PlusNet introduces 30min auto-disconnect on ADSL

paul_h

GeoThermal wrote:

On the other hand could the cut-off be an indication of capacity problems at Plusnet?

Very likely running out of hub connections.

If you are on a USB modem, I don't think that many users will notice unless they leave their machine on for VOIP.

If you are using a modem-router which is unable to auto-connect, I can see having to reboot the router every time you want to use your connection a real pain...

bbb_uk

GeoThermal wrote:

...To me the point of BB is that it is much faster than dilaup, not that it can be always on although I can see how plenty of users would make use of the latter for things like servers, VOIP etc.

When bb was first advertised it was done so as "always-on" and upto 10x faster compared to dial-up which was obviously slow and most ISP's introduced idle cut off after x amount of mins.

Now bb providers are having capacity related problems and can't take the traffic despite the fact that they would heavily advertise as "always-on", etc not so long ago.

Personally, I think idle cut off is absolutely terrible because I could be downloading something like WinXP SP2 (yes, i downloaded the whole lot) and knowing it was going to take a while just leave it and if for whatever reason the download got corrupt and stopped I would then (near enough) immediately be cut off because I'm not using it at all and then have the hassle of connecting again (as you do with ADSL). Although, technically that can't happen to me as I'm on cable and once you switch computer on you are connected to the 'net (similar to a computer at work connected to the works' network at bootup) and I don't have to dial-up as ADSL users do.

Despite this I still think it's terrible and once PN do it a lot of the others will follow eventually and it'll be just like dial-up with all its limited this and limited that.

oranabana

if idle means, that there is no traffic going over the line at all, perhaps one needs to find a way to have some small amount of traffic constantly. Perhaps having messenger services running in the background does the trick.
However, if we are talking about the computers being off and only the modem/router staying on, it would be usefull to find a way to make the router transmit some amount of traffic at a set interval...

can this be done. Personally just done an inbound migration to Plusnet and using a Belkin Wireless router, which has a function to synchronise time with a time server (System Settings>Enable Automatic Time Server Maintenance). Perhaps this will prevent the thing from getting disconnected.... mmmh

bbb_uk

It'll just be idle time of internet traffic. I believe there are programmes you can get that purposely sends/receives internet traffic to keep internet connected. It was designed for dial-up but obviously will be needed for PN as well now!

Rex_Mundi

There is a plugin for Firefox that you can set to refresh a web page. If you are going to leave your computer on while you are away from it. You could set this to auto refresh a web page every 25 minutes (this is adjustable). This should get you around the 30 minute cut off. The only hassle would be that you'd have to remember to leave Firefox open before you walk away from your computer.

Find the plugin HERE

Alternatively (and this is my recommendation) find an ISP that doesn't have this stupid rule in place.

bbb_uk

Rex_Mundi wrote:

Alternatively (and this is my recommendation) find an ISP that doesn't have this stupid rule in place.

I totally agree. It's the only way to send PN the message that the limitations they have in place now are unacceptable - otherwise other bb providers may eventually do the same - then we're back to the limitations that dial-up had.

blinky

Unfortunately, I think the other ISP's are watching this carefully. IF Plusnet implement it and IF they can make it work successfully then other ISP's will follow.

You have to remember from what you pay £8-odd goes to BT, Gordon Brown gets a bit and the rest has to pay for everything else.

Under CBC, the commonest ADSL charging scheme, the cost of the BT Centrals start from £400,000 per year for 155Mbs pipe (~120Mbs usable). There is a limit to how many connections you can have on one pipe. If you can reduce the number of pipes needed / avoid buying extra ones by booting off idle connections without impacting users it is very attractive to the ISP's and their beancounters.

There has been some mention that the RAS and RADIUS servers might not like such a short session (it has been rumoured that BT Wholesale say the session should last 2 hours).

Unlike dial up it is not a fixed session time (e.g. 2 hours) only an idle timeout.

I don't agree with it either but I can understand the reasoning. It could work or it'll be a disaster.

It won't be difficult to prevent the time-outs and I assume they will only look at outbound traffic (to negate port scanners making a connection look active) but I could easily see the next step to ban tactics such as pinging to stop sessions idling out.

Donnie

The existing service provider cannot withhold an authorisation code to enforce debt collection or contractual rights. However, customers are not freed from contractual obligations they have entered in to with their existing service provider - i.e.: they will have to honour the remaining term of an existing contract or pay early cancellation fees, if applicable. An existing service provider will still be able to take reasonable action to enforce their contractual rights even after a customer has migrated to a new service provider.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/telecoms_ifc/codes/bbm_cop/?a=87101

paul_h

Donnie wrote:

The existing service provider cannot withhold an authorisation code to enforce debt collection or contractual rights. However, customers are not freed from contractual obligations they have entered in to with their existing service provider - i.e.: they will have to honour the remaining term of an existing contract or pay early cancellation fees, if applicable. An existing service provider will still be able to take reasonable action to enforce their contractual rights even after a customer has migrated to a new service provider.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice/telecoms_ifc/codes/bbm_cop/?a=87101

This code is voluntary and unfortunately PlusNet chose not to subscribe to it.

As I understand it, PN have already stated that they will withhold the MAC in the absence of any agreement to pay the due amounts.

paul_h

bbb_uk wrote:

I totally agree. It's the only way to send PN the message that the limitations they have in place now are unacceptable - otherwise other bb providers may eventually do the same - then we're back to the limitations that dial-up had.

And I wholeheartedly echo bbb_uk's, blinky's, and Rex_Mundi's sentiments. It worries me that other ISPs are watching...