ADSL intermittent sync drops

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froot

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Hi guys

Starting about 6 weeks ago, with the last set of thunderstorms we had (I'm using this as a reference point because before that I had zero issues with my line since I got it in 2006), I've had intermittent sync drops when receiving phone calls. Our phone line and electricity got whacked and I lost my router so replaced it.

Currently I've got this connected:
wireless phones, so only 1 phone is connected to a plug, via an ADSL filter. All the unused plugs are also filtered.
alarm system that's wired directly into the phone line, so no filter, but it's never been a problem.
ADSL router connected [obviously] directly into the phone line.

It doesn't happen consistently but when a) someone calls or b)the alarm is activated/deactivated, my ADSL drops. I'd reckon it's about a 50-50 chance of dropping vs staying up.
My output power is lower than it has been last month (40dB now vs 80dB then).

This is how it usually is:
Code: 
 	Downstream	Upstream
Line Coding(Trellis):	On 	On 
SNR Margin (dB):	206 	120 
Attenuation (dB):	350 	210 
Output Power (dBm):	44 	81 
Attainable Rate (Kbps):	9536 	908 
Rate (Kbps):	2048 	512

When it drops, it looks like this:
Code: 
 	Downstream	Upstream
Line Coding(Trellis):	On 	On 
SNR Margin (dB):	[color=red]-11 to 120[/color] 	120 
Attenuation (dB):	350 	210 
Output Power (dBm):	44 	81 
Attainable Rate (Kbps):	[color=red]this tends to drop to 7mb and 600kbps[/color]
Rate (Kbps):	2048 	512

I did get Telkom to take a look when it first started, and they replaced a corroded wire at the telephone pole, but a few days later it started acting up again.

The only reason why this is actually posing a problem for me is because the router [A Dlink 2750U) gets stuck on "connecting" after the drop, so I have to reset the router or unplug/plug the line again.
 
Last edited:
froot said:
Hi guys

Starting about 6 weeks ago, with the last set of thunderstorms we had (I'm using this as a reference point because before that I had zero issues with my line since I got it in 2006), I've had intermittent sync drops when receiving phone calls.

Currently I've got this connected:
wireless phones, so only 1 phone is connected to a plug, via an ADSL filter. All the unused plugs are also filtered.
alarm system that's wired directly into the phone line, so no filter, but it's never been a problem.
ADSL router connected [obviously] directly into the phone line.

It doesn't happen consistently but when a) someone calls or b)the alarm is activated/deactivated, my ADSL drops.

This is how it usually is:
Code: 
 	Downstream	Upstream
Line Coding(Trellis):	On 	On 
SNR Margin (dB):	206 	120 
Attenuation (dB):	350 	210 
Output Power (dBm):	44 	81 
Attainable Rate (Kbps):	9536 	908 
Rate (Kbps):	2048 	512

When it drops, it looks like this:
Code: 
 	Downstream	Upstream
Line Coding(Trellis):	On 	On 
SNR Margin (dB):	[color=red]-11 to 120[/color] 	120 
Attenuation (dB):	350 	210 
Output Power (dBm):	44 	81 
Attainable Rate (Kbps):	[color=red]this tends to drop to 7mb and 600kbps[/color]
Rate (Kbps):	2048 	512

I did get Telkom to take a look when it first started, and they replaced a corroded wire at the telephone pole, but a few days later it started acting up again.

The only reason why this is actually posing a problem for me is because the router [A Dlink 2750U) gets stuck on "connecting" after the drop, so I have to reset the router or unplug/plug the line again.
Click to expand...

Just call Telkom and drop your line speed to 6MB.
 
froot said:
... my line is syncing at 2Mbps ;)
The line above it is simply the max speed that the router reports that it can get.
Click to expand...

Oh, then you have an issue.

Id call Telkom. Tell then you have an open connection. When it rains you lose connection.

This may or may not work depending on the intelligence of the techi and call centre dude.

After 2 weeks and that fails call again and tell them you have crackling on your voice line.

That should fix it.
 
Yeah coincidentally when it rains my line does go to the shizzness (where before mentioned storm it was fine, even during heavy rains).

Thanks, will get them out again.
 
Yeah Telkom issue clearly. Convincing them of that might be a bit more of a murky endeavour.

I recommend a solid dose of luck & getting a hard working Telkom techie. Failing that (luck & techs with said quality are in short supply) I'd recommend a combination of A) Friendliness B) Offering him a (non-alcoholic) refreshment C) Taking an interest & asking questions (that don't make him uncomfortable).

You'll need the above because this is an issue they'll need to hunt down & quite a few of them are not all that keen on that. ;)

Taking a wild guess, I'd say its the box on the pole. Last time my parents house got hit, the lightning blew the metal cover of that box clean off, so I'd imagine they are not entirely immune to lesser lightning strikes either.

EDIT: Just extra important NB. Physically trace where the line goes on your wall. My parents had a situation where the line splits & goes to 2 places. In their case someone did a sketchy duck tape job on that (covered by a creeper plant, outside wall). Rain hits that & the line freaks out. No chance of Telkom finding that (nor should they have to). We ended up physically DIYing the cause with a multimeter shortly after rain.
 
Last edited:
Sounds like a dry joint on your line somewhere.... each time it rains (or there's mist or a heavy dew) the moisture penetrates the joint and causes your connection to go to ****!

You might get further if you report it as a POTS fault and not an ADSL fault. Tell them that every time it rains you get a crackle on your line and cannot hear anything. This normally triggers the techie to look for a dry joint. This techie (first responder) will most likely not be able to fix it and will escalate it to his cable maintenance section colleagues for repair/replacement.
 
MickeyD said:
Sounds like a dry joint on your line somewhere.... each time it rains (or there's mist or a heavy dew) the moisture penetrates the joint and causes your connection to go to ****!

You might get further if you report it as a POTS fault and not an ADSL fault. Tell them that every time it rains you get a crackle on your line and cannot hear anything. This normally triggers the techie to look for a dry joint. This techie (first responder) will most likely not be able to fix it and will escalate it to his cable maintenance section colleagues for repair/replacement.
Click to expand...
Sounds like pro advice. Also...not fair you've got an unfair advantage. /jk Glad OP benefits
 
HavocXphere said:
Sounds like pro advice. Also...not fair you've got an unfair advantage. /jk Glad OP benefits
Click to expand...

:p

Thanks for the advice.
Yeah I'd have done this a long time ago but I don't have time to go home and spend an hour with the techy. Will get them out as soon as I find an open space.
 
Hi There,
It is likely to be a line fault but I am a little concerned. Your alarm should also have a pots filter on it. So I would suggest that you look at that unless you are going wall-splitter-adsl
-pots-telephone
-alarm
ie you are splitting at the wall and then the adsl is in parallel with the telephone and the alarm then taps in there.

I assume you have checked all your posts filters?

If all good then follow the advice of those above

regards

Tim
 
Tim the Techxpert said:
Hi There,
It is likely to be a line fault but I am a little concerned. Your alarm should also have a pots filter on it. So I would suggest that you look at that unless you are going wall-splitter-adsl
-pots-telephone
-alarm
ie you are splitting at the wall and then the adsl is in parallel with the telephone and the alarm then taps in there.

I assume you have checked all your posts filters?

If all good then follow the advice of those above

regards

Tim
Click to expand...

When they installed the alarm system (years and years ago) they hardwired it into the phone line, so unless I find where they did it and put a RJ11 on it and add a socket to the other side, that's not an option. It's also never been a problem for my ADSL.

Yes I've checked my POTS filters. My guess is that they would be fine anyways, since with a faulty filter the line should drop with each and every call, not just some.
 
Quick update, the Telkom techie phoned on Saturday and said he moved me onto another port at the exchange and recreated the port. Will confirm by this weekend but it hasn't dropped again since (it's been very prone to dropping on weekends).
 
Sigh. The above lasted until I disconnected my session, and then the drops started again.

Between the alarm and phone calls it's still intermittent. Sometimes the alarm/phone makes the connection drop, and sometimes it doesn't. I've had the Telkom guy out again and same case - as soon as I disconnect, the connections start dropping again.

Last night it didn't drop, but I see my maximum sync speed has dropped from 9Mb to 6Mb, but the downstream stats have significantly increased:
Code: 
SNR Margin (dB):	275 (usually 200) 	120 
Attenuation (dB):	350 	210 
Output Power (dBm):	143 (usually 70) 	121
 
Just a suggestion - I can't remember if it was my Linksys, or DLink that used to get stuck when trying to reconnect, but I changed the settings to "connect on demand", which fixed having to reboot the modem all the time when this happens.
 
Thanks, I'll try that.
I see I have to use the timeout setting then but that's not an issue.
 
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