Bellsouth DSL stalls once per minute for 10-20 seconds

[Forsaken]

I've posted some info and screenshots here:

http://www.brainphase.com/images/connection/


About once every minute my DSL connection will stall out for about 10 seconds, then resume. I've read all over how this is a DHCP problem, but I don't think it is in my case.

I'm using Bellsouth DSL with a Westell 6100 DSL router/modem provided by Bellsouth. The current modem I have now is brand new Westell 6100 sent to me as a replacement for my old Westell 6100 which was about 8 months old. Both modems have the same stall issue so I'm ruling the modem out of the equation.

I have two network cards in my PC.

Specs are:

Windows XP SP1
2.5ghz
1gb ram
NIC1 (connected to Westell): Intel PRO/100B PCI Adapter (TX)
NIC2 (connected to 2nd PC upstairs): Intel PRO/100 VE


NIC2 has a static IP set to 192.168.0.1 (used for internet sharing to the PC upstairs)

NIC1 is set for DHCP since the Westell router assigns the NIC an IP via DHCP. Everything works fine there.. I can release and renew my IP fine, so the DCHP on the Westell seems to be working.


Here is my ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : ALPHA
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : launchmodem.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100B PCI Adapter (TX)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-A0-C9-71-08-0C
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.97
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
192.168.1.254
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, November 09, 2005 10:26:14 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, November 10, 2005 10:26:14 PM

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 3:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-10-DC-93-B9-46
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :



You can see the PRO/100B has all its settings pointed at the Westell router/modem.

All filters are installed on my phones. Bellsouth has done two line checks in the last couple of days and said the lines are clean of noise. I've tried different network cables/phone cables. I tried setting up the Westell via its USB interface and it still stalls. I tried disabling everything on the Westell and just using it as a passthrough - configured Windows XP pppoe and it connected find but still stalled.

I never lose sync, the connection just stalls over and over and over every minute or so.

I hope thats enough info for anyone who may have some ideas.

It's to the point where I don't think its a problem with my setup and there may actually be a problem with the service somewhere. Figured I would post here and check for suggestions before having Bellsouth send a tech out to check the lines.

Thanks for any help or suggestions you may have.
-Ryan

[Forsaken]

A little update to my problem...


It seems that when I run a line straight to the customer access box on the outside of my house the SN margin jumps up to 28 on my DSL router which is great.. My connection stays on and everything works fine.

So this tells me the problem is somewhere in my house. There are 4 telephone bases hooked up, all 4 have a filter.

When the DSL router is plugged into the wall in the house my SN margin goes down from 28 to 9 and starts failing as it drops down to 6... Something is causing a problem but even after unplugging all 4 phones, it still sits around 7 or 8 and fails still as it drops into the 6s..

What are some things I should check in the house as far as the lines go? We just had this house built about a year ago so everything is new...

What should I test from here?

Thanks

[Mactron]

It seems that when I run a line straight to the customer access box on the outside of my house the SN margin jumps up to 28 on my DSL router which is great.. My connection stays on and everything works fine.

So this tells me the problem is somewhere in my house.

Good detective work. :thumb: You found the problem. A noise margin much below 10dB and things get real goosey real fast. The most straight forward fix is to install a "home run" ie a dedicated DSL splitter in the customer access box and run a dedicated cat 3 or 5 line directly to the 6100. A nice byproduct is no Damn filters on all the phones after installing a home run. :nope: Installed one here for my DSL, Best thing I ever did for trouble free, stable DSL.
A place to start... http://www.broadbandreports.com/faq/6246

[Conan85]

If you have a home alarm system that is monitored, it may be making periodic 'line checks' to make sure the phone service hasn't been disrupted.

I'm new to DSL, so I don't know if I have the dropping problem others are complaining about yet. It would just seem to me that an alarm system might be one access point easily overlooked.

Good luck.