BT - Cap breach - BB cutoff?!

sticker

I've heard a rumour that BT are knocking off any customers that breach their cap allowance till the end of this month (sept!)

Could be bull - but a mate told me he was experiencing same time-outs and rang to seek support and they told him they were cutting off customers going over the cap.

I'm with BT myself and would have breeched my cap SAFELY by now!! - but so far so good.

Anyone else have issues with BT (in terms of cap usage) this month?

theslug

Hi,

I was talking the BT yesterday. My internet speeds has been progressively getting slower with loads of timeouts until this week when I couldn't reach any .com sites, and just some .ie sites. I cut a long story short, I believe that BT made some changes to DNS and because I had configured for old DNS server.

FYI, DNS servers are:

192.111.39.1
192.111.39.4

Anyway I was talking to the one of the guys about download/upload allowance and he said that it's not their policy to throttle or cut off service. He did tell me they may deduct your excess usage from your next month's allowance .

Hope this shed some light.

Mark

sticker

theslug wrote:

Hi,

I was talking the BT yesterday. My internet speeds has been progressively getting slower with loads of timeouts until this week when I couldn't reach any .com sites, and just some .ie sites. I cut a long story short, I believe that BT made some changes to DNS and because I had configured for old DNS server.

FYI, DNS servers are:

192.111.39.1
192.111.39.4

Anyway I was talking to the one of the guys about download/upload allowance and he said that it's not their policy to throttle or cut off service. He did tell me they may deduct your excess usage from your next month's allowance .

Hope this shed some light.

Mark

Thanks Mark,

My web is now timing out after 5 or so minutes - as of the other day. A system restart fixes the problem, but then I've only another 5 minutes online!

Do input the DNS servers info into my router spftware? Sorry, but I'm not that articulate with this matters...

I assumed I was getting the same over cap treatment as my mate...

Do you reckon that it's the connection settings and NOT the cap breach then?

Thanks

jor el

I'd agree with the DNS issues. I was using the old DNS of 194.125.240.1 and 194.125.241.1 (I think) and was having all sorts of problems the last month or so. I changed them to the ones shown above a week ago and it's been fine since then.

Set them in the router itself (log in to 192.168.1.1) and the setting is in the WAN setup somewhere. Also you can set the DNS servers in your Network card's TCP/IP properties. That's what I've done and all is fine now.

As for the cap and deducting your excess from next months allowance, I don't think this is the case. If it was, I'd have zero allowance till about 2015 at this stage. Any motion in this direction by BT and I'll be off over to IBB who do an unlimited DSL. Apparently moving from one bitstream reseller to another is quite a simple process too, with no downtime.

sticker

jor el wrote:

I'd agree with the DNS issues. I was using the old DNS of 194.125.240.1 and 194.125.241.1 (I think) and was having all sorts of problems the last month or so. I changed them to the ones shown above a week ago and it's been fine since then.

Set them in the router itself (log in to 192.168.1.1) and the setting is in the WAN setup somewhere. Also you can set the DNS servers in your Network card's TCP/IP properties. That's what I've done and all is fine now.

As for the cap and deducting your excess from next months allowance, I don't think this is the case. If it was, I'd have zero allowance till about 2015 at this stage. Any motion in this direction by BT and I'll be off over to IBB who do an unlimited DSL. Apparently moving from one bitstream reseller to another is quite a simple process too, with no downtime.

Apologies I still a little lost...

I went into my TCP/IP settings for my nForce Networking Controller and see it's set as "obtain the IP address automatically"

I've the option of three others if I enter a IP myself:
"IP address"
"subnet mast"
"default gateway"

The at the bottom my settings are checked for "obtain DNS server address automatically" But I've also the option to "use the following DNS server address":
"Prefered DNS server"
"alternate DNS server"

I've changed my rig in the past few weeks - I'm thinking the settings are wrong here! It's since I started using this new PC that my BT connection has gone all wierd.

After I change the settings here, do I need to log into my router admin page (192.168.1.1) also to make changes or should changes here this suffice?

jor el

I always set my IP address on the PC manually, easier to set up NAT for file sharing/skype etc if it's fixed. If you use DHCP then it could change if you re-boot or you have more than one PC connected to the router.

Set your IP to be in the same range as the router, so 192.168.1.2 would be the next available. Subnet is 255.255.255.0 and gateway is the router 192.168.1.1.

Set the DNS manually then aswell. I think it's safer to set the DNS in the router too, though I don't know if it's absolutely necessary. I can't remember the exact location of this now and can't check till I get home. I think it's under the WAN settings somewhere. Don't run the wizard, just click WAN Setup.

sticker

I'm still getting my bb time out ...

I've just changed the TCP/IP settings in my network connection for my nForce card as follows:



Are these correct?

Do I need to change settings in the Zyxel modem software also? ie the admin page http://192.168.1.1/

I seem to be back to square one - I've to restart the PC and modem for a 5 - 10 minute web window!

Here's the settings in my Zyxel modem manager:

jor el

Everything looks OK to me. On that last page, set the Primary DNS and secondary DNS though to the numbers you have on your TCP/IP settings. That's the only thing I can see that could be a problem, though it shouldn't really.

Could there be something else on your system causing the slow down, spyware, virus, etc? Do you use a software firewall? Can you dissable it for a few minutes to see if anything improves? Could also try Firefox and IE and see if there's a difference.

rahtkennades

Sticker,
why do you have you connection as 'Connect on Demand' instead of 'nailed-up connection'? Srely if it's broadband it's fine to have it 'always-on', and if your router doesn't have to keep reconnecting after timing out, I would think there's less chance of it havin problems.

Or am I all wrong here? (wouldn't be the first time!):rolleyes:

sticker

I made the changes you requested guys - fingers crossed the connection stays stable!

Thanks for the help - I'll post back how I get on...

sticker

Nope!

I've just returned to the PC - connection lost again!

Anyone any ideas?

Perhaps BT are cutting end-of-month service to cap breachers after all...



I've only configured the TCP/IP properties with the nForce connection in my network connections window...

Do I also need to configure the same settings in the other active 1394 connection?

jor el

sticker wrote:

Perhaps BT are cutting end-of-month service to cap breachers after all...

Mine is still up, and I'd imagine I'd be well up on their hit-list if this was the case.

Could be a dodgy modem. I've gone through two of the Zyxel 623R modems over the last three years, I'm now using a new Zyxel wireless modem. The other two had various problems, dropping the connection on the LAN side (DSL light still active), not being able to access the router admin pages, and more.

ongarite

If they were cutting people off I would be cut off this month and next month.
Whats your modem connection stats: SNR and Noise Margin?

sticker

ongarite wrote:

If they were cutting people off I would be cut off this month and next month.
Whats your modem connection stats: SNR and Noise Margin?

Where do I find these the settings for SNR and Noise Margin?

sticker

I've googled it and if you mean transfer speeds - I'm at my allocated 3 meg connection when it's working...

It just times out after a while... That said the changes I've made have significantly improved my on time to a few hours.

ongarite

No thats not what I mean, I don't use the Zyxel router but it should be in line statistics. I tells you the quality of your phone line to your exchange.
You're looking for low SNR and high Noise Margin.

Praetor

Hi

Just to make it clear, BT does not cut people off when they have exceeded their usage.

The only thing that will happen is that if you have a problem with your connection and booking a fault is needed, it will be rejected as you have exceeded your usage. Is their policy.

There has only been a hand full of customer which broadband were cut off and, when they did, what they do is put the account on hold preventing the customer from logging in.

So no worries, if your problem is intermittent it will not be because you have exceeded your download limit.

They will, nevertheless, not long from now, start charging people when they exceed their download limit.

If you have intermittancy do the following:

* Check if when it happens the DSL light is flashing or off
* If it doesnt check IP connectivity (ping or tracert DNS names and IPs)
* If it does then disconnected all devices connected to the phone line (such phones/alarms/fax/skybox)
* Connect the modem straight into the main socket, no filters.
* Dont use phone extensions just the normal 7 feet cable.
* If you still have a flashing DSL light there is something wrong with the signal so when the DSL light is solid
get your line stats** (as it has already been said).

If you dont know how to do this call them and ask, tell them to help you get your line stats. They will do it.

Intermittency is very tricky and they cause is most likely to your side, either the modem or the internal wiring. There is a good chance that the problem could be the telephone line from your house to the mdf or even the NTP.


**On a Zyxel, depending on the model you will find it under maintanance click on Diagnostics and then DSL line, then look for Line stats or Downstream Noise Margin, look for the Noise Margin (downstream) and the Attenuation, also check the line rate (thats under maintanance - line status - statistics)

Barlow07

Praetor wrote:

Hi

Just to make it clear, BT does not cut people off when they have exceeded their usage.

The only thing that will happen is that if you have a problem with your connection and booking a fault is needed, it will be rejected as you have exceeded your usage. Is their policy.

Your 100% right on the above. BT never cut customer's for exceeding there download limit. The couple you mention are probably downloading and exceeding there monthly usage by using torrents so they deserve to be cut off.

There has only been a hand full of customer which broadband were cut off and, when they did, what they do is put the account on hold preventing the customer from logging in.

So no worries, if your problem is intermittent it will not be because you have exceeded your download limit.

Barlow07

theslug wrote:

Anyway I was talking to the one of the guys about download/upload allowance and he said that it's not their policy to throttle or cut off service. He did tell me they may deduct your excess usage from your next month's allowance .

Hope this shed some light.

Mark

Who told they cut your excess usage from next month's allowance? I never heard of that and its not in there terms and conditions.

Why do you assign the DNS? What its advantage or puspose.

sticker

I'm not experiencing a flashing DSL light - so the connection does appear to be solid - EVEN when I lose it...

Found the diagnostic side to the Zyxel modem:

Upstream noise margin:

noise margin upstream: 19 db
output power downstream: 2 db
attenuation upstream: 29 db
carrier load: number of bits per symbol(tone)
tone 0- 31: 00 00 00 02 24 45 56 66 77 67 66 66 65 55 44 00
tone 32- 63: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 64- 95: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 96-127: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 128-159: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 160-191: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 192-223: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 224-255: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 256-287: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 288-319: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 320-351: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 352-383: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 384-415: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 416-447: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 448-479: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 480-511: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00


Downstream noise margin:

noise margin downstream: 24 db
output power upstream: 18 db
attenuation downstream: 42 db
carrier load: number of bits per symbol(tone)
tone 0- 31: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 32- 63: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 44 55 55 65 34 67 88
tone 64- 95: 08 88 88 88 88 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99
tone 96-127: 99 98 98 88 88 88 88 88 87 87 77 77 67 75 66 55
tone 128-159: 43 20 02 34 55 55 55 55 56 56 56 65 55 55 55 55
tone 160-191: 55 44 44 44 43 44 43 43 22 33 33 32 23 33 23 22
tone 192-223: 33 23 20 02 02 20 00 02 22 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 224-255: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 256-287: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 288-319: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 320-351: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 352-383: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 384-415: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 416-447: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 448-479: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
tone 480-511: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

ATM Loopback test:

ATM Loopback Test Success


ATM Status:

[ SAR Counters ]
inPkts = 0x000007a3, inDiscards = 0x00000000
inF4Pkts = 0x00000000, inF5Pkts = 0x00000001
inDMATaskEnd = 0x00000000, inBufErr = 0x00000000
inCrcErr = 0x00000000
inBufOverflow = 0x00000000, inBufMaxLenErr= 0x00000000
inBufLenErr = 0x00000000, inBufDescrOV = 0x00000000
outPkts = 0x000004d9, outDiscards = 0x00000000
outF4Pkts = 0x00000000, outF5Pkts = 0x00000001
softRstCnt = 0x00000000


System Status:

System Name: P660RU-T1
ZyNOS F/W Version: V3.40(ST.4) | 8/26/2005
DSL FW Version:DMT FwVer: 3.1.0.3_A_TC, HwVer: T14F7_0.0
Standard:ADSL_G.dmt

WAN Information

IP Address:78.16.77.68
IP Subnet Mask:255.255.255.255
Default Gateway:N/A
VPI/VCI:8/ 35

LAN Information

MAC Address:00:13:49:47:20:c2
IP Address: 192.168.1.1
IP Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
DHCP: Server
DHCP Start IP: 192.168.1.33
DHCP Pool Size: 32

Statistics:


[IMG]http:///statesidecustom.com/z5.jpg[/IMG]

sticker

Praetor wrote:

Hi

Just to make it clear, BT does not cut people off when they have exceeded their usage.

The only thing that will happen is that if you have a problem with your connection and booking a fault is needed, it will be rejected as you have exceeded your usage. Is their policy.

There has only been a hand full of customer which broadband were cut off and, when they did, what they do is put the account on hold preventing the customer from logging in.

So no worries, if your problem is intermittent it will not be because you have exceeded your download limit.

They will, nevertheless, not long from now, start charging people when they exceed their download limit.

If you have intermittancy do the following:

* Check if when it happens the DSL light is flashing or off
* If it doesnt check IP connectivity (ping or tracert DNS names and IPs)
* If it does then disconnected all devices connected to the phone line (such phones/alarms/fax/skybox)
* Connect the modem straight into the main socket, no filters.
* Dont use phone extensions just the normal 7 feet cable.
* If you still have a flashing DSL light there is something wrong with the signal so when the DSL light is solid
get your line stats** (as it has already been said).

If you dont know how to do this call them and ask, tell them to help you get your line stats. They will do it.

Intermittency is very tricky and they cause is most likely to your side, either the modem or the internal wiring. There is a good chance that the problem could be the telephone line from your house to the mdf or even the NTP.


**On a Zyxel, depending on the model you will find it under maintanance click on Diagnostics and then DSL line, then look for Line stats or Downstream Noise Margin, look for the Noise Margin (downstream) and the Attenuation, also check the line rate (thats under maintanance - line status - statistics)

Thanks for the help Praetor,

What makes you think BT will start charging soon for cap breach? They've always been fairly forgiving.

sticker

Well,

I was onto BT today and they told me that since April of this year THEY HAVE been cutting down / off customers service with cap breaches. I was one for September...

I honestly didn't think I used that much.

He told me to resent my TCP/IP setting to 'automatic' and the webs been solid since this afternoon.

I do use bittorrent tech - but NOT overly excessive before I get assaulted! - just the odd TV episode etc... But My bittorrents are totally unresponsive now - they just sit in uTorrent showing no seeds / activity etc - with well seeded files. Can BT block bittorrent use? or is there a way around this.

I'll be taking it easy on the cap for the next while to be sure!

ongarite

sticker wrote:

Well,

I was onto BT today and they told me that since April of this year THEY HAVE been cutting down / off customers service with cap breaches. I was one for September...

I have NEVER heard that before so I don't really believe its true. I and many other BT users here go over their DL EVERY month and none have been cut-off or charged per MB over the cap.

I welcome some clarification but if not I'll be carrying on as per usual.

sticker

ongarite wrote:

I have NEVER heard that before so I don't really believe its true. I and many other BT users here go over their DL EVERY month and none have been cut-off or charged per MB over the cap.

I welcome some clarification but if not I'll be carrying on as per usual.

Well ongarite it gives me a greatest of pleasure to say you could be right!! -

My f'ing connection just timed out AGAIN! The BT guy told me this afternoon that from April of this year any customers with large cap breaches are having their bandwidth decreased towards the end of the months in question... I pushed him on this, looking for a official word and he confirmed it... obviously bull.

That said, I've broken the cap practically EVERY month for over two years and have NEVER had a connection loss...

Looks like a faulty modem - he went through all my settings / checked the line etc and said told me the connection WILL BE FINE NOW (considering it's the first of the month!) - despite my sneaking suspicion that it would happen again!

I'll be in to them first thing.

...I've never be more happy to be wrong - Apologies for the drama-queen post!

ongarite

Totally understanderable, you had my worried also.
Sorry if I my reply came across the wrong way. Some clarification from BT would be nice, like what is going over monthly DL limit by a large amounr?

sticker

Well, even after all the trip outs, setting changes and cap theories (by me!) BT are sending me out a replacement modem...

The tech support couldn't tell definitely that they WILL cut off high use customers, but that breachers MAY find their bandwidth services reduced...

After all is said and done I suspect my issue was always a dodgy modem

I'll post back how it goes...

sticker

Double post - sorry!

sticker

Well, just to post back the story – the replacement modem arrived today, sei it up and fifteen minutes later the connection is lost AGAIN! :mad:

BUGGER…

The only two alternatives left are:

1) New PC rig bought – spec:
CPU Type QuadCore Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700, 2666 MHz (10 x 267)
Motherboard Name EVGA NF68 (2 PCI, 2 PCI-E x1, 3 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Dual Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)
Motherboard Chipset nVIDIA nForce 680i SLI

2) New location for new PC:
Converted attic – ie existing phone line brought into attic from floor below.


So it could be the network card on the new PC / network slot? Or the new extension phone line installed into the attic is faulty?

I'm gonna try unplugging BT phone dongles and just plug the phone line directly into the wall...

Anyone know of a diagnostic app that could ascertain a line drop problem?

thefinalstage

sticker wrote:

Well, just to post back the story – the replacement modem arrived today, sei it up and fifteen minutes later the connection is lost AGAIN! :mad:

BUGGER…

The only two alternatives left are:

1) New PC rig bought – spec:
CPU Type QuadCore Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700, 2666 MHz (10 x 267)
Motherboard Name EVGA NF68 (2 PCI, 2 PCI-E x1, 3 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Dual Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)
Motherboard Chipset nVIDIA nForce 680i SLI

2) New location for new PC:
Converted attic – ie existing phone line brought into attic from floor below.


So it could be the network card on the new PC / network slot? Or the new extension phone line installed into the attic is faulty?

I'm gonna try unplugging BT phone dongles and just plug the phone line directly into the wall...

Anyone know of a diagnostic app that could ascertain a line drop problem?

I would examine the phone line very carefully. Also check and see if your firewall is blocking svhost.exe.

sticker

thelastangryman wrote:

I would examine the phone line very carefully. Also check and see if your firewall is blocking svhost.exe.

svhost.exe is being allowed by firewall...

I'm going to ring the attic crew and ask the sparks to come back to check the new line...

whiterebel

This thread explains a lot. Did my usual on last day of September, system updates, d/l a couple of TV shows etc, etc. Switched off everything before 11pm. 1st October, looking to nice 0Gb used - 3.5GB gone. They are obviously moving it off the next months allowance. Unlimited from UTV, here I come, its cheaper than BT anyway, even before they put their prices up.