I can't get my ADSL working - help please!

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martin

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I recently ordered an ADSL line and received confirmation from Telkom that it was activated yesterday morning. I picked up a Planet ADW-4401 router and tried it out yesterday evening. The ADSL sync light on the router stopped flickering a few seconds after I plugged in the line and settled into a steady green glow - I thought it would be smooth sailing from that point on.

After four hours of struggling I finally called it a night. No matter what settings I tried - I couldn't browse the internet. I need your help/advice please.

I ran the diagnostics functions on the router and it came up with the following:
LAN Connection Check
Test Ethernet LAN Connection - PASS

ADSL Connection Check
Test ADSL Synchronization - PASS
Test ATM OAM F5 Segment Loopback - FAIL
Test ATM OAM F5 End-to-end Loopback- FAIL
Test ATM OAM F4 Segment Loopback - FAIL
Test ATM OAM F4 End-to-end Loopback PASS

Internet Connection Check
Test PPP Server Connection - PASS
Test Authentication with ISP - PASS
Test the assigned IP Address - PASS
Ping Primary Domain Name Server - FAIL

The WAN status on the router displays the following info:
Internet_R_8_35
8/35
LLC
PPPoE
41.240.141.186
41.240.128.1
up 00:01:01
Default Gateway: 41.240.128.1
DNS Servers: 196.43.45.190, 196.43.46.190

The following is a list of things I suspect are okay:
- The ADSL line itself: the router indicates that it's able to sync and the router's WAN status indicates that it's successfully connected using PPPoE
- The networking connection to my PC: I can ping the router, I can access the web interface, I receive an IP address from the router's built-in DHCP server

Things I've checked:
- Putting the router in bridge mode and creating a PPPoE connection from my PC - it successfully connects to my ISP's (WebAfrica & Afrihost) but displays a message that it can't connect to the internet after that
- Checking the firewall settings on the router: did not see anything suspect
- Specifying static DNS addresses on the router: this did not change anything
- Resetting the router to factory defaults: no change

Any advice? Judging from the diagnostics test - there are definitely some problems. I just have no idea how to fix them. Help please! :confused:
 
Last edited:
labratza said:
call 0800 375 375 and see of they can give you a order number cos otherwise they must verify it for you
Click to expand...

Thanks for your help! I phoned the helpdesk, spoke to a moron but eventually managed to get a order number. I entered all the info into the verification link but it returned with a message stating that it failed to verify the line. I tried once more and now it says "Your ADSL Service request has already been processed" (not sure if this is a good thing?). I'll test it this evening when I get back from work and see if it's working.
 
Last edited:
davemc said:
If you can see www.telkom.co.za/verifyadsl but little else, then it is definately a verify problem.

I am amazed that Telkom still do not provide a "welcome to Telkom ADSL" package that explains these details.
Click to expand...

I'm browsing using my 3G connection. Haven't tried accessing that page using ADSL yet.

Edit: Definitely agree with your second statement. The mods should actually sticky that info somewhere if it's not up there already (didn't notice it in any stickies),
 
Last edited:
I think this is more of a networking issue. Try this, assign STATIC IP adresses to the PC / device connecting through the router and set your primary and secondary DNS to the DNS entries of your ISP.
 
R4tt3xx said:
I think this is more of a networking issue. Try this, assign STATIC IP adresses to the PC / device connecting through the router and set your primary and secondary DNS to the DNS entries of your ISP.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll try that as a Plan B but the line had definitely not been verified when I phoned to get an order number a few minutes ago. The guy I spoke to on the Telkom end confirmed this.
 
Hi,

I had this when I setup my sister's ADLS for them. The line was "verified" on Telkom side so you couldn't verify it again.

Spoke to a techie on their side who reset the port for the ADSL manually from their side and boom it worked.

You could try that too :D
 
I had exactly the same issue- It took a couple of days of phoning the help desk before it worked. I think they eventually had to send a techie out, to do something to the line. Just make sure you have followed all their instructions and have a filter on your line- other wise they will insist that is the reason and charge you a call out fee. (filters cost about R50, and made no difference that I could tell, besides for producing more static on the phone line, but they insisted I have one)
 
Thanks for all the advice! I'm fairly knowledgable when it comes to networking but I had no clue you had to go through this whole line verification business. You folks saved me a lot of wasted hours dicking around with router settings :)
 
Just a report back - my adsl is working! I had to do exactly this in the end:

cyberbob1979 said:
Hi,

I had this when I setup my sister's ADLS for them. The line was "verified" on Telkom side so you couldn't verify it again.

Spoke to a techie on their side who reset the port for the ADSL manually from their side and boom it worked.

You could try that too :D
Click to expand...

Luckily, I spoke to a very helpful guy, so it wasn't very painful.
 
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