Poor adsl, next step?

GunJack

spud17 wrote: »

If this happens, it's not going to be for a few days.
Just supposing we see evidence of some sort of fault, how do we convince BT?
I'm guessing this sort of info will be way over the head of any ordinary CS.

make sure you take screenshots /exports of the traces with time/date stamps (DMT gives the exported file a name made up of date info) and keep them, it may not mean much to 1st line CS, but if you hammer the point to get at least 2nd line to talk to you and look at the graphs, it will deffo help.

The only time I had a line fault, the DMT graphs I kept for the period were very useful in showing the intermittent nature of the fault, and helped show the OR broadband guy the problem when he attended, which he was then able to confirm with his kit..

spud17

Thanks GJ.
Did spend some time exploring routerstats the other evening, shows mine as a near perfect straight line for snr and sync, 4.6db and 6741 kbps.

spud17

Just an update.
Apparently it's too much fuss and upheaval for me to run an old laptop and routerstats for 24 hrs.
They are still hoping to nag BT into sorting it.
I'm determined to at least get them to let me run a Netgear router to try and get a few more line statistics.

GunJack

spud17 wrote: »

Just an update.
Apparently it's too much fuss and upheaval for me to run an old laptop and routerstats for 24 hrs.
They are still hoping to nag BT into sorting it.
I'm determined to at least get them to let me run a Netgear router to try and get a few more line statistics.

How are you supposed to diagnose anything without a bit of work?? BT will have far less chance with less info, not more...if they really want it sorted, they need to suck it up... what hassle is a lappy there running quietly to itself?? Some people need to be more realistic

kwikbreaks

With no stats there is nothing to actually say there is anything Openreach can fix.

spud17

It would annoy the hell out me, but I'll wait until the next time they moan.:D
I'm more interested than them in getting this sorted while also learning a bit more.
When I get time, I'll set up the Netgear, and then persuade them to swap over.
We should then be able to get more comprehensive connection stats.
It shouldn't then be a big step to letting my laptop run for 24hrs, will that be long enough?

kwikbreaks

Probably it would need longer as you need to check if there is some sort of pattern to decreasing noise margin and slower resyncs which must be happening for the measured speed to drop.

With some proper line stats my suspicion is that the line attenuation will show as 63 or 63.5dB which is the highest many routers can display and indicates a very long line.

GunJack

kwikbreaks wrote: »

Probably it would need longer as you need to check if there is some sort of pattern to decreasing noise margin and slower resyncs which must be happening for the measured speed to drop.

With some proper line stats my suspicion is that the line attenuation will show as 63 or 63.5dB which is the highest many routers can display and indicates a very long line.

Seconded

spud17

I've heard that yesterday the line was particularly bad. The overseas CS went through the usual script and then cut him off.
Later he got through to a UK person, who said she could see what appeared to be a problem with the line.
She said the line would be monitored for 24 hours and that should then give them a better idea of the exact problem.
Mmmm, not holding my breath.

spud17

I saw these poor folk over the weekend.
The call back from BT never materialised.
They called BT 4 times last week, each time had a pleasant CS person, none of whom could see anything about a 24 hr line test on their notes.
Each time they were asked to reboot the router.
Only one made sure they were plugged into the test socket, of course each time the broadband would restart, "thank you very much for your call, it's now sorted".
They are now well and truly pi**ed off.
Are there any BT community forums that anyone can recommend?

Also, any recommendations for a mifi along with an external aerial?
Phone coverage is ok in the house which is built into a bank, but a strong 4G signal is available from the back garden, which is higher.