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Here comes the rain again, falling on my DSL
(old news - 04:19PM Thursday Oct 11 2007)
Verizon could use this westell wirespeed modem as a rain guage for my zip code. Rain began at 14:07. Frequency of disconnects corresponds to the strength of the rain. I'm wondering why Verizon network engineers don't collect this info from their vast array of DSL modems then roll trucks to look for and fix the problems with such bad wiring, rather than waiting for an exasperated customer to waste time calling their support numbers with a probable vague description of the issue ('sometimes, web sites time out').

They could easily run stats to look for weather related problems by looking at grouped failures that correlate with recorded rain in a zip code.


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Forums » Here comes the rain again, falling on my DSL
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Maxo
Your tax dollars at work.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-11-04
Tallahassee, FL
clubs:
·Embarq

So much

There are so many pro-active steps ISPs could, and should be taking, but they just don't. I think their hope is that it will go unnoticed and maybe just resolve itself and then save themselves a truck roll. Or it could be management just not being able to see the big picture very well. Who knows.

MysticGogeta
The Robot Devil
Premium
join:2005-03-14
League City, TX
clubs:
·Comcast

Glad I don't have DSL

That really sucks I'm glad my internet doesn't go out in the rain or it would be awful. We get a lot of rain in Houston so that would defiantly make me mad. (Can't go anywhere and no Intenet what are we cavemen? )
--
Team Discovery-Join the fight

FLengineer
Premium
join:2007-06-26
·Comcast
·Embarq
·Vonage

Rain??? or Lightning?

As many of you know Lighting is a static discharge. Any kind of electrical discharge can cause a EM burst across the entire spectrum. You may notice your speakers make a "pop" noise when you turn on a light switch and it's because of the tiny spark caused when the circuit is completed in the switch. This also has an effect on your dsl line. DSL loops to your home are not shielded like Coax from your cable provider. This doesn't mean it can be hit by lightning any easier than coax but it does pickup more static or EM discharges from lighting.

I have noticed during thunderstorms each time there is a lightning strike close enough to see the flash my DSL drops out for a few seconds. You might be experiencing the same thing.

KoolMoe
Aw Man
Premium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD
clubs:
·SUNROCKET
·Speakeasy

Re: Rain??? or Lightning?

I would agree with this. While my DSL does seem to be effected by just rain, it is *definitely* much more effected when it's a thunderstorm. I've been surprised my DSL is not dropping much on the occasional rainy day, then realized there's no lightening...

I wish providers would implement some sort of script that watches uptime. If it's noticed that a line is constantly dropping and re-syncing, automatically place the line into 'safe mode' for, say, an hour. Then re-provision it back to normal...and watch again. Such automatic drops to safe mode could very much help the disconnects, allow a user to still use their connection, and lower support calls/tickets...

I've tried to ignore FIOS and stick with my DSL line but between these rain/lightening drops and now random disconnects in the evening, I'm gonna bag SE and this antiquated DSL crap and just give in to the VZ behemoth soon.
KM

VARDOCK

@bellsouth.net

Rain

I have Belle south DSL. It is the same way. it has been months and it still has not been fixed. I think the companies are just unwilling to endure the embarassment of admitting that the service they invested so much money into cannot withstand a little Drizzle.

My guess as to the cause could be as simple as a part of the line that is not water proof. they do not want to check and replace every piece of equiptment they have exposed to the elements. doing so would be admitting there is a problem. all they would need to do is use a garden hose on their compoments, which can be done behind closed doors, identify the vulnerable compoment and have it Replaced/modified.

altermatt
Premium
join:2004-01-22
White Plains, NY
·Verizon Online DSL

Rain and Speed

Was really interested to read of this. When it rains here, my speeds (also Verizon DSL) plummet, though I don't experience disconnects. It's definitely something that is related to the rain. Same issue?
--
The truth of a thing is the feel of it, not the think of it. -- Stanley Kubrick

xyar
Premium
join:2001-06-21
Beaverton, OR

Odd

Back when I had DSL, starting in 1998 with 768k/128k DSL with (then GTE) and a local ISP, rain never bothered me one bit - and this is in northwest Oregon! 3 different locations in the metro area, never a problem with rain. Friends with DSL sometimes saw slowdowns during a heatwave in the summer bit I never did. Now I've got FiOS and I still haven't noticed a problem (though I shouldn't, I imagine).
--
One geek to rule them all!

oOOOo

join:2001-12-10

Adelphia powerlink got soggy too...

The techs tracked it to a "bad back-plate" up the street. Even though powerlink was carried by fiber, something got wet. This was years ago.
Forums » Here comes the rain again, falling on my DSL

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