If it happens again, I'll copy the log to see if it shows anything unusual or points to the source of the problem.

I don't have a spare router apart from an old Netgear one that developed a fault and caused problems. The Billion is 22 months old, but I do realise they can develop a fault at any time.

In reply to a post by TrishaH:

Yes, all lights were on but the 'internet' one was indeed blinking rather sadly.

It's a while since I used a combined modem/router (separate on FTTC), but iirc that usually meant that you'd got sync to the exchange but not authorisation to your ISP.

OTOH, in your OP you said there were no stats available, which would imply no sync.

I'm inclined to agree with Zarjaz and suspect the router.


edit- I see you don't have a spare... bad move

Edited by billford (Sun 20-Oct-13 12:11:11)

True, there weren't any stats there at all ..just 'link down' in each space.

If I did get a new router, would it be best to stick with the 7800n? - is has been very good on what used to be an awful connection, and I find it easy to use too.

It lives under my desk, so although I do like smart things with pretty lights, I'd hardly ever notice it really.

In those cases suspect it is seeing some hardware at the other end and starts negotiating sync speed and then the authentication

I've had that with routers: a blinking "internet" light can be a indication of an ISP pinging the router, red internet light = PPP link down, and no internet light can mean the router has given up trying to connect, especially if one intervenes and attempts to manually connect from the GUI. Fortunately, as you say, changing to a different router usually cures the later problem

In reply to a post by TrishaH:

If I did get a new router, would it be best to stick with the 7800n?

You'll probably get a different answer in each reply to that one

My feeling would be to say "yes", unless there's a good reason to switch to a different make.

It has the advantage that if it turns out that the current router is OK and the problem is at the exchange then you've got a spare identical router ready for when it does go wrong (which it will), if it is the router at fault then you use the new one and have a look around eBay for a cheap and cheerful <any brand> to use as a swap-out when in due course the new one goes wrong. Which it will

That's my approach to spares... others may differ.

I'd rather have it covered than have to go and buy whatever local stores had available in the event it died altogether.

I see that Billion have a newer model: 7800DXL
Reviews seem very good, and the only thing I see is this in one review:
There seem to be fewer options for the ADSL side of things compared to the 7800N, though I can't identify what's missing from memory
Seeing I know very little about settings, I doubt this will be a problem for me.
As long as it's easy to set up, I should be OK

I use mine wired, but the 7800n wireless seems to work well for any registered visitors, and my notebook connects wirelessly too in another room. Can't say I've used the wireless much myself but I hear no complaints. I assume if I got the newer model it would work the same.

I still see no BT faults/repairs showing for my phone code, nor were there any on 8th when it happened before.
Looks like Zarjaz and yourself could be right about it being the router at fault.

So - 7800n or DXL. Any reason not to go with the newer model?

In reply to a post by TrishaH:

So - 7800n or DXL. Any reason not to go with the newer model?

I had a quick look at the spec for the DXL- most of the improvements seem to be wireless and cable (fibre) related, so could be viewed as overkill if you don't use wireless much and haven't got fibre, otoh it's not much dearer so yes, I'd suggest going for the newer one.

As for setting up- iirc Billions use a wizard to get you initially connected (given your login details), then you just have to sort out any twiddly bits you need. So that shouldn't be a problem.

In my opinion it's also marginally prettier than the 7800N but let's face it- that wouldn't be difficult

Thanks Bill - I appreciate you looking.

I originally got the 7800n because I intended going to fibre, but once I had a new master socket and then the 7800n, things had improved so much in those two steps, I had all I needed so didn't go to fibre.
I do still have the option should the need arise though.

I do agree, the 7800n is probably the ugliest of them all - quite shocked when I first saw it The new one does indeed look considerably better, if not nearly as snazzy as some others.
Quality of performance is more important to me than looks for something like this, so for not a huge lot more, the newer model is probably worth having.

I have screenshots of all my passwords etc, so shouldn't have a problem getting it working, especially with a wizard.

Thanks so much everyone for pointing me in what may likely be the right direction.

The Billion 7800DXL router arrived today.
I've never set one up totally by myself, but the install wizard seems good and I think I did it OK at least for the ADSL. A few things have slightly different terminology though.
There's a couple of things I'm not quite understanding yet, so may try the DSL Hardware section to see if anyone else has one.
So far so good - time will tell if it's solved the problem.

These are the stats from the new router after it had been up for 2.5hours - do they look OK. There's a lot more info under the first couple of paragraphs - more than there was on my 7800n, and I don't know if it's all pretty much alright:

xDSL
Bonding Line Selection line 0 line 1
Mode ADSL_2plus
Traffic Type ATM
Status Up
Link Power State L0

Downstream Upstream
Line Coding (Trellis) On On
SNR Margin (dB) 6.8 6.0
Attenuation (dB) 44.5 26.1
Output Power (dBm) 0.0 12.5
Attainable Rate (Kbps) 9256 1176

Rate (Kbps) 8562 1168

MSGc (# of bytes in overhead channel message) 59 10
B (# of bytes in Mux Data Frame) 133 26
M (# of Mux Data Frames in FEC Data Frame) 1 8
T (Mux Data Frames over sync bytes) 2 6
R (# of check bytes in FEC Data Frame) 10 6
S (ratio of FEC over PMD Data Frame length) 0.4989 5.8807
L (# of bits in PMD Data Frame) 2309 302
D (interleaver depth) 64 4
Delay (msec) 8 6
INP (DMT symbol) 1.00 0.00

Super Frames 733340 663914
Super Frame Errors 76 73
RS Words 95334032 3790947
RS Correctable Errors 42005 508
RS Uncorrectable Errors 967 0

HEC Errors 539 52
OCD Errors 0 0
LCD Errors 0 0
Total Cells 240133847 32701723
Data Cells 797358 125515
Bit Errors 0 4895

Total ES 34 57
Total SES 0 0
Total UAS 50 50