Kitz Forum
Broadband Related => FTTC and FTTP Issues => Topic started by: IBeAdam on January 18, 2020, 02:36:34 PM
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[Moderator note. This topic has been split off from Oldjim's topic titled "FEC Errors with G.INP and interleave depth 4 (https://forum.kitz.co.uk/index.php/topic,20315.0.html)".]
I know it's an old thread, but was any resolution ever found?
I have a Billion 8800NL V1, which has been fine for 2+ years. In the last couple of months I've been getting daily (sometimes 2-3 times) disconnects.
I've gone through the usual things - cables, filters, moving powered devices away etc etc but nothing seems to be helping.
The symptoms are exactly as here - nice stable line (SNR level) but randomly a burst of millions of FEC's until it loses sync, or DLM kicks in overnight - every night!
My ISP says the line is "fine" and so refuses to send out an engineer without charge.
Stats after today latest resync
DSLAM type / SW version: BDCM:0xc01c (192.28) / v0xc01c
Modem/router firmware: AnnexA version - A2pv6F039g1.d24m
DSL mode: VDSL2 Profile 17a
Status: Showtime
Uptime: 3 hours 8 min 49 sec
Resyncs: 1 (since 18 Jan 2020 09:22:31)
Downstream Upstream
Line attenuation (dB): 27.3 0.0
Signal attenuation (dB): Not monitored
Connection speed (kbps): 28834 2859
SNR margin (dB): 6.6 6.4
Power (dBm): 10.8 5.9
Interleave depth: 8 1
INP: 43.00 0
G.INP: Enabled Not enabled
Vectoring status: 1 (VECT_FULL)
RSCorr/RS (%): 0.0019 0.0003
RSUnCorr/RS (%): 0.0000 0.0000
ES/hour: 6.45 2.93
FECs over the last few days
Total time = 3 days 20 hours 49 min 9 sec
FEC: 2501865771 345
CRC: 9132 303
ES: 405 212
SES: 183 0
UAS: 1226 1120
LOS: 6 0
LOF: 9 0
LOM: 0 0
Please see attachment for the spike just before the last resync.
Any help appreciated - I'm at my wits end!
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Do you use Homeplugs/Powerline adapters? They caused similar on my line.
Was there an ES or SES spoke at the same time?
Your ES and SES numbers are a little high for having G.INP and only 3 days uptime.
My advice is dump any Homeplugs, or try a different modem.
Rule out your own equipment.
Edit: just noticed this is 1 of Oldjim's old threads. He has sadly passed away since making this thread.
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Do you use Homeplugs/Powerline adapters? They caused similar on my line.
Was there an ES or SES spoke at the same time?
Your ES and SES numbers are a little high for having G.INP and only 3 days uptime.
My advice is dump any Homeplugs, or try a different modem.
Rule out your own equipment.
Edit: just noticed this is 1 of Oldjim's old threads. He has sadly passed away since making this thread.
Sorry to hear about Oldjim.
Internet went down while trying to reply to this - that's three times today.
This time as I was in I tried a quiet line test, and couldn't even get a dialling tone. Tried for 5 minutes before the phone line (and internet) came back up. That's got to be a line issue surely?!
(ps no homeplugs. Had some in the past but removed them, just in case.)
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Definitely sounds like a physical line issue.
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Definitely sounds like a physical line issue.
Thanks.
And thanks for letting me re-open this old thread. The symptoms sounded almost identical (hence not starting a new thread), but like so many things the issue may well be different.
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That does seem like an exceedingly high and sudden jump of FEC's. I am surprised that the ISP can't see those from a line test - although to be fair, not all of them look at errors.
The fact that the phone line was unavailable too suggests perhaps a High Open fault usually caused by an oxidised joint.
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Here is the latest graph
(https://thumbsnap.com/s/iRu0P0CT.png)
I swapped the Billion 8800NL to a spare Huawei HG612 which does seem to hang on to the connection a bit better (from the limited time its been up). Still seeing the same bursts of noise though.
During these periods of noise I cannot dial out with the land line. The dial tone never goes away and no connection can be made. I've tried three different phones (including a corded one) and via the master socket and test socket (via microfilter).
My ISP simply say the line test comes back OK. They will ask Openreach to send out an engineer on my request, but i'll be charged if no fault found. This is very likely as its so intermittent!! They also need me to be present, although I've asked them to check the exchange/cabinet first - no can do.
Any suggestions? I'm out of ideas!
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Here is the latest graph
(https://thumbsnap.com/s/iRu0P0CT.png)
I swapped the Billion 8800NL to a spare Huawei HG612 which does seem to hang on to the connection a bit better (from the limited time its been up). Still seeing the same bursts of noise though.
During these periods of noise I cannot dial out with the land line. The dial tone never goes away and no connection can be made. I've tried three different phones (including a corded one) and via the master socket and test socket (via microfilter).
My ISP simply say the line test comes back OK. They will ask Openreach to send out an engineer on my request, but i'll be charged if no fault found. This is very likely as its so intermittent!! They also need me to be present, although I've asked them to check the exchange/cabinet first - no can do.
Any suggestions? I'm out of ideas!
Did you try on the test socket directly without microfilter? may be it is the broken thing, unplug anything from master socket and just connect router to the test socket directly if things seems ok leave it connected for a while (sacrifice the phone) then connect the phone to the test socket without microfilter (most modern phones can run without one).
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That's triggered a memory @mofa2020.
About ten years ago I had the same symptoms. After swapping router, cables, filters etc, nothing made any difference, until I changed the master socket.
The original tested fine with a multimeter, but the problem never returned.
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Morning all,
The master socket was swapped out a couple of week ago - new mk5. Before that I'd tried two different filtered faceplate and two different microfilters. I don't have any internal extensions, although I am now trying an extension cable allowing the DECT phone base-station to be connected further away - just in case!
An engineer will have to wait until next week as too busy work-wise to take more time off.
I have swapped the Billion 8800NL (which has been working great for years) for an old HG612. This is the third modem I've tried (the other being a Draytek Vigor 130).
The HG612 appears to hold on to connection with a much lower noise margin. It also shows SNR margin fluctuations, where as the Billion was almost always level. Far less FEC error that the billion (although still lots of spikes).
I still don't think this is local interference, but a line problem which I'm seeing. I still cannot always get an outside line - dial tone never stops. Really intermittent though.
Last 24 hours. Line drop around 10pm and again around 2am (DLM). Still not managed more than 2 days without drop in the last 3 months.
(https://thumbsnap.com/s/N4kw6ucI.png)
Here's DSLStats SNRM last two days
(https://thumbsnap.com/s/LpUaA7oF.jpg)
Far lower margin, it was near 6db for ages before plummeting to just over 2.5 and only recovering to 3. You can also see the line drop at 10pm and the resync at 2am.
Latest sync stats:
Stats summary
Stats recorded 22 Jan 2020 07:35:31
DSLAM type / SW version: BDCM:0xc01c (192.28) / v0xc01c
Modem/router firmware: AnnexA version - A2pv6C038m.d24j
DSL mode: VDSL2 Profile 17a
Status: Showtime
Uptime: 5 hours 35 min 42 sec
Resyncs: 3 (since 19 Jan 2020 10:03:56)
Downstream Upstream
Line attenuation (dB): 27.0 0.0
Signal attenuation (dB): Not monitored
Connection speed (kbps): 28995 3289
SNR margin (dB): 3.9 6.4
Power (dBm): 11.0 7.3
Interleave depth: 4 1
INP: 55.00 0
G.INP: Enabled Not enabled
Vectoring status: 1 (VECT_FULL)
RSCorr/RS (%): 5.3182 0.0001
RSUnCorr/RS (%): 0.0000 0.0000
ES/hour: 0.79 0.40
Connection stats
xdslcmd info --stats
xdslcmd: ADSL driver and PHY status
Status: Showtime
Retrain Reason: 1
Last initialization procedure status: 0
Max: Upstream rate = 3289 Kbps, Downstream rate = 28400 Kbps
Bearer: 0, Upstream rate = 3289 Kbps, Downstream rate = 28995 Kbps
Bearer: 1, Upstream rate = 0 Kbps, Downstream rate = 0 Kbps
Link Power State: L0
Mode: VDSL2 Annex B
VDSL2 Profile: Profile 17a
TPS-TC: PTM Mode(0x0)
Trellis: U:ON /D:ON
Line Status: No Defect
Training Status: Showtime
Down Up
SNR (dB): 3.9 6.4
Attn(dB): 27.0 0.0
Pwr(dBm): 11.0 7.3
VDSL2 framing
Bearer 0
MSGc: -6 26
B: 227 95
M: 1 1
T: 0 39
R: 10 8
S: 0.2501 0.9224
L: 7613 902
D: 4 1
I: 238 104
N: 238 104
Q: 4 0
V: 0 0
RxQueue: 70 0
TxQueue: 14 0
G.INP Framing: 18 0
G.INP lookback: 14 0
RRC bits: 0 24
Bearer 1
MSGc: 90 -6
B: 0 0
M: 2 0
T: 2 0
R: 16 0
S: 10.6667 0.0000
L: 24 0
D: 1 0
I: 32 0
N: 32 0
Q: 0 0
V: 0 0
RxQueue: 0 0
TxQueue: 0 0
G.INP Framing: 0 0
G.INP lookback: 0 0
RRC bits: 0 0
Counters
Bearer 0
OHF: 0 374079
OHFErr: 3 2
RS: 320875640 1432051
RSCorr: 17064785 1
RSUnCorr: 0 0
Bearer 1
OHF: 1253976 0
OHFErr: 0 0
RS: 7523487 0
RSCorr: 5899 0
RSUnCorr: 0 0
Retransmit Counters
rtx_tx: 8193192 0
rtx_c: 5135692 0
rtx_uc: 276565 0
G.INP Counters
LEFTRS: 2987 0
minEFTR: 28768 0
errFreeBits: 317796144 0
Bearer 0
HEC: 0 0
OCD: 0 0
LCD: 0 0
Total Cells: 1107707941 0
Data Cells: 7268486 0
Drop Cells: 0
Bit Errors: 0 0
Bearer 1
HEC: 0 0
OCD: 0 0
LCD: 0 0
Total Cells: 0 0
Data Cells: 0 0
Drop Cells: 0
Bit Errors: 0 0
ES: 156 104
SES: 101 0
UAS: 664 584
AS: 20142
Bearer 0
INP: 55.00 0.00
INPRein: 1.00 0.00
delay: 0 0
PER: 0.00 9.02
OR: 0.01 28.35
AgR: 29058.99 3317.50
Bearer 1
INP: 2.50 0.00
INPRein: 2.50 0.00
delay: 0 0
PER: 16.06 0.01
OR: 47.81 0.01
AgR: 47.81 0.01
Bitswap: 9244/10356 6/6
Total time = 1 days 21 hours 58 min 0 sec
FEC: 86932270 240
CRC: 6242 169
ES: 156 104
SES: 101 0
UAS: 664 584
LOS: 3 0
LOF: 6 0
LOM: 1 0
Latest 15 minutes time = 13 min 0 sec
FEC: 345945 0
CRC: 0 1
ES: 0 1
SES: 0 0
UAS: 0 0
LOS: 0 0
LOF: 0 0
LOM: 0 0
Previous 15 minutes time = 15 min 0 sec
FEC: 322881 0
CRC: 0 0
ES: 0 0
SES: 0 0
UAS: 0 0
LOS: 0 0
LOF: 0 0
LOM: 0 0
Latest 1 day time = 21 hours 58 min 0 sec
FEC: 52964968 31
CRC: 1088 25
ES: 26 14
SES: 20 0
UAS: 334 320
LOS: 2 0
LOF: 5 0
LOM: 0 0
Previous 1 day time = 24 hours 0 sec
FEC: 20064129 118
CRC: 4595 75
ES: 85 44
SES: 71 0
UAS: 66 0
LOS: 0 0
LOF: 0 0
LOM: 1 0
Since Link time = 5 hours 35 min 41 sec
FEC: 17064785 1
CRC: 3 2
ES: 2 2
SES: 0 0
UAS: 0 0
LOS: 0 0
LOF: 0 0
LOM: 0 0
#
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Do you have a wired phone you could use to take the DECT totally out of the equation?
If you don't have one it's always worth having one for diagnostic purposes (and they will work during a power failure which the DECT won't). They are cheap enough (e.g. https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5529610).
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The fact that the phone line was unavailable too suggests perhaps a High Open fault usually caused by an oxidised joint.
A symptom of this can be that if you call your home phone line and leave it ringing for a short while, the extra voltage of the ringing can temporarily improve the line.
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Do you have a wired phone you could use to take the DECT totally out of the equation?
If you don't have one it's always worth having one for diagnostic purposes (and they will work during a power failure which the DECT won't). They are cheap enough (e.g. https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5529610).
Yes, I have used a wired phone both directly in the master socket, and via the same extension cable (to test the cable). Did this for a couple of days with no improvement so went back to the DECT as it's easier to use. Also tried another DECT base unit, just in case.
I've tried:
- two different DECT base units
- wired phone
- two different master sockets - original and engineer fitted mk5
- two different filtered faceplates
- two different filters directly in to test socket
- moving dect base unit away from modem using extension lead
- three different modem cables
- different network cables
- three different modems - Billion NL8800, Draytek Vigor 130, HG612
- Two different configurations - preferred bridged mode to UniFi USG but now pppoe (so double NAT) to help rule out the USG
- two different switches (Tplink and now netgear)
- ferrite cores everywhere!
- switching everything else I don't need off
- switching off powerline to garden room (although this is on a different fusebox)
- using APC UPS (usual setup) and directly
- 2 different gangway extensions
All phones exhibit the dial tone won't break (cannot dial out) but it is intermittent. It might work every time for an hour, and then require 5 attempts to get a call to connect (that's to 17070)
Line drops at least daily without warning.
DLM kicks in at least every two days.
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A symptom of this can be that if you call your home phone line and leave it ringing for a short while, the extra voltage of the ringing can temporarily improve the line.
Hi
I just tried this:
1. reconnected wired phone
2. dialled in via mobile and left ringing for two minutes
3. repeated test
The SNR Margin remained pretty constant (3.9 db) but I did see something interesting on the CRC errors graph (attached). Any idea what this could indicate?
Also attached, quality graph - you can see the high latency spike and packet loss during the rings.
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Could you take a pic of you Master Socket and faceplate?
Not been following the forums as much as usual but I've no idea what an Mk5 master socket is.
Last I knew they were on the MK2 of the NTE5C
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Could you take a pic of you Master Socket and faceplate?
Sure. On checking its a 5C with a MK4 faceplate.
It hasn't made any difference from the old socket (probably ancient) but with my Solwise faceplate, or the Excelsus filter I've tried.
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Another update.
Usual resync at 2am (no change to G.INP, SNM etc)
Another drop at 8:40am today, during which I couldn't dial any outside line as dial-tone wouldn't break. Line stats show nothing special before or after. ISP still haven't raised a fault with OpenReach as I've not agreed to pay if no fault found. :(
Update (Sun 26th)
Today I re-wired everything (for the umpteenth time) adding a Tacima 6 Way Mains Conditioner and also my fourth modem (a Zyxel VMG1312-B10A). As expected, no difference other than the Zyxel gets a slightly faster sync.
Three drops (without warning) today. Last resync had my Attn going from 27db to 30db which is a bit weird.
I'm going to migrate to Andrews & Arnold, who say they'll take on a line with a fault and sort it. If they can get someone out to the cabinet/pole/exchange I expect they'll find something corroded somewhere.
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An update.... it’s still dropping daily, sometimes more frequently. :(
I moved ISP to A&A, who sent me a load of preconfigured kit including a ZyXEL VMG3925-B10B, cables, micro filter etc. It’s been connected to the test socket for many months now.
I am still seeing daily drops. There appears to be no pattern. Stats are as before with high FEC but little else.
A&A don’t seem keen on an engineer callout as they say they will be unlikely to find anything. So, here we are back at square one except that in these times we rely on our internet to home school my autistic son and my wife is attempting to teach remotely.
You’d think trying 5 different modems, many different cables, 2 master sockets, 4 filters, etc etc would be enough!
Latest modem stats
xdslctl: ADSL driver and PHY status
Status: Showtime
Last Retrain Reason: 1
Last initialization procedure status: 0
Max: Upstream rate = 3042 Kbps, Downstream rate = 33579 Kbps
Bearer: 0, Upstream rate = 3042 Kbps, Downstream rate = 32259 Kbps
Bearer: 1, Upstream rate = 0 Kbps, Downstream rate = 0 Kbps
Link Power State: L0
Mode: VDSL2 Annex B
VDSL2 Profile: Profile 17a
TPS-TC: PTM Mode(0x0)
Trellis: U:ON /D:ON
Line Status: No Defect
Training Status: Showtime
Down Up
SNR (dB): 3.5 6.2
Attn(dB): 31.2 0.0
Pwr(dBm): 11.0 7.1
VDSL2 framing
Bearer 0
MSGc: -6 26
B: 227 95
M: 1 1
T: 0 36
R: 10 12
S: 0.0000 0.9965
L: 8470 867
D: 4 1
I: 238 108
N: 238 108
Q: 4 0
V: 0 0
RxQueue: 75 0
TxQueue: 15 0
G.INP Framing: 18 0
G.INP lookback: 15 0
RRC bits: 0 24
Bearer 1
MSGc: 90 -6
B: 0 0
M: 2 0
T: 2 0
R: 16 0
S: 10.6667 0.0000
L: 24 0
D: 1 0
I: 32 0
N: 32 0
Q: 0 0
V: 0 0
RxQueue: 0 0
TxQueue: 0 0
G.INP Framing: 0 0
G.INP lookback: 0 0
RRC bits: 0 0
Counters
Bearer 0
OHF: 0 252330
OHFErr: 0 0
RS: 40093680 491833
RSCorr: 99338 0
RSUnCorr: 0 0
Bearer 1
OHF: 140887 0
OHFErr: 0 0
RS: 844950 0
RSCorr: 9 0
RSUnCorr: 0 0
Retransmit Counters
rtx_tx: 89104417 0
rtx_c: 478891 0
rtx_uc: 137757 0
G.INP Counters
LEFTRS: 44 0
minEFTR: 32204 0
errFreeBits: 223787137 0
Bearer 0
HEC: 0 0
OCD: 0 0
LCD: 0 0
Total Cells: 140237577 0
Data Cells: 1052757 0
Drop Cells: 0
Bit Errors: 0 0
Bearer 1
HEC: 0 0
OCD: 0 0
LCD: 0 0
Total Cells: 0 0
Data Cells: 0 0
Drop Cells: 0
Bit Errors: 0 0
ES: 45 68
SES: 32 0
UAS: 454 422
AS: 2264
Bearer 0
INP: 53.00 0.00
INPRein: 1.00 0.00
delay: 0 0
PER: 0.00 9.00
OR: 0.01 28.43
AgR: 32330.18 3070.67
Bearer 1
INP: 2.50 0.00
INPRein: 2.50 0.00
delay: 0 0
PER: 16.06 0.01
OR: 47.81 0.01
AgR: 47.81 0.01
Bitswap: 371/481 2/2
Total time = 1 days 23 hours 8 min 50 sec
FEC: 39718977 705
CRC: 1995 76
ES: 45 68
SES: 32 0
UAS: 454 422
LOS: 2 0
LOF: 2 0
LOM: 2 0
Latest 15 minutes time = 8 min 50 sec
FEC: 18830 0
CRC: 0 0
ES: 0 0
SES: 0 0
UAS: 0 0
LOS: 0 0
LOF: 0 0
LOM: 0 0
Previous 15 minutes time = 15 min 0 sec
FEC: 36730 0
CRC: 0 0
ES: 0 0
SES: 0 0
UAS: 0 0
LOS: 0 0
LOF: 0 0
LOM: 0 0
Latest 1 day time = 23 hours 8 min 50 sec
FEC: 14523942 604
CRC: 1945 34
ES: 36 34
SES: 32 0
UAS: 312 280
LOS: 2 0
LOF: 2 0
LOM: 2 0
Previous 1 day time = 24 hours 0 sec
FEC: 25195035 101
CRC: 50 42
ES: 9 34
SES: 0 0
UAS: 142 142
LOS: 0 0
LOF: 0 0
LOM: 0 0
Since Link time = 37 min 43 sec
FEC: 99338 0
CRC: 0 0
ES: 0 0
SES: 0 0
UAS: 0 0
LOS: 0 0
LOF: 0 0
LOM: 0 0
NTR: mipsCntAtNtr=0 ncoCntAtNtr=0
I’m really at a loss where to go next.
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I don't know what other members think but if you can pursue more as a voice fault that may help. Not able to dial out, noisy clickly line, can't hear people talk. Record it if you can as proof. Make sure testing with old style non dect phone. Not sure if the charges for no fault found are more lenient for voice faults?
If AA are not able to help with their very premium prices I have to say that is very disappointing. Surely just a few graphs from dslstats with severe db oscillations and their record of frequent disconnects should be enough to prove fault.
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Hi
Thanks for the suggestion.
I did try that route but with A&A I no longer have a normal phone line, only VoIP so it’s a lot more difficult to prove.
I’m going to try pushing again today because this is ridiculous.
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An update:
I had an engineer out, who seemed extremely helpful. Nothing particular come up on his tests but he went to check the wiring at the top of the pole and rewired my connection as he said they were looking in poor shape. He also told me a “replacement tag” was already on the pole for the cable from beneath the ground up the pole. He placed a second tag, but didn’t sound confident it would be actioned.
Unfortunately line drops continued, however there were thunderstorms in the area so we left it a week.
Another engineer came out as line still dropping and ran the usual tests which all passed, as always. He did agree to check the cabinet connections and left. He also did a dlm reset, which moved margin from 3db to 6db with resulting loss of speed.
We then had connection up for 2 days! That’s the best in the last few months, but unfortunately it dropped last night 12:40 with retrain reason 8000. Noise margin remained the same, but interleaving down from 8 to 4. Not sure if this is a true drop, or line management being applied.
No idea what the next step is? Wait and monitor? How to chase the replacement of the pole cable?
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No idea what the next step is? Wait and monitor? How to chase the replacement of the pole cable?
Go out to the pole, find the two "A1024" tags and take a photograph of each one. If you cannot understand the terminology that may have been used by the Openreach technicians when writing out those tags, provide a link to the images and one of us will attempt a translation.
Your next step depends upon what is written on those tags. ;)
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Thanks :)
There appears to be only one tag. Photos attached.
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Ah, I see. A recently applied A1024 and nothing with an earlier date. The relevant phrase is --
"Renew block and tail."
The "block" is the pole-top point of connection for all the individual aerial drops. The "tail" is the multi-pair cable that runs down the pole, from the "block", and connects to the underground D-side cable (which then runs to the PCP).
As the date is relatively recent (June 15th, 2020) and due to the current global circumstances, your next step is to just be patient. Obviously if there is a total failure, i.e. you and your neighbours loose service, then service restoration by actioning the specified work would occur.
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Ok, thanks. At least it’ll be actioned sometime.
Strange that there isn’t an earlier one as the engineer said there was one already, perhaps he took it off. My neighbour three down did have a total failure last week, and an engineer was working on the pole, so perhaps that explains it.
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You might be interested to read a related topic (https://forum.kitz.co.uk/index.php/topic,18959.0.html), started by NewtronStar (https://forum.kitz.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=6660) in late 2016 . . . concerning a "block and tail" replacement.
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did you try a super short cable.
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did you try a super short cable.
Yes, tried 3 different cables including the extra short one I’m currently using.
I haven’t tried something like this though https://www.bcedirect.co.uk/products/broadband-stabiliser-and-line-conditioner-faster-more-reliable-broadband-increase-broadband-speed-lower-broadband-dropouts as both the faceplate and zyxel modem are supposed to have built in filters. Worth a try?
Ps. Internet managed 2 days before dropping, that’s the best so far. Currently on 1 day 11 hours. It’s definitely better.
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This will increase line attenuation slighty. I put one of these on mine, got fairly low amount of FEC errors (about 1000 / day, unless there is a storm then much more). I'm on eci cabinet with draytek vigor 2760. Fastpath on booth directions, and what I realised, attienable speed drop and snr drop on vigor, then attienable speed go back up snr go back up, without this filter snr on vigor never came back, always keep dropping. Just my observations. Only put this as I bought a while ago and forgot to test it. I got this plugged for last two weeks and didn't see any issues also we had few storms here and my line survived without being interleaved.
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Useful info thanks.
Attenuation currently 31.3 although this may be the current modem reading differently as it’s usually around 28. Might be worth a try.
Used to be fast path, rarely dropped, few fecs but now interleaved depth 4 with those daily drops and millions of fecs a day. Nothing will fix the cable until they actually replace it, but it might help.
Another question if I may :) Currently the modem is plugged in to a Tacima mains conditioner. The phone cable is direct from the master socket. Would there be any advantage to plugging the modem in to the CyberPower Sinewave UPS, which I believe also has efi filtering and additionally routing the modem cable via it? I haven’t so far in order to keep things as direct as possible, plus the Tacima is well reviewed. I know I could just try it, but I’m attempting to minimise the number of times I have to bring the connection down, so thought I’d seek opinion here first.
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Another question if I may :) Currently the modem is plugged in to a Tacima mains conditioner. The phone cable is direct from the master socket. Would there be any advantage to plugging the modem in to the CyberPower Sinewave UPS, which I believe also has efi filtering and additionally routing the modem cable via it? I haven’t so far in order to keep things as direct as possible, plus the Tacima is well reviewed. I know I could just try it, but I’m attempting to minimise the number of times I have to bring the connection down, so thought I’d seek opinion here first.
I doubt it will have any measurable advantage. Personally, I would not bother.
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I haven’t tried something like this though https://www.bcedirect.co.uk/products/broadband-stabiliser-and-line-conditioner-faster-more-reliable-broadband-increase-broadband-speed-lower-broadband-dropouts as both the faceplate and zyxel modem are supposed to have built in filters. Worth a try?
Just to point out they are 2 very different types of filters.
The filter in the faceplate separates the voice and broadband.
The filter in the Zyxel is meant to filter interference from the broadband only.
The faceplate filter is necessary if you wish to use the landline for calls.
I wouldn't expect much of a difference (if any) using the UPS.
I bought a Tacima mains conditioner and it made no difference to the broadband.
I ended up connecting some expensive audio equipment to it instead.
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Thanks guys.
I’ll try the phone filter linked above, as it’s cheap and you never know.
I’ll leave everything else as is, makes it easier to detect if any improvement or not with the above.
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Line was up for 6 days, that’s the longest in the last 6 months. The rewire at the top of the pole and cabinet check must have done something!
Went down overnight (reason 8000) and it appears noise margin reduced to 4, with a 2mbps down speed increase.
Finally took the opportunity to connect the inline filter/stabiliser so we’ll see if that helps. Attenuation appears to have stayed the same. Was getting around 100 million FECs overnight before. We’ll see tonight.
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How's the line looking now?
I've always had thousands of FECs on my line, I just put it down to the line.
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How's the line looking now?
I've always had thousands of FECs on my line, I just put it down to the line.
Long story!
Intermittent internet continued, with 1 - 2 drops daily. Cable from top of pole in to ground was determined to be faulty, but not faulty enough to give any priority to fixing it!
Then in the middle of lockdown (with my son home-schooling and me attempting to work from home and then go through redundancy process) the internet failed completely. It took 5 weeks to fix, although it as an easy issue - a break in the green cabinet. Why it took so long is beyond me, a string of excuses from OpenReach. Because internet was somewhat important I purchased a 4G router and monthly SIM just to tide me over.
After that fix it was back to daily drops as before, and would have continued to do so until OpenReach finally decide to actually fix it.
I gave up. Cancelled fixed line and now use the 4G router with EE unlimited SIM. I get significantly faster speeds and a reliable connection. I also save £20/month as a bonus.
Topic here https://forum.kitz.co.uk/index.php/topic,25106.0.html
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Ah, I see. A recently applied A1024 and nothing with an earlier date. The relevant phrase is --
"Renew block and tail."
The "block" is the pole-top point of connection for all the individual aerial drops. The "tail" is the multi-pair cable that runs down the pole, from the "block", and connects to the underground D-side cable (which then runs to the PCP).
As the date is relatively recent (June 15th, 2020) and due to the current global circumstances, your next step is to just be patient. Obviously if there is a total failure, i.e. you and your neighbours loose service, then service restoration by actioning the specified work would occur.
Me again :)
I’ve been happily using 4G and dumped my landline due to all the issues reported-
Line went faulty October 2019
Took many callouts (and two ISPs) still not fixed until around September 2020 when it died completely for 5 weeks!
It’s now Feb 2021, a mere 17 months since the fault was first reported. Still not fixed. The A1024 is still not done.
As I’m no longer being served by a fixed line, do I have any way to progress this fix?
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Me again :)
I’ve been happily using 4G and dumped my landline due to all the issues reported-
Line went faulty October 2019
Took many callouts (and two ISPs) still not fixed until around September 2020 when it died completely for 5 weeks!
It’s now Feb 2021, a mere 17 months since the fault was first reported. Still not fixed. The A1024 is still not done.
As I’m no longer being served by a fixed line, do I have any way to progress this fix?
That does seem insane, I assume you still have landline phone and that is working? If it is, then I'd suspect no, if its not then surely they are in deep trouble with Ofcom for not maintaining a working line?
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I still have a physical cable to the house, but no service of any kind.
Broadband is via 4G as is my phone line (via voip, number transferred).
I can’t go to my mobile provider to chase openreach (obviously) and they don’t appear to have any way of direct contact. I’m assuming the only way to chase the fix is to order a new line, which would be a pretty insane thing to do, knowing it faulty and that I’d no doubt have to prove it all over again.
Anyone from Openreach able to look up the tag and tell me priority/progress?
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I highly doubt they will touch a dead line.
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That’s what I suspected.
Of course, it’s only a dead line because they wouldn’t fix it.
Luckily 4G still holding up well and has turned out to be a revolution.
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I had terrible performance with Three 4G but switched to Voxi (Vodafone) and that works great.
My Plusnet line died yesterday, I hope I have better luck getting it fixed than you did. It has a permanent crackling so hopeful it will.