Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 in Covad / covad.net http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r6483406 en Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:13:23 EDT Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:13:23 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6864751 Bill_MI : Sebastian, I just posted my 20 cents on the ZyXEL P645 here: »Cant Log Into 645 Modem

ISP customization seems to be a moving target so I tried to be as generic as possible. Even the same ISP seems to have used various versions of config.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6864751 Sat, 17 May 2003 04:32:59 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6864491 Sebastian : is there a way to upgrade the zyxel 645M firmware? does it even have one? if so how?

I tried using telnet with IP address 192.168.1.1 but i can't connect, do you think they changed it, speakeasy/covad?

honestly, i am not sure what model it is... i say 645M because that is what it says on my DSL order.. but the modem itself just says "Prestige 645"
--
will code for free.
[text was edited by author 2003-05-17 02:53:29]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6864491 Sat, 17 May 2003 02:44:42 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6864109 anon : Just a note that I also upgraded my 643's firmware with
the version on the Covad website and my noise margins
definitely showed an improvment (10db to ~15db).
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6864109 Sat, 17 May 2003 01:15:06 EDT Re: Just an Update http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6623590 gdm : Trust me I wish I was able to also or if they had a auto sensing/switch program that could set in fastpath x amount and safe mode y amount.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6623590 Sun, 20 Apr 2003 22:28:15 EDT Re: Just an Update http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6623572 Bill_MI : It's possible Friday night on the 11th I'd would have been dead in FastPath. I'm not sure yet. I wish I could control the mode myself. :-)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6623572 Sun, 20 Apr 2003 22:26:47 EDT Re: Just an Update http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6623515 gdm : Bill are going to try Fastpath or not even bother?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6623515 Sun, 20 Apr 2003 22:19:42 EDT Just an Update http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6623368 Bill_MI : I'm glad of one thing - the noise margin downstream does seem to now follow past problems I have which may show up in FastPath. I've always said nights, weekends and holidays were the bad times.

The noise margin downstream is now following this closely - it really didn't correlate on the old firmware. The "dips" are Friday, minor on Saturday and EASTER SUNDAY. Gee, I remember being without service all Memorial Day weekend in 1998 - that's when I first noticed holidays are bad. High residential phone use times is my key.
[text was edited by author 2003-04-20 22:09:22]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6623368 Sun, 20 Apr 2003 22:01:54 EDT Re: Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6569949 Bill_MI : Oh, I forgot to say 784/784 SDSL was *solid* on the same dry pair Ameritech ADSL was bad on.

And my standing offer to any phone company insider. A steak dinner for the guy/gal that finds me a clean ADSL line! (it's audibly perfect already). :-)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6569949 Mon, 14 Apr 2003 20:53:40 EDT Re: Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6569898 gdm : That's right I forgot about the OLD phone wiring in your area. Never mind I am done responding about your drops now:)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6569898 Mon, 14 Apr 2003 20:48:07 EDT Re: Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6569812 Bill_MI : If you saw the 1-1/2 miles of buried 60-year-old phone lines near me you would. No phone tech EVER wants to go down in that hole and they never do - they just swap out pairs until things settle (sigh). My theory has always been cross-talk due to old, damp, wire bundles. Anything to my house has to go through this mess.

EDIT: Then there's creative phone servicing. Notice I said "supposedly" 3 pairs. Well, "supposedly", I had bridge-taps removed, pairs swapped, etc. etc. several times back in 1998 trying to fix me. Funny... no interruption looking like such ever occurred and I ping-test every 15 seconds. They must be MAGIC! (off the sarcasm for now :-)).
[text was edited by author 2003-04-14 20:42:41]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6569812 Mon, 14 Apr 2003 20:38:40 EDT Re: Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6569750 gdm : Bill,

Ok I got you now. I still can't believe high phone usage would cause this issue. I don't know enough to say yes or no but just find it hard to believe.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6569750 Mon, 14 Apr 2003 20:31:21 EDT Re: Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6569709 Bill_MI : No, it's not every Friday night. Loss of sync tends to occur around high residential phone usage times historically here. This includes week nights, weekends and holidays. Not always, just most-the-time.

This is across (supposedly) at least 3 different dry pairs and 2 line-shared pairs over 5 years or so. It's also on both Ameritech and (now) Covad DSLAMs.

This is the first time I've seen data indicating what looks like a similar pattern. Notice the small dip Saturday before noon - that's typical, too. Sunday can be bad but not this week.

No, I didn't loose sync *every* Saturday (EDIT: Friday!) night. It was just one of the times I typically would. Get the idea?

Something at the CO can certainly affect only the higher ADSL frequencies and, thus, downstream to me. However, upstream at lower frequencies ("Upstream noise Margin") stays locked at 16db. You'd think it would affect reception there.

Too bad I can't replay Friday night in FastPath. I hate data speculation. :-)
[text was edited by author 2003-04-14 20:27:34]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6569709 Mon, 14 Apr 2003 20:26:18 EDT Re: Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6569159 gdm : That friday night dip still seems very strange to me. I thought no matter the usage a DSL line shouldn't spike/dive like that. Bill I know you said they have checked the line and everything else.

Do you know if anything is going on at the CO at this time? It's every friday night, correct?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6569159 Mon, 14 Apr 2003 19:24:45 EDT Re: Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6568648 Bill_MI : Here's a week before and a week after the firmware change. It won't be that quick to FastPath - I'd like to watch this over another weekly cycle (sorry, I'm an engineer :-)).
[text was edited by author 2003-04-14 18:23:36]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6568648 Mon, 14 Apr 2003 18:22:21 EDT Re: Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6554021 gdm : There you go Bill!!!!! Let us know what happens and all the stats. Nothing like a little presssure.:)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6554021 Sat, 12 Apr 2003 22:18:16 EDT Re: Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6553541 Bill_MI : OK, you guys win. I'll call sometime soon and give it a try. I've done enough creative justification. :-)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6553541 Sat, 12 Apr 2003 21:16:40 EDT Re: Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6552589 gdm :
said by Hall See Profile:
Are you brave enough to try non-Safe-Mode yet ??


I think Bill should try getting out of safe mode and try it!!!!!! :):):)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6552589 Sat, 12 Apr 2003 18:43:37 EDT Re: Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6552536 Hall : Are you brave enough to try non-Safe-Mode yet ??]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6552536 Sat, 12 Apr 2003 18:38:06 EDT Re: Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6552416 Bill_MI : The firmware seems to measure noise margin differently and/or possibly retrain quicker or smarter. ADSL is an array of frequencies that can be selected or discarded based on signal conditions. Since it's quite dynamic it's hard to say what's going on, really. All I do is come up with a zillion questions only insiders can answer.

For example, that 1AM recovery - was it the noise going away or did the modem recognize the noise problem and re-train? When I get some time I want to try to get more insight.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6552416 Sat, 12 Apr 2003 18:22:29 EDT Re: Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6551794 gdm : Bill,

That sucks but the firmware still helped though besides the primetime, correct?
[text was edited by author 2003-04-12 16:55:47]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6551794 Sat, 12 Apr 2003 16:55:29 EDT Oh well... no FastPath for me (sigh) http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6549060 Bill_MI : Friday prime-time - sure looks familiar. High residential phone usage has knocked me out of sync for years.

Notice how smooth the curve is - the firmware upgrade now seems to have a smoother response (data averaging, perhaps?).

This dip started around 6pm (Hour = 18) and lasted until 1am (Hour = 25). Since I'm in SafeMode my sync stayed solid at 928/384 during this time.
[text was edited by author 2003-04-12 05:03:59]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6549060 Sat, 12 Apr 2003 04:59:11 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6528075 Bill_MI : Hall, besides all that I also replied to the wrong person, apparently. :-)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6528075 Wed, 09 Apr 2003 22:15:10 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6525639 Bill_MI : Hall, ZyXEL is one of Alcatel's many partners. The Alcatel chipset does all the telco part of ADSL, probably with DSP processing - ZyXEL plants that chipset in their product. That technology (implementation of ADSL) is pretty closed and proprietary. Chances are, Alcatel sends a block of code to ZyXEL (known as Version 3.8.164 for example) which ZyXEL puts in their firmware to send to the Alcatel hardware to run with. I'll bet ZyXEL knows little about the code they use.

But you'd think f/w enhancements would be passed along. I did notice one Alcatel update ZyXEL had a problem with and removed from one product. Also, every ADSL modem ZyXEL makes seems to run the same Alcatel firmwares - indicating they probably ALL use the same (or very similar) chipset. I looked at quite a few, looking for any products mentioning Alcatel Version 3.8.164.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6525639 Wed, 09 Apr 2003 17:57:14 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6522185 gdm : Hall,

Bill posted something there a few days ago no real response.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6522185 Wed, 09 Apr 2003 11:11:28 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6522130 Hall : Have you guys inquired in the Zyxel forum ?? Maybe there's a Zyxel tech who hangs out there and can comment on this...
--
-= Mindspring MaxDSL via Covad 1536/384 TeleSurfer Pro =- ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6522130 Wed, 09 Apr 2003 11:04:01 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6521882 ccarlin : Well I am still up and running, this is the longest I have ran without any real downtime in a long while. Two weeknights in a row without loosing sync (well I lost once but it came right back up and never went back down). ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6521882 Wed, 09 Apr 2003 10:22:04 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6519504 gdm : I haven't found anything on it either.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6519504 Tue, 08 Apr 2003 23:43:38 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6519488 Bill_MI :
said by gdm See Profile:
Bill, I just checked and have
DSL F/W Version: Alcatel, Version 3.8.164
I can't say what it was before the firmware update.
That Alcatel version definitely seems to be the part that affects this since this Alcatel chipset does all the phone line handling. I haven't found details on it... yet.

EDIT: Yep, I'll probably try it soon if this keeps up. :-)
[text was edited by author 2003-04-08 23:44:07]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6519488 Tue, 08 Apr 2003 23:41:51 EDT Re: Data Update http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6519426 gdm : Do it Bill!!!! Come on you know you want to:):)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6519426 Tue, 08 Apr 2003 23:35:05 EDT Data Update http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6519379 Bill_MI : Hour 166 was the f/w update. It's kinda obvious *something* changed. You just know I want to try FastPath again (last summer was the last time I tried it).
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6519379 Tue, 08 Apr 2003 23:30:16 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6519039 gdm : Hall I want to smack you:) I was running fine at 7.5/13 in fast path with no issues from 6am to 7pm. After that something is going on.

From all my reading as long as you can stay above 6db you are good.

Where/how did you get that screen shot?
[text was edited by author 2003-04-08 22:51:40]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6519039 Tue, 08 Apr 2003 22:51:14 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6518977 Hall : Should I see about upgrading my Zyxel firmware ?? :)
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6518977 Tue, 08 Apr 2003 22:44:23 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6518965 Hall : 9.5 is still borderline, isn't it ??]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6518965 Tue, 08 Apr 2003 22:42:00 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6518843 gdm : Very interesting. Szanke so far all of ours have remained stable. It may decrease 1-2 db but it usually goes up to.

Form me in safe mode 14/18 are my peaks. I average about 12.5-13/17.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6518843 Tue, 08 Apr 2003 22:29:49 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6518816 szanke : I was in Safe Mode due to sync issues for about the last month using the 643 and TeleSoho 1500/384 service.
I just flashed my firmware to V2.50(AY.4) | 11/08/2002
and immediately saw an increase of about 4db in noise margins and a 5db decrease in relative capacity occupation downstream.
I called tech support and asked to be put in Fast Path.
My downstream noise margins in Fast Path since the firmware flash are about 3 to 3.5 db higher than they were when when I was having sync issues. Hopefully it will remain stable.

Downstream Noise Margin
relative capacity occupation: 82%
noise margin downstream: 9.5 db
output power upstream: 12.0 dbm
attenuation downstream: 64.0 db]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6518816 Tue, 08 Apr 2003 22:27:27 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6509322 gdm : Hall,

My numbers always are in sync with what Covad sees. At least on the 643. Well Bill and ccarlin will be the test mine is another issue with night time at this point.

Let's see if ccarlin keeps sync the whole and week. Plus what Bill's monitor shows friday/saturday.

Ccarlin my noise margins go down at night and raise during the day by 1 db usually

Right now I am back in safe mode at 13/17.

Bill, I just checked and have
DSL F/W Version: Alcatel, Version 3.8.164
I can't say what it was before the firmware update. Also my firmware update shows 11/08/2002 where A3 I believe was 09/2002.
[text was edited by author 2003-04-08 00:55:10]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6509322 Mon, 07 Apr 2003 22:48:49 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6509144 Bill_MI : Here's 7 days of my Noise Margin Downstream. The very last 2 data points are since the f/w upgrade.
--
Expert Opinions: $10 ... I Shut Up: $20
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6509144 Mon, 07 Apr 2003 22:30:38 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508914 ccarlin : Well Monday night and I have been up the whole time. That is a first for a weeknight in about a month or so.

Not sure if the firmware had anything to do with it but it certainly didn't hurt.

My downstream noise margin is currently only 10.0 but maybe it went down lower every evening and that was why I couldn't hold sync?

By the way I am in Safe Mode and have been for a while so 928 is tops for me. Which is fine since my distance dictates that I am lucky to get that. Speed tests are giving me a 776/326 rating. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508914 Mon, 07 Apr 2003 22:06:18 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508846 Bill_MI : Hall, the 2 numbers always compared but it's been a while since I heard the DSLAM end. The DSLAM has a set of parameters but they compared so exactly I always figured they exchange each other's numbers. Only the modem can measure signal-to-noise ratio received, the DSLAM cannot, right?

EDIT: Or do you mean upstream? Upstream has never been an issue here - is it anywhere? Upstream is the low-freq end and (in our case) the narrower bandwidth. My upstream noise margin never gets below 18 (but I'll watch that, too).
[text was edited by author 2003-04-07 22:01:31]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508846 Mon, 07 Apr 2003 21:59:31 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508664 Hall : One important thing you guys are overlooking. You see noise margins of 'x' and 'y' from your end. At the same time, what does Covad see on theirs ??
--
-= Mindspring MaxDSL via Covad 1536/384 TeleSurfer Pro =- ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508664 Mon, 07 Apr 2003 21:43:23 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508231 Bill_MI : The question of the hour is if it equates to better noise performance (a.k.a less SYNC loss). For all we know something may have changed an arithmetic bug so the numbers change but performance doesn't. Remember... pessimists are NEVER disappointed. :-)

EDIT: I'm inquiring in the ZyXEL forum.
[text was edited by author 2003-04-07 21:00:13]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508231 Mon, 07 Apr 2003 20:57:19 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508196 gdm : Now remember bill in my case safe mode the highest I could get was 10db down and averaged 8db or lower. When I upgraded the highest I got was 14db and goes down to 12db. Usually it's around 13db most of the time.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508196 Mon, 07 Apr 2003 20:53:29 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508131 Bill_MI : I was wondering if a forced re-train may have done that with noise margins anyway. Well, what poo-pooh's that theory is that 13.5db is the highest I've ever seen this month - so it just may be real.

EDIT: I log noise margin every hour and 11.5db was the April high.
[text was edited by author 2003-04-07 20:50:39]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508131 Mon, 07 Apr 2003 20:47:19 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508102 gdm : See something is up with this new firmware:) it's just not in my head:)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508102 Mon, 07 Apr 2003 20:44:00 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508051 Bill_MI : Sorry, I edited after excitement! I have lots of noise margin data (every hour since last April... no kidding!).

I'll be able to plot noise margin (downstream is the limiting factor) for a week before and a week after, I hope.
[text was edited by author 2003-04-07 20:41:45]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508051 Mon, 07 Apr 2003 20:38:06 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508029 gdm : Bill what's the noise margins?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6508029 Mon, 07 Apr 2003 20:36:05 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6507999 Bill_MI : Well, I did it anyway. I'll have days of data for noise margins to compare.

Hey! Looky this...

was:
ZyNOS S/W Version: V2.50(EK.3) | 8/31/2001
ADSL Chipset Vendor: Alcatel, Version 3.8.124

now:
ZyNOS F/W Version: V2.50(EK.4) | 9/19/2002
ADSL Chipset Vendor: Alcatel, Version 3.8.164

A distinct Alcatel revision - maybe there is some microcode updated in the phone line stuff. At least I'm not down! :-)

EDIT:
Holy Cow! It is definitely a jump in noise margin:

1/2 hour ago:
noise margin downstream: 10.0 db

now:
noise margin downstream: 13.5 db

But will it equate with stability in FastPath? A step in the right direction is indicated. :-)
[text was edited by author 2003-04-07 20:37:34]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6507999 Mon, 07 Apr 2003 20:32:41 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6507361 Bill_MI : Well, GDM And CCarlin - you have the latest for Covad on the P643 - V2.50(AY.4). I found out Earthlink hasn't officially blessed the latest for my P645 (which I got online anyway) which is V2.50(EK.4).

But to the best of his knowledge, no ADSL parameters are invloved in these upgrades. Two people claiming a few more db of noise margin is significant, though.

CCarlin - I'm really curious how your performance is on the new f/w. I may want to have a backup modem before attempting to FLASH my P645 - these ISP-unique versions make me nervous. :-)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6507361 Mon, 07 Apr 2003 19:31:20 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6496137 gdm : Bill,

I have to agree with you. Zyxel seems to lack good documentation. Also, I agree about the various 645 models. When I was looking for documentation (limited) on the 643 I couldn't believe the list of 645 models. Is it really necessary to have that many?

I must tell you I like the fact I can see the noise margins myself. Other then that I really don't care.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6496137 Sun, 06 Apr 2003 15:12:28 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6496100 Bill_MI :
said by gdm See Profile:
Bill do you have the 1.5/384 or 1.5/128 via EL? If you are on 1.5/384 how come EL users don't have the 643 out of curiosity?
Thanks for the info. Hall covered the modems pretty well :-). I have the 1.5/384 service which is why my SafeMode is 928/384. It's also why I keep my ears open for ways to actually get 1.5m.

BTW, several people around the time I signed up got these "P645" modems from Earthlink. There is no plain-old "P645". Only further research found it to be a P645M-11 (or darn close). I determined this by getting the f/w off the unit and comparing it to f/w on the ZyXEL site - and got a byte-by-byte match! There isn't a lot of desire for ZyXEL or Earthlink to make these custom-ISP models well documented.

EDIT: Notice how your Alcatel Version is 3.8.164? My P645 is 3.8.124. Chances are this refers to the DSP-based chips and/or microcode that actually do the phone line signal conditioning. This is golden info to someone about possible performance issues I'm looking for - finding such people has not been successful. This engineer would love to talk to another inside this technology. I'd run out and get a Bla-Bla model Bla if someone told me it was the most advanced for noise.
[text was edited by author 2003-04-06 15:24:33]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6496100 Sun, 06 Apr 2003 15:05:25 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6494807 Hall : EL ships whatever they have in stock and whatever works. I've got a "special" 642M myself.
--
-= Mindspring MaxDSL via Covad 1536/384 TeleSurfer Pro =- ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6494807 Sun, 06 Apr 2003 11:47:07 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6492752 gdm : Bill,

Here you go

ZyNOS F/W Version: V2.50(AY.4) | 11/08/2002
ADSL Chipset Vendor: Alcatel, Version 3.8.164
Standard: G.DMT

Interesting enough I was doing some digging on Covad's SMART account manager. You can actually get the new firmware for 643 from the covad site. Which is the only place I have seen this.

From the smart manager account

"This file is a firmware upgrade for the ZyXEL Prestige 643 ADSL Router that comes standard with all TeleSoho orders. The TeleSoho firmware upgrade is necessary for some TeleSoho customers that are trying to
1. Change their IP configuration from 1 IP address with NAT to 5 static IP addresses
2. Connect to XBox Live or other online gaming sites."

Bill do you have the 1.5/384 or 1.5/128 via EL? If you are on 1.5/384 how come EL users don't have the 643 out of curiosity?
[text was edited by author 2003-04-06 01:04:00]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6492752 Sun, 06 Apr 2003 00:19:55 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6492397 Bill_MI : ZyXEL isn't available 'til Monday but I'm looking at some updated f/w for my P645. Can either or both of you tell me what you have in menu 24.2.1? It should look like this:

ZyNOS S/W Version: V2.50(EK.3) | 8/31/2001
ADSL Chipset Vendor: Alcatel, Version 3.8.124

I found:
ZyNOS F/W Version : V2.50(EK.4) | 9/19/2002]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6492397 Sat, 05 Apr 2003 23:24:10 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6491033 Bill_MI : FastPath or SafeMode?

I just reviewed the first 5 days of April and I'm averaging 10db noise margin downstream (my limiting factor). But the lowest was 6.5 and highest 11.5. Those 6.5 times kill me FastPath yet stay solid SafeMode.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6491033 Sat, 05 Apr 2003 20:05:57 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6490807 ccarlin : Well I was the other one that tried this and my margins definitely increased. My downstream went from 6.5 (right before upgrading) to 9.5 and is currently at 11.5.

I have been up for 20 hours straight since doing this. I will wait and see how well it works on an evening during the week when I typically can't hold sync. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6490807 Sat, 05 Apr 2003 19:37:01 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6487235 gdm : Bill, I think it would be worth a shot to call zyxel and ask them what the curren firmware for the 645 is. It won't hurt to upgrade.:)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6487235 Sat, 05 Apr 2003 11:32:47 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6487122 Bill_MI : Very little except that copper line between you and the central office affects noise margin. I'm speculating from my background when I say the chipset in the modems is probably not a part of a ZyXEL firmware upgrade and that chipset pretty much determines performance, noise susceptibility, etc.

But like I said... I keep an ear out for things like "long reach" options that might have a shot at getting me solid in FastPath. Technology does improve and there's a real drive to squeeze ADSL performance (SafeMode a typical example that probably didn't exist in 1997 when I first discovered this problem and solved it... sort of :-)).

I've considered getting a different modem just to try it - but such data is hard to find. I can bet the farm modems cannot be created equal, even within the same model, when talking about the fringe of performance. But heck, I'm not going to try 50 of them. LOL!
[text was edited by author 2003-04-05 11:30:00]
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6487122 Sat, 05 Apr 2003 11:16:30 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6487061 gdm : Bill,

The reason I got the firmware was because of the 643 not saving that MTU command in the autoexec.net. When I upgraded the firmware that didn't help but the noise margins increased. They did not tell me what the fixes were but it has stabled my line much more even in safe mode.

Before I upgraded the firmware my noise margins would start out around 9-10 in safe mode on the downside. Some mornings when I woke up it would be anywhere from 0-5db with no explanation from Covad. Once the firmware was updated I average 12-14db on the down now.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6487061 Sat, 05 Apr 2003 11:07:24 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6487013 Bill_MI :
said by Hall See Profile:
As for Safe Mode, you could live with it. Just ask Bill_MI. :)
I still keep my ports open in case something comes up to get out of it. I may work in FastPath for days at a time - but too infrequently to stay there.

I'm suspicious firmware can help noise margins very much - readings change quite regularly here (which is why I have about a YEAR of noise values to compare! Remember my graph chart? :-)). I'd sure like to be solid in FastPath (sigh).

GDM, was this firmware upgrade specifically for connection enhancement or more like a suggestion?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6487013 Sat, 05 Apr 2003 11:00:18 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6486908 gdm : I know but once you have a taste of full you just don't want to give it up. I am going to check the NID in a little bit and scheduled SBC to come out and check the boxes. Thanks Hall!!!!!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6486908 Sat, 05 Apr 2003 10:42:20 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6486851 Hall : I only suggested that because it's the only one you can "control" of affect. See that drop going from your house to the pole, or that connection at the pole ?? They could be allowing water in and you can do NOTHING about those.

As for Safe Mode, you could live with it. Just ask Bill_MI. :)
--
-= Mindspring MaxDSL via Covad 1536/384 TeleSurfer Pro =- ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6486851 Sat, 05 Apr 2003 10:33:06 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6484932 gdm : It has been suggested maybe the NID isn't sealed good. When I did sync for those 30 seconds tonight at 8.5db they saw tons of errors. So now I will have to sit and wait to see where we go from here.

Every time the modem retrained it did full sync 1536/384. I got to tell you loved being at the because my pings were 31ms to yahoo, dslreports, etc.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6484932 Sat, 05 Apr 2003 00:43:49 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6484895 Bill_MI : Even without knowing exactly how noise margins are measured I'm sure it's hard to ever say there's some value that, when crossed, looses sync. The nature of the noise has to be a factor.

That said, water typically causes unbalance in the line. You may hear audible noise (usually "hum") on POTS. I had that for a while here a few years ago and I had to eventually predict rain, make a service call, to catch a lineman when it was bad. A real pain but eventually got it.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6484895 Sat, 05 Apr 2003 00:38:43 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6484786 gdm : Bill I think this is a major thing that should be brought up. We are have been having heavy rains off and on all day today. I left and came back modem couldn't sync for more then 30 seconds in fastpath with 8.5-9/14 for noise margins. Covad reprovisioned it and still nothing. Put be back in safe mode and running 14/18. Now I seem to maybe have a bare wire somewhere. Before it started raining I was running fine in 7-9db down for fast path.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6484786 Sat, 05 Apr 2003 00:20:57 EDT Re: Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6483959 Bill_MI : GDM, did you know you'd wet my appetite on this? :-)

I'm probably more than 2db away from being able to go back to FastPath (not SafeMode) but you never know. I'll probably call ZyXEL for the first time and see if such a thing exists for my P645's chipset (I imagine this is a factor). Anyone know?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6483959 Fri, 04 Apr 2003 22:45:11 EDT Firmware rasied noise margins on 643 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6483406 gdm : I just recently got covad telesoho for a little over a week now. Well I was have sync issues so I was put in safe mode and got noise margins of 10/16. Well I was talking to Zyxel about some other stuff and they told me about a new firmware one higher then what I had.

They emailed me the software and I updated my 643. Well my noise margins increased to 13.5/17. One other user has tried this today and his noise margins increased. I can't remember if it was similar increase or not. I will let him chime in here.

I thought this was some good info to pass along.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6483406 Fri, 04 Apr 2003 21:43:59 EDT