Explain this.....please!

Mikex

I live in a rural area with borderline broadband reception. I can usually get broadband but with a very slow speed. However I have not had any broadband for the last 3 days until when I was on the phone this morning I noticed the light illuminated on the router indicating a connection. I put the phone down and lost the signal.

It now seems I can only get a broadband signal (as I have at the moment) when the telephone is in use. As soon as the handset is replaced we lose the signal!

Any suggestions

Thanks

Mike

stilltheone

Microfilter fitted? If so perhaps it is faulty.

The other thing could be the way that your telephone extension are connected. Anyone do any DIY connections in the past?

Mikex

Thanks.

Still online no problem but my wife is on the phone.

Just to add. We have received our broadband for a couple of years and were warned from the outset the connection would be unreliable.

It seems likely something happened 3 days ago. We have noticed more noise on the phone. Where might a microfilter be fitted?.

Yes there is a diy phone extension.

In due course I will bypass all extensions by plugging the router into the primary telephone connection at the front door.

Mike

hippey

Try unplugging any extension and trying again.

The microfilter is the dongle looking thing connected to your phone socket you would normally have your phone plugged in one side and the BB modem/router in the other. Try changing that first. Then try using your test socket (if you have one)

stilltheone

One in every telephone socket.

spannerzone

Plug modem directly into the TEST socket hidden behind the master socket face plate - this removes any internal house wiring and is the most direct connection you can make. If it's still the same then it's a problem beyond your control and your ISP must get BT to investigate. It could be a dodgy connection that sparks into life (sorry, but an apt pun) when the voice call is made..... ADSL is a high frequency signal on the same copper wires and odd problems can exist despite voice calls working and vice versa. High resistance in the line can stop ADSL working but a live phone call can be enough to temporarily make the ADSL work and bridge a gap (bad connection)

I've had damp conditions make voice calls drop but ADSL still work - due to corroded wiring on the outside pole.

Useful links
http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/connectionprobs.htm (see section about ' adsl only works when the phone is being used'

http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/troubleshooting.htm

Mikex

Thanks all,

Wife on the phone again!

Spannerzones explanation seems spot on. Having lived with this problem for another day I am now certain that in order to get a broadband connection the phone must be in use.

I have a problem regarding calling in BT to investigate such faults as my drive is about half a mile long and understand I am responsible for this. Could receive a large bill for any repairs. Maybe cheaper to find other ways of getting online. Suggestions welcome?

Additionally I have heard the sort of problem I have will soon be history as I will be able to receive wireless broadband using the soon to be redundant TV signal?????????????????

Wife needs to cut the phone off

Thanks

Mike

spannerzone

Obviously it's not for anyone but BT to look at and investigate this problem and while they may have originally charged you for the long private line down your lane, I am sure they're now responsible for maintaining it regardless of length and location. Your first point of action is to call your ISP, explain the problem, explain you've connected directly to the test socket (thereby elliminating all your in house extension wiring) and tell them you've tried another filter - they may insist on sending you a new modem to try that but that's the last thing you can try really - all this proving that the problem now exists beyond your master socket (which is where BT's responsible for fixing at no charge if it's their fault (assuming you've not damaged/cut the line outside etc)

Did you try calling the BT test 17070 number and selecting 'quiet line' and listen to the line quality? - sometimes this gives a noisy/clicky/staticky sounding line further indicating a line fault

Personally speaking if I lived in a house a long way from the road and where the line may have a problem I'd at least take a peek at where the wire comes from the pole (or hole) into the house... often there's some junction box outside where the copper line comes in and then goes to the master socket.... sometimes if there's one of these junction boxes on the house it gets full of spiders nests which gets wet and 'can' cause issue.

But again, this problem is down to BT to fix and should not be at charge to you as you pay a line rental.

hippey

The length of line to your premises is not your problem if it goes faulty. As long as it is behind the Network Terminating Point which is normally your master socket unless you have a specialist installation where you have a terminating point somewhere else.

A example of this would be a telephone system which was installed by a private firm with equipment nearer the end of your drive running private extensions to other building you use. It sounds like this isn't the case so it's down to your CSP to sort this out as long as the fault is network side.

Mikex

Thanks again.

Phoned our provider (Post Office) and they have carried out various tests. They have determined the copper line test is OK but our circuit is not in sync??????????????????

Ref BT/FOC repairs.

Have had extensive conversations with them who confirm pretty much what has been said above but cannot give a definitive answer until the fault is located. It is only then that it will be judged to be chargeable or not irrespective of whether the fault is within the house or not. For example it may be entirely our fault that the line has become damaged when we have been digging or the local farmer may have hammered a fence post through the line.

It may be better for me to try to obtain my internet via a mobile device?

Mike

iniltous

Mikex wrote: »

Thanks again.

Phoned our provider (Post Office) and they have carried out various tests. They have determined the copper line test is OK but our circuit is not in sync??????????????????

Ref BT/FOC repairs.

Have had extensive conversations with them who confirm pretty much what has been said above but cannot give a definitive answer until the fault is located. It is only then that it will be judged to be chargeable or not irrespective of whether the fault is within the house or not. For example it may be entirely our fault that the line has become damaged when we have been digging or the local farmer may have hammered a fence post through the line.

It may be better for me to try to obtain my internet via a mobile device?

Mike

This is true, although usually if the fault is BT's side of the master socket, its BT responsibility to fix it, there is always the chance that the fault isnt fair wear and tear,but damage, and if the damage was located on the end users property, a charge raised, if the damage was outside the end users property/land, say another utility digging in a public space damaged the cable, then BT persue them to recover their costs...either way if its damage and they can get someone to pay, they will,
If someone has cable damage even if they didnt cause the damage themselves, inside their boundary they can try and use their home insurance or persue the person who damaged the line themselves,
As your provider is saying the line tests OK, then getting them to call BT/Openreach could well result in a charged visit, regardless if the line is damaged or not.. BT/OR dont have to guarantee broadband, just PSTN, so if they turn out, and the PSTN is working, then a charge is almost certain,..however if the B/B works when the phone is in use, then its more than probable that the problem is with your own wiring, or equipment.
If ,even when your broadband works, its slow, you may be better off with mobile broadband, provided you can get a decent 3G signal