Unlimited Fibre Extra cutting out randomaly

[#1]

Recently I have upgraded my router from the PlusNet Hub One to a TP-LINK Archer VR2100 because of internet drop outs that happened 2-3 times a day which was effecting my father who has to teach students in online classes.

prior to my other post I am still experiencing drop outs on the new router, sometimes it just totally cuts out and all internet access is lost, sometimes I stay connected to everything but stuff like Discord (VoIP) starts lagging and other people's voice starts becoming very jumpy till its inaudible. This happened earlier and I managed to get this log : 

(partial lag / drop) 

2021-02-04 19:19:17 [7] PPP: rcvd [LCP EchoReq id=0x32 magic=0x4eeb2b17]
2021-02-04 19:19:17 [7] PPP: sent [LCP EchoRep id=0x32 magic=0x34677ca4]
2021-02-04 19:19:24 [7] PPP: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0xda magic=0x34677ca4]
2021-02-04 19:19:44 [6] Httpd: DNS 195.68.0.2 resolve timeout for dns.msftncsi.com
2021-02-04 19:19:46 [6] Httpd: DNS 8.8.8.8 resolve timeout for dns.msftncsi.com
2021-02-04 19:19:47 [7] PPP: rcvd [LCP EchoReq id=0x33 magic=0x4eeb2b17]
2021-02-04 19:19:47 [7] PPP: sent [LCP EchoRep id=0x33 magic=0x34677ca4]
2021-02-04 19:19:47 [6] Httpd: DNS 195.68.0.2 resolve succeed for dns.msftncsi.com
2021-02-04 19:19:47 [6] Httpd: DNS 195.68.0.2 resolve succeed for www.msftncsi.com
2021-02-04 19:19:47 [6] Httpd: NCSI response check succeed.
2021-02-04 19:19:54 [7] PPP: sent [LCP EchoReq id=0xdb magic=0x34677ca4]
2021-02-04 19:19:54 [7] PPP: rcvd [LCP EchoRep id=0xdb magic=0x4eeb2b17]
2021-02-04 19:20:04 [7] PPP: rcvd [LCP EchoReq id=0x34 magic=0x4eeb2b17]

(This error occured on the 3rd party DNS servers)

I had been testing the default Plusnet DNS but since it had crashed fully today I decided to try and switch out the DNS, these are what I used.  

Primary: 212.31.224.3

Secondary: 195.68.0.2

(Partial lag / drop out)

(This is using default Plusnet DNS)

1. 2021-01-25 11:30:27 [6] Httpd: DNS 212.159.6.10 resolve succeed for dns.msftncsi.com
2. 2021-01-25 11:30:29 [6] Httpd: DNS 212.159.6.10 resolve timeout for www.msftncsi.com
3. 2021-01-25 11:30:29 [6] Httpd: DNS 8.8.8.8 resolve succeed for www.msftncsi.com

I really can't afford to keep having drop offs and cut outs during the day as it is affecting my dad's teaching and also my school learning.

If anymore logs are needed please let me know and I will be happy to provide anyone with any information that may be needed to help fix this problem.

Router (DSL View)

	Upstream	Downstream
Current Rate (kbps)	8495	46727
Max Rate (kbps)	12122	65491
SNR Margin (dB)	8.9	5.7
Line Attenuation (dB)	25.7	13.4
Errors (pkts)	2	49955

My internet just dropped out again here is the log : 

2021-02-05 01:48:33 [6] Httpd: DNS 212.31.224.3 resolve succeed for dns.msftncsi.com
2021-02-05 01:48:33 [6] Httpd: DNS 212.31.224.3 resolve succeed for www.msftncsi.com
2021-02-05 01:48:33 [6] Httpd: NCSI response check succeed.
2021-02-05 01:48:35 [6] Httpd: DNS 212.31.224.3 resolve succeed for dns.msftncsi.com
2021-02-05 01:48:36 [6] Httpd: DNS 212.31.224.3 resolve succeed for www.msftncsi.com
2021-02-05 01:48:36 [6] Httpd: NCSI response check succeed.
2021-02-05 01:49:24 [6] Httpd: DNS 212.31.224.3 resolve succeed for dns.msftncsi.com
2021-02-05 01:49:24 [6] Httpd: DNS 212.31.224.3 resolve succeed for www.msftncsi.com
2021-02-05 01:49:24 [6] Httpd: NCSI response check succeed.
2021-02-05 02:14:27 [6] Httpd: DNS 212.31.224.3 resolve succeed for dns.msftncsi.com
2021-02-05 02:14:27 [6] Httpd: DNS 212.31.224.3 resolve succeed for www.msftncsi.com
2021-02-05 02:14:27 [6] Httpd: NCSI response check succeed.
2021-02-05 02:20:38 [5] DHCPD: Send ACK to 192.168.1.110
2021-02-05 02:20:38 [5] DHCPD: Send ACK to 192.168.1.111
2021-02-05 02:21:07 [6] PPP: Terminating on signal 15
2021-02-05 02:21:07 [6] PPP: Connect time 530.8 minutes.
2021-02-05 02:21:07 [6] PPP: Sent 625103941 bytes, received 621425254 bytes.
2021-02-05 02:21:07 [5] System: DSL Link Down
2021-02-05 02:21:11 [6] PPP: Terminating on signal 15
2021-02-05 02:21:13 [5] PPP: Connection terminated.
2021-02-05 02:21:13 [5] PPP: Release PPP unit success
2021-02-05 02:21:13 [5] PPP: Modem hangup
2021-02-05 02:21:15 [5] System: DSL Training
2021-02-05 02:21:38 [5] System: DSL Link Up us/ds 0/44611 kbps Type 64/65B PTM Annex B
2021-02-05 02:21:41 [6] PPP: sent [PADT session is 6595]
2021-02-05 02:21:41 [6] PPP: sent [PADI Host-Uniq(0x00005fd4)]
2021-02-05 02:21:46 [6] PPP: sent [PADI Host-Uniq(0x00005fd4)]
2021-02-05 02:21:56 [6] PPP: sent [PADI Host-Uniq(0x00005fd4)]
2021-02-05 02:22:16 [4] PPP: Timeout waiting for PADO packets
2021-02-05 02:22:16 [3] PPP: Unable to complete PPPoE Discovery
2021-02-05 02:22:16 [4] PPP: Connect script failed
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [6] PPP: sent [PADT session is 6595]
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [6] PPP: sent [PADI Host-Uniq(0x000060e6)]
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [6] PPP: rcvd [PADO PeerMac(f8-13-08-40-fe-a9)]
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [6] PPP: sent [PADR Host-Uniq(0x000060e6)]
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [6] PPP: rcvd [PADS SessionID(0x19c8)]
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [5] PPP: Connected to f8:13:08:40:fe:a9 via interface nas8.101
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [6] PPP: Using interface ppp1
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [5] PPP: Connect: ppp1 <--> nas8.101
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [6] PPP: CHAP authentication succeeded: CHAP authentication success
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [5] PPP: CHAP authentication succeeded
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [5] PPP: peer from calling number F8:13:08:40:FE:A9 authorized
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [5] PPP: local IP address 195.213.54.122
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [5] PPP: remote IP address 172.16.19.101
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [5] PPP: primary DNS address 212.159.6.10
2021-02-05 02:22:36 [5] PPP: secondary DNS address 212.159.6.9
2021-02-05 02:22:57 [6] PPP: Terminating on signal 15
2021-02-05 02:22:57 [6] PPP: Connect time 0.4 minutes.
2021-02-05 02:22:57 [6] PPP: Sent 153739 bytes, received 231044 bytes.
2021-02-05 02:22:57 [5] PPP: Connection terminated.
2021-02-05 02:22:57 [5] PPP: Release PPP unit success
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [6] PPP: sent [PADT session is 6600]
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [6] PPP: sent [PADI Host-Uniq(0x000062f7)]
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [6] PPP: rcvd [PADO PeerMac(f8-13-08-40-fe-a9)]
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [6] PPP: sent [PADR Host-Uniq(0x000062f7)]
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [6] PPP: rcvd [PADS SessionID(0x19c9)]
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [5] PPP: Connected to f8:13:08:40:fe:a9 via interface nas8.101
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [6] PPP: Using interface ppp1
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [5] PPP: Connect: ppp1 <--> nas8.101
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [6] PPP: CHAP authentication succeeded: CHAP authentication success
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [5] PPP: CHAP authentication succeeded
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [5] PPP: peer from calling number F8:13:08:40:FE:A9 authorized
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [5] PPP: local IP address 195.213.54.122
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [5] PPP: remote IP address 172.16.19.101
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [5] PPP: primary DNS address 212.159.6.10
2021-02-05 02:23:01 [5] PPP: secondary DNS address 212.159.6.9
2021-02-05 02:23:33 [6] Httpd: DNS 212.159.6.10 resolve succeed for dns.msftncsi.com
2021-02-05 02:23:33 [6] Httpd: DNS 212.159.6.10 resolve succeed for www.msftncsi.com
2021-02-05 02:23:33 [6] Httpd: NCSI response check succeed.

It briefly went down again, this is back on Plusnet DNS:

13	2021-02-05 11:32:26	HTTPD	Information	DNS 8.8.8.8 resolve timeout for dns.msftncsi.com
14	2021-02-05 11:32:24	HTTPD	Information	DNS 212.159.6.10 resolve timeout for dns.msftncsi.com

	Upstream	Downstream
Current Rate (kbps)	8495	44611
Max Rate (kbps)	11977	70495
SNR Margin (dB)	8.8	6.2
Line Attenuation (dB)	25.8	13.4
Errors (pkts)	0	24580

[#2]

Recently I have upgraded my router from the PlusNet Hub One to a TP-LINK Archer VR2100 because of internet drop outs that happened 2-3 times a day which was effecting my father who has to teach students in online classes.

I also noticed sometimes that the line attenuation would change to something like 5.0/7.0 when normally it would be 6.0/6.0 then I would notice long load times on websites etc

After upgrading my router I have only had 1 drop out and I will continue to monitor and check the logs.

I noticed with my PlusNet router that the speeds varied around 30-35 (download) which has now improved to 37 (download) with the tplink router.

I have a friend who lives a couple streets away who can reach 50+ (download) same plusnet plan. he's connected to a different cabinet to me but is there anyway I can improve my speed as my plan is suggested to be 40-66mbps

my other question is would the copper cabling coming into my house and inside have any impact on speeds as I don't think it has been changed since before my parents moved into this house 18 years ago.

the cables themselves are loose and are going through my kitchen behind the cupboards and don't look the best condition.

Would appreciate any info or help with this, I will attach my current router stats and a broadband availability checker screenshot.

[#3]

You can check your possible speeds HERE  although I think you have already done this. I can tell you from my own experience that distance from the cabinet can make a big difference that cannot be significantly improved by "better" equipment.

BT are only reponsible for the wiring to your master socket which is where you should connect the router for best results.

You can do a very simple line check yoursel by dialling 17070 Option 2 and seeing if you can hear any noise. It should be absolutely silent.

[#4]

I've seen the cabinet distance talked about a lot, I have a cabinet about 120m away from my house, I know that the cable might not be 120 meters exactly.

When I checked google maps(2016) it had a number 11 on it but on my BT checker it says my cabinet is 7 which I cannot find in my area it may be hidden somewhere.

why would they put me on another cabinet if I have one that is closer?

[#5]

I just tried the phone test and although I can hear slight hiss that is probably just my phone as it is also wireless.

[#6]

Its going to get worse keep rising tickets.

[#7]

unfortunately my minimum guaranteed is 34.9 mbps so nothing I can really do just wanted some info and to see if theres anything that can be done to increase speeds etc

[#8]

---

@UziAtake wrote:

Iwhy would they put me on another cabinet if I have one that is closer?

---

It all goes back to when the cables were originally laid and for groupings of residences there will always be a boundary somewhere with a house on the "wrong" side.  Your speed does not seem too bad to me!

[#9]

That's fair enough they were probably laid 20+ years ago, I know that my speeds aren't that bad but I thought it would be possible to get faster.

what do you think about the copper cabling? I'm also pretty sure there's a black box outside that has also not been touched in 18+ years could any of this be anything to do with it?

[#10]

the black box being a small little thing like a connector between the phone line and the cable coming into my house.

[#11]

Your speeds are way below where they should be with your synch speed.

How are you testing? you need to be using an Ethernet cable connected directly between your computer and the hub. The hub should be plugged in to the BT master socket, not an extension.

[#12]

I am using ethernet and my master socket is mk4 with 2 ports, dsl and phone.

[#13]

@UziAtake 

Two tests to try. First take the front off the master socket to expose the test socket in the back box.

1. Plug a wired phone into the Test socket, ring 17070 then option 2. If there's any background noise then report a phone, not broadband fault.

2. Fit a dangly filter (one will have come with your hub) into the test socket and connect this to your hub. Repeat the speed test.

[#14]

Awesome thanks, I will give these both a try soon and will get back to you.

[#15]

So I tried to have a look for a wired phone but must have thrown it out so I used a BT Graphite wireless handset and plugged it into the test socket and rang the number, I listened and I could hear a little buzz but I'm not sure if that is the handset itself.

I also tested the router direct into the test socket using a filter without the phone plugged in and these are the results

the BT speed test ping changed each time I done one from 47 ping to 200ping

speedtest.btwholesale.com = 47 - 200 ping - 42.07 download - 7.93 upload

speedtest.net 1 = 26 ping - 42.59 download - 7.94 upload

speedtest.net 2 = 26 ping - 39.05 download - 7.89 upload

If there is anything else you would like me to test please let me know. 

Thanks, Alex.