ADSL in a "rural" area huge problems

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meremaiden

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Topic # 182567 21-Oct-2015 19:15

Hi-- I'm on Waiheke and having huge problems with my new Spark internet connection and wondering if anyone here can help. I've rebooted the Spark Huawei modem, reset it, checked plugs and filters -- all the basics.

Essentially it worked great for three days and now its virtually impossible to get it to work during the day (and I work from home a bit and am having to hotspot my phone).At night it will work for a couple of hours, but during the day I need to reset and reboot my modem for it to work for about an hour, and then it stops again. I've tried another modem, and still no joy.
Occasionally when it is in this state I can load the Spark page and that is it-- no international pages etc.

Any idea?
Chorus guy says cabinet is fine-- so confused! A new connection (recognised the Spark modem name) appeared 3 days into our connection, and since then it has been unusable except late at night for Apple TV. Could that have done something? Should I change DNS?

Any help SO appreciated!!

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Meow
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Reply # 1410660 21-Oct-2015 19:33

Hmm wonder where PeterReader is today? Could you please read and answer the following?

PeterReader: 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?

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
A quick guide to picking the right ISP | The Router Guide | Community UniFi Cloud Controller | Ubiquiti Edgerouter Tutorial

richms

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Reply # 1410661 21-Oct-2015 19:44

What connection name are you talking about? A wifi name?

Have you tested it on a cabled computer and not wifi?

Richard rich.ms

meremaiden

118 posts

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Reply # 1410686 21-Oct-2015 20:13

Thanks all- yes I have done an isolation test, and I still get occasional flashing of lights (DEL and Internet) and then nothing-- the Wifi blinks as well-- the only steady light I ever have is the power light....

We have the Huawei 630 B here
Have upgraded firmware on modem and still, constant problems during day-- apple tv loads fine at night...

Are there modem settings I should be changing? Finding it really hard to get in touch with Spark-- thanks for any help...

meremaiden

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Reply # 1410690 21-Oct-2015 20:16

richms: What connection name are you talking about? A wifi name?

Yes richms-- another wifi name with a Spark modem that appeared the day our connection stopped working.
thanks :)

richms

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Reply # 1410691 21-Oct-2015 20:16

Really need this

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

and confirmation you are not testing it over wifi.

Richard rich.ms

richms

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Reply # 1410692 21-Oct-2015 20:18

meremaiden:
richms: What connection name are you talking about? A wifi name?

Yes richms-- another wifi name with a Spark modem that appeared the day our connection stopped working.
thanks :)

Hmm, thats probably a neighbour getting DSL. A prime time for chorus to screw things up or have their fragile network crumble apart when the tech is jumpering cables for the neighbour in the pillar or up the pole.

Also the crosstalk from the new connection may interfere with yours. Router stats will show if thats an issue.

Richard rich.ms

meremaiden

118 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 1410699 21-Oct-2015 20:38

richms:
meremaiden:
richms: What connection name are you talking about? A wifi name?

Yes richms-- another wifi name with a Spark modem that appeared the day our connection stopped working.
thanks :)

Hmm, thats probably a neighbour getting DSL. A prime time for chorus to screw things up or have their fragile network crumble apart when the tech is jumpering cables for the neighbour in the pillar or up the pole.

Also the crosstalk from the new connection may interfere with yours. Router stats will show if thats an issue.

Thanks richms
Here's my stats -- this is over ethernet ( wifi had same stats though downstream FEC is 43 on Ethernet and 0 on wifi)

Line standard G.DMT Channel type Interleaved
Downstream line rate (kbit/s) 7200
Upstream line rate (kbit/s) 896
Downstream SNR (dB) 12.1
Upstream SNR (dB) 15
Downstream line attenuation (dB) 10.5
Upstream line attenuation (dB) 6.5
Downstream output power (dBmV) 15.8
Upstream output power (dBmV) 12.1
Downstream CRC 0 Upstream CRC 0 Downstream FEC 43 Upstream FEC 0

It is working now, as it usually does at 8:30 at night-- but earlier, I had to hotspot to post as I wasn't able to load anything....

richms

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Reply # 1410707 21-Oct-2015 20:42

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What's https://www.chorus.co.nz/network-upgrade-map say for your address? You have low ADSL 1 rates, and that is frequently a conklin cabinet, 10.5 dB attenuation would give way more if it was adsl 2.

Richard rich.ms

meremaiden

118 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 1410709 21-Oct-2015 20:46

Hi richms

It says:

NETWORK UPGRADE SCHEDULED

Broadband > 20 Mbps by Jun-2016 (with the right modem and plan)
RBI Broadband > 5 Mbps by Jun-2016

It's completely white in our area (Rocky Bay Waiheke, across from Maretai). Had to wait 3 months to get ADSL internet and was on a crazy expensive RBI plan before.
i imagine its basic ADSL as they told us we had to wait for a space to be available on the exchange.

Thank you

Jase2985

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Reply # 1410710 21-Oct-2015 20:49

you are on ADSL 1 but you should expect an upgrade shortly.

not much you can really do at the moment.

this is more than likely you
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/sbiddle/8780

PS the errors dont change if you are on Ethernet or WiFi, as its the connection to the cabinet that its measuring not the one in your house to your devices

richms

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Reply # 1410711 21-Oct-2015 20:50

I have never seen that yellow colour and > 1 Mb before.

Unfortunatly might be a case of this - http://www.geekzone.co.nz/sbiddle/8780

I'm sure someone with proper access will come along who you can DM the actual location and find out what is available.

edit: damn, beaten to it.

You have to turn the DSL colours on the map yourself. They are off by default, they are the brownish orange ones on the left.

Richard rich.ms

meremaiden

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Reply # 1410713 21-Oct-2015 20:51

Hi there-- but would it work fine at night and shockingly impossible to use during the day? Basically not connected to the internet all day until around 8pm?

meremaiden

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Reply # 1410714 21-Oct-2015 20:55

richms: I have never seen that yellow colour and > 1 Mb before.

Unfortunatly might be a case of this - http://www.geekzone.co.nz/sbiddle/8780

I'm sure someone with proper access will come along who you can DM the actual location and find out what is available.

edit: damn, beaten to it.

You have to turn the DSL colours on the map yourself. They are off by default, they are the brownish orange ones on the left.

Thanks -- and duh-- haha feel like an idiot!
It says > 20 Mbps broadband available
and RBI available---

I had RBI with Voda and it was fine but we were spending 300+$ a month for the data we use for work (and watching stuff on Apple TV).

richms

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Reply # 1410718 21-Oct-2015 20:59

Seems strange that you have sub asdl 1 sync speeds on a line with 10dB attenuation. Hopefully someone from spark can PM you and get the address and have a decent look at it.

If you are really in a > 20meg area on a proper cabinet then it should be line speed all the time on spark since they should have no conjestion issues.

Richard rich.ms

AKLWestie

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Reply # 1410730 21-Oct-2015 21:22

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Did you order VDSL or ADSL from spark? You have a HG630b which suggests you ordered VDSL because spark give ADSL customers another brand of modem.

Do you have a master filter installed?

Sounds like you ordered VDSL but the install and/or provision was not done properly.

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