DSL say's my scanners are at fault

[digitalanalog]

I have been having problems with my DSL modem resetting itsself about every minute or so, this happens from time to time and might only last for 3-5 day's but it happens all the DAMN time.

I have have a DSL(yahoo) service tech at my house 5 times in the last 9 months trying to locate the problem.

First they said it was my inside phone lines (NOT), all lines were NEW installed about 2 months prior to getting DSL service.

Then they said the problem was the Modem was to close to the Computer......EXCUSE ME......

The last time (2 day's ago) the service tech said it was my Scanners that was causing the intermittance in the DSL modem..........................

I argued with him for about 20 min. advising him, there is no-way this is the cause.

If it was the scanners, it would be a consistant problem, and it is NOT, it only happens from time to time as mentioned above.

So my question to those that might know, Is there anyway, my scanners (4 currently and 1 HH) could POSSIBLY be interfering with my DSL Internet Connection (i.e. the modem)

Sorry for all the spelling mistakes.....................

 

[RolnCode3]

Likely? No. Possible? Why not.

Just move them and see what happens. The modem is problem defective. After you move the scanners, wait for the modem to reset itself, then you know they're not to blame. Or, if it's easier, just put the DSL modem somewhere else and run longer networking cables.

Are you running a router, or is the modem connected directly to the computer?

 

[JESSERABBIT]

I have never had that problem. I have several scanners of different makes parked on the computer desk. If you have not thought about it aready, you might want to move all of the scanners out of the room, and if the problems still exist, call the "service" people back and have them try to find another cause. (Sorry Rolin, I did not see your post when I first started pounding away on the keyboard. I am a slow typer.)

 

[UFEMTFF]

I've had nothing but bad luck with DSL "modems". It seems like, for the most part, the DSL "modems" on the market are very cheaply made and fail often. I was going through a "modem" every 6-9 months when I had DSL.

I'm surprised swapping the "modem" wasn't the first thing the service tech did. That was almost always the initial response from support. Sometimes it was 2 or 3 "modems" later that they finally decided to look for another problem.

 

[N4JNW]

I don't think the service tech knows right from left IMO.

Would he still have put your scanners at blame if they weren't even around? If a pet cat was in the room instead, I'm sure he'd threw the blame there.

It seems to me he just wants to point a finger and lay the blame on YOU, so he won't have to fool with it. Just for fun, next time you call them, put all your scanners away. Hide them in your bedroom, or in a closet. When he pops is, tell him you got rid of them all, and you still have your problem.

Considering the DSL service IS getting to the modem, and your computer is working properly, the modem seems to be the weakest link. Have you tried other modems to see if they work? Can you hook up another computer to the modem to see if it is affected as well? This would eliminate the possibility of your computer being at fault.

I still say B.S. as a customer, you pay for thier DSL internet service. It seems to me, with that, you should get quality support. Try asking for a different tech. Tell them you want someone who knows what they're doing in your home.

 

[datainmotion]

Just for grins and giggles - how close are the scanners located to the modem? If he thought it was the scanners, why wouldn't he just ask you to pull the power from them? Is it not happening when he's there or what?

Has he tried swapping the modem? Has he tried plugging the modem's power into a different electrical outlet?

Also, don't they install a device (dongle) in the phone outlets that have phones plugged into them when you have DSL installed? If I remember correctly, those were meant to isolate the modem from the phones as some (read cheap) phones can inject some really nasty stuff back into the phone lines thast might cause an issue for the modem.

 

[digitalanalog]

Thanks all for the input, let me try and answer as many as i can.

The Scanners and the modem have moved from time to time, but as mentioned it only happens from time to time, not consitantly.

I am not running a router, it's modem to computer only.

Guess i could remove all the scanners from the room, but WHY, it has nothing to do with the scanners. but i do see your point....

Yes, your right...........DSL modems and there service is CRAP...........................

I have had the same service tech 3 or the last 4 times, and if nothing else, he is aware of the problem, but.....still say's Sorry.Can't find anything wrong with the line or the modem, so in that respect......I have asked fro a new service tech......

As well, i have asked for a new Modem, but every time they say, "there is nothing wrong with your modem" and they have not given me a new one..........

So i guess i will waite and see what the service tech say's...Tomorrow, they are do to show up and check everything out AGAIN............

And I am NOT removing my scanners, unless some can explain to me, why they are causing the problem....I will not take them out just to satisfy the service tech.......he/she will have to ACTAULLY do his or her job and find out what the problem is...........

Thanks ALL for your response, i appreciate them all....Thank You..........

 

[mikeydcg2003]

What kind of Modem is it. Some of those Yahoo DSL modems i have known to be utter Crap. You might try A. Swappin out your phone line to the modem, B. Definaly Try a different modem if you can get your hands on one. I have cable, and i have a lot of electronic devices around it and it never goes out.

 

[Don_Burke]

I would box up the scanners for a couple of days just to prove that the problem is there without them.

The problem the scanners are causing is that they are providing the tech with an excuse to not fix the problem.

The bottom line is, "Do you want to win an arm wrestling match or get your DSL working properly?"

 

[digitalanalog]

I would box up the scanners for a couple of days just to prove that the problem is there without them.

The problem the scanners are causing is that they are providing the tech with an excuse to not fix the problem.

The bottom line is, "Do you want to win an arm wrestling match or get your DSL working properly?"

I had High speed cable prior to DSL and never had any problems, so if they can't figure it out and at least give me another modem, i will just drop DSL and go back to high speed cable....which is twice as fast anyway.

not a match of anytype actually, but they are not going to tell me my scanners have anything to do with their SH*tty service.

It now becomes a matter of principle.

 

[digitalanalog]

What kind of Modem is it. Some of those Yahoo DSL modems i have known to be utter Crap. You might try A. Swappin out your phone line to the modem, B. Definaly Try a different modem if you can get your hands on one. I have cable, and i have a lot of electronic devices around it and it never goes out.

Its a Siemens Speedstream 4100 modem

 

[troymail]

We are talking "wired" DSL modem, right? Interfernce from your scanner? I don't think so... I agree with others - these techs have no idea what they are talking about.

I recall when I got my first cable modem and the connection speed was worse than the dial-up I was using. The tech tried to tell me that the low speed was probably because I only had 2 gigabytes of disk space left.... I told he he could leave - I'll figure it out myself. Turned out the the TCP settings had been optimized for dial-up which is pretty much the opposite of what the cable modem/higher speed wanted. Changed the settings and the speed took off.

Anyway - I have a DSL modem that came with my DSL service from Verizon for a non-profit I work with - it has worked flawlessly since the day I got it several years ago (crap, now that I said that, it'll probably die tomorrow...)

At home, I currently have Verizon FiOS. That service started with a D-Link or Netgear wireless router and a separate box for the TV service and pay-per-view. It worked great for Internet service but I had problems with the TV service for the first couple of months. Eventually, after numerous visits, they figured out (through process of elimination) that the fiber to coax converter box on the outside of the house was defective. Of course, prior to that, they insisted (every time) that it MUST be a problem with the wiring in my house (hey, it is the telephone company and that's always the first thing they say). Ok, back to my point... during this exercise, they got my TV service working but pretty much broke my wireless internet capability when they changed me over from the D-Link and separate TV box to a single combined box from a company called ActionTec. I made numerous calls for help and during the last call I asked the tech (out of frustration) "so what if THIS attempt doesn't work?" and the response I got was "what do you want us to do?"... Turns out the problem was that I can see about 8-10 wireless networks from my house (only one is mine)... I set the wireless on the ActionTec to a different channel and things have been better ever since (no thanks to the Verizon people) -- unless I use my microwave...

 

[digitalanalog]

We are talking "wired" DSL modem, right? Interfernce from your scanner? I don't think so... I agree with others - these techs have no idea what they are talking about.

I recall when I got my first cable modem and the connection speed was worse than the dial-up I was using. The tech tried to tell me that the low speed was probably because I only had 2 gigabytes of disk space left.... I told he he could leave - I'll figure it out myself. Turned out the the TCP settings had been optimized for dial-up which is pretty much the opposite of what the cable modem/higher speed wanted. Changed the settings and the speed took off.

Anyway - I have a DSL modem that came with my DSL service from Verizon for a non-profit I work with - it has worked flawlessly since the day I got it several years ago (crap, now that I said that, it'll probably die tomorrow...)

At home, I currently have Verizon FiOS. That service started with a D-Link or Netgear wireless router and a separate box for the TV service and pay-per-view. It worked great for Internet service but I had problems with the TV service for the first couple of months. Eventually, after numerous visits, they figured out (through process of elimination) that the fiber to coax converter box on the outside of the house was defective. Of course, prior to that, they insisted (every time) that it MUST be a problem with the wiring in my house (hey, it is the telephone company and that's always the first thing they say). Ok, back to my point... during this exercise, they got my TV service working but pretty much broke my wireless internet capability when they changed me over from the D-Link and separate TV box to a single combined box from a company called ActionTec. I made numerous calls for help and during the last call I asked the tech (out of frustration) "so what if THIS attempt doesn't work?" and the response I got was "what do you want us to do?"... Turns out the problem was that I can see about 8-10 wireless networks from my house (only one is mine)... I set the wireless on the ActionTec to a different channel and things have been better ever since (no thanks to the Verizon people) -- unless I use my microwave...

...........I feel your pain........:-(

 

[Jay911]

I'm with the crowd that says shut off/remove the scanner(s) for a day just to prove they're not the cause. Having said that, I've had the opposite effect - my "modem" is killing my scanning. Of course, my "modem" is a Motorola Canopy 2.4GHz wireless transceiver.. darn near everything is getting washed out from VHF-hi to 800. I've half-seriously been thinking about putting some brass mesh behind the Canopy to shield the scanners from its RFI..

 

[troymail]

I've had the opposite effect - my "modem" is killing my scanning. Of course, my "modem" is a Motorola Canopy 2.4GHz wireless transceiver..

Now THAT one I believe.....

 

[mikeydcg2003]

At home, I currently have Verizon FiOS. T

I wish. we have qwest around here. Their fiber runs past my house, but do you think they will let me on. HECK NO!

 

[marionmckenna]

First off DSL sucks!
But that has nothing to do with the interference. I too get problems with my wireless phone from my router but how in the hell can a DSL modem get interference from a scanner
(aka-a non-transmitting radio?).
What I would have done is turn off the scanners while the tech was there and see if he could fix things that way. Then ask him to explain how the scanners even while turned off are still interfering with things.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Best of luck!

 

[N_Jay]

DSL has lots of issues.

Put the DSL modem on the line right at the entrance to your house.
Put all phones on the other side of a DSL filter.

If you still have problems, tell then to condition your line.

They will say they are not allowed to do that.

Tell then you are interested in getting the highest speed DSL they offer, but you have to see the basic stuff work right first.

 

[iMONITOR]

I have been having problems with my DSL modem resetting itsself about every minute or so, this happens from time to time and might only last for 3-5 day's but it happens all the DAMN time.

I have have a DSL(yahoo) service tech at my house 5 times in the last 9 months trying to locate the problem.

Who is your actual DSL provider? I'm guessing AT&T?

 

[shaft]

I have been having problems with my DSL modem resetting itsself about every minute or so, this happens from time to time and might only last for 3-5 day's but it happens all the DAMN time.

I have have a DSL(yahoo) service tech at my house 5 times in the last 9 months trying to locate the problem.

First they said it was my inside phone lines (NOT), all lines were NEW installed about 2 months prior to getting DSL service.

Although it is possible, but if it was your inside wiring, you would see constant issues.

Then they said the problem was the Modem was to close to the Computer......EXCUSE ME......

Not possible.

The last time (2 day's ago) the service tech said it was my Scanners that was causing the intermittance in the DSL modem..........................

Again, not possible.

I argued with him for about 20 min. advising him, there is no-way this is the cause.

You can argue until you are blue in the face, the outside techs are physical layer guys and most dont fully understand how DSL works.

If it was the scanners, it would be a consistant problem, and it is NOT, it only happens from time to time as mentioned above.

So my question to those that might know, Is there anyway, my scanners (4 currently and 1 HH) could POSSIBLY be interfering with my DSL Internet Connection (i.e. the modem)

Sorry for all the spelling mistakes.....................

As I said before, no your scanners and/ or radios are causing the issue.

The next time it happens, call and open a ticket with the provider. Since its Yahoo, they actually just resell SBCs DSL service at a discounted rate. Once you contact them, they have a few web based tools they use to check the DSLAM to see if you are in sync, check error logs, and can tell how often you lost sync to the DSLAM. They wont tell you this, but they do have access to this.

Resellers like Yahoo, usually have a 24 hr commit time with the local LEC which is probably SBC. What this means is that it is 24 hrs from the time they contact SBC, not when you call in. Next time you call in, keep hammering them. Escalate if you need to and I suggest you do. Refuse to allow them to close the ticket until they find a root cause to your trouble. They will probably tell you that the ticket cannot be escalated on for 24hrs, yes, but if you push hard enough it can be done. After the 24hr point, push harder. This will take a fair amount of time on your side, but thats what it takes. Start with a supervisor and work your way up the chain to a manager, sr.mgr, director etc...

Now when you finally have someones attention, have them push bell to find the source of your issue. I will bet money that its going to be a local loop issue. Push them for a TDR test of the line, this will show whether the loop is unbalanced (<=6% is within specs), how many bridgetaps, splices and gauge changes are all on the line. This type of test is easily done from the DSLAM but a great outside tech will have a DSL test set, also called a SUN set. The SUN set will give them a better reading since they are at your house running it back to the DSLAM.

Honestly tho, if you have a choice of going back to cable, its well worth any extra cost plus the added benefit of an increase in speed.