ADSL Line Problems - How to test?

gord · 4 Apr 2006 at 20:42

Is there any software i can download to test my line for any potential problems or should i contact my ISP.

I keep losing my ADSL connection in the evenings. It reconnects, but takes a minute for the ADSL to re-establish and sign back on.

Any thoughts chaps?

The ISP is AOL, but until now they have been fine, no problems, rock steady and good speeds.. + i havnt been at home for a while to see when it started etc. No point changing ISP, im not here often enough..

Scottland · 4 Apr 2006 at 20:56

How many times per evening is it disconnecting?

By your description it sounds like it's losing sync, which could by the symptom of (IME): Modem/Router issues, line issues, filter issues (check all are plugged in, disconnect all other devices as a matter of course to rule everything else out), 3rd party interference - these things could include: your central heating clicking on, street lights coming on, anything else almost

(these cases are rare though).

It's basically a case of trial and error, if you reported a fault to AOL they would most likely want you to try and rule out as much as your equipment as possible.

USB Modem? Tried reinstalling/updating the drivers?

gord · 4 Apr 2006 at 21:01

Scottland said:
How many times per evening is it disconnecting?

By your description it sounds like it's losing sync, which could by the symptom of (IME): Modem/Router issues, line issues, filter issues (check all are plugged in, disconnect all other devices as a matter of course to rule everything else out), 3rd party interference - these things could include: your central heating clicking on, street lights coming on, anything else almost (these cases are rare though).

It's basically a case of trial and error, if you reported a fault to AOL they would most likely want you to try and rule out as much as your equipment as possible.

USB Modem? Tried reinstalling/updating the drivers?

It is indeed a USB modem, might try getting the latest drivers.

I dont use the AOL software so i can run xbox live. So i have it connecting use PPPoE?.. but ive done this before. Some things have been changed though ive found out. My parents have switched to AOL phone stuff.. and ive realised they are using a new cable on the USB modem.. no filters.. must be a broadband cable?

tolien · 4 Apr 2006 at 21:03

Seeing if you can extract some kind of stats from the modem would be a start too.

must be a broadband cable?

A cable is a cable is a cable, there's no such thing as a "broadband cable" - and if there's no filters, looks like you've found your problem.

Scottland · 4 Apr 2006 at 21:04

gord said:
It is indeed a USB modem, might try getting the latest drivers.

I dont use the AOL software so i can run xbox live. So i have it connecting use PPPoE?.. but ive done this before. Some things have been changed though ive found out. My parents have switched to AOL phone stuff.. and ive realised they are using a new cable on the USB modem.. no filters.. must be a broadband cable?

No filters? Is it going into a socket that has a seperate connection for the phone and broadband (i.e. with the filter built in)

Like this:

Or is it a 'normal' one like this:

If the latter, then it looks that it could be the problem, stick some on it if thats the case, you may need a different cable though. As if there's no filters or anything on it, the cable will probably be a 56k stylee cable (rj36 one end, rj11 the other) so you'll need rj11 both ends to plug into the correct side of the filter.

gord · 4 Apr 2006 at 21:43

The cable we have been using is an RJ11 at one end, plugged into the back of the usb modem, the other end is phone socket.. so straight into the plug socket.

But ive just plugged it in so its, RJ11.. into the filter.. into phone connection, into phone socket..

and it cut off on me again.. when i was redialing earlier, it said the line was busy.. MSN troubleshooter said there was no gateway..

i also got the drivers for the modem.. reinstalled.. but no joy

Im gonna have to contact them i think..

Scottland · 4 Apr 2006 at 22:01

gord said:
But ive just plugged it in so its, RJ11.. into the filter.. into phone connection, into phone socket..

Is the RJ11 into the DSL side of the filter?

Are all other sockets and phones (inluding Sky) connected to the socket via a filter?

gord · 4 Apr 2006 at 22:22

Scottland said:
Is the RJ11 into the DSL side of the filter?

Are all other sockets and phones (inluding Sky) connected to the socket via a filter?

Yeh, the RJ11, goes from back of modem, to filter, which turns it into a phone one, into a phone extender into the phone socket. All other sockets as far as i can see have a filter.. but i dont know about upstairs as there is a phone there but cant check it right now.

gord · 4 Apr 2006 at 22:54

Just checked and my SNR is around 7.5 to 8.. local, on remote it says 12.5

Could this be why my line is dropping..

ive only just been able to find these figures so will keep on eye on them and see if there is anything i can do

Scottland · 5 Apr 2006 at 08:46

phone extender = extension cable?

If so, whats at the other end, is it straight into the socket?

You could try removing the extension from the equation, and unplug other devices from the phone line, leaving just the modem plugged in.

SNR is low, but shouldn't cause too many problems, whats your line attenuation (downstream)?

gord · 5 Apr 2006 at 11:40

40 local

SNR this morning is 12

Skilldibop · 5 Apr 2006 at 13:05

One way to reduce noise is to Yank the ring wire out. If you got microfilters, you don't need it. Infact most newer phones have built in ring capacitors afaik so you can just loose that from the mastersocket. Basically it acts as a nice big aerial picking up EMI RFI and other general interference and then carrying that down it'self 2mm away from your signal cables ruining the twisted pair effect somewhat.

CurlyWhirly · 6 Apr 2006 at 17:31

Skilldibop said:
One way to reduce noise is to Yank the ring wire out. If you got microfilters, you don't need it. Infact most newer phones have built in ring capacitors afaik so you can just loose that from the mastersocket. Basically it acts as a nice big aerial picking up EMI RFI and other general interference and then carrying that down it'self 2mm away from your signal cables ruining the twisted pair effect somewhat.

I often wondered why a BT faceplate can help with S/N ratios, now I know why.
I'm glad I bought one now!