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Post by tyrednexited on Oct 15, 2016 15:28:04 GMT
For some days I've been having internet connection problems.
The router is reporting a rock-steady connection, but all connected devices have been experiencing intermittent slow or non-responses, and I keep getting warnings of DNS resolution failures, or ever no internet connection, flashing briefly through the screen in an inimitable Windows fashion.
Given that it's all devices, I've eliminated the thought that it might be my PC, I've rebooted the router several times, and ultimately left it down long enough to be sure (and checked) that it's connected to a different modem in the exchange.
It shows all the symptoms of a "back-haul" problem, but there are no generic or specific reports of the same.
I was about to report it (it being so disruptive) when I recalled that late last week we had a double power spike. It knocked out the TV and the HTPC, but the router and two other PCs rode it out - probably the benefits of good quality power supplies with a decent "hold-up" time. (It wasn't minor, a near neighbour had all the house electrics trip!).
So, on a whim, I sought out my last firmware upgrade to the router, and re-flashed it.
Guess what - perfect connection ever since (but I know it can't be just that, can it?)
Yours, waiting for it to re-occur.... T&E.
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Post by Humph on Oct 18, 2016 20:13:16 GMT
My son, who says he knows about these things, says it's a good idea to shut everything down including the router, all devices, phones,computers, tablets etc a couple of times a week.
No idea why.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2016 20:18:30 GMT
Well, you can't be that definite about it.
PCs do clean themselves up, replace logs, delete temporary files and may update themselves on reboot. But other than when Windows Update takes over, its no more than once a month.
Routers will need it from time to time, but weekly is way OTT. Annually is probably better. Routers negotiate their speed frequently and so down time can have a negative effect.
Phones, depends, not really though. Monthly, maybe.
Generally though, just the normal course of living with devices will mean that they reboot from time to time, whether that is because of an update,a flat battery or a deliberate act.
Though perhaps I'm too casual with the stuff.
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Post by tyrednexited on Oct 18, 2016 21:22:32 GMT
My son, who says he knows about these things, says it's a good idea to shut everything down including the router, all devices, phones,computers, tablets etc a couple of times a week. No idea why. Generally to remove the effects of memory leakage from bad code or poor operating systems. I wouldn't argue with the approach, but would half agree with Otto re: routers, as a disconnect may invoke retraining of speed (though ISPs vary, I believe BT were one of the worst) |
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Post by Humph on Oct 19, 2016 7:29:53 GMT
It is BT infinity we're using. Costs quite a lot and I sometimes wonder if we could do better for less, but generally, it is quite good I suppose.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2016 14:55:03 GMT
In my experience all suppliers in the UK are rubbish, but overall BT is the least shit. The problem is that is quite a long way from good.
I'd recommend not trying to fix it unless for your requirements its actually broken. Because that's when things do go wrong.
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Post by Hofmeister on Oct 19, 2016 16:12:35 GMT
In my experience all suppliers in the UK are rubbish, but overall BT is the least shit. The problem is that is quite a long way from good. I'd recommend not trying to fix it unless for your requirements its actually broken. Because that's when things do go wrong. Every domestic BB supplier is shit, its a global phenomena. At least in the UK our shit is relatively cheap, relatively quick, and relatively universally available. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2016 16:17:50 GMT
Oh that is certainly true. Here the broadband and cable suppliers can reduce you to tears and in Brazil it is just pointless even picking up the phone.
I think the only place I've had a good experience was the US - in San Francisco there were very good.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2016 6:19:41 GMT
Now, there's a surprise....home of the teckky has the best BB!
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Post by tyrednexited on Oct 26, 2016 13:34:48 GMT
...well, as expected my actions didn't resolve the issue, and it continued to get worse and worse (the level of disruption going beyond what was even mildly acceptable). Research around the web indicated that quite a few users of Plusnet had been complaining about degradation over a similar period, with denial of any problem from the supplier. One particular forum post "fingered" packet loss for exactly the same symptoms as mine, but more importantly posted traces which implicated the third "hop" (in the BT Wholesale/Plusnet backhaul) and sometimes the next two after that. I installed a trace package and ran it, and lo and behold, when the link was suffering, it showed exactly the same issues, and coincidentally, the third hop was exactly the same IP-address (subsequently, we found we weren't geographically far apart, and thus were probably sharing some routing). Anyway, at that point I raised a fault online; It took me 4 attempts to do so, due to time outs, and another 4 attempts to attach a screenshot of my trace. Patently, the automated systems kicked in almost immediately, as my line was dropped from the other end (the subsequent re-connection made no difference to the issues however). BUT...since yesterday, the thing has been (almost) back to normal. No page time-outs, no "unable to resolve domain name", and 13.5Mbps down, and 0.9Mbps up actual speed (which on copper is almost as good as it gets). There has just been one hiccup, but the packet trace shows different, final hop, symptoms which cleared quickly (possibly Google DNS servers under DDOS  ). I'm trying not to count my chickens (and still haven't had a response to the fault report from Plusnet), but.... |
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