Drag on DSL - Tech Help Needed.

[babutiger]

Greetings everyone,

I have a DSL connection with 640k/320k caps. I am using WinXP on an Athlon XP system w/512 DDR RAM.

My problem arises from my DSL connection that slows to speeds akin to a 56k modem. The degradation of speeds occurs mostly by day and periodically at night.

Conversly, at night (7PM and onward) and intermittently during the day I am able to return to 90% of my caps. To further complicate my problem, I sometimes experience speeds 50-25% of my caps as well. When I experience the super slow speeds (like now as I write to you) -or- my normal/close to normal speeds they occur for a length of time that is considerable and sustained.

One more thing to add, sometimes when playing an online game my speeds grind to a total halt. I look at my modem and the light that indicates connection to the network turns orange (no host found). This will occur long enough for me to be dropped from the game. After a little while, my connection to network will return (green light on modem) and connection continues as normal.

I tried re-booting my rig and power cycling the modem but to no avail.

A bit of history to better understand my situation...About 1 month ago (Feb 03) this problem emerged and 2 months ago (Jan. 03) I had static on my phone lines and no internet connection. A tech was sent and discovered the node that feeds my home was damaged. That was repaired and my connection had functioned normally until Feb.03. At the time of the repair the tech told me that since my house sits on the end of this particular node I should not see speeds anywhere close to my caps, reason being the fiber optics line makes a large loop before terminating at my house. I guess my house is the last one to receive phone service on this particular node. I told him, much to his surprise, that i have received speeds upwards of 600K +.

I contacted my local isp for help with the current matter and a tech reported that speeds to my house are "normal". He concluded the problem was an internal wiring one and that I was responsible for that. I am skeptical of his assessment considering the downed node 2 months ago, my house being at the end of the node as described to me, and lastly my ability to obtain 90% of my cap (or near them) at night as well as the degradation of my speeds during the day like clockwork.

Can anyone lend there experties on this matter. Do you suggest any line tests I can run from my pc to check my lines? I hope to walk away with a better understanding of the problem.

Thanks my friends!

 

[StraightPipe]

It sounds like traffic slowing your line, but usually you would only see this type of drop durring peak hours with cable modem.

I would get back in touch with DSL provider. quote him your lowest speeds and see if they will help.

I usually get 1250/300 with Bellsouth.net for $45 monthly.

Who is your ISP?

check out DSL Reports they have lots of tools.

 

[JackMDS]

You may want to read this Thread (It is a long one read it to the end.)

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=36&threadid=996977

 

[babutiger]

Thanks Jack for that link, alot of useful information.

I'm using Alaska Communication Systems (ACS known around here).

Like the gentleman in the post - ACS sent a technician to my home while I was not there and reported to me that the line was normal. I had no way to verify if that information is true or not. However, based on that visit, they dont want to help me identify the location of the problem other than "must be from your home's wiring". Instead, they want to charge me 75$ just to come into my home and check out my wiring. Tell me something Jack when you say "Could be that it is not cost effective to remedy the problem, but it is ISP duty to tell you where is the problem." is my local isp responsible to pin point the probelm.

What would you do in my situation? Have them come over and check out the outside box while I am home? Also, could my distance from the "node" (as I call it) play a larger role with my poor connection speeds?

edit another thing, does the description I give above represent a problem that could come from internal wiring or an isp with problems sending a consistent signal to my home?

 

[JackMDS]

Let Assume that your system from the Tel. outlet to the Modem and to your computer is as it should be.

Let assume that the feed into the DSLAM connection in the Telco Switch Building is as it should be.

In such a case the problem could be either in the lines from Telco to your NID (the box that your inside line connects to the out side), or the lines inside your house, or both.

In order to neutralize the effect of your inside lines you have temporarily disconnect the Lines in the NID that go into the house, and connect one new RJ-11 leading to a spot where you can connect it to your DSL Modem. You can bring your system to a spot near the NID, or buy a long RJ-11 at Home Depot and take it through the house to your current DSL Modem location.

Doing so will create a new ?fresh? connection to the outside without the effect of your inside lines.

If under this condition your DSL usage is still problematic then the problem is the Telco responsibility.

By cost effective I mean.

It is possible that in order to corrct the problems of the lines the cost can be exuberant. Could be that either you or the Telco are not willing pay for it.

I do not know what the legalities are if it is the Telco. responsibility.

Good Luck.

 

[cmetz]

babutiger, when things slow down, go check your modem's stats and see if the link is actually training down or not. If your link is consistently at about the same speed yet your delivered throughput varies, then it's a problem in the L2 or L3 network up from you. If your modem actually trains down periodically, then it's a problem with your line and may be wiring related.

For the IW variable, get a laptop and some extension cords. Next time you see a slowdown, rig to hook your modem up directly to your NID, if there's a bypass jack in the NID use that (otherwise try to disconnect your inside wiring). If your modem trains at a substantially different speed hooked up to the NID directly, it's probably IW, otherwise it's probably not.

 

[killumanati]

About a year ago I had the same issue with my dsl in my apartment. I beleive I had a two fold problem:

1 Being I had major static in my line due to bad inside wiring
2 There was some bad hardware in a junction box about a quarter mile from my house.

How my problem was resolved

First I had wiring maintenance from my phone company so they had to come out and investigate and fix the issue
Second my ISP had an obligation to determine the problem so they went and fixed the hardware at that junction i was speaking of.

 

[babutiger]

Well I found the culprit and boy do i feel foolish. The RJ-11 was the problem.

I followed Jack's suggestion to connect my pc to the nid. To do so I purchased a long RJ-11 to do the job and found the connection speeds to be perfect. I then connected to another phone outlet in my home and yet again perfect speeds. Using the same RJ-11 I went back to my pc room and my speed tests came out 640K!

Case closed. Thanks for the help my friends.