New router sync'ing then dropping after 2 secs

Hi, my parents have talktalk 5gb/mth broadband (international3 maybe?) with phone etc.
Before the exchange was unbundled they synced at about 1100/288 and got 900kbps on speedtests. Since the LLU the speedtouch330 syncs at between 1500 and 2000/448 but speeds are often 500-800kbps. The maximum I've got was 1005/370 ish using port80 on this site's speedtest.
Also it can be tricky logging into TalkTalk eg Monday at 5:20pm I couldn't get connected (remote login computer didn't respond)...left it cycling to try to connect. 50 attempts later was still not connected but it did connect at 7pm.
They don't P2P, or download big game patches etc, they only use email and http really, so the 5gb is enough...but they pay for an always on connection, they shouldn't need to wait 2hrs to receive email or do the little bit of research they want to do at that moment!
This issue however, could well be moot as I am adding a 2nd computer to their house, and have a router (linksys WAG54GS) to do this. As this would keep them logged in 24/7 the problems with TalkTalk's login server could be avoided.
The problem I am having though, is that the router sync's up for only 1 or 2 seconds before dropping the line. This repeats over and over. The weird thing is that when I re-plug in the speedtouch330 modem...the issue persists: line is dropped after 1 to 10 seconds. The first time I tried the router the modem couldn't connect until the next morning, the second time (a week later) I tried it the modem had troubles for a few hours, though last night the modem was fine straight after trying the router.

I am going to try my new router at their house next week to see if the problem persists, but in the meantime could a TalkTalk rep let me know what info they want posted here to guide my testing etc. We tried the 'indian' call centre last night but the first guy put me on hold for over 5 mins without telling me what he was doing, and the 2nd tried to help for about 20mins and then the line just went dead (was 15mins before 10pm closing at that point)

The router settings are VCmux, 0,38 (or auto i think) PPPoA ....all identical the the USB modem (though I have tried all the other router settings to see if it sync's better)

I haven't recorded SNR noise etc yet though I have seen where to do those kind of tests...am just not sure it's useful if TalkTalk wont ''support'' my make/model of router.
My other router is a Zyxel P-660 HW T1 -v2 if that is supported

cheers, Myth

i've been reading about, i need to connect to master socket and get some line stats i think :-)

The Speedtouch is a supported TT modem and it uses g.dmt or ADSL1. Your router may be connecting in a different mode such as ADSL2+ which might be the problem.

In any case you need to connect nothing but the router to the test socket inside the removeable bottom half of your master socket and get the following stats: attenuation, line or sync rate and S/N margin.

Edited by deleted (Fri 11-Jan-08 12:25:12)

thanks ETEE, after reading some here I had decided I needed to do that. interestingly I just got a txt from mom saying ''talktalk have sent message, cannot get online till have followed instructions 2 check user name and password, then have to do stuff re relevant router ''details will stay open till get connected''

no idea what this means.....except maybe talktalk have managed to kick my parents offline till I can get there on Monday...and for no good reason.

The router was previously connected at mine which is Nildram 8128/448 with stats:

noise margin upstream: 29 db
output power downstream: 19 db
attenuation upstream: 9 db
noise margin downstream: 13 db
output power upstream: 12 db
attenuation downstream: 18 db

if these shed any light?
these stats are via my newer zyxel router

can I get line stats whilst the line is disconnected do you know? it only syncs up for a second or 2 at most

I have router connected via the backplate socket...but then via a long cheap extension cable. Both telephones are disconnected, one of them a long extension. The Linksys WAG54GS that I want to use seems to have no line stats page that I can see so I can't give you stats, however it is syncing at 3400 and speedtest just gave 2600kbps and I am online with the router :-D. I want to use the wireless part of the router so I will be moving it to next to the BT master socket, but I wondered whether fitting a proper ADSL master socket thing that I've seen talked about will solve the problem of noisy phone extension cables? or do I have to replace the phone extension wires (or go wireless)?

cheers, Myth

interesting, reconnected all the phone lines back to normal, and the router sync'ed up at about 2500/448 and is going strong. Have ordered a clarity faceplace anyway as it seems a good idea. Just as I type though it lost sync....hmm. Have turned on router logs and it says

Tue, 2008-01-15 16:54:39 - ADSL link down
Tue, 2008-01-15 16:54:43 - Terminating on signal 15.
Tue, 2008-01-15 16:54:43 - LCP down.
Tue, 2008-01-15 16:54:43 - ADSL G.994 training
Tue, 2008-01-15 16:54:49 - Connection terminated.
Tue, 2008-01-15 16:54:49 - Connect time 20.1 minutes.
Tue, 2008-01-15 16:54:49 - Sent 63449 bytes, received 97852 bytes.
Tue, 2008-01-15 16:54:49 - Exit.
Tue, 2008-01-15 16:54:50 - ADSL G.992 started


the USB modem was connecting as POTS and Gdmt.A. I don't see any options in router to change anything to Gdmt.A

Any advice?

curioser and curioser. Couldn't get the USB modem to work again the other night, just flashing the DSL light (no sync), but the router was relatively happy connecting at 3200/448 ish, though dropping sync every 20 or 30 mins. Am waiting for clarity frontplate before I do more testing though i have some log below if any of this shines a light on the problem:

Wed, 2008-01-16 00:04:54 - ADSL link down
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:04:59 - ADSL G.994 training
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:06 - ADSL G.992 started
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:10 - ADSL G.992 channel analysis
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:14 - ADSL link up, fast, us=508, ds=0
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:20 - ADSL link down
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:22 - ADSL G.994 training
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:28 - No response to 3 echo-requests
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:28 - Serial link appears to be disconnected.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:28 - LCP down.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:29 - ADSL G.992 started
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:34 - ADSL G.992 channel analysis
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:34 - Connection terminated.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:34 - Connect time 7.2 minutes.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:34 - Sent 34356 bytes, received 34737 bytes.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:34 - Exit.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:38 - ADSL G.992 message exchange
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:05:38 - ADSL link up, fast, us=444, ds=0
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - Initialize LCP.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - Plugin pppoa loaded.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - PPPoA Plugin Initialized
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - Plugin pppoa called.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - PPPoATM setdevname_pppoatm - SUCCESS
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - Options file - /etc/ppp/options.0.38.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - pppd 2.4.1 started by root, uid 0
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - setting line discipline hook
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - connect_pppoatm_ses...Enter
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - connect_pppoatm_ses: socket created fd - 0x6.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - connect_pppoatm_ses: setsockopt called.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - connect_pppoatm_ses: connect successful.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - Calling line discipline hook
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - Setting pppoatm line discipline.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - vc encaps.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - using channel 12
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - Using interface ppp0
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - Connect: ppp0 <-->
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:18 - LCP is allowed to come up.
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:24 - Remote message: CHAP authentication success, unit 390
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:24 - CHAP authentication success
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:24 - local IP address 78.149.138.24
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:24 - remote IP address 78.149.128.1
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:24 - primary DNS address 62.24.252.134
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:24 - secondary DNS address 62.24.252.135
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:24 - apps set the adsl with value 1
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:24 - , the count is 2
Wed, 2008-01-16 00:06:24 - the wan_ip_existing is 1

I've been connected almost a week and noticed something strange last night, I kept getting disconnected every 5-10 mins, I know it's pushing my line to it's limit (4.5mbps) but whats strange is I thought - OK it's cabling I'm on an extension .... etc.

I'm going to test more but it seemed that as soon as I turned my xbox off (not 360 just the old black beast!) the connection was solid, now my xbox is in a unit and the wireless router (Netgear DG834G - V3 latest firmware) is on the same unit and to be honest the cables are a mess.

The xbox unit is connected via a mains filter, the router tv etc. also go through the mains filter, I'll test again tonight and then try my master socket before I worry about wiring!

you might want to start a new thread for this if your problems persist :-)