questions about my VDSL Install

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › questions about my VDSL Install

007Snoopy

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#140888 23-Feb-2014 17:29

Hi :)

I recently upgraded from ADSL2+ to VDSL2. I have gotten a speed increase, so not complaining (too) loudly, but I do have some queries...

Master Splitter... With the ADSL connection the (Chorus) tech installed the filter in the home office, this is some 10m from the t/com entry point and runs on 'old' cream coloured phone cable, second the entry point is some 50m from the grey t/com post, and is connected by an above ground grease filled black twin pair cable this has been cut in at least ONE place and repaired by twisting and taping (I know cos I was the idiot that cut it with the weedwhacker ;) ) as far as I'm aware the t/com cabinet is approx 400m in the other direction (in relation to the grey post)

So, no master filter at ONT(?)
Running: Faxability, VDSL and Phoneline

this is the screenie (lightshot) of the modem connection details using the Telecom supplied Huawei HG630b.

1. Can I get better stats using a different modem, and which one to get?
2. Should I insist/request Telecom to fix the cable from grey post -> house under the wiring maintenance agreement?
3. Master filter installed at ONT (supply my own cat5e from there to office?)
4. query possibility of moving to the grey post on the other end of property (some 60m closer to the cabinet)

5. just suck it up and accept this is what I have so this is what I get :(

I have a website I maintain a constant connection too (okay it's a MMO) which keeps dissconnecting, is this more likely due to 'throughput' over connection speed or noisy line or some other technical sounding thing I cannot do much about.

Oh, and just for giggles: My external HDD connects to the USB port of the Huawei, but the files or HDD are not visible to windows media player/ps3/anything else... so any suggestions on that would be just outstanding :) (HDD is USB 2.0 500Gb in externally powered enclosure full size)

Cheers,
James

PeterReader

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#992898 23-Feb-2014 17:29

Hello... Our robot found some keywords in your post, so here is an automated reply with some important things to note regarding broadband speeds.

If you are posting regarding DSL speeds please check that

- you have reset your modem and router

- your PC (or other PCs in your LAN) is not downloading large files when you are testing

- you are not being throttled by your ISP due to going over the monthly cap

- your tests are always done on an ethernet connection to the router - do not use wireless for testing

- you read this topic and follow the instructions there.

Make sure you provide information for other users to help you. If you have not already done it, please EDIT your post and add this now:

- Your ISP and plan

- Type of connection (ADSL, ADSL2, VDSL)

- Your modem DSL stats (do not worry about posting Speedtest, we need sync rate, attenuation and noise margin)

- Your general location (or street)

- If you are rural or urban

- If you know your connection is to an exchange, cabinet or conklin

- If your connection is to a ULL or wholesale service

- If you have done an isolation test as per the link above

Most of the problems with speed are likely to be related to internal wiring issues. Read this discussion to find out more about this. Your ISP is not intentionally slowing you down today (unless you are on a managed plan). Also if this is the school holidays it's likely you will notice slower than usual speed due to more users online.

A master splitter is required for VDSL2 and in most cases will improve speeds on DSL connections. Regular disconnections can be a monitored alarm or a set top box trying to connect. If there's an alarm connected to your line even if you don't have an alarm contract it may still try to connect so it's worth checking.

I recommend you read these two blog posts:

- Is your premises phone wiring impacting your broadband performance? (very technical)

- Are you receiving a substandard ULL ADSL2+ connection from your ISP?

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

007Snoopy

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#992926 23-Feb-2014 17:42

Yes ETP is what I was talking about, and its the feed from that to the DP that used to run in an orange conduit (inside the boundary - no easement) that due to age and exposure has disintegrated, allowing the cable to lie in the grass (then cut).

Regarding the DP, our property is long enough that we have 2 DP's streetside, we just happen to be connected to the one further from the cabinet (and office)

James

InstallerUFB

840 posts

Ultimate Geek

#992932 23-Feb-2014 17:49

007Snoopy: Hi :)
2. Should I insist/request Telecom to fix the cable from grey post - house under the wiring maintenance agreement?

The cable from the DP to your House is the property of Chorus, Not Telecom/Spark and isnt covered by any wiring maintenance agreement and chorus will charge you if it needs to be replaced because of damage

3. Master filter installed at ONT (supply my own cat5e from there to office?)

BTW the demarc point is either refered to as a Point of Entry(POE){No box just the cable through wall} or a External Test Point [ETP] {a box or plate covering cable join} - Optical Network Terminal (ONT) is the device that is used on UFB connections to convert the Optical connection.

If I gather you ment a ETP - then Yes that is exactly where the Master Spliter should have been installed with a Cat5e or better cable installed through to your Office. Talk to your ISP/RSP about gethering the install tech back to do it properly.

4. Query possibility of moving to the grey post on the other end of property (some 60m closer to the cabinet)

Cheers,
James

Moveing your service to the other DP at the other side of the property will cost you $$ for the replacement of your service lead to that location etc - so that is really only going to cost money for very limited if not any gain
as in cases of Service lead replacement, that dont need to be replaced because of age etc, the property owner is responsible for the cost of trenching/drilling and the labour content of laying a new conduit & lead

RunningMan

8955 posts

Uber Geek

#993000 23-Feb-2014 19:40

As long as the master filter is position before any joins/jackpoints then it is probably OK where it is.

You may or may not be connected to the cabinet 400m away, and without knowing the path the various cables take, the other pillar that seems to be 60m closer, may actually not be! Either way, the 60m probably won't make a huge difference.

VDSL does use higher frequencies than ADSL so is more sensitive to poor wiring - ideally that stretch of cream coloured old cable with would replaced with cat5 or similar. Additionally, the joins should be made with gel filled crimp connectors (scotchloks), not twisted and taped together.

I'd get that twisted together connection sorted as the first priority - that could certainly be causing intermittent drop outs, then re-asses from there.

PaulBags

809 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#993044 23-Feb-2014 22:28

007Snoopy: ... an above ground grease filled black twin pair cable this has been cut in at least ONE place and repaired by twisting and taping ...

For clarification, did you repair it, or did chorus?

InstallerUFB: ... The cable from the DP to your House is the property of Chorus, Not Telecom/Spark and isnt covered by any wiring maintenance agreement ...

So does that mean that telecom is responsible for the wiring and maintenance agreement? This cable historically used to be covered by wiring and maintenance, so I would severely love to know if that has changed, and if it no longer exists why it can still be charged for.

InstallerUFB

840 posts

Ultimate Geek

#993095 24-Feb-2014 06:38

PaulBags:
InstallerUFB: ... The cable from the DP to your House is the property of Chorus, Not Telecom/Spark and isnt covered by any wiring maintenance agreement ...

So does that mean that telecom is responsible for the wiring and maintenance agreement? This cable historically used to be covered by wiring and maintenance, so I would severely love to know if that has changed, and if it no longer exists why it can still be charged for.

If Telecom/Spark is your provider, then yes they are the ones that have the W&M with you / The providers have this not Chorus / W&M always only covered internal wireing / This was clarified with the seperation of Chorus from Telecom / The ETP is the demark - before the Demark the network is chorus's and after it is yours & your providers

PaulBags

809 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#993122 24-Feb-2014 08:39

InstallerUFB:
PaulBags:
InstallerUFB: ... The cable from the DP to your House is the property of Chorus, Not Telecom/Spark and isnt covered by any wiring maintenance agreement ...

So does that mean that telecom is responsible for the wiring and maintenance agreement? This cable historically used to be covered by wiring and maintenance, so I would severely love to know if that has changed, and if it no longer exists why it can still be charged for.

If Telecom/Spark is your provider, then yes they are the ones that have the W&M with you / The providers have this not Chorus / W&M always only covered internal wireing / This was clarified with the seperation of Chorus from Telecom / The ETP is the demark - before the Demark the network is chorus's and after it is yours & your providers

Thanks for the reply but this doesn't clarify much for me because I've seen the cable between demarc and DP repaired under wiring and maintence before, when chorus was telecom. My dad dug through the cable, it was barely an inch under the ground, and telecom of old repaired it within the hour free of charge. I miss that kind of service. As for the seperation, when it happened it was barely notified let alone clarified.

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sbiddle

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#993148 24-Feb-2014 09:48

PaulBags:
InstallerUFB:
PaulBags:
InstallerUFB: ... The cable from the DP to your House is the property of Chorus, Not Telecom/Spark and isnt covered by any wiring maintenance agreement ...

So does that mean that telecom is responsible for the wiring and maintenance agreement? This cable historically used to be covered by wiring and maintenance, so I would severely love to know if that has changed, and if it no longer exists why it can still be charged for.

If Telecom/Spark is your provider, then yes they are the ones that have the W&M with you / The providers have this not Chorus / W&M always only covered internal wireing / This was clarified with the seperation of Chorus from Telecom / The ETP is the demark - before the Demark the network is chorus's and after it is yours & your providers

Thanks for the reply but this doesn't clarify much for me because I've seen the cable between demarc and DP repaired under wiring and maintence before, when chorus was telecom. My dad dug through the cable, it was barely an inch under the ground, and telecom of old repaired it within the hour free of charge. I miss that kind of service. As for the seperation, when it happened it was barely notified let alone clarified.

Wiring maintenance has never covered the leadin, it's only ever covered the internal wiring in your home beyond the demarcation point, which is the ETP (or historically) the first jackpoint.

Wiring maintenance also doesn't include damage done by you.

InstallerUFB

840 posts

Ultimate Geek

#993209 24-Feb-2014 11:47

PaulBags:
InstallerUFB:
PaulBags:
InstallerUFB: ... The cable from the DP to your House is the property of Chorus, Not Telecom/Spark and isnt covered by any wiring maintenance agreement ...

So does that mean that telecom is responsible for the wiring and maintenance agreement? This cable historically used to be covered by wiring and maintenance, so I would severely love to know if that has changed, and if it no longer exists why it can still be charged for.

If Telecom/Spark is your provider, then yes they are the ones that have the W&M with you / The providers have this not Chorus / W&M always only covered internal wireing / This was clarified with the seperation of Chorus from Telecom / The ETP is the demark - before the Demark the network is chorus's and after it is yours & your providers

Thanks for the reply but this doesn't clarify much for me because I've seen the cable between demarc and DP repaired under wiring and maintence before, when chorus was telecom. My dad dug through the cable, it was barely an inch under the ground, and telecom of old repaired it within the hour free of charge. I miss that kind of service. As for the seperation, when it happened it was barely notified let alone clarified.

The repair might have been done by the tech free of charge because he couldnt be bothered with the paper war and when the cost of maintance was payed in bulk to the service company and not like it is done now per job

007Snoopy

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#996549 28-Feb-2014 17:30

Okay... so I got that the repair needs to be more permanent, ignoring any cable issues and focussing just on the supplied modem/router...

Is the Huawei hg630b good enough (see above stats) or could I do better with a different modem/router that is more tweakable?

Second thing: The wireless range on this thing is not hugely great... so I have setup my old tp-link td-w8960n as a router. set LAN 1 configured as an IP over ethernet connection and connected it to ETH4 on the huawei... must have done something 'not quite right' as the internet comes and goes across this connection. Are their setting on the huawei I need to adjust to ensure Internet is fed to the tp-link?

Cheers