O Canada! > Canadian > Canadian Broadband > SpeedTouch 516 Tweaking :)

reply to l0thar

Re: SpeedTouch 516 Tweaking :)

Thanks for the comment, I like the wiring too. Was worth it, a lot of GB came down that path, lol..

Came up with something that could help others. Bicephale had mentioned heat as a bit of concern for the SpeedTouch models. Then I did some reading on this thread.

Lifted up my 546 and it felt very warm on the underside, probably one of the chips is located on the underside of the circuit board and giving off heat.

Solution, used a couple of paperclip boxes (handiest object around atm) to raise the modem up a couple centimetres.

The heat I felt first time checking is no longer there - I think this might be a good idea, raise your modem to allow more airflow into the base holes.

Someone in that thread suggested using 4 plastic bottle caps, and boy, that should work just nice, they are the right size.

Tried reading the DMT site, but the little info there is all in German. The ThinkBroadband UK forums are probably our best bet, folks there have been using DMT for a while.
--
Compare prices for Canadian retailers, Find 'Hot Deals', meet nice people at PriceNetwork.ca

modem info
»www.modem-help.com/Alcatel/Speed···eway.php
Chipset : BCM6348 ADSL2+

»www.speedtouchforum.de/

debate on new firmware
»bbs.adslguide.org.uk/showflat.ph···all&vc=1

bypass ISP lock firmware
»www.speedtouch.net.nz/forum/topi···C_ID=541

Looks like these modems are keeping you guys busy! By the time the weekend is over you should be experts.

I found a comment on the forums that the UK version of the firmware is a bit different from the global/generic one. They seem to place an emphasis on ADSL, the most common service there.

Same situation in Canada so far, so maybe we should try the UK variants?

The UK 546 model page includes version 6.1.4.6.

So you have been playing with the firmware back and forth?

How did you install the new one? Using the tool on the CDROM?
--
Compare prices for Canadian retailers, Find 'Hot Deals', meet nice people at PriceNetwork.ca

CDROM? ohhh that cd thats still sealed in the box. nope

I followed TSI Steve's post.
»Re: SpeedTouch 516/546/780 Group Buy !

Very True I read the same thing about the UK firmware.
I would try it but between all 3 that I've tried I see no difference because my line is good.
You should try it on your marginal line, where you would see a difference.

Ah, yes, I remember reading it - thanks for the link, got to re-read these.

Ok, I am now back online, with the UK 6.1.4.6 version (found on this page).

Uff - followed Steve's instructions and links carefully, saved my configuration before the upgrade (Saves a TON of time reconfiguring it, just takes a sec.).

Having been burned by various motherboard BIOS upgrades in the past, it was a bit of a tense moment. All worked well, and I am happy and relieved.

First impressions :

- my Attenuation improved by 1 dB (now 51 dB).

- this version supports DMT, I wouldn't use a version that didn't.

Thanks Steve for very detailed instructions and links.

Tilhas, thanks for showing us the internals of the modem. I think the 546 might have an extra chip on the underside of the circuit board, possibly the 4 port ethernet chip.

The bottom of the 546 gives off heat that really seem to indicate some busy IC there.

EDIT : DMT support and SNR tweaking seems to be flaky on this firmware - I might have to restore the original.

--
Compare prices for Canadian retailers, Find 'Hot Deals', meet nice people at PriceNetwork.ca

what do you mean by flaky?
When you find your sweet spot in the SNR target. SAVE It.

Get your isp to put you on 5megabit then start playing to see if you can get it stable

Thats what I did
I got them to put me on 5megabit even though their script refused me. I tried both alcatels K and G series and found G series was able to sync at a little higher rates. but both were rock stable.

joshb> I can't believe a TELUS moderator (employee) deleted the post on the unlocking.

reply to TilhasBB