Frequent dropouts 25th Jan 2025

[#1]

@Madeleyite 

Can you please post your current router stats (SNRM, actual speed and max speed) and the most recent reconnection log entry from the router log.

The above might hint at the changes having made a difference.

[#2]

Here is info log as of a few minutes ago. Also the two reconnection events today are a result of me unplugging the Hub PSU whilst rearranging the cables. They are not dropouts.

[#3]

That is interesting.

The log shows the target SNRM to now be 3dB (whereas before it was 6dB - see post 16 IIRC) which means it is configured for speed over stability.  You are getting 10mbps US with a good SNRM.  Being fairly close to the 10mbps mark seems a little suspicious given you will now be provisioned on 80/20 (not 40/10).

The current DS SNRM is 2.6dB (0.4dB less than it would have been at start-up).  That is a smaller difference than the nearly 3dB difference suggested by the information you posted before, so it looks like there might be an improvement from moving the cables.

How much of that kit can you unplug and still "operate"?  Are you working on a laptop?  If yes can you please unplug everything not essential to maintaining a connection.  DO NOT touch the router (it is important to maintain the current connection).  I'd like to see if unplugging...

• Speakers
• HP PSU
• DELL PSU
• Printer
• Shredder
• Monitor

... makes any difference to the reported current SNRM of 2.6dB - you are looking for that figure to increase coincident with unplugging one (or more) of the above.  If one of these makes a difference, you've found the thing to 'fix'.

If you are anything like me, my laptop sits in a stand 'way over there' and I use a cordless keyboard / mouse in front of the monitor.  The above request might be a bit of a pain, but if it identifies a rouge PSU, you are on your way to optimising the broadband performance.

[#4]

Good point re the DELL laptop PSU. The DELL is used on battery power so it can be charged up anywhere. I have moved the PSU elsewhere so that is no longer a potential culprit.

There are no other power sockets nearby so the HP plug (my desktop PC on the desk), printer plug, shredder plug, speaker PSU and Hub Two PSU can't be moved.

[#5]

Latest info log and this what the cables look like now: -

[#6]

Wow!!  Al other things being equal (no router restart involved) that has made a marked difference - observed SNRM changed from 2.6dB to 4.2dB.

Whilst that might not seem like much, 3dB is a doubling of power, so a change of 1.6dB is significant, as indicated by the increase in maximum speed.

I suggest that (for the purpose of testing), it might be worth while looking at the router stats using the laptop on battery with ALL other stuff unplugged.  If you see further rises in observed SNRM, something else is also pear-shaped!

Can the VDSL cable be routed away from the power block?  It looks as though it is running up behind it.

This is moving in the right direction.  If unplugging more stiff shows an improvement, the shielded RJ11 cable I referenced earlier might be useful.

[#7]

I moved the DSL cable from behind the power block as much as I could but there are other cables behind the desk and the cable runs across two power cables. One to my HP PC and one to the monitor. Not running in parallel but crossing them. Relocating the hub to avoid this is not possible at this time.

Unfortunately this meant unplugging the DSL cable from the twice so there are two more 'Link Down' 'Link up' events and a new Info log.

[#8]

There is something wrong with the link to the new router stats.  Can you just copy & paste into the reply box please.

Those connection logs suggest you are running 3.3mbps faster, which is a 5% improvement.

It might be worth backing off for a while to see if the connection now remains stable.  Try to note anything you've done if you see a disconnection.

[#9]

[#10]

Actual and max data rates being the same is good news - at least there has been no change in noise levels since the reconnection.  You might have fixed this!!!

Your line and signal attenuation are better than mine and I am running at 72.4mbps ... so you might see further improvement if the line remains stable.

[#11]

Over 48 hours now since @Marsh ordered my NGA line stability profile to be changed from 'Speed' to 'Standard' so I wonder if it has now been completed?

Currently I see the Noise Margin is down to 2.9. See photo. Does this imply the change to 'Standard' has not yet happened?

08:10 today - Speed test showed 58.99 Mbps download and 9.69 Mbps upload.

I am very happy with this if the change to 'Standard' has been completed since it means good speed as well as stability.

In conjunction with rearranging cabling and removing as much electrical interference from local PSUs I hope the reliability will improve from now on and I will report on this in about a month.

[#12]

Unless there has been a reconnection and the SNRM target reported in the connection log has changed … probably not.

I suspect that you’ve fixed the issue by creating separation between the PSUs and the router cable. If it now remains stable, circa 3dB will be fine and offer the best in sync speed. Error rate (without actually disconnecting) could be a different matter.

You might find the shielded RJ11 cable I showed a few posts back beneficial in your environment.

[#13]

Thanks. I may try that cable if there is any more instability.

You are the expert but, just to be sure for my peace of mind the DSL ports in master socket and Hub Two are RJ11? I don't want to order the cable and find it has the wrong plugs.

I assume the change to NGA profile 'Standard' will happen overnight, not during the day? If so then I'll check each morning.

[#14]

---

@Madeleyite wrote:

... just to be sure for my peace of mind the DSL ports in master socket and Hub Two are RJ11? I don't want to order the cable and find it has the wrong plugs.

---

See RJ11 vs RJ45: What is the Difference?

[#15]

Hi @Marsh - Re message 26 it has now been 1 week and I see no evidence that the change to 'Standard' has happened.

There have been no more dropouts and the speeds remain high so I am happy in that regard but do Plusnet receive an 'Order fulfilled' advice from Openreach when the job has been done? If so then can you check please?

I was wondering if the tech people at Openreach have studied my Sogea line connection statistics and decided it is not necessary to change from 'Speed' to 'Standard' now that I have removed RFI from nearby PSUs.