ADSL broadband line drops out - is fibre optic better?

penrhyn

ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 4740 kbps 566 kbps
Line Attenuation 24.5 db 12.9 db
Noise Margin 8.1 db 7.1 db

OK Looks like you have a noise problem on the line.
Is the router plugged into your master socket?
Do you have extensions?
Also could you reboot the router and repost the stats.

With a downstream line attenuation of 24.5 db your downstream sync should be between 16 and 24 MBps, as you can see you are only getting around 5 Mbps.

penrhyn

If no improvement the next step is to retest using the Master Socket test port. This eliminates any dodgy internal extension wiring you may have.

See piccy.

kwikbreaks

The clue to the prolem lies here...

Will_d wrote: »

Sky told me the line itself was clear, but nearly every time the landline receives a call, the internet goes down.

Now that could be a filter issue but the chances are it isn't. The most likely issue is a line fault. When the phone rings there is a substantial current carried compared to the base voice and ADSL current. Phone lines have lots of joints. If one of those joints is a bit dodgy the increased current being carried when the phone rings can cause the bad joint to generate RF noise. Enough noise to cause a loss of sync.

Getting Sky to recognise that and call out Openreach may be an uphill struggle. A similar problem lead to me giving up on ADSL and going over to cable. My line fault lead to noise on voice when the modem was connected which is a slightly different type of dodgy joint but one that enables you to complain about voice rather than ADSL. Not that it helped me - I had 5 visits and no fix.

penrhyn

I had the same problem, dodgy joint. Anyhoo, OP should check their internal stuff first. For all we know ATM they might have a phone on an unfiltered outlet.

kwikbreaks

Yes I'll agree those checks should be done. I'll lay odds it's a dodgy line though although the attenuation/noise margin/sync really don't stack up so it could be something unfiltered.

penrhyn

Agreed, now watching that Mitchell and Webb thing, laugh count currently zero.

Will_d

Thanks guys.

'Been finishing some work off, so I haven't had time to carry out those checks. I'll do them post-haste - many thanks Penrhyn.

I did attempt to post this reply hours ago but, lo, the internet was down.

If I can't put up the results tonight, I will tomorrow.

And agreed, Mitchell and Webb are s***.

penrhyn

Very poor, very poor indeed, as they used to say on Vic Reeves Big Night Out.
What's on the end of the stick Vic?

macman

Will_d wrote: »

Many thanks everyone for your helpful advice.

I've contacted Sky and they're sending out a new filter and cable, which may or may not yield a resolution. We'll see.

I'm not sure what the router line statistics are (and I'm not sure where to find them!). Sky told me the line itself was clear, but nearly every time the landline receives a call, the internet goes down. Thus, I'm not sure what to make of the line's clarity. Then again, I'm not an expert.

I did spot one thing: I can view an automatically-updating connection status page. In turn, it reads 'Up' (connected'); 'ADSL Link Down' (disconnected); 'ADSL Training' (in the process of connecting?); and sometimes 'PPP Server Down' (no idea).

The enigma lives on...

Would have helped if you'd said that at the start. You almost certainly just have a faulty ADSL filter or filters. Swap it/them out and the line should no longer drop. Will take you about 30 seconds to check. As above, all active extensions must be filtered, including your Sky TV box.
Though I'm not entirely clear from your posts if the issue is only when the voice side of the line is in use.

kwikbreaks

He's already supposed to be doing some testing as suggested by penrhyn. The poor stats make me suspect a line fault although something unfiltered which presents a constant load could account for them too.