Getting to the bottom of my poor ADSL connection

[mrochester]

OK this is my first ADSL connection, and I've alreadt created another thread about making my modem and router get along well together.

However, I think there is something wrong with the DSL signal coming into my house. When I have the modem and phone connected up together using a filter, the modem frequently loses the DSL signal. Without the filter, it is just about 100% stable. However, the connection speed is very poor.

These are the stats I'm getting from my Linksys AM200 modem.


DSL Status: UP
DSL Modulation Mode: Auto
DSL Path Mode: FAST
Downstream Rate: 4448 Kbps
Upstream Rate: 448 Kbps
Downstream Margin: 2 db
Upstream Margin: 23 db
Downstream Line Attenuation: 51
Upstream Line Attenuation: 58
Downstream Transmit Power: 18
Upstream Transmit Power: 11
LOS Errors: 0

A friend has said that the Downstream margin is pitifully low, the upstream is really high, and that the Line Attenuation figures shouldn't be so high either.

These figures mean nothing to me really, so can anyone elaborate on what they signify?

TIA,

Michael.

EDIT - It just disconnected me, even with the modem plugged directly into the master phone socket in the house.

 

[norm]

The reason for your slow speeds is because when you were using the broken DSL filter it was causing you to resync repeatedly. Due to the nature of MaxDSL that has caused the system to lower your BRAS rate profile, probably to the lowest level 256kbps.

Get a better filter, or don't use one at all on the modem, just on connected phones.

Expect to wait 3-4 days for your BRAS profile to climb back in line with your sync rate.

 

[mrochester]

The reason for your slow speeds is because when you were using the broken DSL filter it was causing you to resync repeatedly. Due to the nature of MaxDSL that has caused the system to lower your BRAS rate profile, probably to the lowest level 256kbps.

Get a better filter, or don't use one at all on the modem, just on connected phones.

Expect to wait 3-4 days for your BRAS profile to climb back in line with your sync rate.

What about the disconnections, even when plugged in directly to the master socket?

 

[tolien]

The attenuation would imply you've got a line that's about 5km long, but there's no way the upstream attenuation should be as high as that, so I'm inclined to say that either there's something broken or your modem is reporting garbage.

The disconnections will be a result of the poor SNR margin. It might be worthwhile trying another router - your ISP might ask you to do that before they report a fault.
When you're connected to the master socket, are all the extensions disconnected?

 

[mrochester]

There aren't even any other extensions in the property. Only the master socket. I don't have any other equipment to try.