When 4Mbps is too fast...

[moron51]

Is there a way to limit my DSL1024 connection's maximum downstream speed, or will the router and Telkom's DSLAM always auto-negotiate the fastest possible rate at boot-up?
I ask because I'm on a long, noisy overhead open-wire link to the local exchange, and I have yet to see 4096kbps. Best-case speeds of around 3Mbps are accompanied by noise margin of about 6dB, resulting in a connection that is unreliable, and requires frequent rebooting.
The last time I rebooted, I got connected at 1248kpbs, with a much healthier noise margin of around 14-16bB. I'd love to make this my default - at least until such time as Telkom redoes the local loop cabling in my area (Bryanston).
My router is a Netgear DG834GT.

Any suggestions?

 

[|tera|]

Welcome moron, the answer is no Unless telscum does it.

 

[kiepie]

On my other line, Telkom told me ADSL is not possible because of an open wire.

Regard yourself lucky.

 

[general_koffi]

Ironic.

Just maybe Telkom's focus is wrong with the speed thing.

 

[Gatecrasher]

I hanker after the old iBurst 1Mb/s.

It used to give me time to have a life between downloads. Not any more...

 

[Equinox]

They should focus on speeding up their installation time. I've been waiting for my line for 9 weeks.

 

[MrSmith]

Telkom can set your speed at the exchange.
I was once downgraded from 4Mbps to 2Mbps for a short while to try and improve line stability as the line often would loose sync.
Then the line ports at the exchange were reset and the line went back to 4Mbps as this is the default. So far i have not had any more sync issues so have not asked them to downgrade again.

 

[moron51]

Thanks Mr Smith!
How do I go about getting Telkom to set my line speed? Can the call centre guys on 0800 375375 handle the request?

 

[moabin]

They should focus on speeding up their installation time. I've been waiting for my line for 9 weeks.

is that it? I've been waiting since 8th September '06

 

[moron51]

1Mbps at last - much better!

A quick post-mortem on the situation that started this post:

It took repeated calls before I reached someone at Telkom who both understood what I wanted (to get off the 4Mbps trial, and back to a more stable 1Mbps connection), and was able and willing to do something about it.
For a while, I even had a 512k service (stable, but less than I was paying for).

Now I am back to sanity - sessions quite frequently last 24 hours, the noise margin is above 10dB, life is good!

Thanks to all who contributed to this state of affairs.

 

[turbo monkey]

Hi Moron51 !

I too have a Netgear DG834gt, and have experienced endless lock-up hassles (on both units). Have you had similar experiences?

Ta,
Mike

 

[moron51]

DG834GT history

Yes, I'm one of the many unhappy DG834GT users. Still on my first unit, but there have been times...

Stuff to try: stand the unit on end (better cooling); disable the Super-G wireless mode; check noise margin, and if it's less than 8-10dB, either get Telkom to test the line, or ask them to downgrade your line speed.

I've used both recent publicly-available firmware versions (see the Netgear support site), with no noticeable difference.

Right now I'm in a good phase. After lots of calls and hours of hold time, I got Telkom to take me off the 4Mbps trial, and my ADSL runs at 1Mbps, with noise margin around 12-15dB. The line stays up for 24 hours at a time quite frequently. Life is sweet! (waiting for the hammer to fall...)

 

[moron51]

3 months later...

Something strange, in the neighbourhood...

My ADSL line went down - surprise! - but on this occasion it was because Telkom contractors were replacing the old overhead cables and junction boxes in my street. It took them a week to get it right again, but now I have downstream noise margin of 20-25 dB at 1Mbps - MUCH better than before. I'm almost ready to call Telkom and ask them to up my connection to 4 Mbps...