Spot on with the HR Dis I'd say. The additional current supplied to the line when the receiver is lifted "blows" the fault condition off the line temporarily. Same happens when an intrusive line test is run by the CP / ISP - hence why they are so damn hard to get anyone to do anything about until they degrade to the point of complete service failure.

p.s. please don't ask me to explain the electronic theory behind the above.... I can't!

I thought you were on the right track, for initial testing, before his later post. So I wasn't contradicting you - just had more info to play with.

Thanks to both GeeTee and RobertoS.
This point about waiting until service degrades to complete collapse before you can get action is very true. My overhead line runs from the street cabinet at the bottom of my garden on a totally unnecessary excursion of some 200 extra metres via two poles (both are for my exclusive use) and through two thickets of trees in order to reach my property. Three yrs ago I had the same problem and even with a more pro-active ISP (Nildram rather than T-T) I had to wait for collapse of the voice service due to abrasion by the trees, before getting action (i.e. restringing of the line). Maybe this is my problem again now, but v diff to get an ISP to push BT OpenReach into action.
In view of my problems it looks to me that I would be in an even bigger mess if I moved away from LLU ADSL2+ to a BT wholesale product with the associated problems of auto rate adaption.
I like the look of AAISP + Be LLU, but they really are pricey, so am still pondrring what to do...... other than just sit and wait for total collapse of service !!
Thanks again

In reply to a post by mje_uk:

...
I like the look of AAISP + Be LLU, but they really are pricey, so am still pondrring what to do...... other than just sit and wait for total collapse of service !!
Thanks again

Forget all about BE. The service is currently having serious congestion issues. Perhaps a C&W reseller would suit you better if you must have LLU and your exchange has C&W on it.

No, my exchange (SMBK) has no C&W presence and I feel that I need to focus on LLU operaters because of the instability of my long line.
Thanks for that, anyway

Are they?

i've not noticed.

Also

BE value would probably suit you well.

Edited by epyon (Sun 21-Aug-11 15:26:42)

Thanks epyon :
<BE value would probably suit you well.>
Yes ..... from the point of view of providing LLU/ADSL2+ at reasonable cost at my exchange, that seems like a good bet (although I would lose my fixed IP address, but I am prepared to manage without).
The real problem is to find an ISP prepared to pressurise BT into sorting out my flaky line. That's my main reason for despair with my present ISP (the dreaded Talk-Talk) who merely seem interested in selling me alternative packages to the Nildram one which they have taken over/rubbished.
Thanks again

What makes you think you have a flaky line?

In reply to a post by epyon:

Are they?

i've not noticed.

Also

BE value would probably suit you well.

Yes they are
http://beusergroup.co.uk/?id=769

It will suit him/her if they do not mind a congested service. Personally im guessing they do not want that.

In reply to a post by mje_uk:

No, my exchange (SMBK) has no C&W presence and I feel that I need to focus on LLU operaters because of the instability of my long line.
Thanks for that, anyway

Only other alternative looking at your exchange i would consider if you are dead set on LLU is maybe Sky. Some swear by them some swear at them.