• How can I check out my signal levels?
• Can I buy my own modem?
• Running DocsDiag to see detailed modem information.
• What should my modem levels be?
• Why is my modem activity light constantly flashing (even if my pc is off)?
• How do I request a firmware update?
• Can I upgrade my cable modem?
• How do I know what firmware version I have?
• What modems are compatible with CV's new speed tiers?

Most cable modems have an internal diagnostics page located at »192.168.100.1

Arris users/owners, please see --> »Optimum Online FAQ »How can I view Arris' signal levels?

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Also, see link for acceptable signal range:
»Optimum Online FAQ »What should my modem levels be?

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by Lex Luthor edited by drake
last modified: 2011-07-11 23:25:36

Yes.

But why?

In general you are best off getting your modem directly from OOL/Wiz. For $(see OOL website for current pricing) with a 1 year term (penalty=see OOL website for current pricing), as long as you aren't moving our of OOL territory in the 1st year, you most likely won't find a better deal financially.

If you want to get your own modem, OOL will let you. It must be DOCSIS 2 or (preferably) 3 compliant. You run the risk of not getting new firmware releases if you don't get a modem OOL is familiar with, so check in the forum to make certain it's supported. Still, you can get any modem you wish, as long as it's DOCSIS compliant.

If you do get your own modem, just remember to call tech support to register it's MAC address in their system or you'll be shut off after 9 days.

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by Lex Luthor edited by tmpchaos
last modified: 2011-08-15 08:34:18

You can use a program called DocsDiag to extract information from the modem. You'll need to temporarily change your computer's or router's IP address when running the program, but you won't have to change any wiring. If your computer is connected directly to the modem, you can use the following instructions if you're running Windows 98/98SE; if you're running another OS, you should determine how to change your PC's IP address before proceeding. (If you have a router, it doesn't matter what OS you're using.)

1. Visit the DocsDiag home page and download the docsdiag.zip file. Unzip the downloaded file to extract docsdiag.jar.

2. Change your IP address to 192.168.100.2 and subnet mask to 255.255.255.0. You can use one of the following methods if it applies to your system (note your current settings before you change them):

•If your PC is connected directly to the modem and you use Windows 98/98SE, click Start, Settings, Control Panel. Double-click Network. On the Configuration tab, click TCP/IP for your Ethernet adapter, then click Properties. On the IP Address tab, select Specify an IP Address, enter an IP address of 192.168.100.2 and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. Click OK and OK. Reboot if prompted.•If you have a Linksys router, go to the router's setup page and select specify an IP address, enter an IP address of 192.168.100.2, a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, and a gateway of 0.0.0.0.•If you have a Netgear router, go to menu 4, change IP Address Assignment to Static, IP Address to 192.168.100.2, IP Subnet Mask to 255.255.255.0, and Gateway IP Address to 0.0.0.0.

3. In the MS-DOS window, enter the following command:
For machines with Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine

  jview /cp docsdiag.jar docsdiag

For machines with Sun's Java Runtime Environment

  java -cp docsdiag.jar docsdiag

This should produce output with your signal levels and firmware version. Go here to see what your signal values should be.

4. Put your IP address back to dynamically assigned by restoring the original settings you changed in step 3:

•For a direct connection to the modem, go back to the TCP/IP Properties dialog box and select Obtain an IP address automatically. Reboot if prompted.•For a Linksys router, go back to the router's setup page and select Obtain an IP address automatically.•For a Netgear router, go back to menu 4 and change IP Address Assignment to Dynamic.

In addition, the following works for Toshiba modems:
To access the built in diagnostics, set your ip statically to 192.168.100.2, set your subnet mask to 255.255.255.0 and set your gateway to 192.168.100.1. Enter 192.168.100.1 into your browser you'll see the diagnostics page.

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by Bobcat edited by drake
last modified: 2011-07-09 19:17:08

Receive: -15dBmV to +15dBmV
Transmit: 30dBmV to 55dBmV
Carrier/Noise Ratio (SNR): >30dB

The closer to the center of the spec, the better (for receive and transmit).

As you get closer to the edge of the spec, you might start to see some connectivity problems.

Note: signal strength does not really affect speed. So as long as you aren't getting disconnects/pauses/packet loss, you probably are OK, even if you are nearer the edge of the spec.

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by Lex Luthor edited by drake
last modified: 2011-07-12 06:36:07

Some flashing of the activity light, even when the computer is not in use, is completely normal. In most cases, this traffic consists of ARP broadcast packets. ARP, which stands for Address Resolution Protocol, is used by TCP/IP to translate IP addresses into their associated MAC addresses, a process which is required for network operation. (The DOCSIS and Ethernet hardware in devices like cable modems, digital cables boxes and the cable modem termination system use MAC addresses when transferring data)

On a few older modems, some additional flashing is caused by multicast packets. Although these are usually filtered out, some modems flash their activity light before the application of the filter.

Once one has established their machine is virus free and firewalled, there is no reason to be concerned about flashing of the activity light. The downstream has 'plenty' of capacity to handle this traffic, so it should not cause any performance degradation.

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[submitted by Bichon ]

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by Lex Luthor edited by drake
last modified: 2011-07-10 00:56:45

OOL will "push" new firmware revisions out to your modem once they have tested the code and deem it "ready for public use".

If you don't have the newest firmware, but aren't having any problems, don't worry about it, you probably are best to leave well enough alone.

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by Lex Luthor edited by drake
last modified: 2011-07-10 01:06:44

Yes, you can, at your local walk-in center.
But, before doing so, consider: are you having frequent disconnects; is your cable modem over 10 years old? There's the old saying of, "If it ain't broken, don't fix it!"; however, even if your modem isn't broken, they may not be able to sustain the upgraded speed tiers over the years.

Once you've finished the transaction at the store, please verify with the service representative that your modem is active before you leave the location, or else you'll find yourself on the phone with Cablevision later on in the day because of your modem hasn't been 'unbricked'.

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Also, please see this FAQ for inquiries regarding usage of your own modem with Optimum Online.

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by howie1 edited by drake
last modified: 2011-07-09 19:02:22

With any modem on the OOL network, you can run DocsDiag to find out the software version.
For more information on how to run DocsDiag, see --> »Optimum Online FAQ »Running DocsDiag to see detailed modem information.

For Motorola Surfboard cable modems, you can use the internal page @ »192.168.100.1/mainhelp.html [see screenshot below; from an SB5100 modem] .. you will see the version identified at the top of the page.




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by jaa edited by drake
last modified: 2011-07-11 06:29:06

Here's a sorted list & added some missing modems. All modems in one tier will work with modems in a lower tier provided the supported services match:

Modems Compatible with Optimum Online Boost+ & Ultra service:

• Arris Touchstone TM-802G (OOL/OV)
• Cisco DPQ-3212 (OOL/OV)
• Cisco DPQ-3925 (OOL & Static IP required/OV, Business customers only)
• Motorola SB6120 (OOL, only)
• Motorola SBV6220 (OOL/OV)
• Webstar DPC-3000 (OOL, only)

Modems Compatible with Optimum Online Boost service:

• Motorola SBV5120 (OOL/OV)
• Motorola SBV5121XM (OOL/OV)
• Motorola SB5100 (OOL Only)
• Scientific-Atlanta DPC2100 (OOL Only)
• Scientific-Atlanta DPX2203 (OOL/OV)
• Scientific-Atlanta DPC2203C (OOL/OV)
• Arris Touchstone TM-512 (OOL/OV 12 lines, Business customers only)
• Innomedia EMTA 3528-4e (OOL/OV 4 lines, Business customers only)
• Innomedia EMTA 6528-12e (OOL/OV 12 lines, Business customers only)

Modems Compatible with enhanced speed, Standard Optimum Online Service:

• Motorola SBV4501 (OOL/OV)
• Motorola SBV4200 (OOL/OV)
• Motorola SB4200 (OOL Only)

Non-compliant Modems:
Note: subscribers with modems listed below, please see this FAQ for modem upgrades.


• Motorola SB4100
• Motorola SB3100
• MODEMS manufactured by 3Com, RCA, TCE, Terayon, Thompson and Toshiba



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[updated by frdrizzt ]

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by Irish Shark edited by drake
last modified: 2011-07-10 03:40:15