[oclug][OT]

[Shad Young]

On Mon, 2003-01-27 at 22:58, Rod Giffin wrote:
> On Mon, 2003-01-27 at 21:50, Brad Barnett wrote:
> > On Mon, 27 Jan 2003 20:17:53 -0500
> > Chris H <chris123 at magma.ca> wrote:
> > > Today Bell showed up at the office and left the following notes. 
> > > 
> > > "As this is a 3meg account and the test indicate 100 % packet
> > > transmittance, there is little room for error. Hence we have installed a
> > > filter on the line to ensure only 90% transmittance allowing for a 10%
> > > error factor"
> > > 
> > > Ummm...any idea what the ".........."  this means. It makes absolutely
> > > no scense to me.
> > > 
> > > /ch
> > 
> > 
> > I doubt they've installed a filter.  They probably just decreased your
> > line speed, allowing for better error tolerance.
> 
> Yup.  In effect, Brad is right.  They've lowered the maximum throughput
> to 90% of bandwidth, which is what they mean by "filter".  It helps to
> prevent interference from signal reflections and other distortions and
> noise that can confuse the modem.
> 
> It is a common fix for DSL issues especially in older buildings, and
> other places where older copper wire is used.  
> 
> It is also an acceptable practice.
> 
> Rod.

Also an ineffective one. I have experienced said filter a number of
times. Throughput went up, but it still dropped regularly.

The last time the true culprit was the coils and coils of excess wire
left in the building after construction. Bell finally came and shortened
the lines and lo... Talk about scary contracting as that much wire must
have cost a fortune. The building owner was rumored to have been charged
$10,000 by Bell to fix it.

Shad

-- 
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"Fortune should have the arbitrant of one-half of our actions, but she
leaves the other half, or a little less, to be governed by ourselves." 
- Machiavelli
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