Broadband Related > ISPs
TalkTalk Opinion Sought?
sparky:
Hi guys,
I know that the title of this post is likely to result in a big flame, but please bear with me and understand my problem.
I have had intermittent phone line problems for six months, since BT "fixed", supposedly at the exchange, a hard problem on my line last August. I've gone through all the usual channels and done all the usual things, which is quite easy as I have a 1980's style master socket with just the one phone jack. So I've tried different routers and splitters plugged in directly, etc etc. But when I get a crackly line I can plug nothing other than a wired BT phone directly into the master socket and I still get the crackling. BUT it's intermittent. Very bad some evenings and mornings, non existant at other times. I've tried switching everything off in the house as well. BT say there is nothing wrong with my line when they test it (i wonder how flippin good these tests that they run really are because they dont show a fault even when its crackling) and will only send an engineer out if I agree to pay them. No deal. My IP profile is currently set at 500kbps but has been as low as 135kbps. My connection (not IP Profile) today is 3616, but that will only stay until the router re-synchs and it will drop tonight. It will resynch as soon as the phone rings this evening. Prior to this problem starting I had a solid connection of 4640kbps and an ip profile of 4000 kbps.
So, an option that I have is to transfer to TalkTalk LLU. It might not (and most probably wont) fix my problem, but if I have to suffer a cr*p line, I might as well save myself what would amount to £200 per year. At this point let me say that I don't want to leave my current ISP, but I cannot justify paying £17.99 a month, plus BT line rental, for a premium internet connection that I am not getting.
Now I know that TT get slated in various areas, but DSL Zone have them resonably highly rated now. I've seen complaints in forums, like rubbish and So Slooooooow! etc, but no justification to these bad comments. If I could get 1000kbs, it would be better than I currently get.
Has anyone here any recent experience of TalkTalk LLU and can honestly justify their opinions. I am not an online gamer, just a middle aged guy who needs access to the internet for work, shopping and email, the occasional file downloads, Skype and the occasional video link on some web sites.
Cheers, Sparky.
UncleUB:
Hi Sparky,
Can you post your line stats,info how to do that here..
http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/frogstats.php
Have you done a BT quiet line test.Dial 17070,option 2.
There is some good info here about master sockets..
http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/socket.htm
--- Quote ---but DSL Zone have them resonably highly rated now.
--- End quote ---
Tbh I wouldn't take much notice of those ratings
sparky:
Yes, I have done all these things, a quiet line test, with a corded BT Phone plugged directly into the master socket, either through a splitter or directly, nothing else connected at all, still sounds crackly, WHEN the fault is evident.
Line stats today:-
Link Information
Uptime: 0 days, 7:27:36
Modulation: G.992.1 annex A
Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 448 / 3,616
Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [MB/MB]: 9.41 / 58.09
Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]: 12.0 / 19.0
Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]: 31.5 / 51.0
SN Margin (Up/Down) [dB]: 21.0 / 10.5
Vendor ID (Local/Remote): TMMB / TSTC
Loss of Framing (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Signal (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Power (Local/Remote): 0 / 0
Loss of Link (Remote): 0
Error Seconds (Local/Remote): 3 / 0
FEC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 15,276
CRC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 230
HEC Errors (Up/Down): 0 / 215
Up for 7hrs plus....probably because it's dry here and the sun is out!
Speedtest results today are good for me,
Download speedachieved during the test was - 2791 Kbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speeds is 600-7150 Kbps.
Additional Information:
Your DSL Connection Rate :3616 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 448 Kbps(UP-STREAM)
IP Profile for your line is - 3000 Kbps
But the same test yesterday looked like this,
Download speedachieved during the test was - 471 Kbps
For your connection, the acceptable range of speeds is 50-500 Kbps.
Additional Information:
Your DSL Connection Rate :2798 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 448 Kbps(UP-STREAM)
IP Profile for your line is - 500 Kbps
I've started powering off the router after 6PM if I'm not using the internet as I think it saves messing up my IP Profile when the router keeps re-synching. Or am I wrong to do this?
orainsear:
If there is a problem with the voice service such as crackling, this is usually due to a fault along the length of the metallic patch between (and including) the master socket to exchange; changing ISP won't make much difference if the fault remains.
Ultimately, as it's manifesting itself as a voice fault, it needs to be treated as such, and the internet left aside for the moment.
An intermittent fault can be very difficult to pinpoint, however you mention that it is seen mostly in the morning and evening. Have you noticed any correlation between it and the weather because for example water ingress can cause issues. It may be something as simple as a poor joint somewhere.
As suggested perform the quiet line test without the filter.
If the fault remains audible during a telephone call you can use this to your advantage and contact BT while it is apparent, allowing them to hear the crackling for themselves.
sparky:
Yes, it is very weather related.
Bad when its drizzley/foggy and after prolonged wet weather. Sometimes also during cold overnight conditions.
Have just had a call from a senior manager in BT Retail, I'm hoping I might get a little help now.
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