5% working internet since 'downtime'...Thanks AOL!

dan7827 · 13 Mar 2007 at 22:48

Hey all,
I've had no problems with the internet since i migrated to the dreaded AOL for the previously 'unlimited' internet usage, working great @1mbit for months then AOL decided to do something. The problem is that basically all internet related things can't connect. Websites either time out (server not found), don't start loading or hang on loading (won't load all content). Weirdly the following work: msn messenger, google main page (some subpages), ocuk

.

Here’s how the story goes:
Last week the connection started dropping out, checked the router and for some reason it was connected at 2mbit but unstable and dropping out, so I ring up and get an automated message about how there is a scheduled downtime for the day and to ring back if problems still occur the day after... Yep, still didn't work so I rang up and during the painful hr they had a 'technical engineer' do whatever it is they do and the router was connected back at 1mbit but the internet still wasn't working, so of course they said it would have to be checked and to leave the router connected for 24 hrs (like its ever disconnected

).

Well after waiting for the 24 'testing' time to end it was still messed up so I checked the router again and it was now connected at 0.5mbit, ring up and they still don't seem to know what's wrong with it and act like the problem is at my end!

Here’s what I tried before/after/during this time:

Different routers
Different browsers - default: firefox then IE
Different PCs
Different DNS servers

Yet again, I'll be ringing tomorrow and appreciate any help or ideas you have.

Cheers,
Dan

Avalon · 14 Mar 2007 at 14:08

Line stats would help if you could post them ?

dan7827 · 14 Mar 2007 at 19:32

It seems this Netgear router is way oversimplified, it doesn't show anything like that. All it shows is ADSL info, connected for 21hrs (since i last rebooted it) and modem stats:

Modem Status Connected
Connect Mode G.DMT
Down Stream 576kbps
Up Stream 288kbps
VPI 0
VCI 38

Thanks for the reply, I'll try and source a router with more functionality to get the line stats.

Locky · 14 Mar 2007 at 19:53

well you not connected at 2mb now

dan7827 · 14 Mar 2007 at 20:44

Its stable at the current 0.5mbit and it was stable at the previous 1mbit as confirmed by BT and the months of usage but nevermind about that for now, functional internet would be nice from AOL

I plugged in another router just so I could get the line stats, so here they are:

Local Tx Power: 11.34 dB
Remote Tx Power: 13.73 dB
Local Line Atten.: 52.5 dB
Remote Line Atten.: 31.5 dB
Local SNR Margin: 13.5 dB
Remote SNR Margin: 23.0 dB
Self Test: Passed

dan7827 · 15 Mar 2007 at 20:59

Some progress at last! well on my part anyways...just installed AOL 9.0 on another pc (don't want that rubbish on my nice clean pc

) and when signed in the internet seems to work (IE, FF, all webpages, etc) but if i sign off it goes back to being useless.

Here is the email from AOL about the upgrade:

Dear AOL Member

We will shortly be carrying out a network upgrade on your AOL Broadband connection. This work is part of our ongoing plan to ensure we continue to provide you with a high quality broadband connection and service.

You do not need to take any action as the upgrade will happen at your local telephone exchange. The work itself will be carried out on 08 03 2007 and should only cause a very short period of disruption. There could be a period of about 20 minutes when you cannot access your account, which we hope does not inconvenience you.

If you have any concerns or queries about this upgrade, please feel free to contact one of our member services team via AOL Keyword: Live Help or by phoning us on 0870 3 20 20 20*.

Best wishes

Member Services

Have they done something on this 'upgrade' so every pc has to have AOL installed now? I reeeeeeally hope not! has this happened to anyone else?

Dan

dan7827 · 16 Mar 2007 at 09:32

Gave AOL one last chance to do something, apparently I am on FUP after downloading 60GB last month and should have had an email about getting out before a certain date? i only signed up to aol as they had no FUP, not sure what they were on about there. They say the FUP is in place from 5pm yet i cannot get emails in outlook, etc any time of the day and they just went back to blaming the FUP even if it made no sense.

I guess i'm left with only one choice of migrating to another isp, any recommendations?

I would like an isp that can also sooth the headache from all this, Thanks!