tt0ne
join:2008-07-13
Redlands, CA
1 edit | SNR readings & Motorola SB5100
Hi,
I just recently signed up for Road Runner's service - I have the 15/2 service that I believe is a recent addition to the Road Runner lineup in my area. Previously to my recent move, I had Verizon FIOS and the 20/20 package. This is not my first time on cable connectivity - I had Comcast (or was it Cox - can't remember now) up in Washington State and Adelphia (when I moved to SoCal) before I moved to FIOS. Not sure why I'm telling everyone this... 
My speedtest as of 9:49 PM, Tuesday:
»www.speedtest.net/result/507500775.png
As you can see, my speeds are good (and better then what I'm provisioned for on the downstream) although they change drastically depending on the time of day (to be expected - not complaining).
But, here is what I'm wondering. I have a Motorola SB5100 that I purchased when I was in Washington with Comcast. It served me good with them, and it moved with me to Socal and lived on the Adelphia network right up until FIOS moved to my neighborhood. With my recent move, it now sits on the Road Runner network... When the installer came to my house last week, he started installing some modem I've never heard of and I told him I had my own - and he asked "is it a Motorola?" - I say "yes" - he looked at it and said, "this is what we used to give out before we started getting cheap" (was kind of surprised he would say that) and chuckled - and so I asked him, "is this a better modem" and he said "oh yes - you'll definitely want to use yours" - I wish I had paid more attention to what he was originally going to install (I think it started with an "A"). Anyways, I asked him about my levels and he said I'm well within spec. My modem has a direct feed (with one barrel connector) from where the cable comes onto my property. It's also a very short distance - if there was no wall where my modem is located I could literally touch the MPOE where the cable from Time Warner originates.
Now my question. It looks like my downstream power level value is NOT in spec - but I'm not having problems with dropped packets or loss of connectivity. I do tons of remote administration and my SSH connections are still up in the morning, etc. (although, TCP is resilient protocol - I may be dropping packets and just don't know it) - but I want to know if I'm in for potential problems with the following readings that I'm getting off the SB5100:
Downstream Value
Frequency 705000000 Hz Locked
Signal to Noise Ratio 36 dB
Power Level 18 dBmV
The Downstream Power Level reading is a snapshot taken at the time this page was requested. Please Reload/Refresh this Page for a new reading
Upstream Value
Channel ID 9
Frequency 33000000 Hz Ranged
Power Level 47 dBmV
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As you can see, my upstream is great. It fluctuates between 47 and 50 dBmV depending on the day - well within spec and at 50 - at the high end of the spec (great!). But, my downstream is out of spec and according to what I've read - it's power level should be between -15 to 15 dB and mine is 18 dB.
So, what does that mean? Can it be fixed? Should I be worried about future issues? Is the "-15 to 15 dB" old specs and there are newer specs being used?
Hoping some of you cable experts can help me understand my readings a little better!
Thanks in advance,
- Marco (Redlands, CA - 92374) |
|
Vchat20
Landing is the REAL challenge
join:2003-09-16
Warren, OH
clubs: 
| Your downstream is WAY too hot. By any chance do you have an amp on your line somewhere? If so, try and move the modem off it and preferrably off the first splitter inside the house.
If you don't have an amp, I'd call TWC ASAP and get someone to come out and investigate.
--
I swear, some people should have pace-makers installed to free up the resources. Breathing and heart beat taxes their whole system, all of their brain cells wasted on life support.-two bit brains, and the second bit is wasted on parity! ~head_spaz |
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tt0ne
join:2008-07-13
Redlands, CA | reply to tt0ne
Hi Vchat,
Thanks for the information, man! No amp on my line AND no splitter. Are you saying I should use a splitter and see if that helps my downstream calm down?
- Marco |
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tt0ne
join:2008-07-13
Redlands, CA
| reply to tt0ne
Ok, I'm off to RadioShack to purchase a coax splitter and a short cable to run off of it to the cable mode. Hopefully that will solve my problem without having to bother anyone at Time Warner.
I'll report back.
- Marco |
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tt0ne
join:2008-07-13
Redlands, CA
2 edits | reply to tt0ne
Ok, as you suggested Vchat, I went and purchased a splitter and another peice of coax and that did the trick!
Frequency 705000000 Hz Locked
Signal to Noise Ratio 36 dB
Power Level 14 dBmV
The Downstream Power Level reading is a snapshot taken at the time this page was requested. Please Reload/Refresh this Page for a new reading
Upstream Value
Channel ID 9
Frequency 33000000 Hz Ranged
Power Level 50 dBmV
14 is still hot but within spec, correct?
Maybe I should split it one more time? How do my readings look to you now? Also, do I need to ground the splitter - it has a ground screw... I assume I have to - but right now - I don't have it grounded.
Thanks so much for your help!
- Marco
PS: wow, some great download speeds, eh?
 |
|
K Patterson
Premium,MVM
join:2006-03-12
Columbus, OH | Both your upstream and downstream are very close to too high. Anything you do to fix one will hurt the other. You need TW to fix this installation. Sooner or later you will be in trouble. |
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tt0ne
join:2008-07-13
Redlands, CA | reply to tt0ne
Hi KP,
I'll go ahead and phone Time Warner right now. Thanks for the heads up - I'll post back here my experience as it transpires.
- Marco |
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tt0ne
join:2008-07-13
Redlands, CA
1 edit | reply to tt0ne
KP/Vchat,
I went into the closet and found an old cable modem amplifier that I had from Washington. Can't believe I still had it... But, instead of plugging it in (it has a power cord) - I just removed the power plug and used it like I would a splitter. Look at these readings and tell me if they are better and whether I should still call Time Warner:
Downstream Value
Frequency 705000000 Hz Locked
Signal to Noise Ratio 36 dB
Power Level -1 dBmV
The Downstream Power Level reading is a snapshot taken at the time this page was requested. Please Reload/Refresh this Page for a new reading
Upstream Value
Channel ID 9
Frequency 33000000 Hz Ranged
Power Level 48 dBmV
---
Obviously the downstream is pretty well perfect, right? But I'm wondering about the upstream - is 48 good or am I still playing with fire?
Thanks for your help, guys!
- Marco
PS: Look at these nutty download speeds... is it getting higher because my power levels are getting better or is this just a freak accident?
 |
|
Lowtarget
Premium
join:2003-12-22
Alger, OH
clubs:
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·magicjack.com
| reply to tt0ne
upstream power level of 48 dBmV. Should be just fine as long you not having any problems. The max upstream power level RR tech support likes is 55 dBmV. But some users runs into problems when reaching near the max.
My upstream power level stays at 52.0 dBmV all the time. I'm not having any problems at all with my broadband. |
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tt0ne
join:2008-07-13
Redlands, CA | Thanks, LT!
I'll keep an eye on things and report any problems I have on this forum.
- Marco |
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tt0ne
join:2008-07-13
Redlands, CA
| reply to tt0ne
I think I hit downstream nirvana - it's 10:18 PM so it's a little cooler now than during the day.
Downstream Value
Frequency 705000000 Hz Locked
Signal to Noise Ratio 35 dB
Power Level 0 dBmV
The Downstream Power Level reading is a snapshot taken at the time this page was requested. Please Reload/Refresh this Page for a new reading
Upstream Value
Channel ID 9
Frequency 33000000 Hz Ranged
Power Level 48 dBmV
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Zero! Sweet!
48 on the upstream... I can't find anywhere that says what the power level for the upstream's "sweet spot" is - does anyone know?
Also, is there anything that can be done to improve the upstream from Time Warner's perspective - without blowing up the downstream like K Patterson above said?
I guess I should just count my blessings but if we were all just your average internet users we wouldn't be frequenting dslreports.com now, would we?
So what is "upstream nirvana?" I wish there was a way to know what the SNR is for the upstream...
- Marco |
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