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Author Topic: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)  (Read 5326 times)

Weaver

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #15 on: March 13, 2017, 12:36:41 PM »

Mrs Weaver exchanged the modem that was in line 3 for one from the spares box. I'm hoping that replacement modem is a good one, it needs testing just in case. She later swapped the cables coming out of the wallsockets for lines 1 & 3. So after the swap over, the known good modem 1 is now driving line 3, and ‘new’ modem x is into line 1. And now, viewed from AA’s end, line 3 came alive! So either I was just incredibly unlucky and Mrs Weaver had picked out a second modem for line 3 that was duff as well, or, more likely, I’m vastly more unlucky and the port on the router is burnt out too! So that’s another grand (nearly) gone on a new Firebrick. Thank god and Muire and Pŕdraig and Brěghid I finally got some insurance sorted out.

I need to confirm this. Would someone check my reasoning? - as I am so nauseous and woozy and confused this morning.

Mind you, line 3 doesn't seem happy anyway, as it happens. Here is the clueless.aa.net.uk log for the line 3 testing this morning:

Quote

Today 04:49:24   Today 04:50:13   BT Test xDSL Copper Test:Pass Openreach network fault found.Pass Openreach network fault found. T004:FAULT - Battery Contact   cwcc@a
Today 04:43:56   Today 04:44:26   BT Test xDSL Copper Test:Inconclusive More diagnostics required Line test failure. Algorithm unable to continue.Inconclusive More diagnostics required Line test failure. Algorithm unable to continue. DS05:Test Failure - Please Retry - if unsuccessful report problem to OR via a Trouble Report   cwcc@a
10 Mar 07:50:51   10 Mar 07:51:46   BT Test xDSL Copper Test:Pass Standalone sub test passed successfully.Pass Copper Line Test Successful DS01:Line Test OK   Shaun@a
9 Mar 12:08:13   9 Mar 12:09:06   BT Test xDSL Copper Test:Pass Standalone sub test passed successfully.Pass Copper Line Test Successful DS01:Line Test OK   Shaun@a
9 Mar 12:05:25      WLR3Test WLR3_CIDT_Test cbs00556dat01:59044149: Pass Line Test OK. Dial tone OK ServiceLevel:2.5, MainFaultLocation:OK, FaultReportAdvised:N, AppointmentRequired:N, LineStability:Stable, NetworkStability:Stable, StabilityStatement:Stable - no adverse line test history. CP may request an Engineer visit to investigate, test and demonstrate with the EU. Routine test & fault data available at Customer Diagnostic Tool on INFORMe under MIS>Artisan>CDT. If no fault is found clear RWT and apply Time Related Charges.   Shaun@a
9 Mar 06:53:58   9 Mar 06:54:50   BT Test xDSL Copper Test:Pass Openreach network fault found.Pass Openreach network fault found. T004:FAULT - Battery Contact
« Last Edit: March 13, 2017, 01:06:40 PM by Weaver »
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Weaver

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #16 on: March 13, 2017, 12:41:50 PM »

[Admins, would it be worth moving this thread somewhere more appropriate now it has taken a nasty turn? Or is it a pain to do? I will of course be guided by you.]
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Weaver

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Re: Lightning strike kills router? (yet again)
« Reply #17 on: March 13, 2017, 12:53:57 PM »

And here is the testing log for Line 1, where there were problems before the lightning strike.

Quote
[font face=courier]Waiting on faultbtconfirm   Wait customer confirms fault closed PSTN Fault - NSY   Shaun@a
Today 08:26:48   Today 17:00:00   Track fault and update customer PSTN Fault - NSY   Shaun@a
Today 08:26:48   Today 17:00:00   Wait for supplier to confirm fault cleared PSTN Fault - NSY   Shaun@a
Today 09:41:45   WLR3Test WLR3_CIDT_Test dys00556app06:336550159: Fail FAULT - Battery Contact ServiceLevel:2.5, MainFaultLocation:LN, FaultReportAdvised:Y, AppointmentRequired:N, LineStability:, NetworkStability:, StabilityStatement:   Shaun@a
Today 09:37:05   Tweet to Weaver: Line DOWN 2017-03-13 09:36:04 cwcc@a.1 IV49 9BN LostCarrier   AAISP
Today 09:37:03   Email to Weaver re line DOWN cwcc@a.1   AAISP
Today 08:28:40   Track PSTN Fault 5-7-128677310948 Notes Field: **Line Stability:**Network Stability:**Test Outcome:Fail**MFL:LN**Term Statement:LINE TERMINATION DETECTED**Line Signature:**Distance to Fault:**Cable length:7.92**Test Start Time:2017-03-13T08:27:47**Test Stop Time:2017-03-13T08:28:35   bt
Today 08:28:40   Track PSTN Fault 5-7-128677310948 Informational Message: 4465 Please refer to the Notes field for the actual message   bt
Today 08:28:40   Track PSTN Fault 5-7-128677310948 Status: Open - In Progress   bt
Today 08:27:07   Track PSTN Fault 5-7-128677310948 Informational Message: 4040 Notification only - Estimated Response Time.   bt
Today 08:27:07   Track PSTN Fault 5-7-128677310948 Informational Message: 3100 Trouble Report Accepted   bt
Today 08:27:07   Track PSTN Fault 5-7-128677310948 Estimated Response Time: 2017-03-14T23:59:59   bt
Today 08:27:07   Track PSTN Fault 5-7-128677310948 Status: Open - New   bt
Today 08:26:56   Track PSTN Fault 5-7-128677310948 Message Informational 9323 The asset care level 2.5 will be applied rather than the specified service level.   bt
Today 08:26:56   Track PSTN Fault 5-7-128677310948 Message Informational 3241 Notification Only - Trouble Report Creation Request is Pending   bt
Today 08:26:32   WLR3Test NSY dys00556dat01:59297004: Fail FAULT - Battery Contact ServiceLevel:2.5, MainFaultLocation:LN, FaultReportAdvised:Y, AppointmentRequired:N, LineStability:, NetworkStability:, StabilityStatement:   Shaun@a
Today 08:24:00   WLR3Test WLR3_CIDT_Test hws00556dat02:59610753: Fail FAULT - Battery Contact ServiceLevel:2.5, MainFaultLocation:LN, FaultReportAdvised:Y, AppointmentRequired:N, LineStability:, NetworkStability:, StabilityStatement:   Shaun@a
[/font]
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nallar

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #18 on: March 13, 2017, 01:54:07 PM »

I will run my lines with and without GDTs showing the difference (if any) on DSLstats. Currently without DSL due to Openreach taking 3 months to replace a pole, but as soon as it's back I'll get you it.
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Weaver

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #19 on: March 13, 2017, 04:51:45 PM »

Many thanks! I imagine a lot of us might be interested in any such stats.
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burakkucat

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #20 on: March 13, 2017, 05:38:30 PM »

Mrs Weaver exchanged the modem that was in line 3 for one from the spares box. I'm hoping that replacement modem is a good one, it needs testing just in case. She later swapped the cables coming out of the wallsockets for lines 1 & 3. So after the swap over, the known good modem 1 is now driving line 3, and ‘new’ modem x is into line 1. And now, viewed from AA’s end, line 3 came alive! So either I was just incredibly unlucky and Mrs Weaver had picked out a second modem for line 3 that was duff as well, or, more likely, I’m vastly more unlucky and the port on the router is burnt out too! So that’s another grand (nearly) gone on a new Firebrick. Thank god and Muire and Pŕdraig and Brěghid I finally got some insurance sorted out.

I need to confirm this. Would someone check my reasoning? - as I am so nauseous and woozy and confused this morning.

Something seems to be missing in the above details or I am interpreting them incorrectly.  ???

As I understand it, Mrs Weaver connected a replacement modem to line 3 and to the relevant port on the Firebrick. I assume that at this point in time there was still no usable service via that replacement modem. Now Mrs W. unplugs the patch cables at the NTE5s for both line 1 & line 3 and swaps them over. The working/not working status is also now swapped over. Surely that just confirms that there is a defect in the metallic pathway of the external Openreach circuit?

(I have italicised the sentence of what I believe you have failed to tell us.)
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Weaver

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #21 on: March 13, 2017, 06:13:08 PM »

Very fuzzy now, unfortunately. Confusion as it's a bad day. The cgm graphs on AA's server showed line 1 going down and line 3 coming up (and both staying like that) when Mrs Weaver swapped modem-to-wallsocket cables over between lines 1 and 3, so from the evidence observed from AA's end line 3 metallic pathway was proven to be working as well as line 1.

The faults that they have picked up on the two lines’ copper line tests seem to be insufficient to prevent the DSL from working well, and I think they are the long standing subtle now-you-see-it-now-you-don't kind of problems described in earlier threads which were supposed to be fixed at the start of December. AA have engineers coming out and I have asked them to instruct engineers to simply swap out all NTE5s regardless, just in case of any damage.

I will need to watch out for the new tool-less latest NTE type - I forget the official designation for these, we talked about it in an earlier thread - because I'm trying to be straight-through sans filter, and the straight-through faceplate fronts I’m using now won't fit on the new-style backs presumably. I would appreciate some advice on the cleanest option for DSL-only users. (Could try and get some ultra-high-quality very short BT-to-RJ11 cables such as in the old dialup days.)
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burakkucat

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #22 on: March 13, 2017, 06:22:49 PM »

The new NTE5s are designated NTE5/C and will not accept the A&A designed face-plates.

Ideally you would like Angus McDuff to have some NTE5/As or NTE5/Bs in his van and so be able replace the existing with new identical equivalents.

Quote
I would appreciate some advice on the cleanest option for DSL-only users. (Could try and get some ultra-high-quality very short BT-to-RJ11 cables such as in the old dialup days.)

Cables with a BT 431A (or 641A) plug to a 6P2C modular plug (RJ11) would be the simplest solution.
« Last Edit: March 13, 2017, 06:31:03 PM by burakkucat »
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Weaver

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #23 on: March 13, 2017, 06:24:34 PM »

Do OR engineers still have plenty of NTE5As, or are stocks being run down?
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burakkucat

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #24 on: March 13, 2017, 06:26:55 PM »

Very fuzzy now, unfortunately. Confusion as it's a bad day.

And I am not helping.  :(
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Weaver

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #25 on: March 13, 2017, 06:29:36 PM »

You most certainly are helping. Greatly, as always.
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burakkucat

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #26 on: March 13, 2017, 06:33:42 PM »

Do OR engineers still have plenty of NTE5As, or are stocks being run down?

According to Black Sheep, the new NTE5/Cs will be issued as "van stock" once all existing NTE5/As (or Bs) have been used.
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Weaver

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #27 on: March 13, 2017, 06:39:13 PM »

I need to coordinate with AA about this then. Or get hold of my own NTE5/As quick so ther's no possibility of cock-up. But I'm not sure if I could find a fast enough supplier and I’m wondering if our friendly local engineer might be slightly alarmed at being presented with units of unknown provenance.
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Weaver

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #28 on: March 13, 2017, 07:11:01 PM »

I read something here

    https://www.run-it-direct.co.uk/nte5-nte5a-bt-openreach-socket.html

Quote
Latest version that features the filter on the bell wire circuit for IMPROVED ADSL/vDSL performance & WITHOUT 26A surge arrestor which can further IMPROVE ADSL/vDSL speeds

What vintage / version of the units do / do not have the “surge arrestor” - a MOV perhaps?

* Is this true? If so I could do without the possible performance loss. This shop says these are made by Pressac, which is encouraging.

Amazon have these very cheap Pressac ones (and free delivery)

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/NTE5a-connection-complete-backbox-compatible/dp/B006V1P39A/ref=pd_vtph_107_lp_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=9P4FMXAPK9HPQ3RE4NB1

but way down in the details it now says 26A performance inhibitors included. So not so good. There is also one branded Kenable or some such with no details

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/kenable-Telephone-NTE5A-Master-Socket/dp/B0079I7I74/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1489430599&sr=1-2&keywords=Nte5a

so don't know much about that one. Does anyone know if these units blow when tweaked by mains and then fail safe or fail silently dangerous, or have degraded performance after a tweak or who knows what?
« Last Edit: March 13, 2017, 07:27:44 PM by Weaver »
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burakkucat

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Re: Lightning strike kills modem (yet again)
« Reply #29 on: March 13, 2017, 08:49:24 PM »

Let me put your mind at rest with regards to the "bell wire filter". It is just an inductor in series with the bell wire that is part of the lower front plate. The lower front face plate that is replaced by the A&A custom front plate. So no problem there.

Here's another source of NTE5/As.

Finally a link to something I posted some years ago about the over-voltage, gas discharge protection devices as fitted to the original 1980s NTE5/As (& /Bs).
« Last Edit: March 13, 2017, 08:58:02 PM by burakkucat »
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