DSL-log, can anyone interpret?

[Thedog]

Hello,

I have a client which have major problems with his wireless network. I've used similar setups at many sites without any issues so Im starting to look into if his DSL-connection is somehow bad.

Can anyone tell me anything useful from this "log"?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ei4634oqat6jvhh/dsl.png?dl=0

 

[Moltuae]

You say "problems with his wireless network" but surely the DSL connection is common to both wired and wireless. How is the wired connection, and what sort of problems is he having?

 

[omnichad]

Agree. Check wired. Looking at the posted status, the SNR margin is relatively low. This means that there could be occasional dropouts in signal, but it should work most of the time. Only 87 CRC errors in 6 days is not bad at all. See here for a reference chart on SNR margin.

This specific problem would affect wired computers equally but is unlikely your main problem.

 

[MikeLierman]

DSL is a very outdated technology, but it's cheap which is why people will buy it. If he has money, broadband such as coax through Comcast, Time Warner, etc, would be much better. But 87 dropped packets (I'm assuming that's drops) in 8 days is less than 1%. Actually more like 0.10%. You haven't provided us much information to be able to help you.

Use your Network Troubleshooting skills to drill down the issues:

• Verify what above members said. Does he have issues on wired AND wireless, or just wireless?
• If just wireless, how far away from the the router are they? If you move closer, do the issues subside? (I'm not a big fan of ISP provided modem wifi router all-in-ones. They're usually not designed well.)
• Do a simple Speedtest.net check, does the little graph display a consistent speed, or does it jump all over during the test? Jumping around is never a good sign (eg. going from 29mbps to 5mbps in the middle of the test, then back up).
• If wired clients don't have an issue, then you've eliminated the ISP and the modem.
• Is it all wireless devices? If just one wireless device, check drivers, DNS, proxy settings, etc. Is the problematic device running Windows 10? Update wireless card to latest OEM drivers.
  
• Run "ping google.com -t" from command prompt. This will keep running until you press CTRL-C. Let it run for 10-20 minutes. If it's a business client, I throw this on their server, let it run overnight, and check in the morning. When you press CTRL-C, it will give you a summary of dropped packets out of sent and percentage. If it's 1% or above, I investigate line and cabling issues. Call the ISP, what do their logs show? Are they seeing lots of drops, if they are, ask them to "optimize the pairs" which is ISP lingo for adjust and compensating or even turning off bad copper wires to your client, and slightly increasing the speeds onto the others.
• Run tracert (command prompt) to a site such as yours, or Google's, but a reliable server, is anything timing out? Where is it timing out? This could help you determine if a router of their's is dropping, or if it's a site of the ISP's.

 

[omnichad]

DSL is a very outdated technology, but it's cheap which is why people will buy it. If he has money, broadband such as coax through Comcast, Time Warner, etc, would be much better.

It's a few years newer than DOCSIS 3.0 and that's only been rolled out in force in the last few years. Given that the modem language is set to Swedish, I really doubt your recommendation of Comcast or Time Warner is going to be of much help.

 

[MikeLierman]

It's a few years newer than DOCSIS 3.0 and that's only been rolled out in force in the last few years. Given that the modem language is set to Swedish, I really doubt your recommendation of Comcast or Time Warner is going to be of much help.

Heh. No offense intended, DSL was great for it's time, but it's far surpassed by more superior technology. DSL is susceptible to more issues due to SNR and old wiring that hasn't been ripped out. Coax cable is standardized and far more reliable. Granted Comcast (and probably a few others) get a bad wrap for service, it's generally due to their PR, Customer Service aspect, or the POS modem router AIOs they deploy to clients.

Not to mention the max speed for DSL varies between 3mbps-30mbps, depending on the amount of twisted pairs (pair-bonding) and the area you live/work in. Here in Utah, Century Link (and Qwest before the merge), would oversell people service, and tell them they are getting high-speed. When you would call and ask why you are getting only 8mbps, they say that's the highest speed you can get in that area, because no one has bothered to tear out the old lines on that side of town, or on that street. Coax doesn't really have that issue, either you get the full speed or you don't. It's very black and white here in Utah. In fact, Comcast Business is rolling out DOCSIS 3.1 in SLC, UT, and looking to offer speeds of 300mbps. Right now you can purchase 100mbps down 30 up for $50 in Orem/Provo area. You won't find that with DSL.

With that being said, we're not even sure it's his DSL that's the problem. He needs to drill down with more troubleshooting.

 

[omnichad]

Fiber is actually a lot more common in Sweden than the US and is just as likely to be an option as cable. Honestly, an average end user doesn't need more than 24Mbps, no matter what people like us think.

 

[MikeLierman]

Fiber is actually a lot more common in Sweden than the US and is just as likely to be an option as cable. Honestly, an average end user doesn't need more than 24Mbps, no matter what people like us think.

Guess it depends on what they are using their connection for and how many computers. If you have just 1 machine, sure, you could even get by with less than 15mbps. Families are big down here in Utah. It's not uncommon to see 1 or 2 desktops, 2-4 smart phones, an iPad (or 3), and a couple of laptops--you'll be maxing out that 24mbps fast. All these devices are wanting to connect and download updates, phone home, and such. Mom and dad buy 3-4 iPads so all of their kids can watch Netflix and Blue's Clues and if they're on DSL, they wonder why it's always buffering.

Fiber is becoming more common place here, but they aren't running the lines everywhere. Just where a lot of people on that street have requested it. If you're the only one on your street that called in and asked for fiber, you'll be unlikely to get it. They want 10+ people to sign up at the same time in order to run the line through. I heard FIOS in NYC was like that for a while too before the mayor stepped in.

 

[omnichad]

Mom and dad buy 3-4 iPads so all of their kids can watch Netflix and Blue's Clues and if they're on DSL, they wonder why it's always buffering.

Average birth rate (per woman) in Sweden: 1.8 kids.
Average birth rate (per woman) in Utah: 2.6 kids
Average birth rate (per woman) in Provo (South), Utah: 3.7 kids

A lot less difference than I would have thought for the state as a whole, but not nothing. 4 Netflix HD streams is only just barely going to max out 24Mbps (5.8Mbps each). And if you somehow have 5 other people in the house besides those first 4 kids (in your Utah scenario, I guess), they'll all still be able to handle web browsing / email at the same time with the margin leftover. And you're lucky to hit full HD streams on 4 iPads with a consumer grade wireless router on across various rooms of the house.

If Netflix is always buffering the problem is somewhere else, as adaptive streaming would simply limit the quality and keep the stream going.

No point bringing 15Mbps into the equation when we clearly see a sync rate supporting 24Mbps. This is getting way off-topic, but the point is that there's no need to put down the original poster's choice in Internet service.

 

[jzukerman]

Not really a log, but more of statistics which look clean. Looks like he's close to the DSLAM given the low power output and low attentuation. 84 CRCs is extremely low in 6 days. Post the log file from the modem. There might be a clue in there, like PPPoE sessions dropping randomly (assuming this is a PPPoE circuit and not flat circuit).

Source: I install ADSL circuits for an ISP in my state as a contractor.