ADSL Problems - Revision history

Mvanbeek: /* Other People's Weird Problems */

2015-08-29T20:44:20Z

Other People's Weird Problems

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:44, 29 August 2015
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	* [http://tldp.org/HOWTO/archived/BTI-PPP/x396.html#AEN436 There are strange noises on the telephone line when I pick up the phone]		* [http://tldp.org/HOWTO/archived/BTI-PPP/x396.html#AEN436 There are strange noises on the telephone line when I pick up the phone]
	* [http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/sky-broadband-help/36098-internet-phone-problem.html ADSL works but phone doesn't]		* [http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/sky-broadband-help/36098-internet-phone-problem.html ADSL works but phone doesn't]
	* [http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=77461 Strange intermittent network problems]

	[[Category:TG]]		[[Category:TG]]

Mvanbeek: /* Other People's Weird Problems */

2015-08-29T20:43:31Z

Other People's Weird Problems

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:43, 29 August 2015
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	* [http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/sky-broadband-help/36098-internet-phone-problem.html ADSL works but phone doesn't]		* [http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/sky-broadband-help/36098-internet-phone-problem.html ADSL works but phone doesn't]
	* [http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=77461 Strange intermittent network problems]		* [http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=77461 Strange intermittent network problems]
	* [http://iwdn.net/archive/index.php/t-6895.html Very STRANGE Telephone issue]

	[[Category:TG]]		[[Category:TG]]

Mvanbeek: /* Interference */

2015-08-29T20:42:14Z

Interference

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:42, 29 August 2015
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	ADSL working by sending and received high frequencies down the same line as your telephone. Just as you can get interference on voice calls, these will also interfere with the ADSL signal. Remember those old stories about phones ringing every time somebody ran a bath? Those sorts of wiring problems also affect ADSL. So if you are getting strange intermittent problems with your ADSL line, then they may be caused by interference.		ADSL working by sending and received high frequencies down the same line as your telephone. Just as you can get interference on voice calls, these will also interfere with the ADSL signal. Remember those old stories about phones ringing every time somebody ran a bath? Those sorts of wiring problems also affect ADSL. So if you are getting strange intermittent problems with your ADSL line, then they may be caused by interference.

	Any electrical signal can be disrupted by another if powerful enough, or close enough. An arc welder throws out a burst of energy strong enough to cause CRT monitors to flicker over 20 ft away, even through walls. Mobile phone ~~shave~~ to be able to contact a mast up to 20 miles away, so if your ADSL line drops every time your mobile rings, maybe check how close the ADSL phone cable is to where you normally leave your phone.		Any electrical signal can be disrupted by another if powerful enough, or close enough. An arc welder throws out a burst of energy strong enough to cause CRT monitors to flicker over 20 ft away, even through walls. Mobile phone should to be able to contact a mast up to 20 miles away, so if your ADSL line drops every time your mobile rings, maybe check how close the ADSL phone cable is to where you normally leave your phone.

	Arc and fluorescent lights can interfere with the signal, even if they are not in your own premises, as long as their cabling is close enough to the telephone line. Guidelines say that you should not run a telephone cable and an electrical cable in parallel as the electrical cable will induce a current in the telephone cable. They should be a good foot away from each other.		Arc and fluorescent lights can interfere with the signal, even if they are not in your own premises, as long as their cabling is close enough to the telephone line. Guidelines say that you should not run a telephone cable and an electrical cable in parallel as the electrical cable will induce a current in the telephone cable. They should be a good foot away from each other.

Richard at 11:00, 29 May 2015

2015-05-29T11:00:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:00, 29 May 2015
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	* [http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=77461 Strange intermittent network problems]		* [http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=77461 Strange intermittent network problems]
	* [http://iwdn.net/archive/index.php/t-6895.html Very STRANGE Telephone issue]		* [http://iwdn.net/archive/index.php/t-6895.html Very STRANGE Telephone issue]

			[[Category:TG]]

Mvanbeek: /* Links */

2010-05-15T20:37:23Z

Links

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:37, 15 May 2010
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	== Links ==		== Links ==

		⚫	=== Useful Pages ===
			* [http://www.bt.com/consumerFaultTracking/ BT Line and broadband problems page]
			* [http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/socket.htm KITZ: Improve your adsl broadband connection speed]

	=== Other People's Weird Problems ===		=== Other People's Weird Problems ===

	Just in case you thought we are making all this up...		Just in case you thought we are making all this up...

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	* [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=650036 Phone ringing people by itself]		* [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=650036 Phone ringing people by itself]
	* [http://www.windowsbbs.com/hardware/71443-strange-issues-wireless-router-ups.html Router being reset by phone line surge]		* [http://www.windowsbbs.com/hardware/71443-strange-issues-wireless-router-ups.html Router being reset by phone line surge]
			* [http://broadbandforum.in/bsnl-broadband/58767-bsnl-broadband-have-strange-problem/ Nightime broadband problem]

			* [http://tldp.org/HOWTO/archived/BTI-PPP/x396.html#AEN436 There are strange noises on the telephone line when I pick up the phone]
⚫	=== Useful Pages ===
	* [http://www.~~kitz~~.co.uk/~~adsl~~/~~socket~~.~~htm~~ ~~KITZ:~~ ~~Improve~~ ~~your adsl broadband~~ ~~connection~~ ~~speed~~]		* [http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/sky-broadband-help/36098-internet-phone-problem.html ADSL works but phone doesn't]
			* [http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=77461 Strange intermittent network problems]
			* [http://iwdn.net/archive/index.php/t-6895.html Very STRANGE Telephone issue]

Mvanbeek: /* Slow Connection */

2010-05-15T20:10:02Z

Slow Connection

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:10, 15 May 2010
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	It is also possible that there was been a fault in the authentication mechanism when the connection dropped. Although most routers will continue indefinitely to log in to establish your Internet connection, after a large number of attempts (~1000) the system will lock the router out and since only a reboot will reset the counter, even when the problem is fixed the router can no longer reconnect automatically.		It is also possible that there was been a fault in the authentication mechanism when the connection dropped. Although most routers will continue indefinitely to log in to establish your Internet connection, after a large number of attempts (~1000) the system will lock the router out and since only a reboot will reset the counter, even when the problem is fixed the router can no longer reconnect automatically.

	=== Slow ~~Connection~~ ===		=== Slow Connections ===

	By this we mean a you are not getting even close to your expected download or upload speed. There are three main areas that could be causing the problem. Start faultfinding by getting baseline result from a speed test site. Try [http://www.speedtest.net/ WWW.SPEEDTEST.NET] or [http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest.html WWW.THINKBROADBAND.COM].		By this we mean a you are not getting even close to your expected download or upload speed. There are three main areas that could be causing the problem. Start faultfinding by getting baseline result from a speed test site. Try [http://www.speedtest.net/ WWW.SPEEDTEST.NET] or [http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest.html WWW.THINKBROADBAND.COM].

Mvanbeek at 20:09, 15 May 2010

2010-05-15T20:09:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:09, 15 May 2010
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	If none of the above seems to apply, follow the suggestions in [[ADSL_Problems#Wiring_Problems\|Wiring Problems]] to see if it helps. Even a cable that doesn't go anywhere can behave like an aerial, so unplugging any old cables could make the difference.		If none of the above seems to apply, follow the suggestions in [[ADSL_Problems#Wiring_Problems\|Wiring Problems]] to see if it helps. Even a cable that doesn't go anywhere can behave like an aerial, so unplugging any old cables could make the difference.

			== Links ==

	=== Other People's Weird Problems ===		=== Other People's Weird Problems ===
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	* [http://www.windowsbbs.com/hardware/71443-strange-issues-wireless-router-ups.html Router being reset by phone line surge]		* [http://www.windowsbbs.com/hardware/71443-strange-issues-wireless-router-ups.html Router being reset by phone line surge]

	=== Useful ~~Links~~ ===		=== Useful Pages ===
	* [http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/socket.htm KITZ: Improve your adsl broadband connection speed]		* [http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/socket.htm KITZ: Improve your adsl broadband connection speed]

Mvanbeek at 20:08, 15 May 2010

2010-05-15T20:08:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:08, 15 May 2010
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	There are many different reasons why an ADSL connection is misbehaving. Most of the time they can be narrowed down to a very small number of problems. This guide will help you determine where the problem might be.		There are many different reasons why an ADSL connection is misbehaving. Most of the time they can be narrowed down to a very small number of problems. This guide will help you determine where the problem might be.

	== ~~No connection at all~~ ==		== Problems ==

			=== No connection at all ===

	The first thing to do is to check the ADSL / SYNC light on the router. Normally this is lit when the router establishes synchronization with the exchange, and sometimes flashed randomly when there is activity on the line. Periodic flashing usually means the router is trying to connect to the exchange, so if the router is not connected to the exchange, there may eb a physical fault on the line. Using an analogue handset check for a dial tone, and make a call. If there is no dial tone, or noise on the line, report it as a line problem to your telephone line provider, as it isn't an ADSL problem, but a line problem, and is the responsibility of your line provider.		The first thing to do is to check the ADSL / SYNC light on the router. Normally this is lit when the router establishes synchronization with the exchange, and sometimes flashed randomly when there is activity on the line. Periodic flashing usually means the router is trying to connect to the exchange, so if the router is not connected to the exchange, there may eb a physical fault on the line. Using an analogue handset check for a dial tone, and make a call. If there is no dial tone, or noise on the line, report it as a line problem to your telephone line provider, as it isn't an ADSL problem, but a line problem, and is the responsibility of your line provider.
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	If neither of these resolved the problem, it may be a [[ADSL_Problems#Wiring_Problems\|wiring fault]].		If neither of these resolved the problem, it may be a [[ADSL_Problems#Wiring_Problems\|wiring fault]].

	== Dropping the connection and reconnecting automatically ==		=== Dropping the connection and reconnecting automatically ===

	If your ADSL connection is repeatedly dropping it's connection and reconnected a couple of minutes later, it is most likely caused by [[ADSL_Problems#Wiring_Problem\|faulty wiring]] or [[ADSL_Problems#Interference\|interference]].		If your ADSL connection is repeatedly dropping it's connection and reconnected a couple of minutes later, it is most likely caused by [[ADSL_Problems#Wiring_Problem\|faulty wiring]] or [[ADSL_Problems#Interference\|interference]].
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	If all the lights on the router turn off and turn on again, then there is a power problem. Either the router or it's power supply is faulty, the voltage to the socket (and maybe the whole building) is fluctuating, the electrical wiring is dangerously faulty, or a massive amount of interference is causing the router to reset. If there are other symptoms at the same time, this will help eliminate the first possibility. Trying a spare router would also help eliminate this. The second possibility, if building-wide would also produce other symptoms. Other computers resetting, lights momentarily dimming, florescent tubes restarting... With the third, switching the router to another socket or ring main would stop the problem (but '''please''' get the wiring professionally checked as it might be the start of a catastrophic problem). For the fourth, try the suggestions in [[ADSL_Problems#Interference\|Interference]].		If all the lights on the router turn off and turn on again, then there is a power problem. Either the router or it's power supply is faulty, the voltage to the socket (and maybe the whole building) is fluctuating, the electrical wiring is dangerously faulty, or a massive amount of interference is causing the router to reset. If there are other symptoms at the same time, this will help eliminate the first possibility. Trying a spare router would also help eliminate this. The second possibility, if building-wide would also produce other symptoms. Other computers resetting, lights momentarily dimming, florescent tubes restarting... With the third, switching the router to another socket or ring main would stop the problem (but '''please''' get the wiring professionally checked as it might be the start of a catastrophic problem). For the fourth, try the suggestions in [[ADSL_Problems#Interference\|Interference]].

	== Dropping the connection and not reconnecting automatically ==		=== Dropping the connection and not reconnecting automatically ===

	There are a number of reasons the router cannot re-establish an Internet connection without the router being turned off and on again. The most likely reason for this is that the underlying connection to the exchange has not dropped, and is still active. This means that the router cannot see anything wrong. The main cause of this is something called a ''stale session''. This is most often caused when a piece of equipment upstream of the exchange end of your ADSL line is reset or replaced. It therefore doesn't know about your router, as the connection predates it's database. When your router is rebooted, the connection information is entered into the remote equipment's database, and the connection is re-established.		There are a number of reasons the router cannot re-establish an Internet connection without the router being turned off and on again. The most likely reason for this is that the underlying connection to the exchange has not dropped, and is still active. This means that the router cannot see anything wrong. The main cause of this is something called a ''stale session''. This is most often caused when a piece of equipment upstream of the exchange end of your ADSL line is reset or replaced. It therefore doesn't know about your router, as the connection predates it's database. When your router is rebooted, the connection information is entered into the remote equipment's database, and the connection is re-established.
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	It is also possible that there was been a fault in the authentication mechanism when the connection dropped. Although most routers will continue indefinitely to log in to establish your Internet connection, after a large number of attempts (~1000) the system will lock the router out and since only a reboot will reset the counter, even when the problem is fixed the router can no longer reconnect automatically.		It is also possible that there was been a fault in the authentication mechanism when the connection dropped. Although most routers will continue indefinitely to log in to establish your Internet connection, after a large number of attempts (~1000) the system will lock the router out and since only a reboot will reset the counter, even when the problem is fixed the router can no longer reconnect automatically.

	== Slow Connection ==		=== Slow Connection ===

	By this we mean a you are not getting even close to your expected download or upload speed. There are three main areas that could be causing the problem. Start faultfinding by getting baseline result from a speed test site. Try [http://www.speedtest.net/ WWW.SPEEDTEST.NET] or [http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest.html WWW.THINKBROADBAND.COM].		By this we mean a you are not getting even close to your expected download or upload speed. There are three main areas that could be causing the problem. Start faultfinding by getting baseline result from a speed test site. Try [http://www.speedtest.net/ WWW.SPEEDTEST.NET] or [http://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest.html WWW.THINKBROADBAND.COM].
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	If during all of the above tests the speed test results remain reasonably consistent, then your connection speed may be limited by the ISP. All broadband connections have a ''contention'' ratio. This is the percentage of the bandwidth you are entitled. Some ISP's average it out, some rate limit. In other words, if you have a 2mb ADSL line, with a 50:1 contention ratio, you are only guaranteed a speed or 2mb divided by 50, or about 40kb/s, which is slower than a modem. The original idea was that the likelihood of 50 people all downloading a web page at exactly the same time meant that you would get your 2mb/s for a short burst, and then someone else would use it while you were reading the page. These days, more and more people are streaming Internet Radio and TV, and so the average usage is creeping up, placing presure on the ISP who is buying the bandwidth in bulk. The more bandwidth you use, the more they have to charge you. If you are on a low tariff, they may well slow you down by rate limiting your connection. They will also claim that your speed test is not ''admissible'' as evidence as they cannot control the speed outside their network. This is true, so ask them for the location of an internal speed test web page (or ask them to carry out one on your behalf).		If during all of the above tests the speed test results remain reasonably consistent, then your connection speed may be limited by the ISP. All broadband connections have a ''contention'' ratio. This is the percentage of the bandwidth you are entitled. Some ISP's average it out, some rate limit. In other words, if you have a 2mb ADSL line, with a 50:1 contention ratio, you are only guaranteed a speed or 2mb divided by 50, or about 40kb/s, which is slower than a modem. The original idea was that the likelihood of 50 people all downloading a web page at exactly the same time meant that you would get your 2mb/s for a short burst, and then someone else would use it while you were reading the page. These days, more and more people are streaming Internet Radio and TV, and so the average usage is creeping up, placing presure on the ISP who is buying the bandwidth in bulk. The more bandwidth you use, the more they have to charge you. If you are on a low tariff, they may well slow you down by rate limiting your connection. They will also claim that your speed test is not ''admissible'' as evidence as they cannot control the speed outside their network. This is true, so ask them for the location of an internal speed test web page (or ask them to carry out one on your behalf).

	== ~~Wiring Problems~~ ==		== Solutions ==

			=== Wiring Problems ===

	If your broadband speed has recently dropped, it may be because of a wiring problem. This problem can be within your own premises, or outside, and this makes it tricky to resolve.		If your broadband speed has recently dropped, it may be because of a wiring problem. This problem can be within your own premises, or outside, and this makes it tricky to resolve.
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	If the problem has not disappeared, then the next thing to to it to get the ISP to conduct some line tests, as there is a chance the line problem is outside your premises. It may well be a bad joint in a street junction box, or damage during some street works. Just because nothing has changed within your office or house does not mean that nothing has happened in the handful of miles to your local exchange.		If the problem has not disappeared, then the next thing to to it to get the ISP to conduct some line tests, as there is a chance the line problem is outside your premises. It may well be a bad joint in a street junction box, or damage during some street works. Just because nothing has changed within your office or house does not mean that nothing has happened in the handful of miles to your local exchange.

	== Interference ==		=== Interference ===

	ADSL working by sending and received high frequencies down the same line as your telephone. Just as you can get interference on voice calls, these will also interfere with the ADSL signal. Remember those old stories about phones ringing every time somebody ran a bath? Those sorts of wiring problems also affect ADSL. So if you are getting strange intermittent problems with your ADSL line, then they may be caused by interference.		ADSL working by sending and received high frequencies down the same line as your telephone. Just as you can get interference on voice calls, these will also interfere with the ADSL signal. Remember those old stories about phones ringing every time somebody ran a bath? Those sorts of wiring problems also affect ADSL. So if you are getting strange intermittent problems with your ADSL line, then they may be caused by interference.

Mvanbeek: /* Weird Problems reported in the press */

2010-05-15T20:07:25Z

Weird Problems reported in the press

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:07, 15 May 2010
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	=== Weird Problems ~~reported in the press~~ ===		=== Other People's Weird Problems ===

	Just in case you thought we are making all this up...		Just in case you thought we are making all this up...

	*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/apr/10/energy-saving-lightbulbs-virgin-media]		* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/apr/10/energy-saving-lightbulbs-virgin-media The strange case of the energy-saving light bulbs and Virgin Media]
			* [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=650036 Phone ringing people by itself]
			* [http://www.windowsbbs.com/hardware/71443-strange-issues-wireless-router-ups.html Router being reset by phone line surge]

			=== Useful Links ===
			* [http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/socket.htm KITZ: Improve your adsl broadband connection speed]

Mvanbeek: /* Interference */

2010-05-15T19:52:00Z

Interference

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:52, 15 May 2010
Line 46:		Line 46:

	== Interference ==		== Interference ==

			ADSL working by sending and received high frequencies down the same line as your telephone. Just as you can get interference on voice calls, these will also interfere with the ADSL signal. Remember those old stories about phones ringing every time somebody ran a bath? Those sorts of wiring problems also affect ADSL. So if you are getting strange intermittent problems with your ADSL line, then they may be caused by interference.

			Any electrical signal can be disrupted by another if powerful enough, or close enough. An arc welder throws out a burst of energy strong enough to cause CRT monitors to flicker over 20 ft away, even through walls. Mobile phone shave to be able to contact a mast up to 20 miles away, so if your ADSL line drops every time your mobile rings, maybe check how close the ADSL phone cable is to where you normally leave your phone.

			Arc and fluorescent lights can interfere with the signal, even if they are not in your own premises, as long as their cabling is close enough to the telephone line. Guidelines say that you should not run a telephone cable and an electrical cable in parallel as the electrical cable will induce a current in the telephone cable. They should be a good foot away from each other.

			Microwave ovens operate on a very similar frequency to Bluetooth and some of the WiFi bands, so having a wireless router next to one could cause it to reset. If this is happening, I would also getting the oven looked at as its shielding may be failing.

			If none of the above seems to apply, follow the suggestions in [[ADSL_Problems#Wiring_Problems\|Wiring Problems]] to see if it helps. Even a cable that doesn't go anywhere can behave like an aerial, so unplugging any old cables could make the difference.


			=== Weird Problems reported in the press ===

			Just in case you thought we are making all this up...

			*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/apr/10/energy-saving-lightbulbs-virgin-media]