. . . and mistaken the DSLAM beacon as a HR on his HHT.
That's interesting. Back in 2012 when my neighbour first took a G.993.2 service, I just had to "take a look". Now I'm sure you know me well enough to understand the implication of those three words . . .
When the arranged time arrived, I was invited in, carrying my basic tool-kit, a Tester 301C and a Hawk. (Before the latter item became an addition to Walter's Wheelbarrow.) So there I was, sitting on the floor in front of the NTE5, with a lolly-pop plugged into the "test" socket, first with the "mole" and then with the Hawk connected. My first reaction was "Huh?", to which my neighbour asked "Have you seen something interesting?" I suggested he take a look and then said "First you see it, then you don't. The DSLAM is effectively beaconing its location, waving a flag and saying here I am."
Until I read your words, above, I had never seen the word "beaconing" mentioned in any of the documentation that I have read, from that day to this.