Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

On going problem that I've just had to live with for the time being.

I'm with Pipex and have been since moving to my house 2 years ago. It's not the cheapest provider but has a reputation of being reliable.

The problem (don't laugh) is that if it rains the connection goes.
I have tried to sort it out once but got passed from pillar to post with Pipex blaming BT and BT blaming Pipex.
After convincing BT that it is a problem with the line I was then subjected to 7 phone calls from different people who could barely speak english telling me that they have done tests and my line was ok now. It wasn't but because they were just reading from a script they couldn't understand when I said "no it's not, I'm still without a connection"...."yes sir, your line is fine" GRrrrrrrrrrrrr

After that I just decided to live with it.
Last night however, it drizzled, DRIZZLED and the connection went. It was still down this morning and I'm at the point where I can't tollerate it any longer.
Has anyone else heard of this happening?
Do I leave Pipex and try someone else, knowing full well it's probably BTs problem any way. I can't get cable where I live so it has to be ADSL.

Matt

boxst

Hello

Does your phone still work or is it just Broadband? You have looked at the connection box outside of the house (if there is one) and checked for leaks?

You may be able to change Broadband provider but that is pretty much in the hands of BT I'm afraid.

Steve

ScoobyDoo555

Doesn't sound like a Pipex issue TBH - moreso a BT problem.
I would request that an engineer comes out and checks your connection box and up the pole......

Dan

Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

Phone still works, hence why BT blame Pipex.
Sods law though is by the time BT get back to me, the rain has stopped and the connection is back up.
I've had a look outside but can't see a connection box?

jaytc2003

iTrader: (1)

I had a similar thing, but totally opposite (oximoron there)
If it rained, then my connection was stable and also if I used the phone when it was dry it was stable. It was a fault with the line but on the checks bt did (line checks and noise checks etc) they came back okay. It was only when an engineer actually came out and checked the exchange and then traced the line he found a dodgy connection between the exchange and my property. Redid the connection and everything is now fine.

DemonDave

iTrader: (13)

How does the cable run -

out and up and over in the air

or out and down in the ground

the cable on the wall is it black brown or grey

and is there a junction box in the eaves if it goes across

do you get a crackling on the normal phone when it rains

(just to spoke to a bt engineer m8 who has some suggestions)

pm me a moby or msn address and we will see if we can assist - must having you playing on snafu even when wet -

dv8dave

Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

It's out and down in the ground. Not crackling on the phone when it rains as far as I can tell, although it's a pretty sh1tty cordless one so the quality is cack anyhow.

I'll PM you my details though (home now and it's working - been dry all day).

Thanks for the help Dave

Matt

Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

Having had some advice (thanks Dave ), I went outside and investigated where the BT cable enters the house...

Face of the brick behind the BT box has blown off due to frost damage?



Showing the gap between the boxing and the wall



Looks like something crawled in that gap and died!



Closer look at the wires sans dead things



Not a pretty sight!

DemonDave

iTrader: (13)

was it damp - looks like it due to the mess on the wires

ScoobyDoo555

you might find it's some type of short - hence when it get damp or moist, the short occurs.....

I'd still get BT to pop out and have a look at it.

Dan

DemonDave

iTrader: (13)

Matt - someone else will post some further help for ya

marktypeuk

from what i can see it aint getting wet in there are there any other cables running outside eg extensions including sky television or any networking cables.


Mark(bt engineer)

marktypeuk

P.s from what ive seen in your photo that aint a mess thats a tidy one

Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

Hi Mark,
No extensions to speak of. Sky comes out the wall much further along.

There is a lot of dirt on the wires though? and there was a little moisture on it.
I've attached a crop of a full size image which hopefully makes it a little clearer.



Matt

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Looks a bit dodgy but probably the fact the wires got damp and caused greater attenuation caused you to loose your broadband connection due to noise.
Needs to be done by whoever covers that part of the maintenance contract with your provider (BT or a n other).

Tony

marktypeuk

not true bt will only go to the master socket and no further from what i can see there isnt any damp there it would need to p!ss it down to cause the problem your having for it to behind the ug capping its more than likely being caused by a small rectified loop on one of the extensions where it is only getting damp, all bt will do is go to the main socket disconnect all extensions and charge you a very nice £79 visit charge

marktypeuk

so theres no external wiring at all apart from this connection?

John Catlin

Dog pissing against it ??

sparkplug

Hi Matt

I have worked for BT for 19 years and as a special fault investigator I have dealt with this type of problem many times, unfortunately with companies this size its almost impossible to get them to admit responsibility, only relentless pressure from yourself will get them to investigate.
Even then it depends on the engineer you get on the day, I am almost ashamed to say but over the past 10 years BT has lost most of its highly skilled engineers and been left With a lot of new recruits who just haven’t got the background or sufficient skills to undertake a through fault investigation, Its all about point and money now.
I could go on for hours about this subject but I know you just want your line fixed so approach this logically and start here document all phone calls to your ISP & BT get
Names, record dates, times etc.

As somebody previously posted in this thread BT will only take responsibility up to your master socket, so the best thing you can do is disconnect everything within your house right back to the master socket,
plug one filter in at the master socket and connect up your computer and broadband and wait for rain, if your broadband goes down with this setup you can be sure the fault is on the BT line and you cannot be charged for a visit.
On the other hand if your broadband stays on you will know the problem is within your own property.

By the way the pictures are nothing to worry about this is how a DLI normally looks
Correct U/G crimps been used, jelly filled so pretty resistant to moisture.

Let me know how you get on. Contact me via PM or E:MAIL if you want any further
Help and I will see what I can do, depending what area you live in I may be able to pull
a few strings.

Tony

Neanderthal

iTrader: (6)

Connections go like this...

BT line outside
Through the wall to the main socket
Line doubler - one goes to the Sky + box the other to a microfilter which the phone and router connects to.
Router is wireless.
No other connections.

edit.. sorry hadn't seen the other responses

PMSL @ Johns remarks no dogs about although loads of cats!!

Tony, thanks for your input, when it next rains (or due to rain) I'll disconnect the sky box and just have the phone and router plugged in. I'm in Northampton "Rose of the Shires". Any help would be appreciated.

John Catlin

Maybe the cats have learnt some thing from the dogs ?

HHxx

Matt, you should have a microfilter for the sky box.