Pipex 'wires-only' SUCKS

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Xavier

Guest
Jesus!!!

I've had almost enough of Pipex already and my DSL isn't even working yet!!!

Two weeks ago I ordered Pipex's wires-only dsl as I just need a pipe at home for uploading content to TechNation and downloading heowge files... I saw some pimpage on the reg and a coupla other places so I went to pipex's webbie and signed up.

Less than 24 hours later, before pipex had even requested a line test from BT they'd debited my current account nearly £200 and dispatched the alcatel usb modem...

I rang pipex to find out when my install date would be to be told that my card had been successfully debited and that equiptment was on it's way... when I asked as to whether they'd completed the line check I was told that 'line checks are more of a formality nowadays, we can check in-house as to whether you can be supplied with adsl and send out your equiptment based on that judgement....' further prodding revealed that this 'in-house' checkup was the BT postcode/number tester... which is just a dodgy database with no real-world numbers.... BAH!!

I decided not to go apeshit at the fact that they'd taken my money BEFORE they'd determined if they could really supply DSL and left things to their natural course.... A later call to pipex told me that the supply would be activated on the 14th as i'd passed the line checks... w00t!!

Along came the 14th... but the line wasn't activated... At least the ADSL light flashes green and red... when I consulted the pipex support gimp0r I was told 'green AND red? that's not good... not good at all' - no sheeit!!

They apparently 'escalated' my call to BT and I'm left high and dry with no dialup, the side-effect of the part of the activation BT appear to have completed is that my modem won't authenticate over about 22kbps.... ARSE

So guys... has anyone had any similar experiences? Does anyone have any advice so that I can sort things out and (maybe) enjoy live beyond 56kbps?

Xav
 
E

Embattle

Guest
/Continues Stroking CM knowing it's at home....something xavier wants but can't get :p
 
X

Xavier

Guest
hmm, has anyone got any worthwhile comments/advice?
 
N

Nibbler

Guest
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnope.
 
M

MYstIC G

Guest
iirc my 'law senses' tell me that basically cos they've taken your money already, your best option is to make there lives a living hell, easiest way to do so is a nice formal letter along the lines of "fix service now or else i'll be down me citizens advice beauro (sp?) seeing how far I can take this legally"

However I'd make certain that you don't conduct the process any further by phone, having tried this myself with Telewest it gets you all of nowhere and is far more troublesome than its worth.
 
S

SoWat

Guest
If you have the amber LEDs lit, then the modem has failed it's POST, so you won't be getting any throughput at all.

If the red LED is the left one (as you look at the 'eyes') then it's a USB problem. This is pretty common on VIA/AMD systems. Best solution seems to be to get an external powered USB hub (which is what I did).
 
X

Xavier

Guest
no, the green LED is rock steady stable...

it's the right hand adsl one - it flashes green and occasionally red... which apparently means the line is still out of sync...

either bt has turned the dsl on and it's fux0red/can't be served or alternatively it aint on yet!!
 
S

SoWat

Guest
Ah, I see.

If I remember correctly, it's 9 green flashes and one red (which means exactly as you say...the modem is not synched).

I'm surprised at Pipex saying the line test is a formality, as you actually have two (with the pre-wires only offer). One done remotely, and then one done on install. Most people seem to fail on the first, which is where all the fibre\aluminium wiring is picked up.

Of course there may not even be a xDSL card in your local exchange :)
 
X

Xavier

Guest
my sys is a s478 northwood/winxp and the USB is pretty stable which is a suprise!
 
X

Xavier

Guest
Originally posted by SoWat
Ah, I see.

If I remember correctly, it's 9 green flashes and one red (which means exactly as you say...the modem is not synched).

I'm surprised at Pipex saying the line test is a formality, as you actually have two (with the pre-wires only offer). One done remotely, and then one done on install. Most people seem to fail on the first, which is where all the fibre\aluminium wiring is picked up.

Of course there may not even be a xDSL card in your local exchange :)
Click to expand...

there is definately a card, I have friends who are on the same exchange with supply...

and they won't be testing it for me on install as they don't visit, they send the kit for me to plug in/configure...

fingers crossed for tomorrow!!!
 
O

old.Jas

Guest
Pipex have really screwed up thier ADSL rollout in general. They left it for ages to start with, choosing to enter the market after the premium early adopters had signed up.

Now - they have shite home gateways while thier marketing deptment goes press release happy. It will be ages before BT.net upgrade them to the 155mbps HG's that every other decent ISP has (BTO, Nildram and Zen etc).

Customer service is also an issue it seems. Someone hand me a bargepole
 
O

old.kim

Guest
hmmm.... they put in a new 155 pipe last week, and have another on order for march - not a bad service at all for £29.32 per month:D
 
O

old.Jas

Guest
Ok... anyhow, I am not sure I could force myself to use an ISP whos website looks like it looks like some kids school project
 
S

Skyler

Guest
ooh good job my clanmate didnt actually fork out for radsl from pipex, i recommended them to him the other day based on some sites mentioning them....

as for the problem i have no idea but the best thing is to do what G said :p
 
X

Xavier

Guest
Thx guys...

well it's monday and in an hour or two I'll get on the phone and start bleating... ;)
 
X

Xavier

Guest
i've posted and we're trying a few options - does anyone know if line gain affects dsl?

if not the conversation is swaying towards having the line relaid - it's 3.2kms long... how much could THAT cost???
 
S

SoWat

Guest
The thing is, BT won't do anything to fix your line, unless you force them.

I had them fix the line between my house and the green box by simply pulling it until it started coming loose. It turns out the green box was flooded, causing lots of problems.

They are much more likely to respond to problems with voice calls than data calls, so get pulling/sawing (though I doubt they'll fix anything past the green box unless the whole street is out).
 
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old.Jas

Guest
Originally posted by SoWat
I had them fix the line between my house and the green box by simply pulling it until it started coming loose.
Click to expand...
Be careful doing that - I guess the line is actually owned by BT, so you could get done for criminal damage
 
E

Embattle

Guest
Originally posted by Xavier
i've posted and we're trying a few options - does anyone know if line gain affects dsl?

if not the conversation is swaying towards having the line relaid - it's 3.2kms long... how much could THAT cost???
Click to expand...

LOL
 
X

Xavier

Guest
Originally posted by SoWat
The thing is, BT won't do anything to fix your line, unless you force them.

I had them fix the line between my house and the green box by simply pulling it until it started coming loose. It turns out the green box was flooded, causing lots of problems.

They are much more likely to respond to problems with voice calls than data calls, so get pulling/sawing (though I doubt they'll fix anything past the green box unless the whole street is out).
Click to expand...

/me starts looking at pipebomb manufacture
 
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