Moved, new dsl connection, not looking good

Hi-

I'm having some real problems trying to successfully get any kind of dsl connection at the new house I've just moved into.

I've signed with fast.co.uk as ISP. It's a BT wholesale connection, not LLU. Exchange is Turton, Lancashire. I'm about 1 KM from the exchange, which I thought was quite good for a rural location.

Line has been activated, and I've tried both the username password I was given by Fast and the BT test settings. I've tried both a Zoom X4 modem and a Belkin modem/router. There seems to be a sync problem. I've been through setup with Fast tech support several times. The Zoom appears to report a sync, but never establishes a connection. The Belkin sync light keeps flashing endlessly.

It's logfile shows it never gets beyond this point:

13:03:28 If(ATM1) PPP fail : Timeout in LCP negotiation
13:03:27 ATM1 start PPP

The house appears to have wiring that is different to what I've seen before, and may be the cause of the problem. I've linked to some images of it here.

BT cable comes in just above the door, to a junction box.

http://flic.kr/p/8qx1dr

The main socket is on the second floor, isn't NTE5, but an older design, and seems to cater for two separate lines, but only the left hand one works obviously.

http://flic.kr/p/8qx1b4
http://flic.kr/p/8qA7KA

BT say the line is OK. Voice is fine. I've tested from the main socket and from each of the extension sockets. Also tested with nothing else connected to any extension, straight to the main socket. Still no go.

Here's some more stats from the Belkin:

ADSL
Type: Interleave Path
Status: SHOWTIME

Data rate(Kbps)
8128 down 448 up

Noise Margin
13 down 27 up

Output power(dBm)
0 down 199 up (power down does start off around 150, but seems to go down to 0)

Attenuation(dB)
15 down 5 up

I want to find out all my options before I call in a BT engineer. If anyone has any suggestions as to what to do next please let me know. At my last house I had a nice easy BE LLU connection, looks like this one will be harder...

If you can, perhaps check with neighbours for their experiences (same problems?), and if possible try another modem/router. At least that might narrow things down a bit.

Looks like you have a great line there!

To me it looks like the login (PPP) is failing. This will be down to either your ISP or you using incorrect credentials.

I would go back to your provider (after re-checking your login details!)...

In reply to a post by b4dger:

Looks like you have a great line there!

That's what I was thinking. Rural and prolly good for 7 Meg.

Odd looking wiring though, so wondered if a neighbour maybe had a tip.

if it doesn't work with bt_test@startup_domain check that you have 0 and 38 as VPI and VCI and that you're using PPPoA with VCMux

the 8128 / 448 speed shows us that it isn't a line problem

Just an update to this issue, which still hasn't been solved. Now trying with a third modem- Netgear DGN-2000.

ADSL sync goes solid green, apparently showing good sync with the exchange (never loses this green light over days) and reports, as the Belkin does, that the line is 'connected' 8128 down 448 up. Line stats seem good. But still no go. Verbose Netgear log shows this-

Options file - /etc/ppp/options.0.38.
setting line discipline hook
connect_pppoatm_ses...Enter
connect_pppoatm_ses: socket created fd - 0x7.
connect_pppoatm_ses: setsockopt called.
connect_pppoatm_ses: connect successful.
Calling line discipline hook
Setting pppoatm line discipline.
vc encaps.
using channel 25
Using interface ppp0
Connect: ppp0 <-->
Couldn't increase MRU to 1500
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <mru 1458> <magic 0xaaa224fe>]
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <mru 1458> <magic 0xaaa224fe>]
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <mru 1458> <magic 0xaaa224fe>]
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <mru 1458> <magic 0xaaa224fe>]
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <mru 1458> <magic 0xaaa224fe>]
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <mru 1458> <magic 0xaaa224fe>]
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <mru 1458> <magic 0xaaa224fe>]
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <mru 1458> <magic 0xaaa224fe>]
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <mru 1458> <magic 0xaaa224fe>]
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <mru 1458> <magic 0xaaa224fe>]
LCP: timeout sending Config-Requests
Connection terminated.

--

This loops continuously but with the modem trying different channels.

--

BT engineer came out a couple of days ago and tested the line, he says ADSL was syncing fine (he tested at around 7.2 downstream). I didn't ask if he could do a speed test on his equipment, perhaps I should have, but he did claim to access the net on his equip. He also fitted a NTE5 to replaced the ancient main socket, which didn't change stats much anyway. He didn't mention any charges, so hopefully I won't be billed for any of this.

I've verified with the ISP that all login details are correct. Tested many times. BT test settings don't authorise either. ISP have now bounced it back to BT, who may be coming again to do something to the 'jumpering' whatever that is. Latest theory is that data from modem to ISP servers to authenticate isn't happening, something inbetween (i.e. BT wholesale) is stopping it...

Oh, and neighbours get adsl fine, BT homehub, NTE5 main socket, nothing unusual.

Thanks for the info guys, any more you can say is appreciated.

Regards
Jon

it looks like it's struggling to agree MTU / MRU settings. Try putting 1458 in the settings for the MTU

Also try PPPoE instead of PPPoA then go back to PPPoA as sometimes this shakes up whatever it is that has hung. It took me 90 minutes to get a line to authenticate the other day, despite having the correct credentials.

Did the BT guy use a USB modem ?

Problem has been fixed- it was dsl connection not setup properly at exchange, jumpering issue. Thanks all!

--
Jon