Spelling corrected| Quote from: cowley |
P.S Most of the disconnections today were due to me testing the line so manually disconnected lots of times between 12 noon and 2pm.
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Doing that sort of thing when you already have a badly dropping connection is the worst thing you can do. The exchange DLM (Dynamic Line Management) raises the Target SNRM when it sees too many drops in a short period of time and on 21CN it can "Band" you speed (limit you maximum sync speed) which is what it looks as though has happened. You end up with a very high noise margin at the moments when the line isn't particularly noisy.
If you want to swap equipment, filters, cables or whatever, the best and safest method is to login to your modem/router interface and find the Disconnect/Connect button for the PPP(oA) Internet connection and click Disconnect. Then wait a minute before powering down the modem/router and then wait again before unplugging it from the line. Change whatever you want/need to and take at least 10minutes doing it. (If you want to alter your modem/router configuration do whilst you are not connected to the line,so that DLM is not see multiple reboots).
I also recommend not doing this more than 5 times in an hour and then leave it for the rest of the day. 21CN DLM in particular can be very aggressive in dealing with what it things is a dropping connection.
An SNR resets a pointless exercise when you have a badly dropping connection which you clearly have from the Visual Radius log posted and other information you have supplied. In these sorts of situations,doing a copy and paste of your modem/routers DSL stats, straight into a post (rather than a verbal; translation of them)is far more informative in the first instance.Also results from a BT speedtest. However there is already sufficient information here and getting the dropping connection fixed, which is being caused by the Phone line fault is the most important thing at this stage. It's also extremely advisable to get this fixed before upgrading to Fibre, because if the fault is between the Cab and your Master socket your Fibre performance will be rubbish.
I also note you have mentioned a cordless phone and extension leads.
First point, never use any standard telephone extension leads between a Test or Master (or extension) socket and any filter into which the modem/router is connected. The filter should be plugged direct into the socket and the short original modem/router lead used to connect the modem/router. IF a longer lead is needed for the modem/router you should be a screened twisted pair modem/lead from a reputable company (ie.not a cheap eBay job).
Cordless phones can sometimes cause problems and double filtering them can sometimes help. However cheap filters can also give problems - some will reduce the broadband speed and some can prevent Caller ID from functioning if you have that service. The best way to double filter if an extension lead is being used is to put the second filter at the phone end. The modem/router must always be plugged into the first filter. You should always use quality "Rat's-tail" type filters that look similar to
this.
When testing a phone line for noise it is always best to use a corded phone where possible to eliminate the chance of the cordless being the cause of the noise. You are already familiar with the Quiet Line test. When the line is crackling "nicely", confirm it's still doing so when the phone is plugged direct into the test socket and then ring your line rental provider whilst it is nice and noisy so you can get them to confirm they can hear it. As already advised do NOT mentioned the broadband, you get the run around. As it's BT Retail in this case and you've already had some difficulties with them, you are best to do this when the line is noisy and you may have to be a bit OCD to achieve this.
Get the Call taker to confirm they can hear the noise. Tell them your phone is plugged directly into the test socket. Insist they log it as an Intermittent fault and to make sure that information is passed to OpenReach.. I would go on to say that this problem has been going on for a long time (and it's worse when wet - if it is) and you are fed up with it not being fixed, it disrupts your phone calls and if they don't get it sorted out you are going to complain to OFCOM and consider moving phone provider as well! That should have some effect! Best of luck with that.
HTH.
Edit: Oh, if the engineer turns up and the line is quiet and he simply picks up the phone and says he can't hear any noise, ask him if he's used his Hawk Tester, because a competent engineer should have no trouble locating the suspect joints etc, with such a tester as your problems have been so severe and ongoing for some time, the bad joints don't completely disappear.
