ADSL Router / Line Problems

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Atamosk

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Hi everyone,

Hopefully someone on this forum would be able to assist me with a problem I am currently experiencing.

So last night I thought that it would be clever to upgrade my firmware for my 2004 model 5100 Billion Telkom router, however to my dismay it didn't like the firmware.

Eventually figured out that the firmware changes the routers IP address from 10.0.0.2 to 192.168.1.254 and was able to login to the damned router. After struggling with setting up the router to a 'Routing' profile I set it to 'Bridge' instead as it was not connecting on 'Routing'. Currently it is working as a dialup connection, however is there anyway to reset the firmware to what it was before I ran the update?

Further to my problem I noticed that the line keeps dropping, don't know if this goes hand in hand with the firmware changes or something else.

Had a look at my routers noise margins etc.

Upstream Noise Margin : 8dB
Upstream Attenuation : 17.5dB

Downstream Noise Margin : 9.5dB
Downstream Attenuation : 16.5dB

I have read the sticky about 'Understanding SNR and Attenuation Rates', but I am not to sure if the 'Noise Margin' stated on my router is the same as SNR, if it is then something is up **** creek.

I got information from 2 sites and both has left me more confused. e.g

MyBroadband :
--------------
SNR :
6dB or below is very bad and will experience no synch or intermittent synch problems
7dB-10dB is fair but does not leave much room for variances in conditions
11dB-20dB is good with little or no sync problems
20dB-28dB is excellent
29dB or above is outstanding

Google Search :
---------------
* 20bB. and below = Outstanding
* 20dB-30dB. = Excellent
* 30dB-40dB. = Very Good
* 40dB-50dB. = Good
* 50dB-60dB. = Poor and may experience connectivity issues
* 60dB. and above = Bad and will experience connectivity issues

Both agree on 'Line Attenuation' and have the same scale.

I do want to purchase a router at the end of this month (Wireless) to have all my devices connected as I am running a 10MB line on a 10 MB uncapped account.

Any help or advise would be appreciated.


Thanks :)
 
Hi Atamosk,

SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) is the same as Noise Margin. You want this value to be as high as possible.

The Line Attenuation scale that you posted is sort of useless. This value you want to be as low as possible, so that you can get a fast ADSL connection. The higher this value becomes, the lower your maximum ADSL speed would be.

What is your ADSL speed that you're synchronizing at? From the looks of things you're connected at a speed faster than 10Mbps when I have to take a guess from your Noise margins & Line attenuation values, which would also mean that you're not in South Africa...

Here is one of my previous posts on another forum that would be helpful:
Here are a few more helpful guides:
From Kitz:
From Talk Talk Members:
There's a lot of redundant information in the links that I've provided above, but if you've read all of it, then you'll definitely have a good idea of why there can go so much wrong with ADSL connections...
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Hi Pada,

I am from SA, live in Brackenfell CPT. The exchange is not even 1km away from me and I was put unto 'Himax' exchange which was the rollout/testing exchange for 10MB lines in our area.

My concern is with my line dropping a few times a night, and if the values which I stated shows that my Line is ok or if there might be a problem with it.

When testing my connection with 'speedtest.net' I ramp up to 10MB(1Mbps).

Hope this helps.
 
Atamosk said:
Hi Pada,

I am from SA, live in Brackenfell CPT. The exchange is not even 1km away from me and I was put unto 'Himax' exchange which was the rollout/testing exchange for 10MB lines in our area.

My concern is with my line dropping a few times a night, and if the values which I stated shows that my Line is ok or if there might be a problem with it.

When testing my connection with 'speedtest.net' I ramp up to 10MB(1Mbps).

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

The Gateway/Router IP address/range could easily be changed to 10.0.0.2 if you prefer, under the LAN settings of the device if you log onto it.

The Line dropping, could be a bad "filter" in the house/building. All your phones/alarms/faxes etc. needs to pass through a DSL Filter, so double check that it does and if so disconnect these devices completely to test if the line continues to drop.

You upgraded the Firmware on the router, so you might be able to downgrade it again, if you contact the Manufacturer and request earlier firmware, I wouldn't advise this though.
 
Something is definitely funny with your upstream line attenuation, as if it is a faulty filter. Usually the upstream line attenuation is supposed to be like half of the downstream line attenuation.

I would suggest that you start by removing ALL the other telephonic devices, so that it is only the ADSL modem that is plugged in, without any filters.
Then check the ADSL stats again. If the SNR margins didn't improve, then I would suggest that you try a different ADSL modem.
 
Thanks for all the great feedback, much appreciated.

Currently there is no filter or other devices on the phone line only my router. I will install my old POTS filter, if I am able to find it then to the test again and post relevant information for those interested.

One thing I remember when my line was installed, was that the Telkom Technician did a configuration on the line which they refer to as 'Split Legs'. This was due to the fact that one part of the line, which was running to my house was dead, so they split the line over from the existing connection with another live connection at the link on the pole. Not sure if this would also add further problems.

A1 X O A2
B1 O O B2

From my simple depiction, A1 was dead which is accompanied by A2, but B1 and A2 where combined.(This is if anyone has seen those boxes on the poles before) :P

As stated in my previous post, I would just like to confirm if there is a problem on my line. The router is not that important as I would be getting a wireless router which supports DSL 2+ shortly. My concern is that if there is a problem to have it fixed and to get it done quickly. I only waited 2 days from order to install for installation to be completed, so I am sure I can push them to fix this asap, but not to waste their and my time I thought I would enlist your help.

That said, I can only provide so much information. Once I found that POTS filter and connect it, there might be a difference on the stats.

Thanks again :)
 
The POTS filter+splitter does nothing to the ADSL signal. The POTS filter+splitter is a direct pass-through for the ADSL port, as well as a low pass filter on the Telephone port. So that POTS filter simply blocks all the high frequency noise coming from the telephone bleeding into the ADSL port.
 
Oh well, that is all that I have at this time. Thought that it might help :(

Anyhoo, here is the stats that I promised :


Upstream

relative capacity occupation: 100%
noise margin upstream: 8.0 db
output power downstream: 19.5 dbm
attenuation upstream: 12.5 db
carrier load: number of bits per symbol(tone)
tone 0- 31: 00 00 00 24 68 9a bc cc cd dd cc cc cb ba a9 00
tone 32- 63: 00 00 36 78 9a ab cc bb db ef ff fe ee ee ee dd
tone 64- 95: 0e ee ee ee dd ed dd dd dc b8 cc bc cc cc cb cc
tone 96-127: cc ab cc bc bc cc cc bc ca bc cc cc bc cc bb ba
tone 128-159: 87 60 00 68 9a cb bb a8 cc b0 db bc 0d dc ba 6b
tone 160-191: bc db ba 99 72 60 04 87 20 07 88 aa ab 98 39 ab
tone 192-223: bb 98 79 ba a9 85 89 aa a9 67 9a ba 98 38 9a aa
tone 224-255: 97 79 ab aa 86 8b aa aa 88 a9 a9 98 68 87 65 52

Downstream

relative capacity occupation: 98%
noise margin downstream: 7.0 db
output power upstream: 9.5 dbm
attenuation downstream: 17.5 db
carrier load: number of bits per symbol(tone)
tone 0- 31: 00 00 00 24 68 9a bc cc cd dd cc cc cb ba a9 00
tone 32- 63: 00 00 26 78 9a ab cc bb db ef ff fe ee ee ee dd
tone 64- 95: 0e ee ee ee dd ed dd dd dc b8 cc bc cc cc cb cc
tone 96-127: cc ab cc bc bc cc cc bc ca bc cc cc bc cc bb aa
tone 128-159: 88 60 00 78 9a cb bb a7 cc b0 db bc 0c cd ca 6b
tone 160-191: cc db ba 99 82 60 04 87 20 07 88 aa ab 98 39 ab
tone 192-223: bb 98 79 ba a9 84 89 aa a9 67 9a ba 98 38 9a aa
tone 224-255: 97 79 ab aa 86 8b aa aa 88 a9 a9 98 68 87 65 52

LinkSpeed

Link Status: Up
Upstream Speed: 896 kbps
Downstream Speed: 8128 kbps

The link speeds is not 10MB due to the router(I think) as it is not ADSL2+ compatible, yet another reason to upgrade the router.
 
Last edited:
@Atamosk:
Yeah, having an ADSL2+ capable modem is worth it. I'd guess that you're still using like a Telkom 5100 ADSL modem?

I'd recommend either the D-Link DSL-2750U / TP-Link W8960N. The D-Link costs slightly more, but I'd say it is worth it for the more intuitive web interface + the USB 2.0 port. Both of these ADSL modems you should be able to get for under R650 (incl VAT).
If you don't want to spend that much on a new ADSL modem, then condider getting just a D-Link DSL-2500U for R200 (incl VAT) and then using your existing ADSL modem just as a switch/WiFi AP.
 
Pada said:
@Atamosk:
Yeah, having an ADSL2+ capable modem is worth it. I'd guess that you're still using like a Telkom 5100 ADSL modem?

I'd recommend either the D-Link DSL-2750U / TP-Link W8960N. The D-Link costs slightly more, but I'd say it is worth it for the more intuitive web interface + the USB 2.0 port. Both of these ADSL modems you should be able to get for under R650 (incl VAT).
If you don't want to spend that much on a new ADSL modem, then condider getting just a D-Link DSL-2500U for R200 (incl VAT) and then using your existing ADSL modem just as a switch/WiFi AP.
Click to expand...

Pricing's up due to bad exchange rate, but I also second the DSL-2750U
 
Offtopic:
@teraside, I've seen it quite a few times where Rebeltech managed to sell things below the price of the suppliers.
Like I got an Asus HD6970 DirectCU II for R3200, when it was like R4200 directly from the suppliers. Perhaps they're using different suppliers or they actually have the things in stock and they just want to get rid of it...

In any case, I just want to tell you that Rebeltech will give you that item at that price.
 
Pada said:
Offtopic:
@teraside, I've seen it quite a few times where Rebeltech managed to sell things below the price of the suppliers.
Like I got an Asus HD6970 DirectCU II for R3200, when it was like R4200 directly from the suppliers. Perhaps they're using different suppliers or they actually have the things in stock and they just want to get rid of it...

In any case, I just want to tell you that Rebeltech will give you that item at that price.
Click to expand...
I confirmed that they have 3 left for that price, which is great in my opinion. Although I run my own shop, I will never have an issue if someone delivers a better price. Big up to Rebeltech :)
 
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