I have a CenturyLink DSL connection using a PK5001Z modem/router. I am in a rural location with maybe 10 houses within a few square miles of me.
It worked for a long time with typical download speeds so fast I did not need to worry how fast it was: everything worked just fine.
A few weeks ago, the modem started disconnecting at completely random times and stays offline sometimes for hours. I have called tech support 3 times. The first two technicians gave me replacement identical PK5001Z modems which made no difference. The third one gave me some wire and said maybe squirrels had munched the wire under my trailer.
It wasn't rocket science: I replaced the wire under the trailer and the connection seemed reliable for a few days, but now has started dropping off again.
I do not have a telephone and there are no phone jacks in my trailer.
I do not have slow internet problems: I either get 7 megabits per second or the modem does not connect at all. Once in a while it connects at a lower speed like 2 or 4 megabits/sec, but this usually means the modem is going to disconnect soon.
Typical SNR is about 16dB but it drops very low--like 2dB before disconnecting.
Attenuation is around 30dB. Typically get about 20+ retrains a day.
This suggests to me that there is an intermittent noise source somewhere on this phone line. According to the last technician, I have 3 miles of copper wire to the nearest CenturyLink facility.
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