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DSL connectivity issues in the snow?

I have been a Verizon DSL customer only since this summer. I have just recently learned, to my chagrin, that DSL is known to have problems during lightning storms. I have noticed myself that after a good rain, I often must restart the modem. However, we have just had our first snow--one inch starting from noon yesterday until about dinner time last night--and since late afternoon yesterday, my DSL has been on and off. I've had to reset the modem (turn off and on again) already about 4 times since I noticed I was without connection yesterday. I get back online for a few hours, then lose it again. This is a double bummer because I'm also using the internet for my phone (through Vonage). Sometimes the phone will actually ring, but then cut out before the caller can speak or I can reply.

Is it common to have problems when it has snowed? It's not longer actively snowing, nor has it been for more than 12 hours, and as I said, we only got about an inch. I'm suddenly concerned about connectivity in a real snow storm, one with accumulation that lasts for days. If this is typical, how long does it last? If not, is there a chance that something is wrong on the outside of my house that is making me more susceptible to the weather than others? Are the phone issues exacerbating the problem, or vice versa?

Many thanks for any advice!

Comments

dslr595148

#1 What is the brand and model of your modem?

#2 What is the brand and model of your router?

smith6612

DSL should NEVER go out in a storm unless there was physical damage to the copper plant itself from the storm (eg: downed/severed lines) or your SNR is absolutely terrible (which we can check by getting the info requested above). If you had Voice Service through Verizon in the past before or even after you got DSL, did you have any issues with static, buzzing, humming or the voice cutting in and out? If you did, there's a problem with the copper loop that needs to be corrected. Anyways, Verizon needs to run an MLT Test on your DSL line and send a tech out to repair any problems found with Verizon's side of the connection up to the NID. It is however a good idea to check your home's wiring to make sure there isn't something that would cause such problems, such as water getting into the contacts of a jack/wiring, corrosion or loose connections, should they try to blame the problem on your wiring past the NID.

KKlecan

#1. My modem is new this July, a Westell G90-610015-20.

#2. My router is possibly 5-10 years old, a Linksys WAP546 v.2

KKlecan

Also, to Smith6612: We have only just moved to this house, so there is no previous voice service to compare to, unfortunately. I am interested in what you are able to determine from the router and modem info...

jmw1950

Unfortunately weather can and DOES impact many DSL users. The performance of the DSL link is very sensitive to the quality of the copper pair that runs between you and the central office. The problem is most severe on the oldest pairs. For example I don't have a NIB, I have a porcelain terminal block, and my guess is the copper pair that connects me to the Central Office is over 50 years old. If I could hear thunder, my DSL service was out. If it was raining, I lost 500kbps on the downlink, and 128kbps on the uplink. My ultimate solution was to become a FiOS customer as soon as it was offered.

Basically the insulation and dielectric on the wires gets wet, and that degrades the performance of the copper pair at the frequencies used for DSL, although the impact on voice quality is generally not meaningful unless the pair is very long.

Voice over the pair for purposes of analysis behaves like DC signals. DSL signals behave like radio frequency signals. The former is relative immune to circuit changes due to changes in the dielectric characteristics of the insulator, the latter is in fact very sensitive.

The problem for most is that DSL is not a tariffed service. That means Verizon (and others) have no regulatory obligation to provide it at all. They are required to provide toll grade voice service and generally ISDN if you ask, and must make any repairs an upgrades in cables required to provide the tariffed services. DSL isn't tariffed, so you are pretty much stuck with whatever Verizon offers. At this point Verizon doesn't believe the future lies in wireline service, so they aren't going to invest anything in wireline plant and equipment they don't have too.

BTW, in my experience FiOS is completely insensitive to weather. Conditions that used to wipe out my DSL service have no impact at all on my FiOS service.

smith6612

OK. The Linksys has an IP address of 192.168.1.1 by default, as well as the Westell. If this is the case and you haven't changed any of the IP addresses for these devices, I suggest changing the Linksys to use another IP address. Anyways, while directly connected to the modem (if it isn't bridged), visit http://192.168.1.1/ then choose System Monitoring, Advanced Monitors and click Transceiver Statistics. Post up what you see on that page. If you are prompted for a Username and Password, try using admin/password, admin/admin, admin/password1, or admin/admin1. Your Verizon Username and Password may also be needed.

KKlecan

@Smith6612 wrote:
OK. The Linksys has an IP address of 192.168.1.1 by default, as well as the Westell. If this is the case and you haven't changed any of the IP addresses for these devices, I suggest changing the Linksys to use another IP address.

Anyways, while directly connected to the modem (if it isn't bridged), visit http://192.168.1.1/ then choose System Monitoring, Advanced Monitors and click Transceiver Statistics. Post up what you see on that page. If you are prompted for a Username and Password, try using admin/password, admin/admin, admin/password1, or admin/admin1. Your Verizon Username and Password may also be needed.

Sorry, I'm not 100% sure what some of this means.

Is the second paragraph related to the first, or a separate measure I should undertake in addition to changing the IP address on the Linksys? I think this second paragraph is instructions that will allow you see the quality of the connection I'm making. Is that correct? If so, I'm not sure how to go about checking or changing the IP address on my router.

Also I don't know if my modem is "bridged" or not. Should I go ahead and try your instructions anyway?

I'm doing my best to keep up with you, but I don't know a lot about how to do all this.

Thanks!

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