I replaced an older Draytek router + BT Modem earlier this year with a 2862ac. We have an up to 80Mb VDSL service. With the BT modem , I would typically get around 50Mb down and get about 20 line drops a month. With the 2862ac, I can get it to sync at the full 80Mb but its not stable, so I've set the SNR margin to max and it is much better at about 64Mb sync. I get 7/8 line drops per month, almost all in the early hours of the morning, so they haven't really bothered me. I'm running 3.9.2_BT and have tried both modem codes, with no real difference. We have a Broadcom cabinet.
Is it worth trying one of the other modem codes, and if so, which one ? Anything else I can try ?
Thanks
Steve

dive!dive! wrote:
Is it worth trying one of the other modem codes, and if so, which one ? Anything else I can try ?

In answer to the first two questions: Definitely and all of them!
In answer to the third: Pay attention to the state of the house wiring (sockets, filters etc).

I moved into my current abode just over a year ago. It's a couple of years old and it had 'structured cabling' installed (I use the phrase loosely, since it appears to have been done by an electrician )

Having tried every VDSL capable device I possess - in every available position in the house - I finally settled on the 2860n in the garage, adjacent to the master BT socket. I then tried every available modem code in the 2860n. The 'VT4' variety gave the best/fastest result (my cabinet appears to be Broadcom too). The net result was the speed increased from its initial 45Mbs or so, up to 62Mbps (ish). A final twiddle with the 'VDSL SNR' command extracted 2 or 3 more Mbs).

The positioning of the 2860n (in the integral garage) isn't ideal - and meant I had to use VLAN tagging to get the various networks to where I wanted them (only a single UTP cable went from the garage to the hallway, where I found 4 more hiding behind a blanking plate, that go to various other locations). Lots of buggering about / experimenting - but well worth the effort!

BTW - how are you monitoring/measuring/detecting these 'line drops'? It's not something I've noted as an issue (though they may well be occurring, unnoticed by me!)

Thanks for the reply.
I've tried the other two 3.9.2 variants over the last day. The MDM0 file was about the same as the _BT version. The MDM2 file would only sync at ~40Mb so I havent continued with that. I've just installed 3.9.5_BT but note that has the same modem code as 3.9.2_BT so I'm not expecting much...I see there is a fourth version available for 3.9.5 so may try that in a few days.
December has been particularly bad for dropouts and I suspect it has a lot to do with noise from Christmas lights...
I monitor in two ways - I have the router send me an email if the line drops and I can also download traffic stats from my ISP which lists individual sessions - a new session is started after a line drop. I have several years stats on this so I can see dropouts per month , week, time of day etc etc. As long as the dropouts are in single figures per month and happen in the middle of the night, its not really an issue, but I would like to know what causes them! We allegedly might be getting FTTP in the village this year and anticipate that should be better all round.
Steve

Which ISP/provider are you using?

Clara - definitely not 'mainstream' ! They are more business/SOHO than consumer. Been with them for 20 years....what I like is that if I have an issue at their end (very rare) I can call and get to speak with someone within 30 seconds...

dive!dive! wrote:
Clara - definitely not 'mainstream' ! They are more business/SOHO than consumer. Been with them for 20 years....what I like is that if I have an issue at their end (very rare) I can call and get to speak with someone within 30 seconds...

Great provider there )) I only wondered because if it was a TalkTalk based service you require a different VLan Tag value . Priority value should be "2" on a TT service and it makes a big difference.