| BEFCMU10 v2 -> BEFCMU10 v4 Upgrade Review
BEFSR41 | 
Linux Router |
Fry's had a couple of BEFCMU10 v4s on sale last week so finally decided to upgrade the from my current v2.0 to a v4.0.
Here is a summary of my observations/experiences:
* Physically swapping the modems took 2 seconds
* Getting Internet access back took 12 hours and numerous calls to Comcast
* When you swap in a new modem, you are thrown into a 'walled garden' and have to download a registration application to register your new modem
* I was able to download the app and run it, however, at the end of the process is throws up a "SWAP_ERROR" message and says to call customer service.
I suspect this SWAP_ERROR might be the result of the fact that I have the 5 IP add-on for my account and the system couldn't automatically handle that situation.
* First customer service person says they will queue the request to manually register my new modem...it should be done within 4 hours and they will call me when it's done
* Four hours come and go with no call and still stuck in walled garden
* Call back to CS and now told that it's not a 4 hours wait but a 24 hour wait. I ask for it to be expedited...I'm told they will try and to expect a call when its done
* A few hours later I try again and I'm out of the walled garden
* Note: While in the walled garden I had a 8000Kbps/768Kbps profile...was hoping that would stay in effect...it didn't...back down to 6000/384 once new modem was registered.
* The version 4 modem has THREE different sync status LEDs on it:
Upstream Sync
Downstream Sync
Online
I really like this change over the prior version which only had a "Cable" light. You can actually see the modem step through each phase of the sync process: first US, then DS, then Online
* The management pages on the v4 modem are TOTALLY different than the v2 modem. I am dissapointed by the following changes:
The boot file name is NOT displayed...thus no way to confirm what profile you are receiving from ISP
No 'Status' screen which under the v2 modem showed you which IP addresses had obtained an IP through the modem...this was very helpful to verify when I'd reached my 5 IP limit...no now way to know how many IPs the modem thinks you're using. (BTW: In the v2 modem you it would never forget an IP, even after you disconnected the device...they only way I could free up IPs was to reboot the CM).
* It wasn't but a few hours that I had the modem working that I started intermittently losing upstream sync...sometimes staying down for 2-3 minutes at a time. So yet another call to Comcast promised a field tech two days later (not too bad).
* Field techs came out yesterday and resweep the entire plant for noise sources...not sure what they found, just know I haven't lost sync since 3pm yesterday once.
* So I start doing my speedtests today:
(Using Speakeasy Atlanta)
Plugging a Vista laptop into the same 100Mbps switch the new CM is connected to I'm getting outstanding throughput:
Upwards of 20Mbits down (obviously speedboosting) and a consistent 1.5Mbps up (speedboosted).
WOW...what a difference from the 4.5Mbps max I'd see before.
Next I do a speedtest from my desktop which passes through a Linksys BEFSR41 then to the CM. Bummer still 4.5Mbps max.
Finally, I manually repointed my default gateway to a new Linux router I build (Fedora). It was maxing up at about 5Mbps. I review my network topology and realize I still have the WAN side of the Linux router passing through a 10Mbps Hub (half-duplex).
I always thought that even a 10Mbps, half-duplex network would be more than adequate to enjoy a 6Mbps cable connection...obviously not. And obviously it wasn't going to support speedboosting.
* I spend the next hour redoing my local LAN...making everything 100Mbps, full-duplex switch ports.
Redo Bandwidth test through Linux router...finally 12Mbps!!!
Note: First attachment with BEFSR41 with BEFMCU10 v2
Second attachment is Linux Router with BEFMCU10 v4
Retesting BEFSR41 with BEFMCU10 v4 makes almost no difference (presumable because WAN port on BEFSR41 is only 10Mbps, Half duplex)
So bottom-line: Getting the full capabilities of my Comcast connection required not only a Modem upgrade, but also a LAN upgrade to 100Mbps and a router upgrade to a 100Mbps one.
--
Lawrence Baldwin
myNetWatchman
The Internet Neighborhood Watch |
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 jbobReach Out and Touch SomeonePremium
join:2004-04-26
Little Rock, AR | Two things:
Although I don't use that modem I'm pretty sure it does show the name of the Config file that is downloaded. Maybe some other v4 user will chime in to clarify.
The one thing I am afraid of with Comcast is making changes to my account. As long as it's working it seems to work fine. I would actually buy and use that modem but am afraid of swapping a modem and then losing connectivity for an extended time while the boneheads at Comcast figure things out. Of course now it's not worth upgrading a modem with the DOCSIS v3 modems coming out soon...unless of course you are having issues with your current model. |
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 RobIn Deo speramus, God Bless the USAPremium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
kudos:2 | reply to NetWatchMan
While the modem does not display the file name of the config file that it downloads from Comcast, the modem does, unlike others, displays your provisioned upload/download speeds. This way, you can make sure you are getting the speeds you pay for. |
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chas3
join:2004-12-03
Dallastown, PA Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| reply to NetWatchMan
Do you think your V.2 modem was not getting over 4.5Mbps because of your internal network? I have a v.2 that was upgraded to docsis 1.1, but the boneheads can't get powerboost to work.
They say it is because of the following error in the modem log...
error Missing BP Configuration Setting TLV Type: 9
error Missing BP Configuration Setting TLV Type: 8
They just don't want to support the modem.
Anyway, good to hear it might be possible to get the boost. But I am skeptical because of testing on several neighbor's that have up boost but not down boost. |
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| said by chas3:Do you think your V.2 modem was not getting over 4.5Mbps because of your internal network? I have a v.2 that was upgraded to docsis 1.1, but the boneheads can't get powerboost to work. I can't know for sure because I fixed the LAN issues *after* I moved to the V4 modem...and not like I'm about to try to switch back to the V2 modem and be forced to go through the modem registration nightmare again.
All I know is I had jacked my laptop directly into the v2 mdoem in the past and I *did* see better throughput (don't remember exactly what it was) but I know I NEVER saw powerpoost speeds until I went with the v4 modem. |
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| reply to Rob
said by Rob: unlike others, displays your provisioned upload/download speeds. The v2 modem does it too. |
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Reviews:
 ·VOIPo
| reply to NetWatchMan
I changed from a Ver2 Linksys to a Motorola SB4200. I saw an instant increase in speed. My v2 obviously had issues...
Im now on a Ver4 Linksys and see full speed easily.
Took my ISP about 30 seconds with each change request..
I liked the seperate send and receive indicators on the ver2 but the lockups really sucked! |
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 beerbumobscurum per obscuriusPremium
join:2000-05-06
Eastern PA
2 edits | ok I'm lost.. which modem do I have..
Version 2 or 4? It does say Hardware Version v2.0 - but that must be wrong since some say they cannot get DOCSIS 1.1.. note I have DOCSIS 2.0 ..
This is with Comcast 8800/768 & PowerBoost .. |
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RobIn Deo speramus, God Bless the USAPremium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
kudos:2 | said by beerbum:ok I'm lost.. which modem do I have.. [att=1] Version 2 or 4? It does say Hardware Version v2.0 - but that must be wrong since some say they cannot get DOCSIS 1.1.. note I have DOCSIS 2.0 .. This is with Comcast 8800/768 & PowerBoost .. Version 4. Version 4 has more lights on the front, specifically the DS/US/ONLINE lights. |
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RobIn Deo speramus, God Bless the USAPremium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
kudos:2 | reply to NetWatchMan
said by NetWatchMan:said by Rob: unlike others, displays your provisioned upload/download speeds. The v2 modem does it too. "unlike others" was referring to other brands, such as the motorola. |
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| reply to NetWatchMan
Another difference is the Ver 2 will not have the Cisco logo on it.
Beerbum- up in the right hand corner of your picture... thats the ver# to refer to. |
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