Billion 7800N stability

I've had my Billion 7800N router for a little under 3 days, and it's not looking good so far: the damn thing can't hold onto the line. Here are the drops from syslog:

Apr 30 22:24:49 gw gw pppd[580]: Connection terminated.
Apr 30 22:25:00 gw gw pppd[580]: Connection terminated.
Apr 30 23:04:55 gw gw pppd[580]: Connection terminated.
Apr 30 23:28:50 gw gw pppd[580]: Connection terminated.
May 1 11:02:04 gw gw pppd[580]: Connection terminated.
May 2 09:10:42 gw gw pppd[580]: Connection terminated.

I should say that my past routers have had no trouble with my line, without any SNR tweaking (which I haven't done on the 7800N yet). My last router was an old Linksys ADSL2MUE re-flashed with RouterTech firmware, and that was rock-solid.

Stupidly, I updated the 7800N to the latest beta firmware as soon as I got it, because my main reason for buying it was to get a single-box native IPv6 solution, after running a tunnel for some time. So I don't know whether the problems are due to the firmware, or whether I've bought a lemon. Guess I ought to downgrade the firmware and find out.

# adslctl info --stats
adslctl: ADSL driver and PHY status
Status: Showtime
Retrain Reason: 8000
Max: Upstream rate = 1232 Kbps, Downstream rate = 20568 Kbps
Path: 0, Upstream rate = 1223 Kbps, Downstream rate = 17579 Kbps

Link Power State: L0
Mode: ADSL2+
TPS-TC: ATM Mode
Trellis: U:ON /D:ON
Line Status: No Defect
Training Status: Showtime
Down Up
SNR (dB): 5.8 6.1
Attn(dB): 25.0 12.9
Pwr(dBm): 0.0 12.5

I'm using the beta 1.06c.dc1 firmware and don't have any disconnection issues. Yes, downgrade to the latest official firmware (set to factory default settings) and see if that makes a difference. If not, i suggest you send it back for a replacement as you've most likely been sent a lemon

Hi sheepless.

I've had mine set up about the same time but have the opposite experience. I've even adjusted the SNR quite significantly and doubled my speed to a whole 2MB!!! Yes, OK, I'm several km from the exchange with nice old-fashioned overhead wires to cope with.

Anyway, I can safely say that the 7800N has been well worth it. I updated my firmware to the latest 1.06d straight away and reset to factory settings.


> adsl info --stats
adsl: ADSL driver and PHY status
Status: Showtime
Retrain Reason: 1
Max: Upstream rate = 376 Kbps, Downstream rate = 2272 Kbps
Channel: INTR, Upstream rate = 224 Kbps, Downstream rate = 1984 Kbps

Link Power State: L0
Mode: G.DMT
TPS-TC: ATM Mode
Trellis: ON
Line Status: No Defect
Training Status: Showtime
Down Up
SNR (dB): 4.3 8.0
Attn(dB): 63.0 31.5
Pwr(dBm): 16.6 10.9

The current up/down rates are a little low at the moment because I was messing with the router and took it offline after it had started to retrain its rates upwards.

PlusNet are supposed to be moving me to ADSL2+ over the next week so it will be interesting to see what happens. I should be able to squeeze another 1/2M or so out of the line.

Regards, Julian Knight.

From those stats you have a serious line problem either in your property or in the BT controlled part.
There is no way you should be seeing an upstream speed of only 224kbps and ADSL2+ will give you nothing but grief

Nope, not a serious problem, just a long line with [censored] overhead cables typical of Sheffield.

The rate has gone up to 288 up now and it'll be a while till it settles back down again hopefully back at a more normal level.

No stability problems with my 7800N running 1.06d.
Phone lines are underground where I live.
Have you tried enabling PhyR - Configuration > WAN > ADSL Mode
PB

ADSL Status
Parameters
DSP Firmware Version A2pB025f.d22k
DMT Status No Defect
Operational Mode ADSL2
Upstream 826
Downstream 3607
SNR Margin(Upstream) 4.6
SNR Margin(Downstream) 5.9
Line Attenuation(Upstream) 37.0
Line Attenuation(Downstream) 59.5

I have also disabled ADSL2 & ADSL2+ on the Configuration > WAN > ADSL Mode page, this seems to give the highest sync rate on my fairly long line.

I am dying here..
perceived speed has fallen into a black hole...

ADSL Status
Parameters
DSP Firmware Version A2pB025f.d22k
DMT Status No Defect
Operational Mode G.DMT
Upstream 448
Downstream 8128
SNR Margin(Upstream) 22.0
SNR Margin(Downstream) 12.8
Line Attenuation(Upstream) 12.5
Line Attenuation(Downstream) 20.0

Why are you running g.dmt on such a short line?