No, it gives 01-01-2000 but assume that's because it can't connect to a time server?

That seems to be common - and my understanding is that if the line is "idle" the power is "reduced" possibly by not using the higher frequencies and using just the lower ones to keep the line alive. The line data is continuously fed from DSLAM to end user modem so it will have a low power figure in the memory. By asking for line stats during a long, full speed download will give the 19.8 dBm, figure we are used to.

Thanks for that comment. I'll see if I can observe it, sometime, myself.

Agreed. I guess there's some sort of account problem. Sorry.

In all the testing/messing around, have you at any point powered down the router for 5 minutes? And if that doesn't/didn't work, have you done a factory reset on it?

Edited by RobertoS (Sun 29-May-11 15:24:27)

Yes, and yes.

Well my connection has miraculously started working again, 48 hours after it went down. and I'm assuming that BT wont be able to tell me why, since they told me it was a line a fault yesterday and are sending an engineer on Wednesday to fix it.

The fault still shows as under investigation and there are no service status updates that relate to my part of the country. I'll phone them and ask them what they've done to fix it but I'm guessing they wont have a clue - which is actually what I expect when I phone them anyway!

The frustration is that they will just say 'oh well, at least it's working' and I'll never know what happened meaning I could well be right back here again at some point.

BT are arguably the most reliable broadband provider out there, but when something goes wrong, they are a DISASTER, and talking to them is like pulling teeth with pliers.

The Indian call centre - i'm sorry - just doesn't work, it may save them money but it puts their customers through the most horrible experience. And there are just too many independent 'parts' of BT to manage, and the buck just gets passed on and on and on.

Sorry, rant over (for now at least). I just wish someone was listening!

At least it's working

So, BT investigated and believed there was a line fault so scheduled an technician visit. Then suddenly it starts working but BT cannot say why.

It could be that a business user, who pays for a 4 or 24 hour response also had a fault and when that was being investigated and resolved the technician found a problem that might have been affecting 100 or 200 lines. He sorted the problem - cleared the fault and yours was cleared too. Can you imagine how long it would take to go through and find which lines were in a cable, were there any faults, &c &c - it is not cost effective. So, what would you prefer - to have it fixed yesterday or wait another two days?