After suffering similar problems to others on this forum since mid 2008 (disconnection problems and/or very low speeds) here are some simple tips for getting success with Orange. Others on the forum and elsewhere have mentioned these but hopefully this pulls them together.
Perform a speed test (see alsewhere on this forum for link). Use your Livebox Admin page to look up your Noise Margin, Attenuation, Attainable Download Rate and Rate values.
Noise Margin should ideally be above 11 on average (it can vary) otherwise you may get periodic disconnects due to excessive noise. The higher margin the fewer errors - but the lower the speed.
Attenuation should ideally be no more than about 45, this is the loss in signal due to distance from exchange (the higher the further away you are)
Attainable Download Rate states the rate your line can theoretically achieve, Rate is the actual rate set for your line by Orange.
Remember that errors decrease with lower speeds - there is a trade off.
Orange will cap your line speed in order to decrease errors and then claim they have fixed the problem. Unless you can discuss facts with them (see above) it is hard to convince them otherwise. I found that they would just alternate between no cap and a cap of 0.5Mb and then say they have rectified the problem each time. Until I taught myself a few technical facts all I could do was yell at them incoherently and get duped every time.
Ask them to cap your line speed at a REASONABLE level. I asked them to cap my speed at about 3Mb - all my disconnect problems then went away AND I had a usable download speed, with a Noise Margin of 22 which is ample margin of error. In my area 4Mb is the maximum Attainable Download rate anyway, so this is OK for me. Look at your Attainable Download rate and ask them to do some trial and error speed capping until you get a stable connection at a reasonable speed. Yes, I know they advertise 8Mb but just accept you won't get it (yet).
Now for the people issues - the front line Indian call centre will rarely discuss technical facts with you and just use a script. If you get no satisfaction ask to be referred to the "Escalation Team". They are based in UK, have a little more technical knowledge and, importantly, can get in contact with UK enginers. Ask the Escalation Team to get an engineer to call you. These are the people you will get most sense from - they can also be quite honest about the actual cause of your issue, if you get a good one. Again, it is good to be able to discuss a few technical facts with them (see above)
If you get no satisfaction for several weeks, call the Customer Services team (an option on the 150 helpline menu). They may offer you a rental rebate for the period you have been disrupted. I got two months back.
Ensure you keep a log of EVERY phone call and what was agreed on their part - I found their record was sparse and often omitted actions they had agreed. After a month or so, if you still feel no progress is being made, write a letter detailing your call history and what you now want done (presumably a stable line at a reasonable speed). If they still cannot provide a reasonable service ask them to terminate your contract - since they have not provided the service advertised argue that they should NOT charge you disconnection fees. Call Customer Services and ensure they mark your case for special attention otherwise the system will just charge the fee automatically. Luckily they fixed my issues just before I got to this stage, though I had the letter ready to post.
The key is to have the facts, and to persist, and to keep calm in the face of adversity. Be firm but polite. Remember the poor saps in the call centre are as much victims of the corporate giant as you are.
One more tip - the BT iPlate is easy to fix and may improve your connection by reducing noise on the line caused by telephone extension cabling in your home. Only worthwhile if you have one or more phone extension lines but only costs about £10. Only works for the standard BT phone socket so check the details before buying.
I believe what you are referring to is something known as interleaving. This is by default with almost all providers of ADSL broadband set to auto or on and increases latency by about 40ms.
Orange will never cap your line unless you breach their fair use policy and end up on the EUSC (end user speed control) which is enforced by BT Openreach, generally more so on IPStream / IPStream Max than on LLU.
If you had a technical issue, generally to do with either speed or no synchronisation then your line may very well get downgraded (the so called cap you are referring too). This isn't done for fun, it is likely due to changes or unsuitability of your line to handle the speed you once had. Unfortunately from Orange's point of view, on LLU this is actually a fault of theirs which unless they pay for new terminals or improve the network pipes isn't going to improve. If it is on IPStream / IPStream Max then leave Orange if you want, all other ADSL providers unless they have LLU can only offer you what BT OR say you can get, but never mind hey
Don't rely on the internet and hearsay to discuss technical issues If you work in the profession then you can comment
Also, Escalations and CSR's cannot speak with engineers, all BT OR engineers liaise solely with BT OR HO via Siebel engineering notes and cannot be called or spoken to unless by a BT OR CEO, just to point out a fact
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