A few weeks ago our Eircom 8MHz BB connection stopped working properly.
The rightmost "DSL" LED would go red, then the neighbouring green "Internet" LED would start flashing for about a minute, get faster, then the DSL LED would switch off for a few seconds, then back on steady green. The internet connection would now work for about 30 seconds, then the sequence would repeat.
Eircom could see the fault logged at their end, and after testing to make sure that the DSL filters were not at fault, then sent a serviceman to test the line.
He found no fault outside the house, so he tested the signal quality inside. The noise safety margin showed 14(good)-22(very good) at the entry junction box, however 6.5(marginal) at the end of the 15-20m extension cable used to connect the modem. Two other similar length extension cables showed similar results.
My first question is, why did this type of cable work for years with a BB modem in this house, and in other houses that I have lived in, then suddenly stop working a few weeks ago ? I checked today and this flat type of telephone extension cable is still being sold in 20m lengths in hardware stores with BB listed as an application on the package.
The serviceman suggested that Eircom may have upgraded the BB speed at the exchange without informing us, however Eircom report that we have had a 8MHz connection for years and no exchange modification was logged.
The second and third questions are, where can I buy the same type of BB capable telephone cable that Eircom uses to connect to the house ?, and what is the specification for this cable (most importantly it's line pair characteristic impedance) ?.
I would like to run some of this type of cable from the junction box to the modem. The serviceman did recommend using the entry junction box screw terminals rather than the RJ11 plug in connection.
Thank you.
The rightmost "DSL" LED would go red, then the neighbouring green "Internet" LED would start flashing for about a minute, get faster, then the DSL LED would switch off for a few seconds, then back on steady green. The internet connection would now work for about 30 seconds, then the sequence would repeat.
Eircom could see the fault logged at their end, and after testing to make sure that the DSL filters were not at fault, then sent a serviceman to test the line.
He found no fault outside the house, so he tested the signal quality inside. The noise safety margin showed 14(good)-22(very good) at the entry junction box, however 6.5(marginal) at the end of the 15-20m extension cable used to connect the modem. Two other similar length extension cables showed similar results.
My first question is, why did this type of cable work for years with a BB modem in this house, and in other houses that I have lived in, then suddenly stop working a few weeks ago ? I checked today and this flat type of telephone extension cable is still being sold in 20m lengths in hardware stores with BB listed as an application on the package.
The serviceman suggested that Eircom may have upgraded the BB speed at the exchange without informing us, however Eircom report that we have had a 8MHz connection for years and no exchange modification was logged.
The second and third questions are, where can I buy the same type of BB capable telephone cable that Eircom uses to connect to the house ?, and what is the specification for this cable (most importantly it's line pair characteristic impedance) ?.
I would like to run some of this type of cable from the junction box to the modem. The serviceman did recommend using the entry junction box screw terminals rather than the RJ11 plug in connection.
Thank you.