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disconnects every few minutes - faulty DG834GT router or line fault?

IanM
Grafter
Posts: 38
Registered: ‎18-05-2008

disconnects every few minutes - faulty DG834GT router or line fault?

I think my modem, a (Sky branded) Netgear DG834GT might've died in this heatwave, but I'm not sure if there could be some other line problem?
It's a bit weird, the WAN connection is disconnecting every few minutes and then quickly reconnecting, but if the router status is to be believed there is no automatic adjustment being made by the exchange to increase the noise margin on the line.
With frequent disconnections I don't really get why the noise margin hasn't increased dramatically - I live in area with very frequent power cuts and usually we get screwed immediately after a power cut as we have to put up with increased margin for a long while until things settle down again.
Could anything else be causing this pattern of disconnections every few minutes, or am I right to suspect a faulty or overheating router modem?
6 REPLIES 6
wisty
Pro
Posts: 591
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Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: disconnects every few minutes - faulty DG834GT router or line fault?

I use the same hardware (with DGTeam firmware) and monitor it with Routerstats.
Occasionally I see the WAN reset without the router loosing sync to the exchange. Presumably the PPP connection to Plusnet goes down, but the ADSL link to the exchange stays up. I have never figured out why. But if that is the case then loss of WAN should not affect the  target SNR as the DSLAM operates at the ADSL link level.
It might be worth asking PLUSNET to take a look at their logs and see if they are seeing the PPP disconnections. Have you tried monitoring the sync speed with something like Routerstats?
If PLUSNET can't identify a reason, then the router having problems looks like a fair bet. I would start by resetting it ( power off)  in case its got its self into an odd state.
OTOH a spare @ Under £10 delivered  off E-bay looks a wise investment.
chrispurvey
Plusnet Alumni (retired)
Plusnet Alumni (retired)
Posts: 5,369
Fixes: 1
Registered: ‎13-07-2012

Re: disconnects every few minutes - faulty DG834GT router or line fault?

I've run some test on your line and there are no errors currently. I can see from our log's that you have started to have several disconnects over the last few days, mainly in the afternoon/evening. Has anything changed in your house, any new electrical devices?
<img src="http://ccgi.psmith12.plus.com/visradius/generated/image13433964907545.png" />
If possible try another router and micro-filter. I would suggest raising a fault at http://faults.plus.net.
IanM
Grafter
Posts: 38
Registered: ‎18-05-2008

Re: disconnects every few minutes - faulty DG834GT router or line fault?

Quote from: chrispurvey
I've run some test on your line and there are no errors currently. I can see from our log's that you have started to have several disconnects over the last few days, mainly in the afternoon/evening. Has anything changed in your house, any new electrical devices?

Thanks, actually there is some work going on and it crossed my mind that there could be some interference from one of the tradesmen's powertools. However, that doesn't really explain the evening disconnects and curiously the problem appears to have settled down a bit late evening/after midnight and that's why I suspected overheating - the router is very hot to the touch during the daytime and in the early evening. There is a new kettle as well, but it's more or less the same as the old one (1.5l Morphy Richards) and I can't see any correlation with the kettle being on and the disconnects.
Anyway, I have an ADSL-Nation faceplate with built in filter which seems to be slightly better than the other faceplate I have which came from a business called Clarity I think? I may swap them around again. These faceplates cured a serious problem with interference I identified on an old computer PSU (binned it long ago) so assuming the faceplate filter isn't dead/faulty I don't expect the problem is interference.
Obviously I will have to try another router so I'm looking at eBay and classified adds to see what's available, and I'll raise a fault - but I assume the fault checking system will ask me to try another router anyway?

Quote from: wisty
I use the same hardware (with DGTeam firmware) and monitor it with Routerstats...

ah yes, I have the DGTeam firmware! On this line it has proven to be a better combination with the DG834GT than the BT branded 2wire modems. I haven't monitored anything with Routerstats,  but I use Linux and I don't really like WINE so that may be bit of a PITA to set that up. I tried unplugging the router power for an hour or two yesterday to cool down and reset, didn't make any difference.
We need every bit of help possible in my area - the exchange is lowest possible grade and apparently will never be upgraded as it only serves 960 properties. Couple that with the frequent power cuts (which the utility company won't fix) and it's immensely frustrating. If I can't get another reasonably priced DG834GT I guess I may look at alternatives that use the same chipset, but maybe there is now an alternative that will run a bit cooler?
jelv
Seasoned Hero
Posts: 26,785
Thanks: 971
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Registered: ‎10-04-2007

Re: disconnects every few minutes - faulty DG834GT router or line fault?

If you suspect overheating have you not got a fan to direct at the router to see if that improves things?
Have you checked if it is clogged up with dust inside?
jelv (a.k.a Spoon Whittler)
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IanM
Grafter
Posts: 38
Registered: ‎18-05-2008

Re: disconnects every few minutes - faulty DG834GT router or line fault?

I could be wrong about the overheat, the weather is generally a lot cooler today but the disconnect pattern is the same: after midnight-noon seems OK, progressively more frequent disconnects through the afternoon.

EDIT: have now swapped the faceplate on the master socket - removed the ADSL Nation and fitted the Clarity BT one. No disconnects for a full ten minutes so far, but the temperature has really dropped now as well. EDIT 2: lasted just over an hour before disconnect.
If the pattern of disconnects only occurs Mon-Fri afternoons and evenings then this could get interesting to diagnose.
wisty
Pro
Posts: 591
Thanks: 112
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Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: disconnects every few minutes - faulty DG834GT router or line fault?

I think you need to find out if the router actually disconnects from the exchange, or does it simply drop the PPP link and re-establish it. I don't know Linux, but I would be surprised if there wasn't something similar to Routerstats out there.
If it doesn't drop the ADSL link to the exchange (and if that pattern of disconnects was at ADSL level I would have expected the exchange to raise the SNR) then I would suggest that the problem is not noise or line problems affecting the ADSL level and swapping filters etc. will be a waste of time.
One thought about the disconnect pattern, when do you use the link most? Is the disconnect occurring during/after periods of heavier traffic? If the router has got a problem (say with its volatile ram), then as traffic builds up it may run out of working buffer/pool space and the PPP link dies, the reconnection empties the offending buffers/frees up the working pool space and all  is fine again until it fills up again.
It does look suspiciously like a router fault. I don't think it should get that hot. Mine ( on 7x24 standing on edge ) is only just warm to the touch.