DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum AT&T DSL sucks!!!!!!!!!!!

I use AT&T for my internet. On Thursday, I noticed my download/upload speeds--normally 1.5mpbs up and 768kbps down (Express)--had dropped to 240kbps up and 190kpbs down--restricting streaming videos. However, I could still log onto email and basic Google searches. YouTube was out of the question, as it would take 18 seconds of buffering for 3 seconds of music.

I use a Siemens Speedstream 4100 router. The DSL uses the same phone line as our fax machine, but there are no weird noises or anything like that. I called customer care at AT/T last night around 6:30pm from another phone line. Was promised a 20-minute wait time. After 30 mins I gave up. I called today, and, of course, they're closed on Sundays. Why can't everything be open on Sundays? only open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central time. Mon.-Sat.

There was a storm in eastern Cleveland last Wednesday, but it didn't take out our power and we never had surging issues. The computer was off all day Wed. and I didn't use it until Thursday.

I went to speedtest.net yesterday and pulled the following stats:
ping 73ms download--0.23 mbps upload--0.14 mbps
today I ran the same test.
ping 73ms download--0.19 mbps upload--0.14 mbps

Anyways, I then pulled off stats from the sbc connection website:

ADSL Information
Line State UP
Modulation ANSI
Data Path interleaved

To Modem To Internet
Max Allowed Speed (kbps) 224 512
SN Margin (dB) 10.0 -
Line Attenuation (dB) 62.5 -
Loss of Signal 1293 -
Loss of Frame 0 0
CRC Errors 3539 46


ATM Information
VPI / VCI 0 / 35
Protocol PPPoE

In Octets -557703982
In Errors 8024
In Unicast Packets 7091207
In Non Unicast Packets 0
In Discard Packets 0

Out Octets 782096618
Out Errors 0
Out Unicast Packets 4802775
Out Non Unicast Packets 0
Out Discard Packets 7397


PPPoE Information
Session Status UP
Server MAC Address -
Session ID 4903


IP Information
Internet Address 76.205.123.229
Internet Gateway 76.205.127.254
DNS Servers 68.94.156.1 dnsr1.sbcglobal.net
68.94.157.1 dnsr2.sbcglobal.net

Ethernet Information
MAC Address 00:13:A3:B5:67:F3

In Octets 708655534
In Errors 0
In Unicast Packets 4609304
In Non Unicast Packets 255377
In Discard Packets 0

Out Octets -639021169
Out Errors 0
Out Unicast Packets 6990810
Out Non Unicast Packets 175420
Out Discard Packets 70

Have you tried resetting your router? I had to do mine last night after having it unplugged for about 24 hours. The thing here is you need to know your log in info.

I wouldn't even bother with DSL anymore..

Gotta get the Broadband

DSL is broadband.


Keep bugging them on the phone and get someone out to check the line. Something as simple as a squirrel gnawing away some insulation on a wire can screw ya if moisture gets in there (e.g. after a rain). Also, find out your distance from the DSLAM. It could just be that you are at or near the limit. If you aren't near the limit, then there is almost certainly an issue with the line, or perhaps the port on the DSLAM that you are connected to.

As for the data you posted, most of it means nothing. The important bits are this:
Max Allowed Speed (kbps) 224 512
SN Margin (dB) 10.0 -
Line Attenuation (dB) 62.5 -

I don't remember enough about DSL to evaluate the SN Margin and Line Attenuation numbers, but those numbers will be an indicator of why that third item is set so low. Those numbers are also very distance sensitive. The farther you are from the DSLAM, the harder it is to get those numbers in the proper range for the speed you are trying to attain. The thing you need to find out is if they have manually set the download to 224, or if that is the auto-negotiated rate between your router and the DSLAM. My bet is that it is the result of auto-negotiation.

**Just did a little reading on SN Margin values: Your number seems really low. Check that the patch cord going into your router isn't laying across another wire that might be inducing noise on the line. Also, ensure that you have line filters on EVERY phone jack in the house, and perhaps consider replacing them.



Worst case, if it's available, dump them and jump to cable. It's shared bandwidth, so you'll still have plenty of times where it's slower than you'd like, but overall it'll be a good experience.

A patch cord is your cat 5 ethernet cable.

They should be shielded, but you can never be too sure.

thats a regular phone cable....the cat5 cable that purp is refering to is the one that would come out of the modem/router and plug into the network jack on your computer...looks similar to a phone cord jack, but bigger

One thing to watch on DSL is to make sure the phones are plugged into the side of the splitter named "phone", and the router is in the side named "internet".

I have seen more than one occasion where someone plugged them in backwards and got horrible internet performance.

Correct.

I used the term "patch cable" generically, as in a short length of cable to go from one connection point to another - in this case, from wall jack to dsl router.

One thing to do when you call the DSL guys is to plug the PC directly into the modem. The Router is not their baby and this will also keep them from saying that the problem is in your router. If the Router actually IS the problem, this will tell you real quick.

Also worth unplugging power to the modem, let it sit a minute or two, then plug it back in. Similar to rebooting a PC, and just using the power switch does NOT accomplish the same thing.

Most times if there is a local office they will exchange the modem for you no questions asked, make sure and get any needed setup info.

I would try BOTH a new phone cord from the wall to the modem, AND a new patch cord from the modem to the PC.

That's most of the simple and easy stuff. It sounds like a line problem, doing all or most of the above just saves a little time when you get them on the phone. Make sure you tell them that you refuse to pay full price for degraded service.

Except the tech on the phone are just reading from their PC screen the steps to follow, which involve all the above, and they refuse to bypass anything.

Even when I tell them I'm in IT and I did , this and that and that and this, they still want me to go through the power up and power down, new cables, blah blah blah.

So I basically do all that then I call and I play solitaire or something while they read their screen I pause a minute then say, nope didn't help, until we get to the point where they say "I'm going to send a tech out."

thanks all!

I just got online tonight and the internet works like normal for some reason. I still have an appointment for them to come out next Sat 6/25 but I'll probably cancel it.

Not sure why it runs normally now, but I'm not complaining. It is AT&T, so I might as well let them check it anyways.

Pay attention to the weather and your signal. If you have a bad signal on rainy wet days, it can often be traced to an exposed line outside. We've even had issues with insects creating a nest in the terminal down the street causing issues. It's not always going to be an issue inside your home or with your equipment.

Yup, and a few days of nice weather for the line to dry out would *magically* have things working better.
An old boss of mine spent months working with AT&T to get them out to check his lines because of this very problem because they wouldn't come out and check while it was raining, they'd wait for a nice day, and of course the line would be fine at that point, lol.