Random disconnections - Orange UK

right. first of all. im new to all this kinda stuff so bear with me and ask me stuff if i say something that doesnt really make sense. this may be a bit long-winded.


September 26th, i have a 1MB connection with orange UK and i have had it since i was on freeserve 56k service many years ago, and i had not a single problem with it. then on the 26th this "line upgrade" is given to everyone and we all recieve maxDSL, up to 8mb. i use a Belkin wireless/wired router (my PC is wired to the router, i have 1 PC, 1 laptop, a nintendo DS and nintendo Wii using wireless).. when the sproblems started, i would get random disconnects every 20 minutes to 6 hours, then after a month or two and a LOT of phone calls i noticed it started happening only after 5pm. on my phonecalls i have been refused help simply because im not using a livebox, which i never recieved as i joined in the freeserve days with 56k. trying to get a livebox is a completely different story (6 phonecalls so far, once every 2 weeks each with the promise of 10 working days delivery. i have recieved nothing) i do have a fax machine and sky+ in the house.

now, even though im fairly certain this is down to a crappy ISP (that just changed my T&C so i have to pay to get a MAC code to migrate to a different ISP now) im not stubborn enough to simply reject the fact that it indeed could be something wrong on my end (although im using the exact same setup pre line-upgrade which worked perfectly).

some people tell me that belkin routers tend to overheat and cause disconnections. i have tried a seperate simply ADSL modem which suffers from the same problem.

things to note are that there is only ONE main phone socket in the hosue, and there is a hell of a lot of stuff connected to it (although like i said, was all fine pre line-upgrade) theres is a sky+ box, sky digital box, fax machine and another phone set, and of course the router. everything is filtered.

also, my phone seems to sound like a damn geiger-couter recently whenever you try to make a phone call, but where i live (the north-east of england) there is currently gale force winds and rain.

does anyone have any light they could shed on the subject? or has anyone had similar problems before? as i understand it, im not the only one who has been very disappointed with the current service prodivded by Orange UK.

Thanks - G

oh, i forgot to mention that they recently changed my package two days ago to a cheaper one, but the same contents as my old package. im still on an unlimited package. since then ive been getting disconnects REALLY often. about 30 seconds after i connect. but then it wont reconnect straight away, i have to wait about 10 minutes for the line to sync again. this is VERY annoying because i have coursework in for tuesday, and i doing an internet technology course. very hard without a usable internet connection >:|

If your router is dropping sync, then this has nothing to do with your ISP. If as you say, you just have the one socket, try unplugging everything else, and just having the router plugged in..does this help ? It may be helpfull if you could post attenuation and snr readings from your router. Does the noise on the line go if you disconnect the router ?

well, ive unplugged the router and the noise is still there. and its not usually there, ive only really noticed it today as it was mega-heavy when trying to phone someone. ill give the unplugging thing a try.

as for the attenuation and snr readings, if you wouldnt mind telling me how to get those id happily post them for you. unfortunatley, my connection has been constantly disconnected all day since i made the post and ive only just managed to get back on now. do it may be a while before i can post again. i will try to get these as soon as possible

thanks for the reply.

Have a read through this
http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/frogstats.htm
it should describe how to find your stats.
If the line is noisey with everything but the phone disconnected, then a call to BT on 151 may be in order.

well, ill post what i assume is my attenuation here now. this is just copies as-is frmo my wonderfully "hidden" router page.

Noise Margin - Up: 26dB down 11.5dB
output power - up 11.5dBm down 19dBm
attenuation - up 26.5dB down 42dB

i hope this is the right thing and makes some sense to you.

If the line is, as you say, noisey with all else unplugged, it's time to report it to BT or whomever the SP for your telephone service is...it could be a good old fashioned line fault affecting it. The stats look reasonable, but if you could dig out some form of sync speed also....

ive just taken the whole status page frmo my router, saved it and uploaded it. it should have on what you want to look at.

currently, im just considering re-activating the second phoneline in the house that used to be used for dedicated 56k. at least that way im fairly certain ill get a good service.

http://www31.brinkster.com/flipchuck/adsl_status_main.stm.htm

Your link appears bust, at least from here.

Up Stream
0 (Kbps.)
288 (Kbps.)

Down Stream
0 (Kbps.)
1440 (Kbps.)



Operation Data / Defect Indication: Operation Data
Upstream
Downstream

Noise Margin
26 dB
11.5 dB

Output Power
11.5 dBm
19 dBm

Attenuation
26.5 dB
42 dB

Orange LLU.