Improving speed?

[#1]

Hi Anotherone and MisterW,
Thanks for the help.
Router stats has been logging continuously now for over 24hrs and I'll load the graphs later when I'm back home.
Interestingly, yesterday while I was watching Routerstats (nothing better on TV ) the phone rang and the router dropped connection.
I haven't messed about calling my home number as I didn't want to affect the routerstats logging test. Once I finish the test tonight, then I'll try a few calls to my land line to see if the drop out can be reproduced. Today, my wife will record the time the phone rings and I'll check if the router dropped out.
I've got a wired phone I'll try the quiet line test too.
MisterW, I can't get to the diagnostics using home/mdc but the router has a diagnostics tab - the details were at the bottom of my first post... are these the same stats as can be seen in home/mds?
ATB
SN

[#2]

Quote from: supernova1

Interestingly, yesterday while I was watching Routerstats (nothing better on TV

Yes I've found watching RouterStats more interesting than watching some of the rubbish on TV on may occasions.
But you are missing some of the action there with only 1dB step reporting 
When you post the graphs, post the stats as well.
After you've done all the checks you've mentioned, have you got any Microfilters that look similar this?
If so, n daylight hours, at least and hour before sunset and an hour after sunrise, as you can't do a plain Disconnect first, pull the power plug and wait a minute before unplugging from the line. Remove the faceplate and plug the filter into the test socket. Stay off-line for a minimum of about 10 minutes and then power up again. Post up the new stats.

[#3]

Hi Anotherone,
I have the ADSL faceplate so I'm not using dongle type filters.
One point though, in the photo of the faceplate, the main line in entering top left and a single extension wire exits bottom right.
I'm assuming the BT eng' wired this line to the filtered side of the main line.
On the externsion line I have one phone.
I'll gather the graphs and post them with the stats shortly.
Cheers
SN.

[#4]

Hi,
Attached are a selection of graphs from Routerstats and one graph with the log graphed in excel. This one shows the log from 13:00 to 7:00 next day, then 17:00 to 19:00.
At ~15:00 the router dropped the connection (incomming phone call) sync went from 1824 to 1792.
Routerstats graphs are typical of the other recorded graphs, between 6 and 7db.
The stats from the router diagnostics show (I think)  4 drops in 2 days 3hrs Could be a problem with incomming phone calls? (maybe more testing needed here)
Quiet line test - there is a faint hum / buzz (there is no hiss or high frequency ADSL type sound or clicks / scratches).
I will do a before and after test socket test and post the router diagnostics.
ATB
SN

[#5]

Your analysis of the stats there coincided with my thoughts. At least your SNRM variations from day to night are small, but some how I feel a bit uneasy about that. Certainly looks as though an incoming call is probably causing a drop based on the observations so far. You need to check that more. I'd suggest doing it in daylight hours otherwise it may drop your sync speed a bit.
The faint hum/buzz is probably your cordless phone, that's why it's always best to test these things with a corded phone.
I realise that you are using a filtered faceplate, you said so in your first post. That's why I want you to try a dangly filter in place of the faceplate to eliminate the possibility that the faceplate maybe causing an issue (they can go faulty) but done as in reply #16. It'll be too dark now, so you can't do it tonight, well at least I wouldn't recommend powering up again tonight, you could disconnect everything last thing tonight after you've finished with it.  When you have the faceplate off you can check the wiring. The extension with the phone should be dead. Whilst using the dangly filter, you'll have to plug a phone into it, preferably a corded one.
When you power up the modem/router in daylight, say an hour after sunrise, post the ADSL stats at the time. You could also check an incoming phone call.

[#6]

Hi AO,
I misunderstood about the filter  / test socket - I'm clear with that now.
I'll check if a incoming call drops the line + post stats with filter in test socket tomorrow AM.
Re, quite line test, this was with a corded phone, the DECT phone unplugged fron the line socket and power. Just check again and there is a hum..maybe 50hz ish.
I appreciate all your help.
ATB
SN.

[#7]

No problems, I'll look out in the morning for your post.

[#8]

Hi Ao,
Quiet line test still has a detectable hum with a corded phone directly in the test socket.
Router now connected to test socket via dangly filter and stats are below.
Interesting that the sync speed is 1472kbs but the noise margin is still at 6.0db
I'll check later if incomming calls drop the connection.
SN

Connection Speed:
• Incoming: 1472 kbps
• Outgoing: 448 kbps
DSL Line (Wire Pair): Line 1 (inner pair)
Protocol: G.DMT Annex A
Downstream Rate: 1472 kbps 
Upstream Rate: 448 kbps 
Channel: Interleaved
Current Noise Margin: 6.0 dB (Downstream), 14.0 dB (Upstream)
Current Attenuation: 63.0 dB (Downstream), 31.5 dB (Upstream)
Current Output Power: 17.0 dBm (Downstream), 12.3 dBm (Upstream)
DSLAM Vendor Information: Country: {0xB5} Vendor: {IFTN} Specific: {0xB182}
PVC Info: 0/38

[#9]

Oh dear, that downstream sync speed is not good. There must have been something(s) producing a fair bit of noise when that sync was negotiated!
Looking at the excel plot you posted yesterday, it suggests there was a fair bit of noise variation going on on the lead up to 0730 ish then.
AFAYK did you have any appliances or other electrical/electronic equipment etc switched on at the time, especially those that may not be on or infrequently on at other times of the day? That could include anything from TVs, Washing machines through to energy saving lamps.
Was the extension phone socket dead after you removed the faceplate and was it correctly wired to the faceplate?
This slight hum bugs me. I wonder if the line is not too well balanced or has a fault. I'm thinking perhaps we can get one of the DCT guys to run a full copper test on the line and post the detailed results. This is an intrusive test and sync will drop as will the line for about 3 minutes.
Perhaps they could also grab a Vis. Radius to post which would show PPP disconnections, which as you aren't having these drop in isolation will tie up with sync drops.

[#10]

Hi AO,
The extension was dead, I can see the wires connected to the IDC terminal of the removable faceplate.
I'll need to check what appliances switch on or off up to 7:30am ish - could be washing m/c or immersion heater. the noise margin improved, so it could be something like the washing mc.
As you mentioned, 1db resolution is not helping as the actual noise margin could be ~6.5db and any slight noise variation could be tipping it between 6 or 7db.
To be certain, I could run a test overnight with as all (or as may as possible) appliance turned off.
Routerstats is running again today, I'm calling home at certain times to correlate phone calls to drop out.
No problem for me to have the line test, especially if it identifies a problem.
ATB
SN

[#11]

I forgot to comment when you said the Noise margin was still 6db in reply #22.
I assume you know that when sync is negotiated it does so based on the current "Target SNRM" which will be 6dB here. As you've obviously realised this can be tweaked on some modem/routers either by settings in the firmware or by external software which is compatible.
When there's a lot of noise present the sync speed will be lower. If that speed remains unchanged and the noise goes away then the SNRM that you see will rise. I would hope that it will rise to around 7+ to 8dB as things stood previously with the current speed.
If the line continues to drop on phone calls with the dangly filter, if you have another one, do a swap just to check. You can always use 17070 option 1 if you don't have a mobile to ring your own number, you don't need to answer it!
I'd guess you may just as well go back to the filtered faceplate if the line continues to drop on incoming calls with dangly filters.
The other thing you could try when the faceplate is replaced, is put one of the dangly filters into the end of the extension and plug your cordless phone into that, so that it becomes double filtered.

[#12]

Hi Supernova,
I've copied in the connection log but I've also attached some line tests to this post.
<img src="http://community.plus.net/visualradius/generated/image14096622507350.png"/>

[#13]

Hello AO and Dan,
Thanks for the assistance.
The 13:00PM drop was when I made a call home. My wife reported that the router dropped connection as she ended the call. It did not resync after about 10mins and needed a re-boot.
The last call home I made the router kept sync.
AO, re noise margin - I wasn't thinking straight for a moment - my head is spinning 
I have some spare filters, new unused, so I'll do as you suggest.
I'll report on the graphs from routerstats later.
ATB
SN.

[#14]

Oh, so your head has only just started spinning eh,  welcome to the club 
Could be intriguing to see what the stats are when you get back after it taking so long to reconnect. The sync speed is better at the moment than when you left it this morning, but not as good as yesterday.

[#15]

Hi AO,
Definitely a problem with telephone calls causing the router to drop sync.
Out of 6 calls today router dropped out 4 times, This was using the dangly filter in the test socket and just 1 corded phone connected to the filter. (Extension and DECT phone not in circuit).
I can't show the router stats after 1:30pm as the router needed to be reset at the router would not re-connect without a re-boot ( this caused routerstats to flipout)
Sync speed floated between 1472 and 1600.
Current stats are 1535kbs and 8db SNRM
I'm not sure if adding another filter will help?
ATB
SN