I did another reboot this morning and the stats are:

System Up Time 00:02:05


ADSL Link Downstream Upstream
Connection Speed 860 kbps 992 kbps
Line Attenuation 42 db 9 db
Noise Margin 12 db 11 db

The line att has increased from 6.5 to 9 but still less than it was before removing the orange wire.

In general, attenuation does not fluctuate. Maybe 0.1dB or 0.2dB between reconnections. The usual cause is a dodgy router, but in this case it may be a badly connected wire.

Can you borrow another router from anywhere to try, or do you have an old one that works?

In reply to a post by wildgoose1uk:

I'll put up some more photos in the morning. I know I have seen some striped wires but need ot check where. From memory I think it could be the master bedroom.

Could the buildeers really have been clever enough to think of putting the master socket in the master bedroom?

If it is that socket then that is the one I messed up on with the orange wire and pulled a (I think) blue/white striped wire out too. The socket no longer works but the other sockets work. I wonder if this could have caused the db change.

I won't hazard a guess until we see your photos.
In my own BT installation a blue/white and white/blue pair run from the external junction box to the first socket, a master, which is an NTE5.
Hopefully the photos will enlighten those of us trying to help you with the wiring.
As Roberto says, the change in attenuation in your case may well be a symptom of faulty/mis wiring.
My plan would be to establish without doubt which is the first socket fed by the external junction box> Ensure that it is a Master "type" socket> Disconnect ALL cabling from it other than the incoming pair > Ensure you still have dial tone! > Connect router and check stats. Once broadband is sorted restore extensions one by one, keeping an eye on router stats

Edited by alwall (Wed 30-Mar-11 10:04:58)

The photos are on the same link as before at http://www.flickr.com/photos/13608264@N06/sets/72157...

I am getting more confused by the second.

On the pic with the blue and white wire not connected: This is the one I pulled out with the ring wire and am waiting for the tool to arrive to reinsert it.

Grateful as ever

The stats are a bit different with a different router:

DSL Connection Details
DSL Line (Wire Pair): Line 1 (inner pair)
Protocol: G.DMT2 Annex L
Downstream Rate: 939 kbps
Upstream Rate: 561 kbps
Channel: Interleaved
Current Noise Margin: 12.1 dB (Downstream) 12.0 dB (Upstream)
Current Attenuation: 46.5 dB (Downstream) 24.7 dB (Upstream)
Current Output Power: 17.2 dBm (Downstream) 12.2 dBm (Upstream)
DSLAM Vendor Information: Country: {0xB5} Vendor: {BDCM} Specific: {0x8A1}
PVC Info: 0/38
Internet Connection Details

Domain:
Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU): 1500
Gateway Ping: Successful
DNS Communication: Successful
Configuration Server Post: Waiting for DNS information

Hooray, a router that works!

But what is G.DMT2 Annex L ??

I would stick with this router for now. An occasional reboot to see how the attenuation behaves, if steady then it would show the other has a problem somewhere, or maybe just the wires to and from it weren't securely plugged in, but the attenuations now make much more sense.

With the other's attenuation readings being wrong, who knows what else wasn't right in its handling of the line.

What are the two routers?

Reach Extended G.Lite?

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Hooray, a router that works!

But what is G.DMT2 Annex L ??

Good spot!

I haven't thought about the implications yet, but:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU_G.992.3_Annex_L

Unlikely the other router was the same though, unless both have come across from France.

You just beat me to that one.

Isn't that going to restrict the available frequencies (max of 552 kHz).

How long is the OP's line ?

- Alex