Is my Dynalink RTA1320 Getting Tired?

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enigmanz

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Topic # 23097 17-Jun-2008 23:51

I am using a Dynalink RTA1320, and it's been working just fine now for well over a year. In the past couple of weeks it have been starting to slow down badly? or is it my xtra connection. I called them over the weekend, as my line speed was getting down to 4.3kbp... I could run a dialup account faster than that. Anyhow xtra did a line check and called me back saying my line is fine and at 2.6mbs. I said, well tell that to my computer. I tried turning it off, and then back on, after letting it cool down, and me, and turned it back on, and did the speed test again, and yahoo, it was flying along at close to the speed they said my line was supposed to be working at, but within 10 minutes it started to really slow down again?

Is it me, my computer, xtra or is the Dynalink just starting to die in the ar**? I am running a AMD 2800 with 2Gb ram, I have just recently put a new 500w PS. Yes I know its not a total powerhouse but it does the compling that I need when coding.

If anyone has any ideas I would be very greatfull.

On another topic kind of, does anyone know how I can change the information inside the Dynalink as I brought this modem at auction about 12 months ago, and the lovely lady at xtra asked me if I was with another ISP, as that is what the Dynalink was telling them?

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Reply # 138971 18-Jun-2008 14:17

Has your exchange recently been updated to ADSL2+, if you go to the stats page of the RTA and copy that here we can see what type of connection and speeds/attenuation/noise etc you are getting.

I understand that there are issues with the new ISAM (lattest DSLAMs) firmware in that with some modems, in particular those with Broadcom Chipsets as the RTA has, where the speed gets in a spiral downhill and needs rebooting to get out of it. The problem is only with the lattest ISAMs on ADLS2+ and the issues is with the ISAM not your modem. Last I heard Alcatel had a fix and Chorus were updating ISAM firmware, but then another bug was found so they stopped rolling the fix.

As I say, it could be another issue, but this is one to watch out for.

Cyril

enigmanz

12 posts

Geek

Reply # 138974 18-Jun-2008 15:11

Ok I'm going to sound like a complete newbie here. How do I bring up the stats page for the RTA-320? I never loaded any software for it, just plugged it in and had it running. The only software I have been able to find on the net for this one, is related to running it via USB, and I am running standard Cat5 network cable on it, which I took that it didn't need any software?

As far as I am aware, they haven't upgraded the exchanges down here in Timaru (SI) to ADSL2, but then again I didn't ask that of xtra over the weekend, as it wasn't a consideration.

cyril7

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Reply # 138976 18-Jun-2008 15:22

type 192.168.1.1 into the URL entry on your web browser you should be challanged with a login dialog box, unless changed your user and password should be admin for both. Then go to status, and check the ADSL line status.

Cyril

enigmanz

12 posts

Geek

Reply # 138990 18-Jun-2008 16:17

Thanks for that Cyril, I will give that a try once I leave the slave pits of work. The lady at extra fold me that the info they were getting from it was a different user name & ISP than me. As I said I brought this at auction, so I am assuming the admin pw is mine on my computer and not one set in to the modem?

Again many thanks.

Craig

cyril7

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Reply # 139008 18-Jun-2008 17:10

so you have never been into the modem to set the ADSL login/password, which is different to the admin/admin needed to access the web based setup as mentioned by me above. If so you may be limited in DSL connection if you are using someone elses ADSL login.

Cyril

enigmanz

12 posts

Geek

Reply # 139021 18-Jun-2008 18:19

Correct, so I take it this maybe a problem then....? If I don't know the password then I am kind of up a creek. Is there anyway to reset it? I have been looking on the net for this but haven't had much luck, unless I am missing something. Is there a admin default backdoor?

enigmanz

12 posts

Geek

Reply # 139044 18-Jun-2008 20:11

Ok, I'm in to it now, so here is the information that it is giving me on the status page

System Up Time 00:01:54:29
ADSL Speed (DS/US) 6432/160 Kbps
LAN IP Address 192.168.1.1
Default Gateway 218.101.16.1
Primary DNS server 203.97.33.14
Secondary DNS server 203.97.37.14

Firmware Version 3.29a
Boot Loader Version 1.0.37-0.6.7
ADSL Driver Version A2pB021g.d19b
Ethernet MAC Address 00:16:E3:6A:3D:7A
Memory Size 2MB Flash / 8MB SDRAM

ADSL Line Status

Current ADSL line status is displayed as the below.

Line Mode G.DMT Line State Show Time
Latency Type Interleave Line Up Time 00:01:57:24
Line Coding Trellis On Line Up Count 1

Statistics Downstream Upstream
Line Rate 6432 Kbps 160 Kbps
Attainable Line Rate 6912 Kbps 856 Kbps
Noise Margin 13.1 dB 25.0 dB
Line Attenuation 33.0 dB 20.0 dB
Output Power 19.7 dBm 5.3 dBm

cyril7

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Reply # 139056 18-Jun-2008 20:42

Well you modem seems to be connecting pretty much as good as it gets for your line length, with ATM/IP overheads you could expect a maximum of around 6M/bs, however because you are on a FS/130k (160 is what it works out to) plan you probably will never get more than 4.5Mb/s download.

In your first post you mentioned all manner of low speeds, how did you measure these, I presume these were counted download speeds from various sites, might I suggest these have more todo with the provisions of those sites, the international capacity of your ISP and whatever contention ratio they have provisioned, but not a lot to do with your modem.

You indicate that you modem has not had its PPPoA account/password details filled in correctly, I suggest you get that sorted with your ISP and have those details entered into the PPPoA authentication process. The username/password to access the modem is not in anyway associated with the user/pwd to access your ISP account, this needs to be correctly detailed.

Cyril

enigmanz

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Reply # 139061 18-Jun-2008 21:10

Thanks for all your help and patience with me. I was using the telecom broardband speed test to measure my speed.

I just did another and this is the result

Your line speed is approximately 53 Kbps or 6.5 KB/sec, this was using the 500mb download test

I went through the quick setup in the RTA1320, and set it up for my account etc.

Thanks again for all your time and effort

Craig

cyril7

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Reply # 139064 18-Jun-2008 21:17

Might I suggest that for whatever reason, one being you are using an in appropriate login that you have been throttled to 64kb/s, which would explain your results. Sort out your PPPoA login and you might get somewhere.

Cyril

enigmanz

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Reply # 139230 19-Jun-2008 18:40

I have been in and reset the modem with my logon and pw, but am still only getting just a few minutes ago 97kbps speed. As to whether xtra has throttled me back. I ask them that on sunday, as I had only used ½ of my allowance for this month. The next issue is, is it this modem? the line, or xtra just being their normal self... they never or very really admit if they are wrong.

cyril7

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Reply # 139239 19-Jun-2008 19:09

Just based on your modem stats above, your sync speed to the DSLAM is fine (6Mb/s) the Noise margin is also good so unlikely to result in an unstable connection, so I suggest that you dont have a modem/line issue, so start looking elsewhere, ie back at your ISP.

By the way what plan are you on, and you say you reset the modem with your login/password, I presume you did that in the PPPoA setup not the modem LAN access, you should have entered a username like joeblogs.xadsl@xtra.co.nz or similar.

Cyril

enigmanz

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Reply # 139249 19-Jun-2008 20:37

Yes I did change the username etc inside the Dynalink RTA1320. Just done a reboot and had the modem shut down for about 5 minutes, and now it is giving me a good speed. The question is how long will it stay? Hopefully back to normal. My account is a 3gb Go Calling one. Its interesting awhile ago they use to advertise their plans as "as fast as your connection can handle", now they don't mention that.... mmmm

enigmanz

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Reply # 139262 19-Jun-2008 21:35

well I hate to be cynical, but within 20 minutes it had slowed right down again. I went to the New Zealand DSL site to run a speed test. Once I clicked the button to begin the test, it still had not started to run it after 6 minutes. The same was for the Telecom Broardband Speed test. The internet connection dialog says that I have a 6.4Mbps connection speed.

When I moved to where I am now about 5 months ago, they had to sent a tech out to check my phone line as it wasn't working correctly. I had broardband but my phone wasn't working. May this be connected to my slowing speed problem, as this speed drop has only been happening over the past couple of weeks.

I have just started a new account month, so have 3Gb of space available, so I know thats they have not slowed me down to a dialup speed. If it is my line, then I am am paying for a service that I am not getting. The speed that this had droped to couldn't even load this page after 5 minutes, which would say to me that it had dropped down to something like 20kbps at best.

Many thanks for the assistance you have given me.

cyril7

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Reply # 139295 20-Jun-2008 08:20

I still dont believe that its your line, but some other aspect. During these slow periods, check the modem stats page, if the line rate is still within 10-20% of previously posted (ie >5Mb/s) and line attenuation and noise not dramatically changed then its not your line!.

Assuming hte above is true and your line is still working as previously posted (ie good) then its more likely you on an exchange with limited facilities, if you were on a Conklin (mini roadside cabinet DSLAM) with a single E1 feeding it and a couple of teenagers down the street youtubing and running bittorrents you would never get much speed, it would be very much like sucking through a blocked straw.

dont forget that a speedtest checks the throught put from the server to your PC, that is a link made of many parts, from my observation you line is good and probably not the limiting factor.

Cyril

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