = 25ms, Average = 24ms
 

Due to how frustrating and not reliable fairpoint DSL is I decided to contact time Warner cable and they assured me I will be on the reserve list to have 50mbps cable line installed.

One thing that is bugging me is how can they assure me any thing if there is no cable lines on the poles? My father told me that the last cable owner grassy roots went out of business and cut all the lines down.

I decided to double check so I gave the rep my info again and she said the same thing yes you can get it and you will be on the reservation list.

So I assume I can't get it right now but it is on the way?
I will make the switch if I can really get 50mbps because then I can live stream my my gameplay online while I can't do that with DSL.

Latency at the FairPoint edge router (hop 2) is higher then expected but not horrific. ADSL is transported over ATM so everything from your router to the ISP edge router is invisible to IP.

Do another traceroute when things are really bad. I'm betting the latency at the ISP edge router will be much higher than 50ms.

If so your tech was correct FairPoint has a congestion problem backhauling traffic from your DSLAM, probably the entire Central Office.

/tom

Yeah I'll do a test when it gets really bad.

What do you think about Time warner cable tom?

I am thinking about making the switch because of what they keep telling me they service my area.

The largest problem I have with DSL is I am so far away from the Dslam that I am stuck on my 3mbps connection with no other speed available to me.

Time Warner Cable gives me other options with 50mbps that to me in its own right justifies the switch.

How ever there Is no cable lines on the poles from what my dad says so I just don't know at the moment.

I can't even find any relevant information online that would tell me if or when they are expanding to my area so I am very clueless

What town do you live in?

...if you don't have a cable line on the pole then chances are slim to none of you getting it any time soon.
I remember some vauge numbers, 150/foot of cable in the air for twc to install it on a 'new' build out.

I live in Chesterville on the Dutch Gap.

TWC is out right now checking the lines and the rep said most likely they are going to expand in your area.

They said I was in the service area and should have been serviced to begin with how ever my road was unknown to them.

There's a few residents on my road that want to switch if they do bring it because we are all just tired of the terrible service from Fairpoint

I went from FairPoint to TWC, almost 2 years now, no issues, fast.

I wish you the best, but I would not hold your breath. Do any of your neighbors have cable tv?

None on my street has cable but they do three miles away. In either direction.

We had grassy roots cable for a while until grassy roots went out of business and some one just took the cable lines down a few years ago.

if my maths are accurate..it's ~1500.00 per span to run cable.
100 feet = 1 span (I actually think it's closer to 1500/foot)
3 miles is way over price. I don't think twc will be there anytime soon.

DSL service is actually a cool technology. The DSL service runs on the same lines as your phone call does, just at a higher frequency. This is what determines your speeds. How close you are to the local POP (generally a brick building tan on the busy street in town), is the biggest limiter in the speed packages.

From your local POP to the central office then to portland and internet is all shared, if you are having an issue in this area then chances are very high other people are having the same problem.

I would suggest keep calling FP, request credit if you can get it, and ask for a time frame of resolution.

Fairpoint offered me point to point Internet a unique plan.

They said they will work out the details with a line specialist if I can even get point to point. He was telling me if I want the basic plan is 10mbps down 1mbps up for $100 but the price is a guess and he needs to ask about it.

If that is the correct price that is just to high. I'll gladly pay a max of $70 for Internet with around 20mbps or more.

What is this point to point he was talking about?

Point to point sounds like a direct circuit... not sure on what it is. Might be something like a wifi bridge or something similar.

Have you tried plugging your modem into the test jack at the NI (which is usually found outside)? I am curious to see if there is any significant difference in signal levels and or data sync rates.

I will try testing my modem outside on the jack but right now the internet is at 3mbps right now so I don't want to mess with it

Time Warner Cable got in touch with me today and told me they don't service my area just yet but wanted me to sign up because they are going to do survey to see how many customers they may acquire.

Does Time Warner Cable do a door to door survey?

I currently signed up for 50mbps down 5mbps up so I hope every thing goes well and I can get off fairpoints low end DSL and get something that suits my needs as a heavy bandwith usage home

No idea. TWC was already available at the place I currently live in 9+ yrs ago (back when it was Adelphia). They didn't do a survey for me as I performed most of the install myself (saved me an install fee). They dropped off a spool of RG11 and I pulled it through 300ft of underground conduit and ran RG6 inside. All the tech did when he came out was put end connectors on, connect at the pole, install ground block at entrance, and give me my modem. Easy peasy.

Actually, it depends on the area you live in, in regards to the DSL Package you can get. In my area there are only two options: 4Mbps/512Kbps or 7.1Mbps/1Mbps. I'm not trying to brag but I get what I pay for: 7.08Mbps/1.04Mbps and have never had a ping over 70ms. Also, if you are getting such terrible speeds then COMPLAIN A LOT. It does actually work and you can more then likely get a few free months of internet because they aren't even giving you close to best effort. Its worked for me in the past.

Hey guys.
I did a lot of complaining and fairpoint is monitoring my line finally and the tech said you are having 2-5% packet loss right now.
They moved me to another switch or something at the local Dslam and my speeds are exactly the same as it was with disconnects, reconnects and reduced speeds.

Here is a list of my issues for over a few weeks.

6/13/2013 Internet sync issues 11:00AM, 600kbps down/911 up, Long sync times, Issues for 6 hours them keeps loosing margin db 0.5 - 6.0.
net disonnected and re synced at 0.86 down / 0.46 up. net disconnects and re syncs at 0.15mbps down / 0.76mbps up.
net disconnects requires forced reconnect. Connected at 1.81mbps down 0.77 up. Net keeps freezing page cannot be displayed, Internet light frozen or blinking slow. Unable to buffer 240P videos, Keep getting message telling me to increase my bandwith.

6/16/2013 Sync issues, Internet light on Westell 7500 keeps blinking fast then either shuts off or freezes. DSL margin down DB 0.3-4.6 UP DB 13.9-19.0 So far hour of issues.

Transceiver Information Down Stream Path Up Stream Path
DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 2800 911
Margin (dB) 3.3 16.2
Line Attenuation (dB) 50.0 25.8
Transmit Power (dBm) 18.9 12.6

Transceiver Information Down Stream Path Up Stream Path
DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 2800 911
Margin (dB) 0.7 13.6
Line Attenuation (dB) 50.0 25.8
Transmit Power (dBm) 18.9 12.6



Connection dropped after 0.7(DB) down stream, Connection took aprox 3 minutes to reconnect how ever no website will load Internet light keeps freezing and the margin DB wont go over 7.

»www.pingtest.net/result/82688647.png High jitter, if I do any thing that trys to stream or play a game I have 1-5% packet loss, 2000 plus jitter and a ping of 1100-9,500.
Gaming on DSL 2+ is unplayable, this connection I have is so slow it rivals that of my old dial up a good potion of the time. I can't play any game online due to packet loss and 100-200 ping.
A gamer needs 0-50 ping and any thing more you can't play.

After three hours of issues my connection re synced even slower then before and most likely it will re sync again after it can't run at a slower rate until it finds something stable.
for me or until it says please connect a dsl line.

This is all due to line congestion and terrible phone lines on the telephone poles. 2:32PM 6/16/2013 please connect a DSL line.

Transceiver Information Down Stream Path Up Stream Path
DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 1795 911
Margin (dB) 4.8 15.1
Line Attenuation (dB) 49.0 25.7
Transmit Power (dBm) 14.8 12.6

I decided to change the PPOE settings from always on to on demand and this is what I am getting now for sync speeds.

Transceiver Information Down Stream Path Up Stream Path
DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 2720 911
Margin (dB) 21.4 16.6
Line Attenuation (dB) 50.0 25.7
Transmit Power (dBm) 17.8 12.6

6/17/2013 11:16AM Please connect a DSL line, Internet is out cannot find PPOE or DCHP server.
Connection established at 11:20AM how ever it disconnected 5 minutes later

Transceiver Information Down Stream Path Up Stream Path
DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 2432 760
Margin (dB) 2.2 5.8
Line Attenuation (dB) 47.0 24.5
Transmit Power (dBm) 15.9 10.9


6/19/213
9:00AM Internet disconnects and reconnected a slower speed

Transceiver Information Down Stream Path Up Stream Path
DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 1835 752
Margin (dB) 26.0 5.4
Line Attenuation (dB) 46.5 24.1
Transmit Power (dBm) 14.0 10.9

1:51PM

Detect WAN Configuration


Results


Please Connect a DSL Line.


1:54PM line reconnected at stable normal sync speeds


Transceiver Information Down Stream Path Up Stream Path
DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 3548 911
Margin (dB) 13.6 15.8
Line Attenuation (dB) 47.0 25.8
Transmit Power (dBm) 18.2 12.6

6/21/2013
10:31AM

Detect WAN Configuration


Results


Please Connect a DSL Line.


10:53AM, Contacted Internet Tech support. Speeds reduced after reconnect

Transceiver Information Down Stream Path Up Stream Path
DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 2042 911
Margin (dB) 23.4 14.8
Line Attenuation (dB) 49.0 25.9
Transmit Power (dBm) 15.9 12.6

In reality this does not sound like a congestion issue. It sounds like a line quality issue. Even if they were so congested they had no spare capacity at all your line should still sync at what your paying for(3M). Based upon your margins and the sync rate you definitely have a line issue which is why others asked about connecting/testing at the NID(Network Interface Box) aka the phone box on the outside of your house to rule out any IW(internal wiring) issues since you said a tech told you your line could support 7M which from your stats it can't even support 3M.

The tech likley took the "7.9Mbps" test at the NID so if he saw that as capable there then it indicates an IW issue. Please test form the NID, might need a extension cord to run to power the modem and a laptop or an ethernet cord to run though a window or something to your router/pc.

Hey

I ran the test directly to the jack outside and got the same stats I get inside.
This is what I got when I tested directly outside.
I had a Cat 5 going from the router to my mothers computer directly next to the window that has the jack for shorter distance travel.

Transceiver Statistics

Transceiver Revision A2pB020b3.d20h
Vendor ID Code 4D54
Line Mode ADSL_2plus
Data Path FAST


Transceiver Information Down Stream Path Up Stream Path
DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 3548 911
Margin (dB) 16.6 15.5
Line Attenuation (dB) 50.5 26.2
Transmit Power (dBm) 17.8 12.6

Here is my speed connected via the original phone wire where the router was in my bedroom after I tested outside.

Transceiver Statistics
Transceiver Revision A2pB020b3.d20h
Vendor ID Code 4D54
Line Mode ADSL2
Data Path FAST

Transceiver Information Down Stream Path Up Stream Path
DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 3548 911
Margin (dB) 17.7 15.8
Line Attenuation (dB) 47.0 26.1
Transmit Power (dBm) 18.4 12.6

Fairpoint said they did something on there end about an hour before I tested the jack because my connection was terrible again but now it seams fine and I hope it stays that way.

I ran a pingtest on »www.megapath.com/speedtestplus/ because pingtest.net fails to do the packet tets it just freezes.

My packet loss is 0.4-5.0%

From reading the thread it sounds like the low margins and low rate is intermittent... would you be able to leave the modem connected to the NID for a longer period of time?(how ever long it normally takes for the speed to degrade). that would help say if the interment issue is IW related or something on Fairpoints end.

Ugh the net disconnected again check out my new speeds!

I ran a speed test.

Download Speed

0.85Mbps

Upload Speed

0.76Mbps

Packet Loss

0.8%

Latency

112ms

Jitter

7ms

Transceiver Statistics
Transceiver Revision A2pB020b3.d20h
Vendor ID Code 4D54
Line Mode ADSL_2plus
Data Path FAST

Transceiver Information Down Stream Path Up Stream Path
DSL Speed (Kbits/Sec) 894 911
Margin (dB) 9.4 13.7
Line Attenuation (dB) 49.0 25.5
Transmit Power (dBm) 16.7 12.6

Amazing huh?

I finally got a reply back from TWC, They do not service my area because it is serviced by Bee line cable.

Bee line does not service my area because there is no demand for it.

I was checking out bee lines speeds and meh they are terrible and the only one remotely worth getting is there most expensive plan.

I hope something is done soon I can't stand 0.25mbps down 0.75mbps up fairpoint adsl