Signal Levels - what do they mean?

[phoenix__]

Can someone give me some idea what the signal levels actually mean?

Having just started graphing them, the Upstream Power, and SNR are fairly constant, however the downstream power varies quite a lot - as high as 4.2 for a couple of hours overnight, down to 0.4 a couple of hours ago.

[Steve Day]

you have no problems.

SNR will usually be about 35 if it gets down to 28ish u will have noise problems. upstream power is fantastic if its about 40, normal in the 41-50 range. keep your eye on it at 51-55 and call an engineer if it goes over 55.

downstream power will fluctuate ( more over the last 12 minths than it used i think) its operational range is -10 to +15 dbmv but its "best range" is -8 to +8 which is where virgin would like it to be. mine fluctuates between -3 and +3 atm it used to be 2-7.

hope this "idiots guide" helps. as i am no network engineer and this is just from reading stuff and my experience of the VM network.

Steve

[xocemp]

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/430166-post1.html

[Matt-08]

My Ambit 256 constantly shows a power level of 58.5-60 and I have no problems.....should I ignore it?

[Steve Day]

well if you have no problems then i suppose you could well ignore it.

i can only go on surfboard modems for sure and i know mine got flakey with a power level over 51 and then failed to find a path when it went above 55

if u want to be sure what virgin think u could always ask a tech on the VM broadband support newsgroup.

Steve