Afrihost - Frequent Disconnects

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HoodRich

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Hi guys,

I signed up with Afrhost in Nov/Dec last year and the connection was fine for the first 6 weeks or so.

Sometime, in January, I started getting disconnections. The first thing I did was change my router (had a spare one), but that did not solve the problem. I have been emailing Afrihost support sporadically for the past 2 months, with no solution in sight. They keep on resetting my ports, but that does not solve the issue. I am now being told that they can send out a Telkom technician, but it might cost me R289. I dont see why it should cost me anything as they manage my line and I dont need a technician at my place.

I managed to grab some logs from my router this morning. Please see below and give me an advice you might be able to:

Mar 26 07:44:31 PPPoE: No response to 30 echo-requests
Mar 26 07:44:31 PPPoE: Serial link appears to be disconnected.
Mar 26 07:44:31 PPPoE: ipcp_down:start
Mar 26 07:44:31 PPPoE: ipcp_down:always
Mar 26 07:44:31 PPPoE: ipcp_down:script
Mar 26 07:44:31 PPPoE: ipcp_down:end
Mar 26 07:44:37 PPPoE: Connection terminated.
Mar 26 07:44:37 PPPoE: Connect time 24.1 minutes.
Mar 26 07:44:37 PPPoE: Sent 3474295 bytes, received 75195526 bytes.
Mar 26 07:44:37 PPPoE: Doing disconnect
Mar 26 07:45:57 PPPoE: Connection failed
Mar 26 07:45:57 PPPoE: Doing disconnect
Mar 26 07:47:17 PPPoE: Connection failed
Mar 26 07:47:17 PPPoE: Doing disconnect
Mar 26 07:47:36 kernel: Linesync lost
Mar 26 07:47:37 PPPoE: Hangup (SIGHUP)
Mar 26 07:47:40 kernel: Detect DSL status:0x08 into polling mode!!^M
Mar 26 07:47:45 kernel: Detect DSL status:0x00 into INT mode!!^M
Mar 26 07:47:45 kernel: Linesync lost
Mar 26 07:47:50 kernel: Detect DSL status:0x08 into polling mode!!^M
Mar 26 07:48:09 kernel: Detect DSL status:0x20 into INT mode!!^M
Mar 26 07:48:09 kernel: Linesync achieved
Mar 26 07:48:09 kernel: near-end interleaved channel bit rate: 5117 kbps
Mar 26 07:48:09 kernel: near-end fast channel bit rate: 0 kbps
Mar 26 07:48:09 kernel: far-end interleaved channel bit rate: 511 kbps
Mar 26 07:48:09 kernel: far-end fast channel bit rate: 0 kbps
Mar 26 07:48:12 PPPoE: Using interface ppp0
Mar 26 07:48:12 PPPoE: Connection start.
Mar 26 07:48:15 PPPoE: Remote message: Login ok
Mar 26 07:48:15 PPPoE: add ci req netmask 1
Mar 26 07:48:15 PPPoE: add ci netmask 0.0.0.0
Mar 26 07:48:15 PPPoE: 1 ack req netmask 0
Mar 26 07:48:15 PPPoE: 1 ack netmask 0.0.0.0
Mar 26 07:48:15 PPPoE: ipcp_up:start
Mar 26 07:48:15 PPPoE: local IP address [ removed ]
Mar 26 07:48:15 PPPoE: remote IP address 41.170.76.97
Mar 26 07:48:15 PPPoE: primary DNS address 169.1.1.1
Mar 26 07:48:15 PPPoE: secondary DNS address 169.1.1.2
Mar 26 07:48:15 PPPoE: ipcp_up:always on
Mar 26 07:48:15 dnsmasq[262]: using nameserver 169.1.1.2#53
Mar 26 07:48:15 dnsmasq[262]: using nameserver 169.1.1.1#53
Mar 26 07:48:16 PPPoE: WanIP 169.0.194.118 WanNetmask 255.255.255.255 Gateway 41.170.76.97
Mar 26 07:48:16 PPPoE: Dns1 169.1.1.1 Dns2 169.1.1.2
Mar 26 07:48:16 PPPoE: bil_ipcpup:end​

Sometimes, it will manage to reconnect after it loses connection, and sometimes it wont. Havent picked up a pattern. Needless to say, this is very frustrating as it happens approximately 5 times a day

My service is 4MBps (capped account)
 
Thanks for the response - I'm confident the router is fine because I get the same problem with either router I try.

What other "equipment" could be at fault?
 
HoodRich said:
Thanks for the response - I'm confident the router is fine because I get the same problem with either router I try.

What other "equipment" could be at fault?
Click to expand...

Check the adsl filter if you have one connected.
 
Hi Johnatan56 --> My line stats below :


DMT Status Up
Operational Mode ADSL2+
Upstream 511 kbps
Downstream 5114 kbps
SNR Margin (Upstream) 21.0 db
SNR Margin (Downstream) 12.9 db
Line Attenuation (Upstream) 27.0 db
Line Attenuation (Downstream) 49.0 db


I am now trying without the POTS filter connected.....Let's see how it goes tonight.
 
HoodRich said:
Hi Johnatan56 --> My line stats below :


DMT Status Up
Operational Mode ADSL2+
Upstream 511 kbps
Downstream 5114 kbps
SNR Margin (Upstream) 21.0 db
SNR Margin (Downstream) 12.9 db
Line Attenuation (Upstream) 27.0 db
Line Attenuation (Downstream) 49.0 db


I am now trying without the POTS filter connected.....Let's see how it goes tonight.
Click to expand...

Those look perfect though. When the connection drops again, can you check the line stats?
 
The ISP doesnt have any influence on line sync (except when changing line speed on request), either a bad POTS filter (as stated) or a line fault.
 
Looks like removing the POTS filter made no difference. It failed shortly before 5pm (but I wasnt around)

Mar 26 16:54:47 PPPoE: No response to 30 echo-requests
Mar 26 16:54:47 PPPoE: Serial link appears to be disconnected.
Mar 26 16:54:47 PPPoE: ipcp_down:start
Mar 26 16:54:47 PPPoE: ipcp_down:always
Mar 26 16:54:47 PPPoE: ipcp_down:script
Mar 26 16:54:47 PPPoE: ipcp_down:end
Mar 26 16:54:53 PPPoE: Connection terminated.
Mar 26 16:54:53 PPPoE: Connect time 76.6 minutes.
Mar 26 16:54:53 PPPoE: Sent 1944745 bytes, received 15438005 bytes.
Mar 26 16:54:53 PPPoE: Doing disconnect
Mar 26 16:56:13 PPPoE: Connection failed
Mar 26 16:56:13 PPPoE: Doing disconnect
Mar 26 16:57:33 PPPoE: Connection failed
Mar 26 16:57:33 PPPoE: Doing disconnect
Mar 26 16:57:43 kernel: Linesync lost
Mar 26 16:57:44 PPPoE: Hangup (SIGHUP)

Not sure what the line stats were at the time, but this is what they are now

DMT Status Up
Operational Mode ADSL2+
Upstream 511 kbps
Downstream 5117 kbps
SNR Margin (Upstream) 21.7 db
SNR Margin (Downstream) 12.8 db
Line Attenuation (Upstream) 27.0 db
Line Attenuation (Downstream) 49.0 db
 
Rickster - tried that....the line sound pretty clean to me. (though the POTS filter and plugged directly into the wall socket)
 
HoodRich said:
Looks like removing the POTS filter made no difference. It failed shortly before 5pm (but I wasnt around)

Mar 26 16:54:47 PPPoE: No response to 30 echo-requests
Mar 26 16:54:47 PPPoE: Serial link appears to be disconnected.
Mar 26 16:54:47 PPPoE: ipcp_down:start
Mar 26 16:54:47 PPPoE: ipcp_down:always
Mar 26 16:54:47 PPPoE: ipcp_down:script
Mar 26 16:54:47 PPPoE: ipcp_down:end
Mar 26 16:54:53 PPPoE: Connection terminated.
Mar 26 16:54:53 PPPoE: Connect time 76.6 minutes.
Mar 26 16:54:53 PPPoE: Sent 1944745 bytes, received 15438005 bytes.
Mar 26 16:54:53 PPPoE: Doing disconnect
Mar 26 16:56:13 PPPoE: Connection failed
Mar 26 16:56:13 PPPoE: Doing disconnect
Mar 26 16:57:33 PPPoE: Connection failed
Mar 26 16:57:33 PPPoE: Doing disconnect
Mar 26 16:57:43 kernel: Linesync lost
Mar 26 16:57:44 PPPoE: Hangup (SIGHUP)

Not sure what the line stats were at the time, but this is what they are now

DMT Status Up
Operational Mode ADSL2+
Upstream 511 kbps
Downstream 5117 kbps
SNR Margin (Upstream) 21.7 db
SNR Margin (Downstream) 12.8 db
Line Attenuation (Upstream) 27.0 db
Line Attenuation (Downstream) 49.0 db
Click to expand...

You need it before it drops, as it re-syncs on drop in order to improve it. Telkom/Afrihost support should be able to tell you exactly what's wrong from the Exchange logs though.
Say yes to the Telkom tech, if they charge you, point at the log and say line issue.
 
Hi AfriGenie,

When I left home this morning, there was no DSL sync at all. Zero connection.

Thanks for looking into it, I'll PM you the DSL number.
 
Dry joint somewhere on the line. Could be anywhere, from the pole connection through to the DBs on the way to a fault on the MDF.
 
Yup! :(

Looks like a line fault. We've logged it with Telkom, we'll get them out there as quickly as possible.
 
Thanks Geoff/AfriGenie.

I received the ref number from one of the Afrihost support people.
 
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