IP packets dropping every few minutes

P

Pada

Executive Member
Joined
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Messages
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Location
Stellenbosch
Hi,

I'm having a problem with my ADSL in Stellenbosch, which only started a few days ago, where the IP packets would drop for like 5 seconds like once every 4 minutes.
Even my PPTP VPN to my office would disconnect too.

My PPPoE connections (IS & WebAfrica) doesn't drop. My SNR margins sits on 20dB down & 13dB up with my 4Mbps ADSL connection.
My ADSL's current uptime is about 50 hours, where it never disconnected even once in a month!

When I ping the first hops on both the IS & WebAfrica connections, they would drop at the same time:
Code: 
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=254
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=254
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=254
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=254
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=254
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=254
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=254
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=254

Code: 
Reply from 41.185.86.1: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=254
Reply from 41.185.86.1: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=254
Reply from 41.185.86.1: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=254
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 41.185.86.1: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=254
Reply from 41.185.86.1: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=254
Reply from 41.185.86.1: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=254

I find this very annoying, because now I basically can't play Bad Company 2 any more :(
 
The ips above is actually on the Telkom ESR devices, which means its not the ISP. Only a select few things cause the above.

1. Contention or problem on your own ADSL line
2. Connectivity problems from your DSLAM to the Exchange
3. The exchange itself is congested

Your problem probably lies on # 2, but it can be any or all 3.

ps. You are not the only person on the Barrack Street exchange having problems.
 
blokhasie, where in Stellenbosch are you situated? I'm in Krigeville, near like Paul Roos Gimnasium.

Btw, did you use your Mweb account when you pinged 41.240.0.1, because your latencies are as high as packets going to London and back...

The weird thing is that the my latencies are low and then it would just suddenly drop packets. Yesterday it was like 4 seconds or so that packets dropped, and now its like 10seconds+.

Code: 
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=255
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=255
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=255
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=255
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=255
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=255
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=255

Is there anything that I can do about this kind of thing, because I'd rather go for the Cell C 5GB/month deal if I can't use my ADSL for gaming, than to pay like R800pm for Internet that I can only use for downloads :(
 
Last edited:
Thanks blokhasie.

My ADSL connection is 100% at the church @ Boland College in Stellenbosch, but if I ping that 196.209.22.1 IP address, it loses 1 packet every now and then.

I think I'm going to report the problem later on tonight on Telkom's website, and then keep on trying to escalate it. I should perhaps also check if my neighbours aren't experiencing the same problems.
 
Pada said:
Hi,

I'm having a problem with my ADSL in Stellenbosch, which only started a few days ago, where the IP packets would drop for like 5 seconds like once every 4 minutes.
Even my PPTP VPN to my office would disconnect too.

My PPPoE connections (IS & WebAfrica) doesn't drop. My SNR margins sits on 20dB down & 13dB up with my 4Mbps ADSL connection.
My ADSL's current uptime is about 50 hours, where it never disconnected even once in a month!

When I ping the first hops on both the IS & WebAfrica connections, they would drop at the same time:
Code: 
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=254
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=254
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=254
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=254
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=254
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=254
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=254
Reply from 196.209.22.1: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=254

Code: 
Reply from 41.185.86.1: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=254
Reply from 41.185.86.1: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=254
Reply from 41.185.86.1: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=254
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 41.185.86.1: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=254
Reply from 41.185.86.1: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=254
Reply from 41.185.86.1: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=254

I find this very annoying, because now I basically can't play Bad Company 2 any more :(
Click to expand...

You using a mikrotik RB for your pppoe sessions. I picked up a lot of the time that when my line loses sync quickly and comes up, mikrotik does not time out and keeps the session active.
 
Yes Prof.Merlin, I'm using a MikroTik.

I've also dialed the PPPoE connection with my PC, which bypasses the MikroTik completely, and it didn't disconnect either.
 
I've now tried to connect my WebAfrica PPPoE connection from the MikroTik as soon as the ping packets fail to return on my IS connection, and then the MikroTik is unable to establish the PPPoE connection.

Any idea what could cause this to happen?
 
What number can I call to change my line speed to like 2Mbps? I've tried 10219 & 0800 375 375, but I have no idea which options to choose to get to an operator to change my sync profile.

A Telkom technician actually came to my flat this morning and he switched me to another line. He said my cable was like on the brink of breaking loose on the other end.
Unfortunately nothing has changed and he is insisting that I should downgrade my line from 4Mbps to 2Mbps, because he says that 13dB is too close to the minimum of 10.5dB that is required!?

So ja, I just want to change my sync profile to 2Mbps to prove that it was never an SNR margin issue to begin with, because my downstairs neighbours have EXACTLY the same issue with different hardware.
 
BS. I was syncing on 4mbits stable on 9.5DB.

Phone 375 375 and go through the steps as you would to report a line fault
 
I have a suspicion that the new lady that moved in downstairs have something that F@#(&* everything up, because the problem started about 2 weeks ago which was round about the time when she moved in.
I've now done extensive ping tests, and guess what, it happens at a precise interval!

I can send & receive ping packets for 5 minutes 15 seconds, then it would stop for 30 seconds, and then continue for 5 minutes 15 seconds, stop for 30 seconds, and repeat itself over and over again.

This is what I wrote down:
Code: 
23:57:17 - down, 23:57:47 - up
00:03:00 - down, 00:03:30 - up
00:08:45 - down, 00:08:15 - up
00:14:29 - down, 00:14:59 - up
00:20:08 - down, 00:20:38 - up
00:25:56 - down, 00:26:23 - up

The ping tests would verify this, because it would receive 309 ping packets (at 12ms avg) & timeout 6 times - I've left it on for more than an hour, and it was EXACTLY 309 received packets every single time :(

So ja, now I'm 110% sure that simply downgrading to 2Mbps won't solve my problem.
 
Last edited:
Pada if you've got a UPS maybe you can organize an unfortunate power outage for the building & check if that kills the mysterious interference.
 
Hehe, great idea HavocXphere. I've got a nice APC SmartUPS with all my computer equipment hooked on it :D

Of course I would only try that as a last resort, because switching on the mains again might damage the other people's equipment...
 
Hey

Telkom guy was here yesterday -- my line is faultless, SNR is perfect, nothing he can see wrong. So basically this morning at 9am he moved me over to another DSLAM in the exchange, and... perfect!

0800 375 375 can change your sync speed -- they can do it on the fly if you ask them. Just have to turn your router off and on (it's what they want). During troubleshooting Tuesday I had Telkom bump me down to 1mbps to see if that helped -- didn't, same symptoms as 4mbps.

Now my problem is fixed... it was the DSLAM. Hope that helps.
 
Thanks blokhasie. So were you also experiencing downtime in intervals of precisely 5min 45s?

I'm still having the exact same issues even at 2Mbps. So ja, the techie was wrong, or it could be that the problem is with the upstream SNR, which is still 13db because changing to 2Mbps kept the upstream speed at 512kbps.

I've tried to switch off the neighbour's power, but the main switch did nothing - so even their lights are still on - mega fail :(
 
Pada said:
I've tried to switch off the neighbour's power, but the main switch did nothing - so even their lights are still on - mega fail :(
Click to expand...
Thats hilarious...and probably illegal too if the main CB isn't connected.
 
I think I've just turned off the wrong flat's power, that's all, because this afternoon the neighbour who is also having issues with his ADSL said to me that "someone" turned off his power :D
 
I've now been to a friend of mine who lives in Uniepark (on the other side of town) and he has the exact same issue, except that his Line Attenuation is 59.5dB, so he has packet loss inbetween as well.

Do you guys reckon we can bargain with Telkom not to pay this month's rental due to "no service"?
 
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