G.INP and ECI modem problem

I have had nearly 4 years of trouble free max sync fastpath connection using ECI modem until yesterday. The cab is just outside my door.

Line went funny yesterday so I decided to take a look at my TBB graph and it shows some funky stuff in the morning then followed by a drop from max sync to about 67mb and quite a large ping increase from a steady 9ms to BBC up to 30ms. I thought here we go [censored] DLM again.

So I borrowed a trusty routed HG612 and took some stats and compared them to what I took before and noticed the G.INP is on but the sync was back at max and ping dropped to normal levels. Put the ECI modem back on and the connection drops back to 67mb and large ping increase again.

So it looks like my modem has not had the firmware flash before the cab got his upgrade which IMO is just ridiculously incompetent of BT - you would think they could get this right? OK it's BT we're taking about here..

I could just buy my own modem but why should I? BT are coming out tomorrow to have a look and they either update the firmware or change the modem to the HG612. I would prefer to keep the ECI as it has a higher upload speed and 3ms lower ping.

My G.INP stats.

# xdslcmd info --pbParams
xdslcmd: ADSL driver and PHY status
Status: Showtime
Retrain Reason: 0
Last initialization procedure status: 0
Max: Upstream rate = 35752 Kbps, Downstream rate = 97756 Kbps
Bearer: 0, Upstream rate = 20000 Kbps, Downstream rate = 79999 Kbps
Bearer: 1, Upstream rate = 0 Kbps, Downstream rate = 0 Kbps
Discovery Phase (Initial) Band Plan
US: (7,32) (871,1205) (1972,2782)
DS: (33,859) (1216,1961) (2793,3970)
Medley Phase (Final) Band Plan
US: (7,32) (871,1205) (1972,2782)
DS: (33,859) (1216,1961) (2793,3970)
VDSL Port Details Upstream Downst
ream
Attainable Net Data Rate: 35752 kbps 97756 kbps
Actual Aggregate Tx Power: - 5.9 dBm 13.1 dBm
================================================================================
====
VDSL Band Status U0 U1 U2
U3 U4 D1 D2 D3
Line Attenuation(dB): 2.3 9.0 12.3 N/A N/A 5.6 11.4
17.4
Signal Attenuation(dB): 2.3 8.1 11.5 N/A N/A 7.0 11.3
17.4
SNR Margin(dB): 16.4 16.4 16.1 N/A N/A 10.8
10.8 10.8
TX Power(dBm): -20.0 -33.9 -6.0 N/A N/A 9.7
7.9 6.9

xdslcmd: ADSL driver and PHY status
Status: Showtime
Retrain Reason: 0
Last initialization procedure status: 0
Max: Upstream rate = 35744 Kbps, Downstream rate = 97756 Kbps
Bearer: 0, Upstream rate = 20000 Kbps, Downstream rate = 79999 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): 10.8 16.2
Attn(dB): 9.6 0.0
Pwr(dBm): 13.1 -5.9
VDSL2 framing
Bearer 0
MSGc: -6 -6
B: 130 97
M: 1 1
T: 0 0
R: 8 8
S: 0.0518 0.1554
L: 21468 5457
D: 16 8
I: 139 106
N: 139 106
Q: 16 8
V: 14 2
RxQueue: 57 39
TxQueue: 19 13
G.INP Framing: 18 18
G.INP lookback: 19 13
RRC bits: 24 24
Bearer 1

Edited by lockyatlrg (Mon 30-Mar-15 16:23:17)

I guess in theory updating firmware in readiness is a good thing - assuming the firmware is decent of course!

I'm surprised you've managed to get BT to attend as your sync is still very decent.
What issue did your ISP report?

Edited by b4dger (Mon 30-Mar-15 15:19:53)

Have already fired off an enquiry about this sort of scenario to get the official word rather than the someone says online answer.

Zen and they are starting to get quite a few calls on this exact issue now, Zen can't even see the line profile data on G.INP lines with ECI modems and it's worrying them a bit.

I use a standard locked ECI modem - I wish BT were more open...

NB. If this is your line both your sig and profile mention BT as your ISP

Edited by b4dger (Mon 30-Mar-15 16:38:05)

Old sig from a while back

Don't forget your TBB profile as well

In reply to a post by lockyatlrg:

Zen and they are starting to get quite a few calls on this exact issue now, Zen can't even see the line profile data on G.INP lines with ECI modems and it's worrying them a bit.

Interesting. My line shows the last speed change occurred on 20th March, but it shows nothing about the two power cuts I have had since that date that naturally caused the modem to drop the connection and then re-sync. I did wonder if somehow the line data was delayed, it seems it's permanently delayed at present!

I have seen my original 80Mbps sync turn into ~74Mbps but because I don't have an unlocked ECI modem I can't see the sync details directly.

I'm pleased that Zen know about this because it gives me confidence that I can ask them and get an answer supplied by people at least partially in the know.

Edited by rippedcotton (Mon 30-Mar-15 17:59:46)

Would like to see their reply when it arrives.

HG612s were slightly slower on my line than an ECI. Update happened and 72 on an ECI dropped to 65 and latency double on the first hop. Forcing an update onto an HG612 has given me back the 72 Mbps (with another issue though) and latency has dropped again. What would an ECI with the right firmware algorithms achieve?

What you show of the stats from the HG612, it looks to be identical to mine on a billion 8800NL.