Sky vs Zen vs Plusnet for Fibre Broadband

Dunno. Maybe I'll give Plusnet another go. In hindsight, I don't think the issues I had at the time were down to them.

It did it again earlier, what are the chances its my router dying? I'll have to buy a new one to test I think.

Code: 
Sep 21 19:35:56 pppd[325]: No response to 15 echo-requests
Sep 21 19:35:56 pppd[325]: Serial link appears to be disconnected.
Sep 21 19:35:56 pppd[325]: Connect time 1524.5 minutes.
Sep 21 19:35:56 pppd[325]: Sent 481472587 bytes, received 2954821162 bytes.
Sep 21 19:35:57 dnsmasq[279]: read /etc/hosts - 5 addresses
Sep 21 19:35:57 dnsmasq[279]: using nameserver 8.8.8.8#53
Sep 21 19:35:57 dnsmasq[279]: using nameserver 8.8.4.4#53
Sep 21 19:35:57 WAN_Connection: Fail to connect with some issues.
Sep 21 19:35:57 stop_nat_rules: apply the redirect_rules!
Sep 21 19:36:02 pppd[325]: Connection terminated.
Sep 21 19:36:03 pppd[325]: Sent PADT
Sep 21 19:36:03 pppd[325]: Modem hangup
Sep 21 19:36:13 pppd[325]: PPP session is 1 (0x1)
Sep 21 19:36:13 pppd[325]: Connected to ac:60:b6:5f:37:f3 via interface eth0
Sep 21 19:36:13 pppd[325]: Using interface ppp0
Sep 21 19:36:13 pppd[325]: Connect: ppp0 <--> eth0
Sep 21 19:36:13 pppd[325]: CHAP authentication succeeded: CHAP authentication success, unit 347
Sep 21 19:36:13 pppd[325]: CHAP authentication succeeded
Sep 21 19:36:13 pppd[325]: peer from calling number AC:60:B6:5F:37:F3 authorized
Sep 21 19:36:13 pppd[325]: local  IP address
Sep 21 19:36:13 pppd[325]: remote IP address
Sep 21 19:36:13 rc_service: ip-up 23079:notify_rc start_firewall
Sep 21 19:36:13 dnsmasq[279]: read /etc/hosts - 5 addresses
Sep 21 19:36:13 dnsmasq[279]: using nameserver 8.8.8.8#53
Sep 21 19:36:13 dnsmasq[279]: using nameserver 8.8.4.4#53
Sep 21 19:36:13 start_nat_rules: apply the nat_rules(/tmp/nat_rules_ppp0_eth0)!
Sep 21 19:36:13 rc_service: ip-up 23079:notify_rc stop_upnp
Sep 21 19:36:13 rc_service: ip-up 23079:notify_rc start_upnp
Sep 21 19:36:13 rc_service: waitting "stop_upnp" via ip-up ...
Sep 21 19:36:14 WAN_Connection: WAN was restored.
 
Which router are you running nowadays? (I seem to remember it was a Nighthawk? :confused:)
 
Still running the old Asus RT-N66U and the Huawei HG612 Modem.
 
I've been on the phone to Zen, they have set up a smoke graph (similar to a Think Broadband BQM) to monitor my line and a bunch of Zen customers on my exchange. to see if they can see anything going on.

Not sure if it will reveal anything as it will all depend on if the issue repeats itself during the test or not but we shall see.
 
V_R said:
Still running the old Asus RT-N66U and the Huawei HG612 Modem.
Click to expand...

That's served you pretty well then :). It may not be a bad thing to try another if it continues (although if you jump elsewhere, you may get another for free anyway).

Here's hoping Zen pick something up from that logging - do you need to chase it, or is someone actively monitoring your case?
 
They are going to call me on Monday.

Yeah I've been looking at other routers, but tbh none really float my boat, I like the Asus and I very much like the custom Firrnware and UI.....
 
I'd be interested to know if they found anything :).

Oooooohhh. I do like extra speed :D. Yep, I've got a Draytek 2860, so one of the ones this may work on. I seem to remember trying this a while back, but can't remember the results - but my SNR is currently 8dB, so will try 6bB and see what happens:

Code: 
 ---------------------- ATU-R Info (hw: annex A, f/w: annex A/B/C) -----------
   Running Mode            :      17A       State                : SHOWTIME
   DS Actual Rate          : 22399000 bps   US Actual Rate       :  3843000 bps
   DS Attainable Rate      : 25770008 bps   US Attainable Rate   :  3840000 bps
   DS Path Mode            :        Fast    US Path Mode         :        Fast 
   DS Interleave Depth     :        1       US Interleave Depth  :        1 
   NE Current Attenuation  :       30 dB    Cur SNR Margin       :        8  dB
   DS actual PSD           :     7. 4 dB    US actual PSD        :     9. 7  dB
   NE CRC Count            :      195       FE CRC Count         :     1507
   NE ES Count             :      110       FE  ES Count         :     1374
   Xdsl Reset Times        :        0       Xdsl Link  Times     :        2
   ITU Version[0]          : 00000000       ITU Version[1]       : 00000000
   VDSL Firmware Version   : 05-07-06-0D-01-07   [with Vectoring support] 
   Power Management Mode   : DSL_G997_PMS_L0 
   Test Mode               : DISABLE 
  -------------------------------- ATU-C Info ---------------------------------
   Far Current Attenuation :       32 dB    Far SNR Margin       :        6  dB
   CO ITU Version[0]       : b5004244       CO ITU Version[1]    : 434da48c
   DSLAM CHIPSET VENDOR    : < BDCM >
 
Last edited:
Here's what I got with a delta of -20:

Code: 
  ---------------------- ATU-R Info (hw: annex A, f/w: annex A/B/C) -----------
   Running Mode            :      17A       State                : SHOWTIME
   DS Actual Rate          : 22399000 bps   US Actual Rate       :  3803000 bps
   DS Attainable Rate      : 28786332 bps   US Attainable Rate   :  3803000 bps
   DS Path Mode            :        Fast    US Path Mode         :        Fast
   DS Interleave Depth     :        1       US Interleave Depth  :        1
   NE Current Attenuation  :       30 dB    Cur SNR Margin       :        8  dB
   DS actual PSD           :     7. 4 dB    US actual PSD        :     9. 6  dB
   NE CRC Count            :        3       FE CRC Count         :     1507
   NE ES Count             :        2       FE  ES Count         :     1374
   Xdsl Reset Times        :        0       Xdsl Link  Times     :        3
   ITU Version[0]          : 00000000       ITU Version[1]       : 00000000
   VDSL Firmware Version   : 05-07-06-0D-01-07   [with Vectoring support]
   Power Management Mode   : DSL_G997_PMS_L0
   Test Mode               : DISABLE
  -------------------------------- ATU-C Info ---------------------------------
   Far Current Attenuation :       37 dB    Far SNR Margin       :        6  dB
   CO ITU Version[0]       : b5004244       CO ITU Version[1]    : 434da48c
   DSLAM CHIPSET VENDOR    : < BDCM >

Doesn't look like it's done anything (although max attainable is higher), but I'll see if things change over the coming days :).
 
I called them, They found nothing unusual. Asked me to try their Zyxel router they sent when I joined. (one of these) which I guess I should try, but its crap and it means I have to bugger about and everything's tidy etc etc .lol.
and there's still no guarantee it will happen anytime soon as its seems super random.

/rant.


Well that's a bit disappointing. I thought you would hopefully see a bit of a gain..

I wonder why your SNR is holding at 8dB, it should be defaulting to 6dB. Or lower if you're part of the new roll out for lower target SNR values. Have you had any drop outs/resyncs?
 
I do wonder if the Zyxel would work any different - they're not too bad (not fantastic, don't get me wrong, but good for troubleshooting). I was syncing faster using the Zyxel as the chip was a better match to the cabinet, but it was missing a lot of features I use.

It's been pretty stable for a long time, so I'm not sure why it's settled at 8dB either.
 
Bit of an update:

Well, I've not done anything so far. Not changed routers/modems etc. just left it as it is/was. Its been good as gold. It seems to have sorted itself out..... Hopefully it stays like it!

On the plus side, looks like my SNR dropped to 5db overnight and I'm back to full speed. :)



Code: 
Stats recorded 08 Oct 2017 10:52:17

DSLAM/MSAN type:            BDCM:0xa48c / v0xa48c
Modem/router firmware:      AnnexA version - A2pv6C038m.d24j
DSL mode:                   VDSL2 Profile 17a
Status:                     Showtime
Uptime:                      6 hours 17 min 35 sec
Resyncs:                    0 (since 08 Oct 2017 09:11:14)
            
                Downstream    Upstream
Line attenuation (dB):      10.5        0.0
Signal attenuation (dB):    Not available on VDSL2       
Connection speed (kbps):    80000        19999
SNR margin (dB):            5.3        14.1
Power (dBm):                13.5        -4.6
Interleave depth:           8        1
INP:                        49.00        0
G.INP:                      Enabled        Not enabled
Vectoring status:           5 (VECT_UNCONFIGURED)       

RSCorr/RS (%):              0.0002        0.0026
RSUnCorr/RS (%):            0.0000        0.0000
ES/hour:                    0        4.12
 
We are having trouble with our internet.We are with "Talk Talk" , have been with them for quite a number of years. The only strong signal we get is in the room where the router is,the rest of the house is very poor.
I have been onto Talk Talk to complain, so they checked our line and found it o.k. But we still had a
Weak signal. So I rang again. This time they found that the router needed updating.Quite why two differant people came to different conclusions I 've no idea. But it has made not jot of improvement to the reception.
Now my/our thought is to buy a new more powerful router. Would this work?
As I've said above we have a router,but there no mention of a "modem" built in. Is a modem needed together with router? When I asked the chap,who was updating the router,if I needed a "modem" he said no. We are completely baffled over this.
Can some kind person enlighten us on this matter with,please,not to much jargon.
Many thanks to all who reply.
 
historian said:
Quite why two differant people came to different conclusions I 've no idea
Click to expand...
Because, Talk Talk. Bloody useless.

You seem to be suggesting your WiFi signal isn't great in parts of the house, the only way you can fix that is to either move or change the router. :)

What kind of service (speeds - Fibre? ADSL? "Up to XXMb"?) are you getting from them?
 
Thanks V_R for your reply.
As for moving house...well that is out of the question.
The other option is a new router,I'm looking into this.
 
Sorry V_R I forgot to mention in my last message ...is where do I find a program
to read the speed of my internet. I'm on ADSL.
 
historian said:
Thanks V_R for your reply.
As for moving house...well that is out of the question.
The other option is a new router,I'm looking into this.
Click to expand...
Sorry when I said 'Move or change the router' what I mean is can you move the router to a more central location in the house? :)
 
Bump!

So the place I've just moved to is G.Fast enabled.... :D

Only issue is that its £55 a month (including line rental) for the >152Mb and £60 for the >314Mb services. Ouch.

BT are offering a mastercard loaded with £150 if you switch though. That sweetens the deal a little.... Hmmmm.

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