Very Strange Problem

Hi guys

I have got a really unusual issue and I hope this is the correct place to post it! Here goes:

For the last 3 months or so my broadband has seemingly randomly been disconnecting and then resyncing at a much slower speed than my line speed (which is roughly 4 meg). I sometimes dont notice its happened until I try and download something and then I`ll notice that i`m synched at 400 or something similar. I`ll then restart the router and it will resync at normal speed, but of course I have to wait 3 days or so for my profile to get back to normal. I`ve tried all the usual stuff - 3 different routers, changed filters , test socket etc etc and had BT out 2 times who have changed my faceplate. Now this is where it gets a bit strange. Today for the first time I realises exactly when and why its disconnecting. I use a laptop connected to my router wirelessly as does my wife. I dabble in computer repairs a bit, and when I get a desktop to repair I plug it into the mains connect it to the router via ethernet. Well today I realised that its when I connect and put up a desktop system to my power supply that the broadband is dropping out. The noise margin drops to around 5.0 and also strangely I get weird static interference on my TV in the other room and also my touchpad on my laptop stops working!!!! As soon as I power down the desktop and reboot the router its all back to normal.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what might be causing this and also what route to take to fix it? Is it a BT or electrician job? Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

First guess is a slightly loose connection in the power socket that is arcing a little and kicking out a lot of interference when supplying current.

Can you try a different socket as a check?

The cure is easy- take the front off the socket and tighten the screws up (having first pulled the fuse!), but if you're not 100% sure of what you are doing then get an electrician...

Thanks for the advice Bilford. I have had a look at the socket and tightnened everything up. The problem persists however. Although I`ve just tried conncecting the desktop up in another room and doesnt seem to be any problems.

You could try something like this: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?moduleno=225405

Might help.

John.

My favourite is still the socket then... sometimes the springy bits inside that grip the plug pins can get weak or corroded and cause arcing- once started it usually gets worse, the arcing further corrodes and overheats the metal so it gets less springy and leads to more arcing...If it is that then the only real cure is to swap the faceplate for a new one.

Another possibility would be a loose connection on another socket elsewhere on the ring main, but not very likely, I think.

If anyone else has any other suggestions...?

Think I`ll try replacing the faceplate whatever happens - its looking a bit worse for wear to be honest!

I'd try plugging some other electrical item (such as a table lamp) into the "offending" socket to see if it causes the problem.

John.

Good idea.

I thought of trying another socket, didn't think of trying something else in the same one

Thats the weird thing though - I currently have 6 things plugged into the offending socket. (there are to 3 point plugs on the faceplate - my laptop, printer, router are on one 4 way adapter and a monitor, telephone and external hard drive are on the other) and everything is working fine. Its only when I add a desktop computer that my broadband disconnects, the interference on the TV starts and my touchpad stops working!

Is it always the same desktop PC?

Nope it doesnt matter which desktop PC it is - its happened with several!

I'd suggest that the fault is with the router and not the laptops or socket. Switch-mode power supplies are notorious producers of noise, and your router isn't filtering it out.

Hi

I initially thought that but I`m currently on my third router since this problem manifested and its been the same on all of them.

I suspect an earthing problem,
computer power supplies have suppression circuits to earth, and my guess is that its then earthing though the router, and line, (and poor engineer sitting in green cabinet)

time for an electrician.

In reply to a post by ggremlin:

I suspect an earthing problem,
computer power supplies have suppression circuits to earth, and my guess is that its then earthing though the router, and line, (and poor engineer sitting in green cabinet)

time for an electrician.

Well, you could be on the right lines there - before spending a lot of money on an electrician, the OP could buy one of those 13A socket testers (the ones with three lights) which will check the earth connection, and whether the L and N are swapped.

The laptop can't earth through the line - there are isolation components in routers to stop this happening.

Edited by deleted (Sat 15-Aug-09 10:20:00)