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Briggykins
15-09-2009, 11:23
Hi all,

I've just had ADSL set up at the new house, but unfortunately it isn't working very well. It takes a long time to sync (up to 10 minutes), and when it does it only syncs at 160kbs (when it's meant to be around 6mb). I've tried the test socket with no other devices attached to no avail, also with a replacement microfilter. I'm going to borrow an ADSL modem to try when I get home to eliminate the router as a problem.
My ISP (Vispa) have logged a fault with BT who state there isn't a problem at their end. They've offered to put in an engineer call in but obv I'll get charged for this if it's my problem and not theirs. Can anyone suggest anything else to try before I resort to this?

Cheers,

Brigs
Burble
15-09-2009, 11:27
Can you get any stats from your router? Attenuation and SNR would be very useful.

Is the voice service on the line OK?
Briggykins
15-09-2009, 11:31
Not noticed any problems with voice service. SNR according to Vispa was way down at 3 - I'll see what I can get off the router when I get home.
Burble
15-09-2009, 11:35
An SNR of 3 is a bit on the low side, I'd be expecting it to be about 5. What you ideally want is low attenuation and a high SNR (so lots of signal, little noise). Systems in the exchagne will alter your sync rate to find the fastest rate you can sync at that's stable and an SNR of about 5 is usually the target.
Desmo
15-09-2009, 17:23
I had a problem where I kept losing sync and then connecting at around 160kbs. In the end it was the wiring from the pole to the house. BT came out and replaced it FOC. Just something to think about :)
Desmo
15-09-2009, 17:26
Actually, not quite sure it's the same problem. Does your phone work OK?

Here's my old thread... http://www.boat-drinks.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7631
Mark
15-09-2009, 17:30
I had the same problem as Desmo. My phone wire was pulled tight around the corner of a brick and over time it got cut. BT replaced it.

Plug just a phone into the line, pick it up and check that the dial tone sounds normal. Now dial 0 (or any other digit) to get rid of the dial tone and listen to the line. If it's clear then the phone line is probably OK. Any crackling at all and you have a problem with the line.
Burble
15-09-2009, 17:31
It would be convenient if there were problems with the voice portion since in my experience getting them fixed often sorts ADSL problems.
Burble
15-09-2009, 17:32
Plug just a phone into the line, pick it up and check that the dial tone sounds normal. Now dial 0 (or any other digit) to get rid of the dial tone and listen to the line. If it's clear then the phone line is probably OK. Any crackling at all and you have a problem with the line.

Or use the BT line test facilities. Dial 17070 then 2 for a quietline test.
Mark
15-09-2009, 17:51
Good idea. Didn't even know that existed.

Beware the automated BT line tests though - they can get it wrong (on my line it used to report a fault where none existed). BT might have fixed that though as I haven't used it for ages.
Briggykins
15-09-2009, 22:41
Tried the quietline test - didn't hear anything unusual and I haven't been having any phone probs. The 'noise margin' (which seems to relate to SNR) on my modem is now being reported as 24dB on the upstream and 1dB(!) on the downstream. Attenuation is at 18 up and 7 down.
Tried an alternative modem as well which wasn't slow - it just failed to sync at all. Gave up and requested the BT engy - hoping something gets done.
Mark
15-09-2009, 22:43
I reckon you've done all you can. Probably a bad cable somewhere or something like that.
Burble
16-09-2009, 09:06
Aye, SNR and noise margin are the same thing.

The downstream attenuation of 7dB is very nice so hopefully when it's all sorted you should be getting nice sync rates.
Briggykins
16-09-2009, 09:43
Cool, that'll be nice. Thanks for the advice chaps :)
Briggykins
17-09-2009, 09:23
W00t. Nice BT man came out, checked everything here, went to the exchange and found some faulty equipment there. Now syncing at 7616kb, which is a tad better :) Nice.
Burble
17-09-2009, 09:53
See, I said you'd get a nice sync rate :)

What sort of download speeds are you getting? It may take a few days for things to settle down.

Glad it's sorted!
Briggykins
17-09-2009, 11:21
Actually at the moment it's not much speedier than it was before (just a bit faster than ISDN). Going to give it a few days, if there's no improvement I'll get in touch with Vispa next week. Still, progress.
Burble
17-09-2009, 12:36
That's normal. It should sort itself out in a few days but if not give your ISP a call and ask them to get your BRAS profile reset.
Pickers
17-09-2009, 19:25
FNAR Bras profile. :p