BT visit noise and Windows 7

[#1]

In 2008 Jameseh sold me an iplate which almost doubled my speed to about 1800Kbps.
It slowly fell back and the noise was high. Oldjim helped me download DMT and I tried to force it lower it. The noise eventually could be heard on the phone in early 2009 and the speed had dropped to about 1100Kbps.
At about Easter 2009 a BT engineer came heard the noise and checked the line to the exchange. He said it was OK but the Ivy on the pole (in a field hedge just beyond my garden) didn't help and the street light could be causing problems. The pole has a BT box  the light and mains electric for several houses.  I emailed the council about the light but got on with my life and just checked the speed occasionally.
The phone service is still  with BT  and I spent yesterday tracing why the phones only rang once, As it had been intermittent I thought it was a dud Dect phone but it turned out to be the BT post again.
BT had an engineer out this morning and then awaited second due to mains electric on an old pole. The box was blue inside presumably with corroded aluminium and a wire had corroded and is now been cleaned and reconnected.
My Netgear was showing the speed as about 1740 Kps last night.
The engineer has just gone and now the IP Profile is 2000 Kbps (it has varied between 1700 and 2500 during the past year)
The BT test shows speed achieved during test as 1730 Kbps
DSL Connection Rate 2656 Kbps (Down Stream and 448 Kbps upstream.
My Netgear DG834G reports Line Attenuation 57 db downstream and 31 db upstream
                                                      Noise Margin 12.1 db Downstream  and 18.0db Upstream
I now use Windows 7 and haven't DMT installed. I realise I have to wait and hope that IP profile might creep up a bit but the question is
Do I have to live with the noise level or is it worth reinstalling DMT and trying to force the noise margin down? If so by how much?
I removed DMT  when I moved to Windows 7 from Xp last Xmas after buying the OH a laptop and wireless printer and setup  wireless home network!.
Many thanks for any advice. My thought is to leave it a week or so before doing anything.
Wuz

[#2]

Probably best to leave well alone, but for reference DMT works fine with W7 (x64 in my case).

[#3]

HI Wuz,
if your line remains stable then we could consider resetting the SNR back to 6 and see if that helps.
Jojo

[#4]

What Jojo said.
Leave it switched on, and if it keeps a connection for over 72 hours with no problems, ask Jojo nicely to reset your SNR
B.

[#5]

Thanks to all,
I almost always leave the router on and will do so to at least Monday. The neighbourhood has been suffering power cuts and/or the Freeview signal dropping but luckily I have only suffered the latter for the last few months! That's probably tempted fate!
I looked at the BT box on the pole and they have stripped the Ivy away from the box and about a foot below. It is exposed to the South West gales so I don't expect it will be long before a recurrence! They just finished before a downpour.
A friend has just had his line changed to copper when they couldn't stretch the line out into the street and on his street you can see which house with new tarmac have had the same thing happen.
I had to wait when I moved in in June1988 for new lines (presumably also aluminium) under the road  and associated manholes. I remember the date as my new neighbours were aghast at the road being dug up after it had just been relaid for the first time in years!
Surely  the amount of work involved with aluminium negates the savings made over the price of copper in wet sites! 
I shall report back next week (Western Power permitting!!)

Wuz

[#6]

The current stats are
   
System Up Time 96:35:04
Port Status TxPkts RxPkts Collisions Tx B/s Rx B/s Up Time
WAN PPPoA 302993 480182 0 111 1618 96:34:29
LAN 10M/100M 98099 0 0 104 0 96:34:56
WLAN 11M/54M 603258 423419 0 1771 240 96:34:48
ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 2688 kbps 448 kbps
Line Attenuation 57.0 db 31.0 db
Noise Margin 11.9 db 18.0 db
Sorry for the layout but I used to copy and paste to MS paint but it didn't seem to want to paste from clipboard.
I haven't installed  DMT as I was away most of the weekend and with HPsauce's advice to leave well alone.
Could I please have the SNR reset? Would 6 be too low as when I last had the wires fixed at the pole I only succeeded at keeping it at about 8 or 9.
A friend had a similar problem which involved the wire being stripped back until last year when the wire (underground) from house to DP wouldn't stretch any more so they replaced it with copper.
My wire is overhead and there is still a fair bit of slack in it. Am I going to suffer this every couple of years until the wire won't stretch any more?
Thanks
Wuz

[#7]

I would suggest a couple of things first.
Install Routerstats http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/internet/files.htm and monitor the noise margin and errors per 15 minutes overnight.
This will give a clear indication if your line is struggling at the lower noise margin.
If it doesn't look too bad try dropping the noise margin to 9dB and monitor again overnight.
You could then try a lower noise margin but only if the error rate is reasonably low.

[#8]

Thanks Oldjim.
Will do that and report back.
Thanks,
Wuz

[#9]

Oldjim,
I made a few mistakes in setting it up and when I checked it I found the Netgear firmware should have been V5  not v4. I correct that  and started again II thought I had set it to record errors but see I just duplicated the noise!!
The Windows firewall then stopped it at 14:40!
How do you get it to record errors? I will then do it again either tonight or tomorrow and strive to get further up the learning curve.
The log for from 16:00 last night is below, in case it is of any use.
Sorry and thanks for your help,
Wuz

Mon 27 Sep 2010  16:20:07 Rx-Noise=11.7 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.7
Mon 27 Sep 2010  16:35:07 Rx-Noise=11.7 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.7
Mon 27 Sep 2010  16:50:07 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Mon 27 Sep 2010  17:05:07 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Mon 27 Sep 2010  17:20:07 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Mon 27 Sep 2010  17:35:07 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Mon 27 Sep 2010  17:50:07 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Mon 27 Sep 2010  18:05:07 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Mon 27 Sep 2010  18:20:07 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Mon 27 Sep 2010  18:35:07 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Mon 27 Sep 2010  18:50:07 Rx-Noise=11.7 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.7
Mon 27 Sep 2010  19:05:08 Rx-Noise=11.7 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.7
Mon 27 Sep 2010  19:20:08 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Mon 27 Sep 2010  19:35:08 Rx-Noise=11.8 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.8
Mon 27 Sep 2010  19:50:08 Rx-Noise=11.7 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.7
Mon 27 Sep 2010  20:05:08 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Mon 27 Sep 2010  20:20:08 Rx-Noise=11.5 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.5
Mon 27 Sep 2010  20:35:08 Rx-Noise=11.4 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.4
Mon 27 Sep 2010  20:50:08 Rx-Noise=11.5 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.5
Mon 27 Sep 2010  21:05:08 Rx-Noise=11.5 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.5
Mon 27 Sep 2010  21:20:08 Rx-Noise=11.3 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.3
Mon 27 Sep 2010  21:35:08 Rx-Noise=11.3 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.3
Mon 27 Sep 2010  21:50:08 Rx-Noise=11.4 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.4
Mon 27 Sep 2010  22:05:08 Rx-Noise=11.3 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.3
Mon 27 Sep 2010  22:20:08 Rx-Noise=11.4 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.4
Mon 27 Sep 2010  22:35:08 Rx-Noise=11.5 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.5
Mon 27 Sep 2010  22:50:08 Rx-Noise=11.7 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.7
Mon 27 Sep 2010  23:05:08 Rx-Noise=11.7 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.7
Mon 27 Sep 2010  23:20:08 Rx-Noise=11.5 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.5
Mon 27 Sep 2010  23:35:08 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Mon 27 Sep 2010  23:50:08 Rx-Noise=11.1 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.1
Tue 28 Sep 2010  00:05:08 Rx-Noise=11.4 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.4
Tue 28 Sep 2010  00:20:08 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Tue 28 Sep 2010  00:35:08 Rx-Noise=11.4 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.4
Tue 28 Sep 2010  00:50:08 Rx-Noise=11.9 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.9
Tue 28 Sep 2010  01:05:08 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Tue 28 Sep 2010  01:20:08 Rx-Noise=11.7 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.7
Tue 28 Sep 2010  01:35:08 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Tue 28 Sep 2010  01:50:08 Rx-Noise=11.7 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.7
Tue 28 Sep 2010  02:05:08 Rx-Noise=11.5 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.5
Tue 28 Sep 2010  02:20:08 Rx-Noise=11.4 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.4
Tue 28 Sep 2010  02:35:08 Rx-Noise=11.4 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.4
Tue 28 Sep 2010  02:50:08 Rx-Noise=11.6 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.6
Tue 28 Sep 2010  03:05:08 Rx-Noise=11.5 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.5
Tue 28 Sep 2010  03:20:08 Rx-Noise=11.3 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.3
Tue 28 Sep 2010  03:35:08 Rx-Noise=11.3 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.3
Tue 28 Sep 2010  03:50:08 Rx-Noise=11.5 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.5
Tue 28 Sep 2010  04:05:08 Rx-Noise=11.5 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.5
Tue 28 Sep 2010  04:20:08 Rx-Noise=11.7 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.7
Tue 28 Sep 2010  04:35:08 Rx-Noise=11.8 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.8
Tue 28 Sep 2010  04:50:08 Rx-Noise=11.8 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.8
Tue 28 Sep 2010  05:05:08 Rx-Noise=11.9 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.9
Tue 28 Sep 2010  05:20:08 Rx-Noise=11.9 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.9
Tue 28 Sep 2010  05:35:08 Rx-Noise=11.7 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.7
Tue 28 Sep 2010  05:50:08 Rx-Noise=11.8 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.8
Tue 28 Sep 2010  06:05:08 Rx-Noise=12.0 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=12.0
Tue 28 Sep 2010  06:20:08 Rx-Noise=11.9 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.9
Tue 28 Sep 2010  06:35:08 Rx-Noise=11.8 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=11.8
Tue 28 Sep 2010  06:50:08 Rx-Noise=12.3 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=12.3
Tue 28 Sep 2010  07:05:08 Rx-Noise=12.1 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=12.1
Tue 28 Sep 2010  07:20:08 Rx-Noise=12.1 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=12.1
Tue 28 Sep 2010  07:35:08 Rx-Noise=12.0 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=12.0
Tue 28 Sep 2010  07:50:08 Rx-Noise=12.2 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=12.2
Tue 28 Sep 2010  08:05:08 Rx-Noise=12.0 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=12.0
Tue 28 Sep 2010  08:20:08 Rx-Noise=12.1 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=12.1
Tue 28 Sep 2010  08:35:08 Rx-Noise=12.1 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=12.1
Tue 28 Sep 2010  08:50:08 Rx-Noise=12.2 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=12.2
Tue 28 Sep 2010  09:05:08 Rx-Noise=12.1 Tx-Noise=18.0 Rx-Sync=2688 Tx-Sync=448 User-def1=12.1

[#10]

Hi Wuz,
I've just ran a line check and SNR was showing 12. It does seem really stable now, I don't see any disconnections for 5 days now. We could probably try a reset but it would mean a training period and I couldn't guarantee the SNR wouldn't increase again. That's the negative possibility. The positive side is we could see sync rate increase of up to 1600k. It's your call at the end of the day, just let me know if you want me to do it for you.
Jojo

[#11]

Afternoon Joanne,
The only disconnections are when we have power cuts which until a few months ago was fairly common (and my neighbour still experiences them) or when one of the computers on the Home network gets out of synch when I reboot the Netgear which is used only wirelessly.
The router is attached to the main BT socket which on a rafter. I rarely switch it off unless going away on holiday.
During the training period is it best to switch it off now and again or leave it on for the full 10 days.  I seem to remember when I went on max with a Speedtouch USB modem I powered off my only  PC most nights. Should I power down the router  a couple of times during the 10/14 days training? As we have two computers and a wireless printer does it make any difference whether anyone is logged on or off
I am not too worried about the SNR increasing as I currently watch heavy rain blasting the BT dp box near the top of the pole in a field hedge. The aluminium is probably corroding fast so it is only a matter of time before it all goes!! At least it was the phone bell cutting out this time. Last time I had to wait until the noise could be heard before risking a call-out charge.
So please go ahead. If I have to do anything I will out most of the rest of today.and will pick up your response later or possibly tomorrow morning.
Thanks
Wuz

[#12]

Hi Wuz,
I'm going to request a reset now. I'll let you know how it goes then.
Jojo

[#13]

Thanks,
I am away out now!
Wuz

[#14]

HI Wuz,
Ok that's completed now. Let me know how it goes.
Jojo

[#15]

you can turn the PC's on and off as much as you like, the only consideration is the router.  During the 10 days you should try and keep it on all the time, it has been said by PN staff that a reboot during the morning daylight period helps, dont just unplug it, use the power button on the router