Intermittent WAN disconnects.

[#1]

Thanks for the replies guys. I may not have been clear, my fault, so I'll try and clarify.   

The original set up, fitted by EE/Openreach, is a Filtered NTE5C MK4 VDSL master socket located by the front door. This version of Master Socket has the capacity to run a hardwired filtered data extension without using the front port. EE/openreach kindly fitted said  extension into the study.  The faceplate in the study is endowed with an RJ45 receptacle, which is where the modem/router, switch, NAS and server usually live. So the phone was plugged into the Master Socket faceplate in the hallway and the modem/router was connected to the study data faceplate. All filtered, all good.  This had been problem free with good speeds for over 6+ years, including the past 2 years with Plusnet.

November '22: Problem started. Dropouts and reduced speeds.

December '22:  The modem/router was moved from the study and placed next to the Master socket which it was plugged in to, with extensions for power ( no convenient power sockets)  and Cat5 Cables ran back to the study from the modem/router when needed. All worked but drops still occurred. 

Jan 4 '23. Openreach  engineer visited. Checked everything and could not find any issues. He spent nearly 3 hours being VERY thorough,  including testing from the data extension faceplate in the study - which he stated would show up as a Bridge tap for the tests at Plushest end, but it was not the cause of the problem. He advised leaving the modem where it currently was ( plugged into the master socket) as technically this would remove the extension and simplify diagnosis.  Leave it for a month and see, is how that session ended.

Following the first engineers advise, I left things how they were and continued to run a cat5 cable from the modem/router in the hallway to my switch in the study as and when I needed to - Pain the in rear, but no great sacrifice.  Following his visit I only had a couple of drop-outs until a few weeks ago weeks ago when they disappeared altogether. Although speeds were very random. ( I always speed test hardwired from the router itself)

Things ran great, although slower, but not a single dropout until last week when they started coming back with vengeance. From the 16th of this month there has been double digit drop-outs every night. Nothing changed in the set up, modem/router still attached to master socket.

So, second engineer came yesterday. Nice chap, like the first, spent nigh on two hours going through everything again. Couldn't find an issue, other than the sporadic 1100 drop fault at the exchange. Several calls to other engineers and it was agreed to remove the master socket faceplate, disconnect the extension and run everything through a dongle 'jerry rigged' to a test socket, as he put it. Again, apologies if there is any confusion when using the term 'Jerry Rigged', but from my tower I would also use that moniker when installing a temporary solution that isn't ideal.  This is to be left for a week to test how things go.  An Interesting side note; this engineer expressed he lived local and suffered the same drop-outs himself.

So that is how it currently stands. I'm still running Cat cables to the modem/router when I need to, master socket faceplate sitting on my table, and power extension still running a cross the floor in the hallway. It's only been a day but so far it's playing out same way as the first engineers visit - reduced speeds and dropouts abated.....for now

Hope that clears things up a little.

[#2]

@Thatwilllldo12 

The hardwired data extension is NOT filtered, the A B connectors found on the back of the filtered faceplate on pass the A B phone line connections to your property (unfiltered).

What is the study faceplate? Picture would help.

The NTC5c has a history of poor seating of the faceplate (I know it's happened to me) which can cause DSL connection breaks, so just moving your Hub to the filtered faceplate would not illuminate the faceplate, a ADSL filter would need to connected to the test socket found behind the faceplate as part of the fault diagnosis.

Edit: - It should be noted the ADSL filter is to filter out the DSL signal from the phone only

[#3]

@Dan_the_Van Thanks for the input.  The study faceplate is similar in nature to:Socket.  A filter was still plugged into it- hence mentioned everything being filtered.  However, I have now learnt from your good self that the AB? Connectors themselves are unfiltered. ( maybe a mod can edit my previous post on the master socket for me please)  I was informed by the original installer, and the past 2 engineers, that this AB connection IS filtered and that using a filter was surplus to requirements? You're  telling me otherwise? One engineer went as far as to show that when the faceplate on the master socket is removed the study socket went dead hence is was routing through the filtered section of the faceplate. There's only one phone in the house and that's plugged into the filtered faceplate anyway.

Having searched the forums it seems this faceplate is quite notorious for throwing problems and many recommend changing it, I wonder why both engineers haven't done this?

Question remains why it worked for so long without any issues and now suddenly the extension could be the problem?

[#4]

@Thatwilllldo12 

The filtered connectors marked 2 and 5 are found on the main body of the 5c, they are disconnected when the faceplate is removed.

From what I see the contacts of the faceplate over time become tarnished, the oxidation creates a poor connection. Sometimes it is enough to reseat the faceplate a few time to clear the issue.

Dan.

[#5]

Right, just got in and had a look at the logs from today, two drop outs so far.

@Dan_the_Van  Just had a look at the faceplate sitting here and the contacts look immaculate, certainly no signs of corrosion. Almost as if it's a new one- I wonder if one of the engineers changed it. I can't say what the test port or any of the connections on the back of it look like as I don't want to touch that.  I have just realised that we have been left without a phone

Anyhow, your comment on the AB connectors not being filtered got my nose twitching for a bit of sleuthing. Please correct me If I'm picking this up wrong, but I bent the ear of an Openreach engineer who was parked outside Screwfix ( damn place syphons my wallet) on the way home today. Nice chap happened to have an old corroded ( as you say) vdsl plate kicking about in the back of his van - horrible things according to him. This thing look liked it had been run over. Anyway, he pointed out that there are two sets of AB connectors; the one on the faceplate that currently sits on my table ( pic attached) is for data extensions and is indeed filtered. The other AB connector on the baseplate is the line that comes into the house which is the one I can't see and won't mess with. The 5, 3 and 2 are telephone line extension which are also filtered ( his words). He maintained that a data  extension from the AB flip connector on the front plate would not be an issue and wouldn't require a filter dongle.

So I've had a quick glance at my set up and there is a blue and white pair going to the 5 and 2 - phone, which I've only noticed isn't live so we're are left without a landline now.  An orange and white pair, which were connected to the AB on the faceplate and match the data extension socket in the study, but are now dangling free. As mentioned, I can't tell what colour the pair going to the unfiltered AB on the back main socket.

All academic, but interesting none the less.

[#6]

@Thatwilllldo12 

I have attached a pdf which details the various versions of the 5c

A very basic ADSL filter schematic.

Note bottom left corner; DSL connections; right filtered to phone

For a filtered faceplate, the data signal passes through the faceplate but not the circuit held within.

Some reading https://telecomgreen.co.uk/home-phone-repair/bt-openreach-new-nte5c-master-socket-guided-tour/ 

Dan.

[#7]

Thank you for the link @Dan_the_Van , Interesting reading.  Specifically the section on data extension. Which matches what the engineers have all told me.  Although, I did use a filter on the study connection to modem and it worked fine *shrug*

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Thank-you for “A” and “B”!

These are two pins on the customer side of later-model master sockets. They give just the same signal as the smaller socket on the front of the master socket, namely a nice, clean broadband signal, straight from the network, filtered of any nasty telephone-extension or wiring noise.  Less interference means more speed.

N.B.! This is an already-filtered output – connecting another filter onto this filtered signal will stop the broadband working.

[#8]

Another small update: speeds have now dropped to the lowest I've ever seen since moving to Plusnet.  

[#9]

@Thatwilllldo12 We haven't seen your routers technical details page yet, which could give us some ideas. Which modem/router are you using?

[#10]

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@jab1 wrote:

@Thatwilllldo12 We haven't seen your routers technical details page yet, which could give us some ideas. Which modem/router are you using?

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All in the very first post, bud.  DSL-AX82U

[#11]

Apologies - I missed that, so can you please provide that data?

[#12]

No problem.  What specifically are you after? Technical details from ASUS DSL-AX82U  site or actual Router logs?

[#13]

@Thatwilllldo12   sight of the DSL Log from the System log would be good.

[#14]

Sure, here's a few grabs of the DSL System Logs.Activity logs I have been posting in this thread as we go along. HTH.  Anything specific?

[#15]

I've Hi @Thatwilllldo12 I've just sent over a PM can you reply back with your username when you can please so I can have a look into it for you?