A dire choice of broadband providers in my new place :(

Short_Seller

It will be interesting to see on hard wired. know where you coming form with chip inconistancies.:(
All Our systems are all paired sets. Exchange (Ventor / remote ) paired ->router->wifi paired.
The CLI code on Contextants can be problematic (taiwan maths). Shame the DMT tool isn't compatable for easy SNR tweaking.

Cheers

qpop

How bizarre is this: https://twitpic.com/6hfvqc/full

I just can't get my head round it. I can only conclude the modem is misreporting. I have even changed the Cat5 cable, just in case. I really don't have another answer.

Short_Seller

Is a unusual one. A spair test router would be useful.

If you can borrow a Broadcom based router , that works with DMT for a test bed ( ebay another cheap option) it would help in looking for issues.

Might be an idea to stick that pic up on xilo's board & see what their CSC says...

Or if you happy & the line is stable , let sleepling dogs lie ect...

Cheers

qpop

Well I'm coming closer to concluding that this Zoom ADSL modem is a lemon - it's losing connectiong every 2-10 hours at the moment. The DD-WRT D-Link router can't connect via PPPoE until I've rebooted the modem. This along with the odd sync situation is pointing me in the direction of the modem - I've contacted Zoom ADSL support but they haven't bothered replying, 4 days later. So, this really leads me to a decision; do I replace this modem and hope everything works (in which case I'm still stuck with a cheap/unreliable modem and a cheap/unreliable router only saved by custom firmware), or do I blow out a load of cash on something like a Billion 7800n (notably for it's ability to tweak SNR margin in the GUI) or somewhere in between.

deklan99

Check out the Session history section of your "My Xilo" . Can give a clue as to why your losing connection, either noise etc. or router requesting connection close. It's available on a CPW line, possibly not on C&W but worth a try.

There's also Routerstats - http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/internet/files.htm which may work with your Zoom, may show loss of noise margin issues.

qpop

2011-09-07 23:38:372011-09-08 00:07:510d 0h 29m 14s User-Request
2011-09-07 22:56:122011-09-07 23:13:170d 0h 17m 5s Port-Error
2011-09-07 22:51:342011-09-07 22:54:160d 0h 2m 45s Port-Error
2011-09-07 21:21:122011-09-07 22:46:440d 1h 25m 31s Port-Error
2011-09-07 19:15:092011-09-07 20:28:370d 1h 13m 29s User-Request
2011-09-07 18:19:392011-09-07 18:28:550d 0h 9m 16s User-Request
2011-09-07 18:09:482011-09-07 18:19:330d 0h 9m 45s Port-Error
2011-09-07 18:09:132011-09-07 18:09:430d 0h 0m 30s User-Request
2011-09-07 17:57:402011-09-07 18:06:540d 0h 9m 14s Port-Error
2011-09-06 21:23:452011-09-07 17:57:130d 20h 33m 28s User-Request
2011-09-06 20:10:342011-09-06 21:23:070d 1h 12m 33s Port-Error
2011-09-06 19:52:402011-09-06 20:09:510d 0h 17m 12s User-Request
2011-09-06 19:16:562011-09-06 19:52:180d 0h 35m 22s User-Request
2011-09-06 18:13:452011-09-06 19:16:400d 1h 2m 55s User-Request
2011-09-06 18:08:192011-09-06 18:12:550d 0h 4m 35s User-Request
2011-09-06 15:53:392011-09-06 17:50:480d 1h 57m 8s User-Request
2011-09-06 15:52:082011-09-06 15:53:100d 0h 1m 2s Port-Error
2011-09-05 20:49:392011-09-06 15:51:460d 19h 2m 7s Port-Error
2011-09-05 20:32:062011-09-05 20:49:000d 0h 16m 55s Port-Error
2011-09-05 20:31:212011-09-05 20:31:580d 0h 0m 36s User-Request
2011-09-05 20:22:442011-09-05 20:31:140d 0h 8m 30s User-Request
2011-09-05 20:13:202011-09-05 20:22:230d 0h 9m 3s User-Request
2011-09-05 20:05:592011-09-05 20:11:520d 0h 5m 54s User-Request
2011-09-05 19:52:072011-09-05 20:05:490d 0h 13m 43s User-Request
2011-09-05 19:33:562011-09-05 19:46:450d 0h 12m 49s User-Request
2011-09-05 19:02:242011-09-05 19:33:290d 0h 31m 4s User-Request
2011-09-05 18:56:372011-09-05 19:01:530d 0h 5m 15s User-Request
2011-09-05 18:14:452011-09-05 18:56:100d 0h 41m 26s User-Request
2011-09-05 18:08:422011-09-05 18:14:190d 0h 5m 37s User-Request
2011-09-05 18:00:492011-09-05 18:08:200d 0h 7m 32s User-Request
2011-09-05 09:29:122011-09-05 18:00:390d 8h 31m 27s User-Request
2011-09-04 23:30:182011-09-05 01:10:000d 1h 39m 42s User-Request
2011-09-04 21:48:532011-09-04 23:30:000d 1h 41m 7s User-Request
2011-09-04 21:42:002011-09-04 21:48:360d 0h 6m 36s User-Request
2011-09-04 21:38:402011-09-04 21:41:410d 0h 3m 1s User-Request
2011-09-04 19:27:482011-09-04 21:37:080d 2h 9m 20s User-Request
2011-09-04 08:58:052011-09-04 18:21:490d 9h 23m 44s User-Request
2011-09-03 22:23:182011-09-04 02:47:560d 4h 24m 38s User-Request
2011-09-03 21:37:032011-09-03 22:04:510d 0h 27m 48s User-Request
2011-09-03 21:13:382011-09-03 21:36:540d 0h 23m 16s User-Request
2011-09-03 21:06:342011-09-03 21:09:420d 0h 3m 8s User-Request
2011-09-03 21:06:222011-09-03 21:06:220d 0h 0m 0s User-Request
2011-09-03 20:50:372011-09-03 21:06:100d 0h 15m 32s User-Request
2011-09-03 20:38:052011-09-03 20:49:420d 0h 11m 37s Port-Error
2011-09-03 19:38:582011-09-03 20:36:030d 0h 57m 6s User-Request
2011-09-03 18:00:522011-09-03 19:36:370d 1h 35m 46s Port-Error
2011-09-03 16:47:162011-09-03 17:56:540d 1h 9m 38s User-Request
2011-08-31 19:57:212011-09-01 18:04:190d 22h 6m 57s Port-Error

This doesn't look good!

Bloody cheap equipment, I reckon.

So, what should I do?

Buy a different ADSL bridge modem (theres a cheap TP-Link one that's well reviewed, or a couple of other choices)

Or buy an ADSL modem router all-in-one jobby.

I'm thinking given my close proximity to other wireless routers I should get a dual band one, but it looks like the only one I'd trust buying (Cisco WAG320n) has loads of problems

deklan99

Most of those disconnects seem to occur at night when noise at it's worst. If at all possible try and get routerstats to work with the zoom, might show gradual decrease in downstream noise margin leading to loss of connection.
Better that than investing in new gear, although might be worth asking on Xilo's forum what modem/router has the best chipset for a C&W connection. Matt usually has an idea.

qpop

They seem to favour Thompson kit (why???).

Failing that they recommend the Billion 7800n (which is £120 and sadly doesn't provide dual band wifi, not that this is a dealbreaker, but for the price it's disappointing).

I think the disconnects happen at night because that's when the throughput tends to be. It's less a case of errors due to low noise (that might explain the socket errors but I've been messing around with SNR margins via telnet over the last few days) and more a case of either the modem or the router killing the connection for some unspecified reason.

Given the fact that to fix the problem I have to reboot the modem, not the router, would indicate the issue is with the modem, but then the webGUI / telnet interface is working fine, and the line stats give the indication that the ADSL line is up, but no data is running through it.

All in all very bizarre, and no doubt a direct result of me trying to skimp on the equipment! (£20 on a modem, £0 on a router given by a friend, repurposed with some very powerful router software with sadly fairly poor compatibility with the exact model of router)

Short_Seller

Is it a huawei msan's? Which is an infineon (IFTN) chipset. Best to double check in the telent for the vendor ID code.

If it is then, The 2wire 2700HGV (BT business hub) is infineon based & is phenomenally stable on Huawei's. Its locked telent is the downside.

Broadcom 6348 chipsets also works well on IFTN's & their very tweekable via the usual filmware tools.The standout is always the trusty old Netgear DG834 GT or V4.

Both can be picked up for less than £10 on ebay

Cheers

qpop

I'm confused. The modem is: http://www.zoomtel.com/products/5715_specs.html - I'm not sure what ADSL chipset it is.
And the router is a poor quality RaLink chipset D-Link DIR615 D4, saved only by the fact that it's running DD-WRT. This has made it relatively capable although it's garrotted it's potential Wireless N throughput in favour of stability (arguably not a bad thing).

I've concluded that we must have a dud modem (fingers crossed) and am RMAing it with Amazon. I will report back!