BT Broadband outages?

I'm pretty happy with BT Broadband. It works 99% of the time.

But everyone once in a while (about once every couple of months) I can't
connect to the Net for a few hours. I have to leave it (switch off for a few
hours) then try again - then it works OK.

The problem is that whenever this happens and I phone BT to ask if BB is
working OK in my area, they always test my exchange and tell me that my line
is fine. I then proceed to waste hours messing about with my wireless
network. Always to no avail. But after a few hours - it's back.

It seems to me that it has to be a BT problem. I wouldn't mind if they told
me that there were problems - but when they insist that everything is fine,
I waste my time trying to fix a non-existent problem.

I'm using wireless Belkin router/modem. But I can connect to the router
using the internal IP address and the wireless network always seems to be
fine.

Is there any way of checking were the problem lies? Is there anywhere I can
check to see if BT Broadband is (really) operational in my area?

Cheers.

Bobby

Bobby blurted on Mon, 27 Sep 2004 16:10:25 +0100:

> I'm pretty happy with BT Broadband. It works 99% of the time.
>
> But everyone once in a while (about once every couple of months) I can't
> connect to the Net for a few hours. I have to leave it (switch off for a few
> hours) then try again - then it works OK.
>
> The problem is that whenever this happens and I phone BT to ask if BB is
> working OK in my area, they always test my exchange and tell me that my line
> is fine. I then proceed to waste hours messing about with my wireless
> network. Always to no avail. But after a few hours - it's back.
>
> It seems to me that it has to be a BT problem. I wouldn't mind if they told
> me that there were problems - but when they insist that everything is fine,
> I waste my time trying to fix a non-existent problem.
>
> I'm using wireless Belkin router/modem. But I can connect to the router
> using the internal IP address and the wireless network always seems to be
> fine.
>
> Is there any way of checking were the problem lies? Is there anywhere I can
> check to see if BT Broadband is (really) operational in my area?
>
> Cheers.
>
> Bobby

If you're using the BT Voyager USB ADSL Modem, I had similar problems when
I upgraded to BT BB 1Mb service...I ended up buying a new modem and have
had no problems since...bit drastic but it worked for me...now have a
Speedtouch 530 router connected via the network card...

--
To err is human--and to blame it on a computer is even more so.
*Robert Orben*

Bobby blurted on Mon, 27 Sep 2004 16:10:25 +0100:

> I'm pretty happy with BT Broadband. It works 99% of the time.
>
> But everyone once in a while (about once every couple of months) I can't
> connect to the Net for a few hours. I have to leave it (switch off for a few
> hours) then try again - then it works OK.
>
> The problem is that whenever this happens and I phone BT to ask if BB is
> working OK in my area, they always test my exchange and tell me that my line
> is fine. I then proceed to waste hours messing about with my wireless
> network. Always to no avail. But after a few hours - it's back.
>
> It seems to me that it has to be a BT problem. I wouldn't mind if they told
> me that there were problems - but when they insist that everything is fine,
> I waste my time trying to fix a non-existent problem.
>
> I'm using wireless Belkin router/modem. But I can connect to the router
> using the internal IP address and the wireless network always seems to be
> fine.
>
> Is there any way of checking were the problem lies? Is there anywhere I can
> check to see if BT Broadband is (really) operational in my area?
>
> Cheers.
>
> Bobby

Oops...should read posts properly...you say what modem you are using and it
isn't the one I mention...really sorry...

--
My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me.
*Benjamin Disraeli*

"Bobby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm pretty happy with BT Broadband. It works 99% of the time.
>
> But everyone once in a while (about once every couple of months) I can't
> connect to the Net for a few hours. I have to leave it (switch off for a
few
> hours) then try again - then it works OK.
>
> The problem is that whenever this happens and I phone BT to ask if BB is
> working OK in my area, they always test my exchange and tell me that my
line
> is fine. I then proceed to waste hours messing about with my wireless
> network. Always to no avail. But after a few hours - it's back.
>
> It seems to me that it has to be a BT problem. I wouldn't mind if they
told
> me that there were problems - but when they insist that everything is
fine,
> I waste my time trying to fix a non-existent problem.
>
> I'm using wireless Belkin router/modem. But I can connect to the router
> using the internal IP address and the wireless network always seems to be
> fine.
>
> Is there any way of checking were the problem lies? Is there anywhere I
can
> check to see if BT Broadband is (really) operational in my area?
>
> Cheers.
>
> Bobby
>
>

Hi Bobby

I get this at about the same rate as yourself.

As a matter of interest, do you know if your IP address (WAN) has changed
after you get connected again?

When this has happened to me, I've had a different IP address once I've got
connected again - am using a USR9003.

When I rang BT the last time it happened, they did all the tests and
everything checked out OK. I was then referred to software technical
support. I decided to do a bit more work before ringing them. I ran
NetMeter and noticed that traffic was extremely heavy even though HTTP,
POP3, SMTP etc didn't appear to be working and like yourself I could get to
the router web interface OK.

Noticed the IP address had changed, so reconfigured static NAT mapping to
use the new IP (WAN) address, saved the config and hey presto all working
again.

There was a problem with Ealing RAS this morning and over the weekend I
picked up a 81.x.x.x IP address whereas I normally get a 217.x.x.x IP
address (I'm BTBB not BTYahoo BB).

Nicola

On 27 Sep 2004 in uk.telecom.broadband, "Nicola Redwood" wrote:

>Noticed the IP address had changed, so reconfigured static NAT mapping to
>use the new IP (WAN) address, saved the config and hey presto all working
>again.

I may be misunderstanding here, but for all the routers I've used, whether
on ISPs offering fixed or dynamic IP addresses, using 0.0.0.0 in the WAN
IP address settingg has been recommended. Sounds like you are checking
the allocated IP address (from PPP login in the system log, perhaps),
setting your WAN address and there may be no real need to do so. Peter

--
PlusNet <http://tinyurl.com/24ymz> - I recommend them and save some cash.

--

Michael Chare

"Bobby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm pretty happy with BT Broadband. It works 99% of the time.
>
> But everyone once in a while (about once every couple of months) I can't
> connect to the Net for a few hours. I have to leave it (switch off for a few
> hours) then try again - then it works OK.
>
> The problem is that whenever this happens and I phone BT to ask if BB is
> working OK in my area, they always test my exchange and tell me that my line
> is fine. I then proceed to waste hours messing about with my wireless
> network. Always to no avail. But after a few hours - it's back.
>
> It seems to me that it has to be a BT problem. I wouldn't mind if they told
> me that there were problems - but when they insist that everything is fine,
> I waste my time trying to fix a non-existent problem.
>
> I'm using wireless Belkin router/modem. But I can connect to the router
> using the internal IP address and the wireless network always seems to be
> fine.
>
> Is there any way of checking were the problem lies? Is there anywhere I can
> check to see if BT Broadband is (really) operational in my area?

I have BB on a 'long' recently approved line. I have only had the connection
just over two weeks. In that time there have been a few times when the
connection fails, usually in the evening and for about 10 minutes. There is no
obvious cause of the problem and I have not reported any faults. Maybe I will
learn more as time passes.

When the line fails the is a light on my modem(s) which flashes. I image there
would be a similar indicator light on your modem. If I access the router whilst
the light is flashing I can see that it has lost its WAN IP address.

I have upgraded to a router which automatically restarts the connection with any
intervention by me. My down stream line loss is about 60 dB and the SNR varies
between 9 and 14 DBE.

I plan to connect the router direct to my master socket and isolate my
extensions as I have found this improves the SNR.

Michael Chare

On 27 Sep 2004 in uk.telecom.broadband, "Michael Chare" wrote:
>
>
>--
>
>Michael Chare

Did you know that Agent, by default, doesn't quote anything under a
sig separator, and some newsreaders can be configured to 'hide' any
'signature' text ? Take another look at what they would see, from
your post (hint... not even your name !!). FWIW, I use MS OE, but
not for newsgroup posts as a rule (it is hopeless on word wrap with
WYSIWYG being a complete farce!). Peter M.

But what drives me nuts Nicola is that BT *always* claims that my line is
fine and that it must be something in my house. If they would just fecking
tell me that there's something wrong at the exchange then that would be
fine - but they don't.

According to BT they have 100% up-time.

Bobby

"Nicola Redwood" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cj9n9q$5qf$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Bobby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I'm pretty happy with BT Broadband. It works 99% of the time.
>>
>> But everyone once in a while (about once every couple of months) I can't
>> connect to the Net for a few hours. I have to leave it (switch off for a
> few
>> hours) then try again - then it works OK.
>>
>> The problem is that whenever this happens and I phone BT to ask if BB is
>> working OK in my area, they always test my exchange and tell me that my
> line
>> is fine. I then proceed to waste hours messing about with my wireless
>> network. Always to no avail. But after a few hours - it's back.
>>
>> It seems to me that it has to be a BT problem. I wouldn't mind if they
> told
>> me that there were problems - but when they insist that everything is
> fine,
>> I waste my time trying to fix a non-existent problem.
>>
>> I'm using wireless Belkin router/modem. But I can connect to the router
>> using the internal IP address and the wireless network always seems to be
>> fine.
>>
>> Is there any way of checking were the problem lies? Is there anywhere I
> can
>> check to see if BT Broadband is (really) operational in my area?
>>
>> Cheers.
>>
>> Bobby
>>
>>
>
> Hi Bobby
>
> I get this at about the same rate as yourself.
>
> As a matter of interest, do you know if your IP address (WAN) has changed
> after you get connected again?
>
> When this has happened to me, I've had a different IP address once I've
> got
> connected again - am using a USR9003.
>
> When I rang BT the last time it happened, they did all the tests and
> everything checked out OK. I was then referred to software technical
> support. I decided to do a bit more work before ringing them. I ran
> NetMeter and noticed that traffic was extremely heavy even though HTTP,
> POP3, SMTP etc didn't appear to be working and like yourself I could get
> to
> the router web interface OK.
>
> Noticed the IP address had changed, so reconfigured static NAT mapping to
> use the new IP (WAN) address, saved the config and hey presto all working
> again.
>
> There was a problem with Ealing RAS this morning and over the weekend I
> picked up a 81.x.x.x IP address whereas I normally get a 217.x.x.x IP
> address (I'm BTBB not BTYahoo BB).
>
> Nicola
>
>

"Bobby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>But what drives me nuts Nicola is that BT *always* claims that my line is
>fine and that it must be something in my house. If they would just fecking
>tell me that there's something wrong at the exchange then that would be
>fine - but they don't.
>
>According to BT they have 100% up-time.
>
>Bobby

I had exactly the same problem with them. Eventually I did manage to
persuade them the problem was real. My threats of escalation to BT
executives (I might have done, too!) then apparently turned the trick.
I then had (unco-ordinated) visits from no fewer than 3 engineers in
the space of a week. Fortunately, just before he left after another
'Can't find anything wrong' visit, I persuaded one of them to
disconnect my modem and PC and plug his laptop/modem combination
directly into my phone socket. It was a 1 in 100 chance, as my
disconnections had been intermittent, maybe averaging 1 per day or
two, for 1-5 mins. But happily he lost the connection! From that point
on I was

a) happier (as I now knew the issue wasn't some obscure configuration
of my own doing, or a hardware or phone wiring problem inside the
house)

b) on strong ground when it came to insisting further checks be made.

Subsequently, some kit was changed at the BT exchange, and I've had
far fewer disconnections since then.

BTW, I had also had similar unexplained disconnections on Demon/BT
Surftime dial-up, *before* going to BT Broadband. You can imagine the
frustration of trying to deal with a combination of Demon *and* BT
<g>.

One of the major obstacles (apart from the ingrained tendency of just
about all large service providers to blame either the customer or some
other party) is that BT seems split into several divisions, and as a
matter of policy they don't share information about customer problems!
Incredible...

--
Terry, West Sussex, UK

Thanks for all of the responses.

Is there anywhere where I can check BT Broadband's downtime?

I'd be interested to know their stats. They seem to be claiming 100%
uptime - which is silly.

Bobby

"Bobby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm pretty happy with BT Broadband. It works 99% of the time.
>
> But everyone once in a while (about once every couple of months) I can't
> connect to the Net for a few hours. I have to leave it (switch off for a
> few hours) then try again - then it works OK.
>
> The problem is that whenever this happens and I phone BT to ask if BB is
> working OK in my area, they always test my exchange and tell me that my
> line is fine. I then proceed to waste hours messing about with my wireless
> network. Always to no avail. But after a few hours - it's back.
>
> It seems to me that it has to be a BT problem. I wouldn't mind if they
> told me that there were problems - but when they insist that everything is
> fine, I waste my time trying to fix a non-existent problem.
>
> I'm using wireless Belkin router/modem. But I can connect to the router
> using the internal IP address and the wireless network always seems to be
> fine.
>
> Is there any way of checking were the problem lies? Is there anywhere I
> can check to see if BT Broadband is (really) operational in my area?
>
> Cheers.
>
> Bobby
>