Topic 'Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010' in forum 'Comcast HSI' - dslreports.com

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:37:17 EDT

bharath posted : I ended up buying the dpc3008 through my friend who works for Cisco, got it for $55+tax. I am currently on the may firmware from comcast. The connection seems to be definitely stable no dropouts like earlier. I guess with 8 channels down and 2 channels up I definitely am seeing better speeds.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:53:42 EDT

dorkino posted : Just chiming in with my $0.02 here. I have been experiencing issues in the neighborhood causing an unusually high number of errored codewords. My SB6121 (1.0.6.6 FW) freaks out about this and T3 errors many times daily - on average about once per hour. When it does this, I notice a 5-10 second drop in internet connection that's mostly only noticeable while gaming, or if I happened to try to send an HTTP request to a website at that very moment. It's not enough to disconnect my work VPN, but it's certainly enough to cause lag spikes in my online gaming.

In an effort to help alleviate some of the frustration associated with this (until I or Comcast manages to find and fix the issue), I purchased and provisioned the Zoom 5341J. I've found that it tolerates the RF issues much better than the SB does. It's not perfect - I'll get a 1 second or so lag spike every now and again while gaming, but the T3 timeouts have decreased significantly. It's only been online for 2 days, but I just received the first (of two) T3 timeouts this morning. Could be coincidence, IDK.

One other thing I noticed - while troubleshooting this w/ the SB6121, I moved it to a different drop in the house. Signal levels were roughly the same, although downstream power was a bit higher due to one less barrel connector being involved as well as about 50' less cable run. While running at around 6dBmV power level down, the modem experienced numerous T3 errors in the hour I had it online, and even suffered a T4 reboot. So I moved it back to the original drop, and the "original" problem returned where it worked much better but still occasionally experienced issues.

So this left me with a few theories... one, I'm thinking that I do have a line noise problem, and the increase in downstream transmit power potentially exacerbated the issue. That, or when I unplugged the modem to move it, it locked onto different frequencies that are suffering from the noise more than others.

tl;dr - The Zoom 5341J seems to be more tolerant of RF issues than the SB 6121.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 23:13:18 EDT

bharath posted : Amazon and Newegg have it for $86.99 too

Amazon: »www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006IJ···i=507846

Newegg:
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···25120004

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:23:11 EDT

Ripper posted : Walmart now has the DPC3008 online with free pickup at store for $86.99. »www.walmart.com/ip/Linksys-DOCSI···03142050

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:04:01 EDT

telcodad posted : OK, then the best price right now for the Linksys/Cisco DPC3008 also appears to be on Amazon (»www.amazon.com/dp/B006IJHK96 ) at $86.99 with free (Super Saver) shipping.

EDIT: B&H is also showing the DPC3008 in stock right now for $89.99 with free shipping: »www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8···3_0.html

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:38:24 EDT

YukonHawk posted : I concur with PhReE5. I have the same set up and firmware and it as been rock solid. Not one problem since it's install in March of this year. During peak usage on the weekends at our home we could have 1 iPod, 3 laptops and 2 iPads going at once and the connection along with the Apple Extreme 5th gen steams right along without any slow downs. :D I am on the 50/10 plan as well.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:23:40 EDT

PhReE5 posted : I currently have the DPC3008, and it has the May 2012 firmware. It seems to be stable so far, I have downloaded some pretty healthy torrents and had the connection maxxed out for a while and no hiccups. I would say that there is nothing to worry about regarding stability with the DPC3008 at this point. It is available at Newegg (where I got mine) also, which makes it easy to get. Also, the 3008 IS on that Comcast supported modem list, so there won't be any issues with that.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:33:57 EDT

telcodad posted :

said by bharath:

I would have to find 5341j or sb6141, the only problem being they seem to be really expensive even when looking at a used modem.

Not sure what your budget for a modem is, but right now the Zoom 5341J is listed on Amazon (»www.amazon.com/Zoom-DOCSIS-Cable···063K4NN6 ) for "only" $77.95 with free (Super Saver) shipping.

At Comcast's current $7/month lease fee, that purchase would pay for itself within the first year.

EDIT: B&H is also showing the 5341J in stock right now for $79.95 with free shipping: »www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8···ble.html

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:11:47 EDT

NetFixer posted :

said by bharath:

said by JigglyWiggly:

well if you want to save money you can get this
»www.ebay.com/itm/Cisco-DPC3010-C···ca6a9603

45$ for a dpc3010, comcaststeve said he can activate it but can't guarantee that it will be stable or something. It is much cheaper than a used sb6121, or sb6141 or 5341j though.

Thanks for the link, do you have the same modem and if you do how is your experience with it.

Since Comcast is already placing the blame for your connection problems on your older SB5121, it might not be a good choice for you to try to use a modem purchased from eBay (and that by itself is a risky proposition) that is not officially supported (even if ComcastSteve pulls some strings to activate it). Here is a link to Comcast's official supported modem list: »mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/ (try to find the Cisco DPC3010 on that list).

Of course, after receiving my Caveat Emptor warning, YMMV.
--
We can never have enough of nature.
We need to witness our own limits transgressed, and some life pasturing freely where we never wander.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 10:33:29 EDT

bharath posted : Considering all this information now I am skeptical on getting the dpc3010. I was thinking of considering the dpc3008 if I get it cheap from cisco. I would have to find 5341j or sb6141, the only problem being they seem to be really expensive even when looking at a used modem.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:45:48 EDT

telcodad posted : Yes, and as was said in this thread »Re: [Connectivity] Mototola SB 6141 , I think the choice of good 8x4 modems right now comes down to either the (well regarded) Zoom 5341J or the (currently well reviewed) Motorola SB6141, with the TI/Intel Puma 5 TNETC4840 chipset.

Also, there should be a new generation of modems released soon incorporating Intel's next generation "Puma 6" chipset: »www.lightreading.com/blog.asp?doc_id=218885 and »www.lightreading.com/document.as···d=220955

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 08:28:37 EDT

Ripper posted : The Zoom 5341j also uses that newer Broadcom BCM3382 chipset also.See this »Zoom 5341G (4x4) vs Zoom 5341J (8x4)

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 08:08:30 EDT

telcodad posted : One thing I forgot to mention about the DPC3008 is that there is a thread on the Comcast Help and Support Forum about an issue with frequent disconnects that many people have had with that modem: »forums.comcast.com/t5/Connectivi···/1254989

However, according to the latest posts in that thread, it looks like a recent update to a May 2012 version of the firmware may have resolved the issue.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 02:12:37 EDT

n_w95482 posted : Ah, that makes sense now. I didn't even notice the dates on the info sheets :p. I was seeing the dual tuner/32 MHz part on the 3010 and wondering why it was narrower overall than the 3008.

Strange that I heard about the 3010 way after the 3008, I guess it wasn't a popular model. Mediacom seems to really like the DPC3000, and I was wanting to get something a bit newer, so maybe it'll be the 3008 then.
--
KI6RIT

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:34:55 EDT

telcodad posted :

said by n_w95482:

Actually, from what I can tell, it looks like the DPC3010 uses the older "first generation" DOCSIS 3.0 Broadcom BCM3380 chipset with its "Integrated 64-MHz wideband receiver with two independent 32-MHz blocks" (»www.broadcom.com/products/Cable/···/BCM3380 and »datasheet.elcodis.com/pdf/48/45/···fsbg.pdf) while the DPC3008 uses the "second generation" BCM3382 chipset with its "second generation integrated wideband tuner, with an extended bandwidth of 96MHz" (»www.broadcom.com/products/Cable/···/BCM3382).

From the press release for the BCM3382 (»www.broadcom.com/press/release.p···=s434809 ):

"... the new single-chip Broadcom BCM3382 solution improves RF performance with its second generation of integrated tuners ..."

So it looks like the DPC3008 modem is the later model of the two in that it uses the newer Broadcom BM3382 chipset.

Also, the data sheet for the DPC3010 says "Copyright 2009-2010" and dated "November 2010," while the one for the DPC3008 is "Copyright 2010, 2012" and dated "August 2012."

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 23:05:47 EDT

n_w95482 posted :

said by bharath:

Edit: The only reason I am looking into this modem, is that it seems similar to dpc3008 except for the added USB connection.

There's another difference as well, something that intrigues me: the 3010 has two RF tuners, whereas the 3008 uses a single tuner. I wonder what benefits/differences using two tuners presents in real-world conditions.

DPC3010 info sheet
DPC3008 info sheet

Provided I can get it for a decent price outside of eBay, and I can get a definitive yes/no from Mediacom on whether it will function on their network, I might pick one up for my dad.
--
KI6RIT

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 10:07:00 EDT

bharath posted : I have friends in cisco and will see what is the price I can get this modem for through them. If it is less than the newer Motorola SB6141 or zoom 5341j, I might think about getting it activated through ComcastSteve.

Edit: The only reason I am looking into this modem, is that it seems similar to dpc3008 except for the added USB connection.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 02:22:32 EDT

bharath posted :

said by JigglyWiggly:

Thanks for the link, do you have the same modem and if you do how is your experience with it.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 02:07:35 EDT

JigglyWiggly posted : well if you want to save money you can get this
»www.ebay.com/itm/Cisco-DPC3010-C···ca6a9603

45$ for a dpc3010, comcaststeve said he can activate it but can't guarantee that it will be stable or something. It is much cheaper than a used sb6121, or sb6141 or 5341j though.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 01:45:58 EDT

bharath posted : I didnt want to start a new thread. I recently received a letter from Comcast saying that my Docsis 2.0 modem is old and that I need to replace it with a Docsis 3.0 modem to receive good quality of service. I have complained in the past about unstable connections. They say the SNR is all good and the issue is with my modem. I have the Motorola SB5121 and motorola says the modem is fine the issue is with line. Comcast now says either I can replace the modem or they will send a technician out, but if there are no issues they will charge me for the visit. Considering the cost I thought I would rather shell that money and get a new docsis 3.0 modem than pay the technician. I was wondering what is a relatively solid modem. I am looking into either sb6141 or 5341j.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:10:41 EDT

MemphisPCGuy posted : I PROMISE you the Ferrari will breakdown before any of the VW Beetles do :)
--
Onsite Computer Support in Memphis
»www.memphispcguy.com

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:15:24 EDT

rody_44 posted : Asking which one is superior is like putting a ferrari in a parade with volkswagons. They all will meet or exceed the speeds allowed and its just a matter of which one breaks down first. (which is a matter of luck only) As far as rf tolerance. Thats old school. Modems now days either have good signals or they dont.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 03:58:16 EDT

JigglyWiggly posted : weird even with stock I couldn't get more than 95 megabits. I just checked after plugging in my laptop and I get 115 megabits(straight to the modem)

and only 1 computer hooked at a time.

EDIT: Oh nevermind, it's my computer or the ethernet cable.
I was running the router speedtests on my desktop.

Connected with cat7 cable to my laptop 120 megabits. 25-50ft cat5e cable to my desktop and 95megabits.

EDIT: Found the issue, link speed with this cat5e cable is 100 megabits and not gigabit. That's dumb. (Windows 8 hides the link speed so much so I forgot to check, it's not in the task manager)
I connected two different cat5e cables with a female to female adapter and they do 1 gigabit. That quality control.
Going to buy a 25ft cat7 cable just because.

PS unrelated again. Windows 8 is garbage, don't use it. (All ut3 games don't work, shootmania doesn't work, the tiles interface doesn't even work sometimes, tested all of the above on two machines)

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 03:10:03 EDT

n_w95482 posted : I haven't tried OpenWRT on my WNDR3700 v2, but I've tested it with the stock firmware and DD-WRT. Stock firmware got around 500-550 Mbps throughput, DD-WRT got about 150. Right now it's sitting at 34 MB RAM free.
--
KI6RIT

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:10:10 EDT

JigglyWiggly posted : well not really relevent to the discussion but I actually realized I don't need a new modem.
I connected my zoom5341 directly to my laptop and I got my full 115 megabits

when connected to my wndr3700, it slows to 90-95megabits.

I read on reviews it does ~300 megbits throughoutput from wan to lan, but I have openwrt and I read it slows the router down quite a bit. I mean that makes sense, just running top on it, 60 megabytes of ram being uses, which gives ~4 megabytes free.

I will probably try stock fw... which is kind of lame because I have a usb hd connected and it's ext4, and stock f/w does not support ext4, and NTFS is far too cpu intensive and slow for ntfs-3g on this box, and fat32 has a 4gig file limitation.
O well

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:06:15 EDT

ExoticFish posted : Internet performance in an ideal situation is one thing. But as EG stated, in locations with RF issues some perform better.
--
»www.VAJeeps.com

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:02:47 EDT

EG posted : Beg to differ. In my experience some modem hardware /chipset combinations perform better, and are more tolerant of less than stellar RF signal / noisy lines / connection quality issues than are others.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:49:34 EDT

PeteC2 posted :

said by mb:

said by EG:

So are you saying that their hardware is exactly the same and that different chipsets can't make any difference in performance ?

I am saying for all practical purposes, they are the same.

Absolutely!

The only tangible difference may be more on Comcast's end, in terms of the quality of the firmware download that they use/authorize.

mb hit it right on the head: In real-life, practical terms, no, there really is no difference in performance...

Now, having said that, it may well develop that one of these modems are going to have a better life-span due to power supply quality, construction, heat issues or lack thereof, etc., but the relative internet performance delivery of these modems will be similar within their capabilities (yes, and 8x4 model may be capable of delivering steadier performance than a 4x4 model due to increased number of bonded channels)
--
Deeds, not words

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:17:43 EDT

mb posted :

said by EG:

So are you saying that their hardware is exactly the same and that different chipsets can't make any difference in performance ?

I am saying for all practical purposes, they are the same.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 01:08:49 EDT

EG posted :

Are you suggesting otherwise ?

Of course ! ;)

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:52:49 EDT

MemphisPCGuy posted :

said by EG
So are you saying that their hardware is exactly the same and that different chipsets can't make any difference in performance ?

Are you suggesting otherwise ?
--
Onsite Computer Support in Memphis
»www.memphispcguy.com

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:08:48 EDT

EG posted :

They are all the same, one is not the best, worst or in between, and since they are around the same price, it really doesn't matter which one you buy. The issues people deal with are not really dependent in any way on the modem.

So are you saying that their hardware is exactly the same and that different chipsets can't make any difference in performance ?

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 22:49:00 EDT

mb posted :

said by JigglyWiggly:

to mb, well if you are going to pay around the same price, might as well go for the best.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:51:19 EDT

JigglyWiggly posted : interesting, well i've had better luck with my 5341 than sb6120 if that means anything.

to mb, well if you are going to pay around the same price, might as well go for the best.

i am going to see if i can get the dpc3010 on comcast. I asked comcast steve, I mean 45$, way cheaper.

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:47:44 EDT

mb posted : They are all the same, for all practical purposes that is...

Re: sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:38:57 EDT

telcodad posted : From what I can find ( »Zoom 5341G (4x4) vs Zoom 5341J (8x4) and »www.heavyreading.com/document.as···site=cdn ), like the SB6120/6121 4x4 modem, the Moto SB6141 8x4 modem is built around a TI/Intel DOCSIS 3.0 chipset, while the Moto SB6180, Cisco DPC3010, and Zoom 5341J 8x4 modems all use Broadcom chipsets.

Depending on the particular signal conditions at their homes, it seems some people have had success with the Zoom 5341J modem where they experienced issues with the Moto SB612X and SB6141 modems, and vice versa.

EDIT: Here are some posts with particular user experiences with both the Zoom 5341J and Motorola SB61XX modems:

»Re: New SB6121 - Now connection isnt as reliable

»[Connectivity] Mototola SB 6141

sb6141, sb6180, zoom5341, dpc3010

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 23:52:03 EDT

JigglyWiggly posted : So which is the best? Spec wise I mean, I don't know which has the fastest cpu, ram, etc. Anyone know?

EDIT: well the sb6180 isn't on the approved list and I actually don't even know if it's any better than the sb6141. The dpc3010 isn't either which makes me sad since you get one for 45$.