Advice Needed: BT Line Issues

Derrick

I
>>I am using an ADSL filter with the fax into the phone side of it. I've
>>also tried removing the filter and putting the fax straight into the
>>master socket to send a fax with the same result. Likewise I've taken
>>the phone out of the filter to see if that made any difference to the
>>broadband quality (it didn't) and have tried all the above with 2
>>different filters and several different cables for both fax and
>>router.
>
>The test by plugging the FAX directly into the master socket
>unfiltered front or rear connector will yield WORSE results.
>The FAX needs the telephony filter in place to remove the
>broadband signal from its input. Without it, the FAX will see
>the broadband signal as "noise" which often makes it unable to
>synchronise, or drop out, depending on the machine design or
>vintage. If it is an old machine, then it may not even work
>with a "just in spec" filter as found in the plug-in types...
>
>You can try the ADSL router directly in the master socket,
>with a RJ11 to BT adaptor. It doesn't need any additional
>filter and there should be no other telephone or FAX devices
>plugged in. This should give you the best speed possible, but
>remember that the other end (the DSLAM) will not immediately
>crank up its speed.
>
>Since you are experiencing a slow-down in the evening, it
>sounds like:
>
>1. There is some radio source in the ADSL signal band that
>comes on in the evening - look for thermostats, fluorescents,
>heating pumps or other unexpected transmitters. Try listening
>with a MW radio tuned off-station. (And try any TFT screen
>:-))
>
>Remember that, if you listen to the unfiltered line with a
>phone, you may hear the broadband signal as a hissing noise.
>
>2. Your location is being saturated with ADSL connections that
>is causing you to experience congestion due to throttling of
>the service (50:1 is what you brought - perhaps this is what
>you are getting?) Check if your ISP (or some other) will
>provide a "business" service at 20:1. I assume you have
>checked that your ISP aren't throttling your connection
>themselves?

you do not need a filter fitting to test for voice lines whilst the ADSL
is not synched up.

the filter is only needed, when the ADSL is in synch.

But the issue is more that even basic fax and voice services are being
compromised.

I'm still betting towards a copper fault of some description.

--
Derrick

JW

Exasperated wrote:
> Just to answer a few of the previous questions.
>
> I am using an ADSL filter with the fax into the phone side of it. I've
> also tried removing the filter and putting the fax straight into the
> master socket to send a fax with the same result. Likewise I've taken
> the phone out of the filter to see if that made any difference to the
> broadband quality (it didn't) and have tried all the above with 2
> different filters and several different cables for both fax and
> router.
>

Did you try the fax with the ADSL modem/router disconnected?
This would completely remove ADSL as a source of
interference.

Did you try another fax machine? The modems on your
computers can be used if you've installed (for example) the
XP fax service. Use a separate modem lead if you have one,
to eliminate the fax lead.

Can the fax be made to send at a lower line speed?
Preventing it from negotiating higher speeds may allow
transmission.

You can only be sure of the line after eliminating all
possible local terminal/wiring faults. I had a line fault
yesterday that disappeared when I disconnected a caller
display unit.

> The router is a Netgear wireless DG834GT and I've also tested with a
> Belkin wireless router I got hold of. In case there was something
> messing with the wireless aspect I've also tried it with a network
> cable direct from the PC to the router. I have two laptops and they
> both experience this drastic slowing of Net connection before the
> signal drops. When it drops I can see the Net light on the router
> flashing and rebooting the router seems to sync it back up and gets
> the connection going again.
>
> I'm 4km from the exchange and I've queried the fact that the speed
> seems pretty awful for an 8mb connection. I was told that speeds could
> never be guaranteed and that other people on the line may be using
> services which impact on speed. I was even told it may be trucks using
> CB radio on a main road quarter of a mile away that's negatively
> effecting the connection - when I pointed out that trucks tend to go
> past during the day and the problems are *signifcantly* worse during
> the evening and weekends he put it down to 'demand'.
>

I suspect this is normal for ADSL Max. My own noise levels
vary by 10dB during the day. The long line means low
received signal level which is more susceptible to near-end
noise. Most of that noise comes from other ADSL users
sharing your main cable, so it increases when they are on-line.

Were you on Max at your previous location? The standard
products would have been more stable, and you may have been
closer to the exchange. I think there are ways to increase
stability (interleaving?) but they may mean a lower sync rate.

> I've not actually noticed whether the router loses its signal when we
> get hissy noises on the phone so I'll have to keep an eye out for
> that.

The ADSL modem shouldn't notice noise in the voice band. Of
course, the noise source could be in a broader spectrum.

>
> As it is, BT won't entertain another fault ticket opened unless I buy
> another fax machine and that doesn't work either. I suppose that I'll
> have to do that to move forward and Zen will have to keep bashing them
> on the broadband issue.
>

See above comment on PCs. Surely one of your laptops has a
modem?

news.tiscali.co.uk

>when receiving the call comes through but cannot
> connect and the sender receives a recorded message saying "this number
> cannot receive faxes".

The quote above from the OP is the strangest part of the post IMHO,
yet nobody has attempted to address it so far in the thread.

I suspect that this is a red herring caused by a misunderstanding
between the OP and the sender of a fax, and if mentioned to BT,
might have made his case appear less credible.

--

Graham.
%Profound_observation%