Understanding Adsl in SA and Troubleshooting Tools

[FNfal]

[QUOTE=doublefrangelico;8025888]
Now that I know a critical factor is the length of the cabling from my modem/router to the DSLAM or Exchange, I'd like to know how to figure out where my DSLAM is. Is it in one of those small blue and white boxes (approx 1.2mx30cmx60cm) on the street corners or is it a housed in a small building? (etc etc) I don't trust Telkom to provide this info.

No this is not a DSLAM that is a street box ( cable from the exchange meets the local cabling that feeds the poles )

[ichigo]

Hi Guys and thanks for making things much clearer.

In troubleshooting my current situation, I need a bit of specific info.

Now that I know a critical factor is the length of the cabling from my modem/router to the DSLAM or Exchange, I'd like to know how to figure out where my DSLAM is. Is it in one of those small blue and white boxes (approx 1.2mx30cmx60cm) on the street corners or is it a housed in a small building? (etc etc) I don't trust Telkom to provide this info.

This site shows the location my of my "exchange". (could this be the DSLAM and not the exchange?)
http://www.broadbandstats.co.za/exchange/RNHL05


The reason I'm asking is because Telkom told me that I was more than 5KM from the exchange and that this was the reason I was limited to 384Kbps and thus the reason my latency and speed are so bad (<120KBps). I do realise after reading this excellent guide that even though I am 4.4Km as the crow files from the abovementioned exchange, the cables might be more than 5km. This is why I'm hoping that there is a DSLAM inbetween, and thus the reason for trying to find a way to identify it so that I can ask to be connected via it, if I am not.

I am desperate.... No Line of Sight for cellular/wireless providers, no more than 34KB/s download speed on cellular provider even with professionally-installed YAGI antenna directly connected to router, >5km from ADSL exchange .... FML ;-)

What you need to find is a big white cabinet then you can work how far you actually are from it, its the mini exchange/dslam apparently. If you close to it your cable is either faulty or it goes wacko around the whole neigbourhood before it reaches it .

Exchange on broadbandstats is in a brick building it isnt the mini-exchange/dslam