Broadband Conection problem

[Steve88]

Hi

I have an problem that seems to occur randomly.

SetupC, winxppro, BTVoyager adsl 105, ISP AOL. All drivers etc uptodate.

Connection is directly through the voyager and avoids using the AOL dialer software. However, every now and then i get the message that the line is engaged..well its not...but I can't get the modem connect. BUT if I use the AOL dialer software to logon it works ok. Also if i reset the pc theres a chance that the direct connection through the modem will begin working again.

All drivers are uptodate and I have even checked one by one software and hardware config/conflict problems with zero results. The only thing that seems constant is if the firewall loads into the sys tray directly after the link status for the modem it seems to be ok, ( clutching at straws i think ).

Anyways if anyone has had this problem could they please post a fix. Thanks

 

[HelenBN]

I will assume the modem IS dialing. Is this true?

Have you tried JUST using the AOL dialer software for a while to see if you can get the same problem to duplicate?

Have you randomly tested your connection speed? If you have for a while, has it decreased 'recently?' - This happened to us when more housing development occurred in the area and they tapped on to the main phone line. We are at the end and our connection speed went down to 11. oooo snail's pace.

Is it worse around wet weather? This also happened to us which indicated a slight break in the phone line in the ground somewhere and water producing sporatic interference.

Is your development or house 12 years or older? Again, personal experience, our main line was deteriorating but not diagnosable. This was NOT the line in our house. Got so bad that crackle became constant and answering machine would drop calls.

So with connection speed too low and water in the line, we had problems. Grabbed the digital broadband as soon as we could. When the crackle became a finger pointing issue, had to switch to cable for our phone service as well.

sssooooo, perhaps this is an unfortunate beginning to an end in the phone line hardware?

 

[Steve88]

Thanks for the reply Helen.

The modem is dialing and working perfectly.
No develepment in my area and my connection speed is pretty constant with no real loss.

I actually posted my question having to use the aol dialer software. Whereas now i'm back on the bt software. I think I may test disconnecting the dialer connection altogether and see what happens.

Problem I have is the internet is my workplace so I need to be careful what experiments I carry out

One thing I forgot to add was that if I connect through my laptop it works perfectly everytime. I am begining to think that perhaps the onboard hardware maybe the problem.

I take your point about the age of the local network too. There is a BT hub right outside my door and theres always someone connecting something new in there. ( not always from BT I might add )Perhaps as you say switching to cable maybe another answer.

 

[HelenBN]

Ah, the work place opens other interesting doors.

Have you had any new flourescent lights installed? Any bulbs replaced? Anybody been up in that suspended ceiling and inadvertently moved some wires 'out of the way'? Flourescent lights screw around with lines in unexpected ways. Crawl up there and take a look-see and if needed, move your wiring away from flourescent lights.

Does the office use cordless phones? Sometimes you can get sporatic connection with other users that will somes give you a half-a ring or no dial tone -- 'sometimes' being stressed here.

Ever thought you might be hearing another conversation while you are on the phone? Or a ring in the background during your call? (We had lines touching lines down the road - or was it a snake or was it that mouse that chewed the line... I really don't live in the boonies )

We have a linksys router with G wireless and had to change the channel to correct sporatic interference with the Panasonic wireless expandable phone set within the home.

With BT included on some mobile phones, another door swings wide. The possiblities are endless!

 

[G0AOZ]

You say, "There is a BT hub right outside my door...". So presumably you're getting a disgustingly high SNR and an incredibly low ATTN figure.

Have you also run specific speed tests on your connection? If not, try this one:-

http://www.adslguide.org.uk/tools/speedtest.asp

I suggest trying at different times throughout the day, just to see if there's any dramatic speed drops.


ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[Steve88]

Hi

Speeds are fine and everythings been working ok up until this morning when its gone again and the connection is telling me its engaged again.

My office is at home so no changes there also.

Looks like it may take me quite some time to track this down.

Thanks for help and suggestions tho.

 

[HelenBN]

Steve, what is the status of your lights on your BT voyager when this error occurs?

 

[Steve88]

Hi Helen

as it only happens at start up the following happens.

Powerlight on: DSL status light on:

When I click on my voyager icon to connect the data light flashes twice and then goes blank. Seconds later I get the message: "Error 676 the phone is busy".

Today in an effort to remove other things from the list I deleted the AOL dialer connection. Sadly this had no effect. In fact I had to re install it to help me get back online lol.

As I said above I think this maybe leading to a hardware problem as my laptop always works with the link. I have tried swapping about usb ports but seems to have no effect.

 

[G0AOZ]

Is it worth getting hold of a router and seeing what your PC makes of that? Since with the router the connection is always on, you may find your problem disappears. Also, a router will offer you another level of security, particularly useful as you're using this connection for work.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[Steve88]

Hi Roger

Thanks, would be worth a try to see what happens. Any suggestions for a decent make?

Most people tell me netgear are very good but have never used one on my own system.

Steve

 

[HelenBN]

What type of USBs are on both PC and Laptop, 1.0 or 2.0?

see

http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/462

 

[Steve88]

PC has both types and the laptop has 2.0's

I have tried both on the pc.

 

[HelenBN]

And you're not going through USB hub, right?

What all do you have phone wise? Cordless phone base with how many sets? All phone connections. Fax? modem? What and how many each?

Call waiting? phone service voice mail?

 

[Steve88]

No hub just the pc hardwired connections.

Phonewise I have 2...I hate phones

1 is a fax/phone and the other is a straight normal plug in the wall type.

No services on the phones.

BT Voyager adsl 105 modem.

The only other thing connected to the phone is SKY TV.

The connections are covered with ADSL filters.

Steve

 

[HelenBN]

Steve - what is the REN (Ringer Equivalent Number) rating for your BTVoyager 105? (I can't find it on their Web site.)

 

[HelenBN]

Also, how is this line installed in your house?

line in, modem line, phone lines, splitters/duplex jacks, filters - break this down and where is what?

 

[G0AOZ]

Yes, seen a few Netgear routers - they seem to be ok. I have a Dynamode here which is fine. I was not impressed with a 3Com one I attended to - the PSU had gone very noisy and was preventing it from working! Whatever you buy, make sure you get a MODEM/ROUTER - people have been fooled by GATEWAY/ROUTER which has a WAN port - not what you need for connecting to a BT line!

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[Steve88]

Thanks for the info Roger I shall investigate further.

Helen BT tell me "The REN value of your BT Voyager 105 is 1"

The line is straight telephone line in from the street. This initial entry point services a further 2 wall sockets.

So, Three wall connections. Sky runs off 1 ( filtered ). 1 Phone runs off the other (filtered ). 1 phone/fax combo plus the modem off the third via an extention lead. Again this is filtered at the extension end and not the wall as re set up instructions.

Now that I understand the REN situation I am going to disconect 1 phone and see if anything happens differently over the next couple of days.

Strange thing is this set up has been in existance for years without problem, so I ruled it out as a possible candidate ages ago.

 

[ceh4702]

When I have had problems with regular Phone Modems, I sometimes encountered problems with a line not dropping or not picking up when I try to connect. One Thing I tried that worked was very simple but it may not be in your case.

If this is coming in through the phone line I found that sometimes the connection on the outside of the building, that has a cover over it, sometimes still becomes corroded. I went outside one day to look at it. The plastic box where the line comes in uses a plug like a phone jack to plug in. So I carefully removed it and it looked like it was a little dirty on the contacts. So I connected it and disconnected it a few times after wiping the surface gunk off with my fingertip. I went back to my basement and everything works just fine.

My assessment is the phone jack was not making good enough contact or maybe there was not a good ground connection because it was dirty. However, this seemed to fix it. Sometimes just diconnecting the connector could be enough to break the circuit.

I am not a telephone expert, but this seemed to fix the problem.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[Steve88]

Thanks ceh4702 I will take a look and see what the situation is with the outside connection.