DSL connectivity issues in the snow?
KKlecan
Enthusiast - Level 2

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!

Re: DSL connectivity issues in the snow?
dslr595148
Community Leader
Community Leader

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

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

Re: DSL connectivity issues in the snow?
smith6612
Community Leader
Community Leader
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.
Re: DSL connectivity issues in the snow?
KKlecan
Enthusiast - Level 2

#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


Re: DSL connectivity issues in the snow?
KKlecan
Enthusiast - Level 2
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...
Re: DSL connectivity issues in the snow?
jmw1950
Specialist - Level 2

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.

Re: DSL connectivity issues in the snow?
smith6612
Community Leader
Community Leader
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.
Re: DSL connectivity issues in the snow?
KKlecan
Enthusiast - Level 2

@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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Re: DSL connectivity issues in the snow?
dslr595148
Community Leader
Community Leader

@KKlecan wrote:

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!


Ok, let us try to do this step by step.

#1 Check the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway and DNS Server(s) on your computer.

For example if you are on Windows XP..

a) Go to Start -> Run.

b) Type in cmd and press enter.

c) In the new window, called the command prompt, type in ipconfig /all and press enter.

#2 With your web browser try to go the Default Gateway listed, and try to log-in.

#3 If you are in the Westell:

a) Choose System Monitoring,

b) Advanced Monitors and click

c) 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.

--

After step 2 (listed above) if you get into the Linksys and if the Default Gateway on your computer strarts with 192.168.1

#1 Then in the Linksys at Setup -> Basic Setup

a) Where it says Local IP Address, change that to 192.168.2.1

b) Press Save Changes.

#2 Release and renew the IP Address on your computer.

For example if you are on Windows XP..

a) After you get to the command prompt, type in ipconfig /release and press enter to release your IP Address.

b) Then type in ipconfig /renew and press enter to renew your IP Address.

#3 Then with your web browser try to go to 192.168.1.1 and then go to System Monitoring ->  Advanced Monitors -> Transceiver Statistics...

---

If you have questions or if you need any help, please post.

Re: DSL connectivity issues in the snow?
KKlecan
Enthusiast - Level 2

Okay, thanks for your patience, both with my lack of experience and with how long it's taking me to get back and forth here.

Here's what I've got so far:

I'm on a MacBook, not a PC, and I'm running OSx 10.5.8

I found my IP address, my IPv4 address (same), my subnet mask, my router's address (not the same as my IPv4, by the last digit only) and my DNS server. I also have a tab called "proxies" in my system preferences but cannot locate anything called a "default gateway". Perhaps that is a PC name for something I've already got...

I went to the only webpage that worked (the one using my DNS server) and found the transciever stats. They are:

speed: 1184 kBps Down, 448 up

margin: 32.0 down, 21.0 up

attenuation: 33.4 down, 19.0 up

transmit power: 5.5 down, 7.5 up

Since this IP address is listed by verizon as my "modem's IP address", I assume this means I logged in to the Westell.

I looked around a little more and found that Verizon lists an "IP Gateway." I tried it as a website without any luck.

Is this the info you were looking for? Does it help you?

PS: I did all of this connect how I usually am, wirelessly with the router. Rereading your original post, I see now you said to go directly through the modem. Did I goof?

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