PC Pals Forum

Technical Help & Discussion => Broadband, Networking, PC Security, Internet & ISPs => Topic started by: DropShadow on November 05, 2003, 02:34

Title: Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: DropShadow on November 05, 2003, 02:34
Hi. First post here. I can't believe I haven't joined sooner, as I recognise a couple of the names from ISPreview, and I've heard tell of the existence of this forum.......

Things were probably going too well. Hmmmm. Anyway - who else has an ADSL connection with Pipex .... and is anyone else experiencing unusual disconnections?

A post in their website, dated the 3rd, talks about work being carried out, but these drops started occuring a couple of days before that, and are STILL occuring.

No hardware/software changes my end.

Had about half-a-dozen drops since 6 pm-ish : more than ALL the time I've been with them since March!

Anyone else?
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Clive on November 05, 2003, 06:50
:welcome:  DropShadow!  This is a far madder forum than ISPR.  ;D  There are a number of ADSL Pipex users here and I'm sure you will hear from them very soon.
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Simon on November 05, 2003, 08:12
Hi DropShadow, and  (https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.apax34.dsl.pipex.com%2Fsmileys%2Fwelcome.gif&hash=05644ab4fbfa7c9585f756e9a79aab0a53d0e346)

I've been with Pipex for over a year now, and apart from the odd bit of downtime, I have had no problems.  Certainly not had the random disconnection problems you have been suffering.

According to their Service Status page, the only work they are currently doing is on the Dial Time (56K) service, which obviously wouldn't affect you.

My suggestion would be to e-mail them at support@dsl.pipex.net.  Their support service has improved recently, and you should get a reply within a day or two.  Further to that, if the problem continues, it might be worth contacting BT to do a check on your line.

I assume you have checked all the usual things on your PC, and made sure nothing is set to auto-disconnect, and checked your phone socket connections?
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Camstop on November 05, 2003, 09:38
Hi and  :welcome: Dropshadow.  :)

You'll soon realize that you have just joined the best and most friendliest forum on the net.. ;D

Just watch out for the Blondie ones.They can be twubble.. ;D ;) :o :P

You have a pm by the way... :)
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Simon on November 05, 2003, 09:57
Just another thought, DropShadow, but what modem did they give you?  I recently had a problem with my Fujitsu FDX310, and Pipex advised me to update my VIA chip drivers, which has fixed the problem.  The trouble with mine was the modem failing to restart after a PC reboot, which I know is a different problem to yours, but I'm sure I've read somewhere about dropped connection problems with that modem.  Unfortunately I haven't time to look now, as I have to go to work.   :(

Hope you get it sorted.   :)
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: DropShadow on November 05, 2003, 10:29

Hi DropShadow, and  (https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.apax34.dsl.pipex.com%2Fsmileys%2Fwelcome.gif&hash=05644ab4fbfa7c9585f756e9a79aab0a53d0e346)

I've been with Pipex for over a year now, and apart from the odd bit of downtime, I have had no problems.  Certainly not had the random disconnection problems you have been suffering.

According to their Service Status page, the only work they are currently doing is on the Dial Time (56K) service, which obviously wouldn't affect you.

My suggestion would be to e-mail them at support@dsl.pipex.net.  Their support service has improved recently, and you should get a reply within a day or two.  Further to that, if the problem continues, it might be worth contacting BT to do a check on your line.

I assume you have checked all the usual things on your PC, and made sure nothing is set to auto-disconnect, and checked your phone socket connections?


Yep; everything's checked.

Hasn't happened now for quite a while, so I'll give it all a good run from this afternoon, and get back to you.

Strange that someone else on ISPreview was experiencing the same phenomena .... and, though theu were doing work on their dial-up network, it happened at THAT time....

We'll see how it goes. Apart from the last few days, I've NEVER experienced any other probs with them!
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: DropShadow on November 05, 2003, 10:33

Just another thought, DropShadow, but what modem did they give you?  I recently had a problem with my Fujitsu FDX310, and Pipex advised me to update my VIA chip drivers, which has fixed the problem.  The trouble with mine was the modem failing to restart after a PC reboot, which I know is a different problem to yours, but I'm sure I've read somewhere about dropped connection problems with that modem.  Unfortunately I haven't time to look now, as I have to go to work.   :(

Hope you get it sorted.   :)


Alcatel Speedtouch - which, I have to say, has been brilliant since I got it in March.

It even survived lightning damage in April, which took out my old PC - motherboard; both CD drives; memory; hard-disk. Oh - the monitor was OK as well.

Still; could have been worse. Heh.

It's been OK for a while now - see my last reply.

Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Camstop on November 05, 2003, 10:39
I lost my phone line in that storm... :o...It was a devastating few days before they fixed it.. ::)
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Simon on November 05, 2003, 12:12
Glad it seems OK now.   :)
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Sandra on November 05, 2003, 13:14
Maybe its because I am using a router (I probably shoudnt say this now as I will be tempting fate  ::) ) but since I fitted a new hard drive last Thursday mine has been permanently downloading and uploading and has never dropped its connection once.
I used to get the Fujitsu modem dropping off occassionally overnight so I expect that any disconnetions are caused by your modem/PC rather than Pipex  :)
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: DropShadow on November 05, 2003, 19:10
Right - just logged-in today just after 6 pm, and I got another disconnect, though authentication seems to have stopped taking ages.

Also just found some more info on the Pipex site :

"Announcement Updated 05/11/03 at 14:45

Report:  A small number of our PIPEX Xtreme ADSL customers using network logins ending in @xtreme2.pipex.net or @xtreme3.pipex.net may be experiencing connection difficulties.

Symptoms:  Your computer/router may take rather longer than usual to connect to the Internet and may occasionally produce connection failures.

Actions:  This issue is under investigation as a top priority by the PIPEX Network Engineering team. It was escalated to BT for investigation on Tuesday afternoon and, as an additional measure, the manufacturers of our network equipment have also been involved in the investigation."

----------

So it's not just me, after all, though it's good to see that no-one else, here, is experiencing it.

Someone's just told me, on ISPreview, that the problems are being reported on the ADSLguide Pipex forum, which I'll have a look at in a moment.

I'm sure it'll be sorted soon.

I'll keep you posted!
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: DropShadow on November 05, 2003, 19:17

I lost my phone line in that storm... :o...It was a devastating few days before they fixed it.. ::)


Yeah .... it was a VERY strange experience, that. I'd lost a telephone, before, in a lightning storm, but nothing like this.

I was p2p'ing, at the time; the lights in the room dimmed, and the monitor went dark.

Quick as a flash, I disconnected from the mains; waited a couple of minutes; then plugged-in again ...... something 'popped' inside the PC, and there was a 'orrible smell of burning electrics. I unplugged again, and swore mightily.

EVERYTHING was frazzled, except the monitor, the modem, and the BT circuitry. I'd only had ADSL for a month, too!

As you can imagine, when I got a new system, I also invested in an 'anti-surge' block.

THOROUGHLLY recommended!
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Simon on November 05, 2003, 20:29
What a disaster, DS!  :o  Going back to Pipex, I had trouble connecting myself earlier this evening.  I was getting the Invalid User Name / Password thing, yet my login is simply @xtreme.pipex.net, without the 2 or the 3, so the problem must be more global than they stated on the service status announcement.
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Sandra on November 05, 2003, 21:24
Mines never falterd since last Thursday, maybe its the newer Pipex customers that they gave the 2 or 3 login to that are having the main problem for some reason.
I dont know why that should be so though  ???
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Lona on November 06, 2003, 01:30
Welcome to Pc-Pals, Dropshadow. :D. I think I remember you from Firenet Forums. If you remember I got thrown off ISpr for slagging them off.  ;D ;D ;D ;)
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Sandra on November 06, 2003, 02:07
Shes come fairly close to being banned here too but we look after our elders on here, even though they do post rather excessively  ;)
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Lona on November 06, 2003, 02:38

Shes come fairly close to being banned here too but we look after our elders on here, even though they do post rather excessively  ;)


(https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.prodigy.net%2Findianahawkeye%2Fsigns02%2F6.gif&hash=e78995a15bc2303aeb5a6e92bf6b9478990f99e6)(https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.prodigy.net%2Frogerlori1%2Femoticons%2Fboxing001.gif&hash=97108832663824864f7f1a0320a4aa87154abccc)(https://www.pc-pals.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpages.prodigy.net%2Frogerlori1%2Femoticons%2Fchair.gif&hash=49089aaf3cf697d6ed121edc53876afd87646962) :slug: :wahh:
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: DropShadow on November 06, 2003, 04:33

Welcome to Pc-Pals, Dropshadow. :D. I think I remember you from Firenet Forums. If you remember I got thrown off ISpr for slagging them off.  ;D ;D ;D ;)


Lona!

Ah yes .... Firenet. I was known as 'AikenCelt' in them there days. DREADFUL days!

Slow speeds; constant disconnects; sh1te newsgroup support; illiterate admins .... I'm glad I left them. I was really only with them for about 3 or 4 months, but it seemed longer somehow!

I also remember the Firenet ISPreview wars. Yes - you were, indeed, kicked off, I remember. Then Firenet were kicked off ISPreview!

Of course, there were a LOT of troublemakers on that forum, weren't there, Lona, who thought NOTHING of causing the odd bit of trouble just to get a cheap laugh or two. Meh!

Terrible. Just terrible!

Aren't you with freeserve now?

As for my connection woes - haven't suffered since around 6 pm. Fingers crossed!
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Lona on November 06, 2003, 23:45
Quote
I also remember the Firenet ISPreview wars. Yes - you were, indeed, kicked off, I remember. Then Firenet were kicked off ISPreview!


Truth always prevails, Dropshadow,lol. I knew eventually the customers would see the light and I like to think that I played a small large part in having Firenet kicked off Ispr. ;).
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: DropShadow on November 07, 2003, 01:18

Quote
I also remember the Firenet ISPreview wars. Yes - you were, indeed, kicked off, I remember. Then Firenet were kicked off ISPreview!


Truth always prevails, Dropshadow,lol. I knew eventually the customers would see the light and I like to think that I played a small large part in having Firenet kicked off Ispr. ;).



Who didn't, eh? Who didn't?!

-------------

As for the connectivity issue - all seems to be well again, as I haven't been disconnected since the ... er ... last time I said I was.

Just got in, and eMule is still downloading from about 1 (yesterday) afternoon!
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Tony on November 07, 2003, 12:52
ME  ;D

Hey Lona, are you going Broadband ? if so who have you plumped for ?

Nineteen days to go for me  :o

Where's my manners, I forgot to say WELCOME to Pc-Pals DropShadow  ::)
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Lona on November 07, 2003, 19:16
Well Tony, I don't know who I will be going with.
Who are you going with? I think it will be a toss up between plusnet and pipex but I am going to consult my guru, Sandra, before I decide. :D

PS.  I am with onetel now Dropshadow, although I have nothing against Freeserve and found their customer service to be very polite and helpful, it's just that they were a bit on the slow side for my liking.  Onetel isn't bad and I have a 6 hour disconnection time. I will be staying with them until I get BB on 21st December I hope.
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Tony on November 08, 2003, 01:11
Either of those two would be my choice Lona, shaded just slightly by PlusNet purely as it is my current provider, and includes a backup dial connection. But I was given miss information by one of their Sales peeps, and they would not offer a "gesture of goodwill"  

Anyway I signed up with NDO as they cut me a deal, even though they rejigged their price structure on the day I signed   ::) Plus I will still be paying the price I signed up at, for as long as I stay with  NDO, unless it comes down   ;D
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: DropShadow on November 08, 2003, 17:55

Well Tony, I don't know who I will be going with.
Who are you going with? I think it will be a toss up between plusnet and pipex but I am going to consult my guru, Sandra, before I decide. :D

PS.  I am with onetel now Dropshadow, although I have nothing against Freeserve and found their customer service to be very polite and helpful, it's just that they were a bit on the slow side for my liking.  Onetel isn't bad and I have a 6 hour disconnection time. I will be staying with them until I get BB on 21st December I hope.


Good luck with whoever you go with, Lona.

You'll experience some amazing differences, believe me, especially with P2P utilities, if you use them.
Title: Re:Another Grrr - at Pipex!
Post by: Lona on November 08, 2003, 23:11
I can't wait to get BB, Dropshadow. :D. I can tell you this, I definitely won't be going to Firenet for my connection. :P.  BTW, I see they are back on Ispr, time for Lona, to be resurrected lol. ::) ::) ::)