Really frustarting router problem

[Paul C]

Really frustrating router problem

Hi all

I wonder if anyone here has an idea what to do about my problem. I've had a Mecer +2 router for about two years now. About a week ago it started to drop sync, and I'd have to reboot. It would last a while then drop sync again. I thought it was a line problem, so Telkom guy came up and went through the telephone jacks etc, declaring everything fine. Typical, the router was syncing while he was here. After he left, the connection dropped.

I thought it must have been the router, so I switched it for my really old Telkom router. That worked fine. No line dropping or anything. That sort of confirmed it must have been the router right? I go an buy a new one, plug it in, and I get the same problem. Line keeps dropping. Have to reboot router, it syncs for about five mins, then connection drops again. I plug my old Telkom router back in and it's working again.

(I just did a speedtest using the old telkom router and I only get 812 kbps on a supposedly 4 meg uncapped line. Could the problem be at the exchange? The old telkom router will only connect at lower speeds anyway, and the new routers try to connect at 4096 so the line keeps dropping? )

 

[howardb]

That sounds like a line or exchange problem - I had to get telkom to cap my 4MB line as 3.6-something as it could not sync at any speed higher than that.

- Did telkom actually test the ADSL line, or did they only check your jacks?
- Can you determine your SNR Margin and Attenuation figures from your router and post them here.
- Check your tel/modem/wall jacks and plugs carefully for any signs of oxidation/corrosion (blue/dark build-up on the copper contacts) - depending on where you stay, this can also cause a bad line over time - just use an earbud with some brasso to remove the build-up, then plug everything back in.
- Does your telephone have any "noise" on the line - dial 1 and cover the mouthpiece to determine any subtle crackles, etc.
- Also check your ADSL filter box - you may have had a lightning strike without knowing it - had to replace my mom's one last week as she also had line sync problems after the filter box was fried (tel and router were fine though)

 

[Pada]

Log in on your router's web interface and post your ADSL stats (SNR/noise margins, line attenuation and line speed - both upstream & downstream) here.
Once we have your stats, we can tell if it is a line issue or something else.

 

[Paul C]

Hi Howard.
Telkom only tested the jacks. He fuond a bit of oxidation, so decalred that the problem. THere is a lot of noise on the line. clicks, crackling etc. Will post the snr margis when I've plugged the new router back in. Thanks!

 

[Paul C]

Just logged into the Tenda router and it doesn't give snr or noise margins. Weird.

 

[Pada]

I would find it very strange if the ADSL modem won't give you the SNR/noise margins.

Otherwise, plug in the old Telkom modem. My Telkom 5100 does give the SNR margins + line attenuation, but in a very weird format.

 

[Paul C]

Finally found the login details for the tekom router. SNR is 11 to 13. (varies) Line attentuation 57. I got them to lower my speeds to 2048 and it's been fine all day. But tonight the connection is dropping again.

 

[Pada]

If your downstream line attenuation is higher than 45dB, then you most likely will have issues with a 4Mbps ADSL connection. Seeing that yours is 57, you will most definitely have issues getting a stable 1Mbps connection even!

I would suggest that you remove the filters and other telephonic devices (fax, alarm, telephone, etc), so that it is JUST the ADSL modem that is plugged in directly. If the line attenuation values remained the same, then I suggest that you log a fault with Telkom till it is resolved.