BT and intermittent line noise affecting my Broadband

GustyGardenGalaxy

A few weeks ago I was experiencing intermittent noise on my phone line which was causing intermittent Broadband line drops and consequent severe speed degradation (download speed eventually dropped to 15 kBp/s ! )

I noticed that the problem was worse when the weather was warm/very warm - however as the weather cooled down the noise diminished and the line speed improved. A BT engineer came out to look into the fault but due to the intermittent nature of the fault he couldn't find a problem - by then the weather was on the cool-down anyhow so the fault was easing off.

Naturally for test purposes I disconnected all my equipment, changed filters, used only the master socket, etc all to no avail. Also tried a different router.

Since then the weather has been relatively cool but over the past few days has started to warm up again and yes, you guessed it, the fault is starting to re-appear. Only one line drop so far (3 days ago) but intermittent noise on the phone line (although the automated BT test declares that the line is okay - I must be catching it at the wrong moment!). Broadband download speed has dropped back to 200 kBp/s (used to be over double that).

An engineer is coming out on Monday but no doubt the noise will still be intermittent and he'll say 'no fault found' or similar.

So what can I do?

The fault is obviously heat (or sunlight?) related, but how do I convince BT to get the problem sorted? It's a phone line problem, it just has the incredibly annoying side effect of messing up my Broadband connection.


Thanks

normanmark

Keep raising it with your Broadband provider if the fault exists, they should have your previous records so they should be able to make some form of escalation to the problem.

You need to ensure you have no electrical items near or around the phone line as these can have an effect with regards to noise on the line.

GustyGardenGalaxy

Thanks. Nope, no electrical items that are any different to what's normally there (besides, would they only cause a problem when the weather warmed up?).

normanmark

I can't say specifically i'm only using my knowledge of when i worked on faults as to what could cause it from your end.

Try these tips out: https://www2.bt.com/static/i/microsite/help_and_tips/faults/troubleshooting/noisy.html

But your best bet is raising a fault with your ISP asap.

GustyGardenGalaxy

Thanks, I really appreciate the help (it's all most frustrating!).

Tried the ISP route - because of the line noise it's they who advised that I should raise it directly with BT on the phone line side of things.

deklan99

Register over at kitz's forum, http://forum.kitz.co.uk/ , some openreach guys hang out there who might point you in the right direction from a technical point of view.

mykeblack

Hi, Have you considered the possibility that it might be your modem overheating?

when it cuts out again, just put your hand on the top of the modem to see how warm it is, and make sure there is enough ventilation around the modem for the air to circulate and cool it. Also make sure the modem is not on top of any other warm electrical equipment.

This could explain why it works fine when its cool but goes a bit flaky when the weather warms up.

ORE

have you tried disconnecting everything but a phone and filter in the mast socket when this happens. see if there is still noise on your line.does the noise sound a crackle or like what you would here when listening to a fax machine transmitting data. If this is what you here it could be down to your modem/filters.

There could be a fault on the line where the cable is corroded but just held together an no more. what we would call a HR fault...This could show up if the engineer uses his hawk meter on the line. Other than that its hard to find a noise fault when its intermittant...

Good luck

GustyGardenGalaxy

Thanks, all fixed now - there were a couple of tiny nicks in the plastic covering of the cables in the small grey lozenge shaped BT box outside my front door - these nicks can only have been made on a former visit by a BT engineer ............

jhp

tcidyy4030 wrote: »

glad to hear that,maybe i could solve mine as yours
thanks,

Serial Spammer trying to promote a link to Poker Going.