Internet Signal Strength

[cubies1982]

For the past four weeks I've been having problems with my internet connection dropping either once or twice per day at random intervals. I've been complaining about it as frequently as possible to the point where I've had a TalkTalk engineer at my residence and an Open Reach engineer both telling me that there are no problems inside my flat. The BT Open reach engineer did say that my "Signal to Noise" was at a 3.5 and by increasing that I will get a stronger signal but my overall internet speed will drop.

 

Should I request that my STN ratio be increased and is there any other methods for getting a stronger internet connection?

[CaliJL]

dslreports

[cubies1982]

I'm using DLS I can't get cable here.

[CaliJL]

Just now, cubies1982 said:

I'm using DLS I can't get cable here.

Yeah just noticed, come on dslreports, there's a forum there with knowledgeable people. If you're in the States, there's ISP employees there that can assist on the forum.

[cubies1982]

I'm from England, UK.

[Jarsky]

Depending on your modem you might be able to tweak the SNR yourself. Draytek & Dynalink modems I know you can do it.

You might want to see if they can turn interleaving on as well, if it isn't already.

[cubies1982]

1 minute ago, Jarsky said:

Depending on your modem you might be able to tweak the SNR yourself. Draytek & Dynalink modems I know you can do it.

You might want to see if they can turn interleaving on as well, if it isn't already.

I'm thinking about replacing the TalkTalk router with a Netgear router which I used to use in my old residency with Virgin Media. Would I be able to change the strength of my connection that way?

[kirby99_2016]

This has happened to me before with EE but after a week or so it went back to 12 up and 1 down (I use ADSL) and it's just fine so maybe wait a bit?

[cubies1982]

Just now, kirby99_2016 said:

This has happened to me before with EE but after a week or so it went back to 12 up and 1 down (I use ADSL) and it's just fine so maybe wait a bit?

My internet speed has always remained the same but it's constantly disconnecting. TalkTalk have said the network team is dealing with it but I don't know much about DSL or how it works.

[Gonio]

Have you ever had this issue before? You switched provider lately? And how far does your singal need to travel?

[cubies1982]

Just now, Gonio said:

Have you ever had this issue before? You switched provider lately? And how far does your singal need to travel?

I've only been with TalkTalk so far in this residency and I'm on a 12 month contract. The problem is if I switch providers they're going to be using the same lines. I'm thinking about switching though to one which a better technical support team which doesn't outsource like this one does. I don't think I am that far away from an exchange.

[Jarsky]

Yeah tweaking SNR is really just a work around for a line condition issue.

It may just come right over time. I would hope that the tech checked your POE (Point of Entry) and your lines local terminations.

Also if you dont have a central DSL splitter, thats always a good thing too - so any deteriorated internal wiring or wired alarms, etc...dont affect the broadband.

 

But looks like you can tweak Netgears: http://www.increasebroadbandspeed.co.uk/SNR-tweak

 

Quote

How can I tweak the target SNR margin?

The ability to tweak the target downlink SNR margin depends critically on the make and model of your modem. Depending on your particular model of broadband modem, there are a number of methods for tweaking the target SNR margin, which include:

• using a modem that has an integrated target SNR margin adjustment setting (such as the Billion 7800DXL, Billion 8800NL or Billion 7800N) – which is the easiest solution
• for Netgear DG834XX modem owners owners, installing the custom DG Team firmware, which incorporates target SNR margin adjustment
• RouterStats software
• connecting to the modem using telnet, and issuing the ‘adslctl configure –mod snr X’ or command.

 

[cubies1982]

I'd really like to know if I can measure the strength or quality of my internet signal.

[Gonio]

Well. I am just comparing to my own situation now. I live 5 Km away from the central, what gives real crap results because fo distance. Since a few years they have a tech that they use to improve overall stability on phone lines ( I don't know the name) by regulary check and autoadjust itself. This resulted for me on this long distance that my internet dropped every now and then and similar stuff as you describe. As long as the provider turns this off, it will stabilize after a few days.

 

Maybe same applies for you? But then it could also be a faulty splitter/wiring, or that your modem/router is causing issues.

[cubies1982]

4 minutes ago, Gonio said:

Well. I am just comparing to my own situation now. I live 5 Km away from the central, what gives real crap results because fo distance. Since a few years they have a tech that they use to improve overall stability on phone lines ( I don't know the name) by regulary check and autoadjust itself. This resulted for me on this long distance that my internet dropped every now and then and similar stuff as you describe. As long as the provider turns this off, it will stabilize after a few days.

 

Maybe same applies for you? But then it could also be a faulty splitter/wiring, or that your modem/router is causing issues.

I'm right in the heart of a city. I'm next to the markets and high street shops. It's really annoying because a few streets away from me they can get cable. Just this one building isn't cabled yet. I've had two engineers check the inside of my flat and they've both said there are no problems. So the ISP network team are dealing with it. Just so frustrating.

[Curlz]

I have experience your problem an unsatisfactory amount of times in the pass, so hopefully I can be of some help.

 

Sometimes your connection can drop during power surges, bad weather and just randomly once a blue moon, which is normal with a DSL connection.

 

Just like you, I've had engineers check the internet connection from the start of the network, to my house.  Every time the fault has been the modem/ modem router provided by the ISP and once my own personal modem router.

 

I suggest you try swapping your modem / modem router out with a spare one or try to borrow a friends modem to see if it's the cause of the problem.

 

 

Regarding brands when it comes to modems/routers at the consumer level.  Ive only ever had bad experiences with D-Lnk, poor experiences with Thompson and okay experience with Netgear (I personally think Netgear isn't what it use to be when it comes to modem routers).

 

I've had excellent experiences when it comes to Asus and DrayTek.

 

May I suggest the DrayTek Vigor 130 as a modem for you, that's if your modem is the problem.  You can also adjust the signal to noise  with this modem yourself.

 

[cubies1982]

22 minutes ago, Curlz said:

I have experience your problem an unsatisfactory amount of times in the pass, so hopefully I can be of some help.

 

Sometimes your connection can drop during power surges, bad weather and just randomly once a blue moon, which is normal with a DSL connection.

 

Just like you, I've had engineers check the internet connection from the start of the network, to my house.  Every time the fault has been the modem/ modem router provided by the ISP and once my own personal modem router.

 

I suggest you try swapping your modem / modem router out with a spare one or try to borrow a friends modem to see if it's the cause of the problem.

 

 

Regarding brands when it comes to modems/routers at the consumer level.  Ive only ever had bad experiences with D-Lnk, poor experiences with Thompson and okay experience with Netgear (I personally think Netgear isn't what it use to be when it comes to modem routers).

 

I've had excellent experiences when it comes to Asus and DrayTek.

 

May I suggest the DrayTek Vigor 130 as a modem for you, that's if your modem is the problem.  You can also adjust the signal to noise  with this modem yourself.

 

Mine isn't once every blue moon, I'm losing connection once or twice everyday. My ISP tell me I have an unstable connection.

[Curlz]

1 minute ago, cubies1982 said:

Mine isn't once every blue moon, I'm losing connection once or twice everyday. My ISP tell me I have an unstable connection.

Frequently isn't normal or is it acceptable.  Your connection is only as strong as your weakest link, which could be your modem.  Modems can drop connections, which the ISP can normally see.

 

As I mention above, try swapping your modem for a spare or a friends in order to see if its the modem.

 

The other thing you can do is a connection test to see the quality of your line.