LCP errors - exchange based?

Apologies if posting to wrong place please advise if need to post elsewhere. TIA

My setup Mac G5 OS X 10.4
ISP: Tiscali
Local exchange: Hertford
Speedtouch 330 USB modem as supplied by ISP

Here's a snip of my connect log

Thu Dec 20 12:45:13 2007 : Connecting to 0,38...
Thu Dec 20 12:45:13 2007 : Serial connection established.
Thu Dec 20 12:45:14 2007 : Using interface ppp0
Thu Dec 20 12:45:14 2007 : Connect: ppp0 <--> /dev/cu.SpeedTouchModem
Thu Dec 20 12:45:45 2007 : LCP: timeout sending Config-Requests
Thu Dec 20 12:45:45 2007 : Connection terminated.
Thu Dec 20 12:45:46 2007 : Serial link disconnected.

I'm assuming the LCP timeouts are being caused by a problem at the exchange but my question is -

Can any of the usual problems associated with setting up i.e. dodgy wires, etc cause this particular error or is it exclusively an DSLAM/line card problem.

Phone line works OK for voice and the line is definately ADLS enabled.

Any suggestons or thoughts gratefully received before I get into trying to get Tiscali to get BT to go into the exchange to check this.

I have installed, uninstalled and reinstalled the drivers a num ber of times tried different phone sockets swapped filters etc

TIA

I'm Anonymous and so's my wife!

Looks like the line is not enabled to me.

How do you know? Both BT and SAMKNOWS tell me it is but will defer to superior knowledge

There's no firm evidence from your log but those are the messages you'll get when there is no ADSL service on the line - they're also the messages you'll get when you can't establish a PPP session.

When you're trying to establish the connection what do the lights on the modem do?

Its not an intermittant fault: the ADSL light is flashing for as long as the modem is receiving power.

I'd like to establish whether this is something that could be caused by faulty wiring/setup my side in other words ADSL is carried as far as the master socket but then fails or whether this particular error is down to the ISP and therefore requires a trip to the exchange?

I've tried plugging into the master socket (not an NT so no test socket inside) and had the same response.

If you've tried your master socket & there is no test socket, make sure everything is off your line as well - could be an unfiltered phone or something somewhere.. or maybe a burglar alarm hooked up to the phone line?

If still not working then it's likely to be a line fault (Although I'd suggest a new router/modem be tried if you can get one).. which you need to report to your ISP. Sounds like it wasnt connected up correctly at the exchange though

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the ADSL light is flashing for as long as the modem is receiving power

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Shouldn't it be on solid if there is a signal ?

I've tried every permutation save a different modem - but I want to be as sure as I can that this is the ISP's problem before escalating the fault status.

I believe that BT can charge is its found that they have to go look at the exchange and the fault subsequently turns out to be the users

does the MAC driver show you a modem speed ahead of trying to set up a PPP session ?

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I've tried every permutation save a different modem - but I want to be as sure as I can that this is the ISP's problem before escalating the fault status.

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Borrow a router if you can from a friend. In the friend's house, observe the lights on the front of the router for when it works and for when you disconnect the phone line. You should see that the relevant light is the synch light, Now, take it to yours, plg it into the master socket, give it a few minutes - 3 should be enough, and see whether the same light comes on. That will tell you for sure whether the line has an ADSL signal on in.

Don't bother trying to connect your computer through the borrowed router, that is not what this test is about.