Tesco NET - ADSL light flashing on modem - Help!

Friends of mine have a Tesco Broadband connection. About two weeks ago
broadband would not connect. Went to visit, the ADSL light on the modem was
flashing. I've tried uninstalling / reinstalling following the published
procedure (unplug / uninstall / restart / install latest drivers / restart /
connect). Did not help. Tried two different modems (Speedtouch 330 and
Speedtouch USB). Did not help. Tried plugging directly into the wall
socket (telephone). Did not help. Tried combinations of the above. On all
occassions the modem initialises AOK on W98 startup but the ADSL light
(right light) flashes, indicating that it cannot sync with the exchange.
It's been AOK for months previously.

Tesco are adamant that the problem is within Windows 98 being improperly
installed and that I need to get the latest updates from Microsoft.com, but
won't say exactly what patches. As I cannot connect to the net this is
difficult. At 50p a minute calling the helpline this is an expensive brick
wall, as is keeping a non-working contract for another 9 months before it
expires.

Any help would be most appreciated, especially what in W98 can cause the
modem to startup OK but to not sync with the exchange? :0( Sorry if this
is the wrong NG.

[Setup: Win 98, Speedtouch 330, Zonealarm working OK, AVG installed and
scans clean, Spybot installed and scans clean]

"Chas" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:dma24i$er8$(E-Mail Removed):

> Friends of mine have a Tesco Broadband connection. About two
> weeks ago broadband would not connect. Went to visit, the ADSL
> light on the modem was flashing. I've tried uninstalling /
> reinstalling following the published procedure (unplug /
> uninstall / restart / install latest drivers / restart /
> connect). Did not help. Tried two different modems (Speedtouch
> 330 and Speedtouch USB). Did not help. Tried plugging directly
> into the wall socket (telephone). Did not help. Tried
> combinations of the above. On all occassions the modem
> initialises AOK on W98 startup but the ADSL light (right light)
> flashes, indicating that it cannot sync with the exchange. It's
> been AOK for months previously.
>
> Tesco are adamant that the problem is within Windows 98 being
> improperly installed and that I need to get the latest updates
> from Microsoft.com, but won't say exactly what patches. As I
> cannot connect to the net this is difficult. At 50p a minute
> calling the helpline this is an expensive brick wall, as is
> keeping a non-working contract for another 9 months before it
> expires.
>
> Any help would be most appreciated, especially what in W98 can
> cause the modem to startup OK but to not sync with the exchange?
> :0( Sorry if this is the wrong NG.
>
> [Setup: Win 98, Speedtouch 330, Zonealarm working OK, AVG
> installed and scans clean, Spybot installed and scans clean]
>
Flashing ADSL light means the modem cannot sync with the ADSL line
signal. Try unplugging all other telephony devices in the house
i.e. phones, faxes, Sky box, answering m/c etc.

"Frazer Jolly Goodfellow" <no-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns971AA822BFA06frz@62.253.170.163...
> "Chas" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> news:dma24i$er8$(E-Mail Removed):
>
>> Friends of mine have a Tesco Broadband connection. About two
>> weeks ago broadband would not connect. Went to visit, the ADSL
>> light on the modem was flashing. I've tried uninstalling /
>> reinstalling following the published procedure (unplug /
>> uninstall / restart / install latest drivers / restart /
>> connect). Did not help. Tried two different modems (Speedtouch
>> 330 and Speedtouch USB). Did not help. Tried plugging directly
>> into the wall socket (telephone). Did not help. Tried
>> combinations of the above. On all occassions the modem
>> initialises AOK on W98 startup but the ADSL light (right light)
>> flashes, indicating that it cannot sync with the exchange. It's
>> been AOK for months previously.
>>
>> Tesco are adamant that the problem is within Windows 98 being
>> improperly installed and that I need to get the latest updates
>> from Microsoft.com, but won't say exactly what patches. As I
>> cannot connect to the net this is difficult. At 50p a minute
>> calling the helpline this is an expensive brick wall, as is
>> keeping a non-working contract for another 9 months before it
>> expires.
>>
>> Any help would be most appreciated, especially what in W98 can
>> cause the modem to startup OK but to not sync with the exchange?
>> :0( Sorry if this is the wrong NG.
>>
>> [Setup: Win 98, Speedtouch 330, Zonealarm working OK, AVG
>> installed and scans clean, Spybot installed and scans clean]
>>
> Flashing ADSL light means the modem cannot sync with the ADSL line
> signal. Try unplugging all other telephony devices in the house
> i.e. phones, faxes, Sky box, answering m/c etc.

Thank you for the suggestion. I did try this, with nothing but the filter
and the modem into the main BT socket. No difference. :-(

On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 16:35:24 GMT, Frazer Jolly Goodfellow
<no-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Flashing ADSL light means the modem cannot sync with the ADSL line
>signal. Try unplugging all other telephony devices in the house
>i.e. phones, faxes, Sky box, answering m/c etc.

ideally plug into the test socket behind the lower half of the master
socket faceplate, if you have that type.

If no good insist on a BT engineer which Tesco will have to arrange.

Phil
--
Tiscali - dialup speeds at Broadband prices, see
http://bbs.adslguide.org.uk/postlist...&Board=tiscali

AOL - the unlimited ISP of choice for heavy downloaders.

Chas wrote:

>> Flashing ADSL light means the modem cannot sync with the ADSL line
>> signal. Try unplugging all other telephony devices in the house
>> i.e. phones, faxes, Sky box, answering m/c etc.
>
> Thank you for the suggestion. I did try this, with nothing but the filter
> and the modem into the main BT socket. No difference. :-(
>

Almost certainly you have a fault on the the line. The problem is to
persuade tesco to believe you. Any chance you can try their modem on
another line or another modem or router (known to be working) on their
line.

JP

On Saturday, in article <(E-Mail Removed)>
(E-Mail Removed) "John P" wrote:

> Chas wrote:
>
> >> Flashing ADSL light means the modem cannot sync with the ADSL line
> >> signal. Try unplugging all other telephony devices in the house
> >> i.e. phones, faxes, Sky box, answering m/c etc.
> >
> > Thank you for the suggestion. I did try this, with nothing but the filter
> > and the modem into the main BT socket. No difference. :-(
> >
>
> Almost certainly you have a fault on the the line. The problem is to
> persuade tesco to believe you. Any chance you can try their modem on
> another line or another modem or router (known to be working) on their
> line.

Other things to check:

Modem to phone-socket cable

Try a different microfilter

You can use a standard analogue modem cable, without a microfilter,
though you need to disconnect ordinary phones.

What you're doing is eliminating causes between the modem and the BT
master socket. When I had a similar experience, not with Tesco, these
were all tests suggested from the helpdesk script. To some extent, you
are trying to work through the options as economically as possible, so
they get to the point of treating it as a line fault.


--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.

"I am Number Two," said Penfold. "You are Number Six."

"Chas" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:dma24i$er8$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Friends of mine have a Tesco Broadband connection. About two weeks ago
> broadband would not connect. Went to visit, the ADSL light on the modem
> was flashing. I've tried uninstalling / reinstalling following the
> published procedure (unplug / uninstall / restart / install latest drivers
> / restart / connect). Did not help. Tried two different modems
> (Speedtouch 330 and Speedtouch USB). Did not help. Tried plugging
> directly into the wall socket (telephone). Did not help. Tried
> combinations of the above. On all occassions the modem initialises AOK on
> W98 startup but the ADSL light (right light) flashes, indicating that it
> cannot sync with the exchange. It's been AOK for months previously.
>
> Tesco are adamant that the problem is within Windows 98 being improperly
> installed and that I need to get the latest updates from Microsoft.com,
> but won't say exactly what patches. As I cannot connect to the net this
> is difficult. At 50p a minute calling the helpline this is an expensive
> brick wall, as is keeping a non-working contract for another 9 months
> before it expires.
>
> Any help would be most appreciated, especially what in W98 can cause the
> modem to startup OK but to not sync with the exchange? :0( Sorry if this
> is the wrong NG.
>
> [Setup: Win 98, Speedtouch 330, Zonealarm working OK, AVG installed and
> scans clean, Spybot installed and scans clean]
>
>
>
>
Check you haven't been cut off ! It sounds like there is no ADSL
connection, so a fault in the exchange.
The problem is getting someone on the Tesco line to understand basic
technical terms. I tried to report a fault and there was a slight language
difficulty on the helpdesk so the nice man put the phone down ! He didn't
know what a DNS server is or how a customer could do basic tests themselves.
I hope they are using UK call centres with qualified people or people will
just leave.

Call BT and tell them yur ADSL connection has gone off, NOT access to your
ISP, but the actual synchronisation. It's important to get the terminology
right.

ray wrote:
> "Chas" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:dma24i$er8$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Friends of mine have a Tesco Broadband connection. About two weeks
>> ago broadband would not connect. Went to visit, the ADSL light on
>> the modem was flashing. I've tried uninstalling / reinstalling
>> following the published procedure (unplug / uninstall / restart /
>> install latest drivers / restart / connect). Did not help. Tried
>> two different modems (Speedtouch 330 and Speedtouch USB). Did not
>> help. Tried plugging directly into the wall socket (telephone). Did
>> not help. Tried combinations of the above. On all occassions
>> the modem initialises AOK on W98 startup but the ADSL light (right
>> light) flashes, indicating that it cannot sync with the exchange.
>> It's been AOK for months previously. Tesco are adamant that the
>> problem is within Windows 98 being
>> improperly installed and that I need to get the latest updates from
>> Microsoft.com, but won't say exactly what patches. As I cannot
>> connect to the net this is difficult. At 50p a minute calling the
>> helpline this is an expensive brick wall, as is keeping a
>> non-working contract for another 9 months before it expires.
>>
>> Any help would be most appreciated, especially what in W98 can cause
>> the modem to startup OK but to not sync with the exchange? :0( Sorry
>> if this is the wrong NG.
>>
>> [Setup: Win 98, Speedtouch 330, Zonealarm working OK, AVG installed
>> and scans clean, Spybot installed and scans clean]
>>
>>
>>
>>
> Check you haven't been cut off ! It sounds like there is no ADSL
> connection, so a fault in the exchange.
> The problem is getting someone on the Tesco line to understand basic
> technical terms. I tried to report a fault and there was a slight
> language difficulty on the helpdesk so the nice man put the phone
> down ! He didn't know what a DNS server is or how a customer could
> do basic tests themselves. I hope they are using UK call centres with
> qualified people or people will just leave.
>
> Call BT and tell them yur ADSL connection has gone off, NOT access to
> your ISP, but the actual synchronisation. It's important to get the
> terminology right.

DON'T phone BT, you are not BT's customer, if you get BT directly
involved it will cost you money. You have to keep badgering away at
Tesco who then have to pass it to NTL (AFAIA Tesco are still reselling
NTL bandwidth) who then have to report it to BT wholesale who then
report it to the grunts at the sharp end...

If you try & side step the chain you will be hit in the pocket as it
costs the ISP to get each DSL problem investigated, which is one of the
probable reasons why they make it so hard to ecalate a fault...

""David G. Bell"" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Saturday, in article <(E-Mail Removed)>
> (E-Mail Removed) "John P" wrote:
>
>> Chas wrote:
>>
>> >> Flashing ADSL light means the modem cannot sync with the ADSL line
>> >> signal. Try unplugging all other telephony devices in the house
>> >> i.e. phones, faxes, Sky box, answering m/c etc.
>> >
>> > Thank you for the suggestion. I did try this, with nothing but the
>> > filter
>> > and the modem into the main BT socket. No difference. :-(
>> >
>>
>> Almost certainly you have a fault on the the line. The problem is to
>> persuade tesco to believe you. Any chance you can try their modem on
>> another line or another modem or router (known to be working) on their
>> line.
>
> Other things to check:
>
> Modem to phone-socket cable
>
> Try a different microfilter
>
> You can use a standard analogue modem cable, without a microfilter,
> though you need to disconnect ordinary phones.
>
> What you're doing is eliminating causes between the modem and the BT
> master socket. When I had a similar experience, not with Tesco, these
> were all tests suggested from the helpdesk script. To some extent, you
> are trying to work through the options as economically as possible, so
> they get to the point of treating it as a line fault.
>
>
> --
> David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.
>
> "I am Number Two," said Penfold. "You are Number Six."

Thank you for this and for everyone else that replied. It bears out my
thinking that it's not W98 but a failure in communication between the modem
and the exchange, be it locally (in the house) or at the exchange. Tesco
will not entertain that there is any fault other than with W98 and will not
arrange an engineer. It's ground to a complete halt and I don't know what
to do. :-( :-(

On 29-Nov-2005, "Chas" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Thank you for this and for everyone else that replied. It bears out my
> thinking that it's not W98 but a failure in communication between the modem
> and the exchange, be it locally (in the house) or at the exchange. Tesco
> will not entertain that there is any fault other than with W98 and will not
> arrange an engineer. It's ground to a complete halt and I don't know what
> to do. :-( :-(

Does your phone work, free of crackles, not muffled, etc.
Plug your micro-filter and modem directly into the phone line
termination. Don't use any phone extension cables, move the
PC if necessary.
If the phone is ok then the physical line exists, so there is
a probability that it is your modem or a fault at the exchange.
Try another micro-filter, they are cheap enough, though with
no phone plugged in, try without any filter.
Next step is to get another modem.
That depends on who supplied it, you or Tesco. If Tesco
see if you can negotiate for an exchange unit.