This topic

Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

Pale91 — Tue, 23 May 2023 17:52:07 GMT

Hi there, back again.

Trying to narrow down my neverending problems. Two engineers down, I know there'll be many more to come, as always. I'm scanning the event log to see if anything is out of the ordinary. Just had a ton of disconnections within 15 minutes, can't get any work done so... here I am!

Can anyone please tell me if this is normal:

The flip flopping between 10mbps, 1000mbps and 100mpbs.

Thanks so much for helping me perhaps narrow things down.

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

imjolly — Tue, 23 May 2023 17:52:36 GMT

You should have continued with your existing posts as that had more information instead of starting a new set of posts for same problem

You never actually posted if the quiet line test was totally silent

If phone call is causing connection to drop have you tried using the test socket with a filter to see if that improves line stability?

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

Pale91 — Tue, 23 May 2023 18:04:50 GMT

I did continue on the other post, to no avail. I was hoping maybe new eyes would spot something weird in the event log. It's not noise on the line, with a wired phone it is the same as it always has been. I am not a professional so I don't know what it should sound like - I just know it sounds the same, but the professional Cube guy did a noise test too and he didn't say anything about it.

So I'm here hunting things down, hoping someone sees something I don't. Problems with my line are never easy to spot or solve... pure desperation at this point! Please have patience with me.

For e.g. if someone could advise me, is checking event log pointless? Does it ever offer up clarity about disconnections? That's the kind of thing I'd love info on currently!

Thanks

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

Pale91 — Tue, 23 May 2023 18:18:43 GMT

If it was in fact, after all this time, noise on the line... what are the solutions to that please? Would they just adjust the noise margin, limiting speed even more? I'm going to check it again, see if I'm just not hearing something

Thanks so much for any info!!

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

imjolly — Tue, 23 May 2023 18:26:19 GMT

If you have a corded phone then to eliminate your master faceplate you should use the test socket and dial 17070 option 2. Line should repeat your number and then it should be totally silent no noise whatsoever

Have you tried just using the test socket with a filter to see if that helps

I would not bother with the logs as stats are more informative

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

Pale91 — Tue, 23 May 2023 18:36:05 GMT

Yep, that's what I did. There's quiet static... I don't know how to describe it. Just a very low, light buzz. White noise is the best way to describe it. Is it supposed to be entirely silent?

What do they do when it comes to noisy lines?

Thank you again.

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

imjolly — Tue, 23 May 2023 18:37:23 GMT

With corded phone totally silent but slight hum when using cordless phone

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

pippincp — Tue, 23 May 2023 21:04:03 GMT

If you report a noisy line rather than a broadband fault Openreach designate a line engineer (not a broadband one) to trace and correct the source of the noise.

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

Pale91 — Tue, 23 May 2023 21:50:46 GMT

Thank you, I understand that. I just don't think it's noisy - just very mild white noise. Got nothing to compare it to, and they're not going to do anything significant for that. Especially since my phone is working. I feel it's pointless to try?! What would they even do for a noisy line? What are the solutions for that please?

Thanks

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

imjolly — Wed, 24 May 2023 07:01:54 GMT

that's openreach engineer job to investigate line noise and fix it. ANY noise on quiet line test is a problem when using corded phone

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

licquorice — Wed, 24 May 2023 07:19:13 GMT

Audible noise on a line is a symptom of an impairment, it could be a corroded joint or low insulation to earth or another circuit caused by water ingress in an underground joint.

It is not the noise per se that is causing your problem it is whatever the source of the noise is and needs to be investigated.

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

Pale91 — Wed, 24 May 2023 12:42:41 GMT

Thank you for that info. Gotchu. So, if this next Openreach engineer #2 doesn't find anything like what you've mentioned... next step phone line engineer?

After reading a bunch of forum posts, it seems it takes the phone line being very faulty for them to send a phone guy out? I don't think they'll believe me 😞

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

licquorice — Wed, 24 May 2023 13:03:24 GMT

What you need is a diligent experienced engineer, regardless of phone or broadband.

Unfortunately such a person is about as rare as hens teeth these days.

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

Pale91 — Wed, 24 May 2023 13:06:11 GMT

You're absolutely right. Not going to go into a big boring rant, but the last one tried to convince me it was ANYTHING but a fault outside. And I mean anything.

I'll post here after the engineer comes tomorrow.

Thanks for lettin me borrow your brain!

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

Pale91 — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 12:09:50 GMT

Back again. Three engineers down, fault still here, but worse.

Fine for a day or so, sitting at 45mbps, very little lag, few MS spikes. Net disconnects, struggles to reconnect. When it reconnects it sits at 25mbps, MS triples. Restart router 3+ times until it returns to "normal" function. Repeat daily.

Sometimes I'll get 2 days, sometimes 2 hours. Third engineer said there may be corrosion on the line... would be cool if they could find out?

Is there no escalation for this, or do I simple take a 4th day off work for a 4th engineer? I don't mean to be dramatic, but I have had to work at a neighbour's house for their net, so I can afford bills and food. This fault is controlling my life. That's the truth.

Thanks for any miracle!

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

Pale91 — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 12:12:13 GMT

Indeed, I keep saying this to the engineers. I don't know what else I can do at this point... can't afford to keep taking time off work for engineers. Argh.

I don't know how else I can diagnose it. It's not my job.

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

pippincp — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 13:35:49 GMT

I think you need mod assistance with this. Once they contact you it may take a few days to get back to you but will be your main contact until resolved.

I've flagged it for them.

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

Pale91 — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 11:51:13 GMT

Engineer #4 just been here. He's the same guy as #2 visit that removed foliage and told me to see if that helped. It didn't.

He did a "Lift & Shift" at the cabinet. Asked me to put an older router in and leave that on, as he thinks it's the router. (I have told him I've tried this already for various periods of time)

I reiterated that it's not so much the number of the speed, but the fact my speeds dropped by 15mbps overnight (months ago now), and continue to be limited. To me that suggests a fault, causing the DLM to aim for lower speeds and stability.

He said maybe BT is throttling me. I asked if that's even possible... he said yes, they used to do it all the time. Lol.

He has also suggested radio waves or something may cause interference. He also raised an eyebrow at my 10/55 package. I don't know.

He also said my Ethernet cable may be causing cross-talk or something like that, and to get a new cable to try.

Told me it's not corrosion as all tests passed.

Oooh, also said games use a lot of bandwidth, so maybe that's causing the disconnects and instability...

Not sure what to do now, wait and see I guess! Just wanted to update anyone who has the patience to keep up with this!

Appreciate you all.

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

licquorice — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:26:38 GMT

See message 13.

I'll flag this to the mods, hopefully they can get a proper engineer to visit.

Re: Frequent random disconnections, speed flip flopping excessively

Pale91 — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:30:29 GMT

I wish. I don't think they're able to pick and choose? Here's hoping, thank you. I think about your previous message often. 🙌🏻