Variable network speed

[howard.bates]

I am on a 20 Mbit/sec connection in Camberley. For the last 6 weeks or so, the network performance has been awful, 1-2 M all day and all night (it used to be around 10 during the day, rising to 18-19 very late at night). Before taking it up with VM, I decided to do a few checks and tests. Removed my router and connected the modem directly to one of the two PCs - no change. Connected the modem directly to the other PC - wham, 18-19 M :). Restored the router to the circuit, and have had 18-19 M consistently for the last 48 hours :). It may be that something changed elsewhere at the same time as I was tinkering, but I think it is far more likely that I accidentally fixed something.
Can anybody explain this ? Are there things we can/should do if the network performance suddenly goes south ? For the record, I used to power the modem on and off at the same time as the PC, but since Christmas have left it on permanently as it was having trouble attaching to the network.

[thenry]

your modems firmware may of been updated to which it may of glitched somewhere and only a manual power down/power up could fix.. i could be chatting poo but its happened before recently to others who have had their firmware updated. outages can also glitch services.

could you post up a bit of info/stats. power levels and your modem log remove your MAC address before posting

put this into your web browser..

192.168.100.1

login.. default login should be stated on screen.

copy and paste.. power levels post both down and upstream. and your modem log.. remove your MAC address from the copied text

[howard.bates]

Thanks for your reply, and for the offer of help. Here is my current modem info, as requested. The modem is a little black Ambit box.
The last reconfig was around 18:15 last night. I got home from the day job around 13:15 today and turned the PC on. The log seems to bear this out.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cable Modem Information
Cable Modem : Euro-DOCSIS 1.0/1.1/2.0 Compliant
MAC Address : xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
Serial Number : 00xxxxxxxxxx
Boot Code Version : 1.1.2c
Software Version : 2.111.1002
Hardware Version : 1.9
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cable Modem Status
Item Status Comments
Acquire a Downstream Channel 323000000 Hz Locked
Connectivity State OK Operational
Boot State OK Operational
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cable Modem Downstream
Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 88
Downstream Frequency : 323000000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM256
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : 7.6 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 37.7 dB
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cable Modem Upstream
Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 7
Upstream Frequency : 45800000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 5120 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 40.4 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cable Modem Upstream Burst
Req Init Maint Per Maint Adv Short Adv Long Adv UGS
(1) (3) (4) (9) (10) (11)
Modulation Type QPSK QPSK QPSK 16QAM 16QAM 16QAM
Differential Encoding Off Off Off Off Off Off
Preamble Length 64 640 384 96 104 104
Preamble Value Offset 652 6 6 1028 1028 1028
FEC Error Correction (T) 0 5 5 6 8 8
FEC Codeword Information Bytes (k) 16 34 34 75 219 219
Scrambler Seed 338 338 338 338 338 338
Maximum Burst Size 0 0 0 6 0 0
Guard Time Size 8 48 48 8 8 8
Last Codeword Length Fixed Fixed Fixed Short Short Short
Scrambler on/off On On On On On On
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cable Modem Operation Configuration
Network Access : Allowed
Maximum Downstream Data Rate : 20480000
Maximum Upstream Data Rate : 2080000
Maximum Upstream Channel Burst : 8160
Maximum Number of CPEs : 1
Modem Capability : Concatenation Enabled, Fragametation Enabled, PHS Enabled
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time Not Est. Time Not Est. Information (7) Sync Start
Time Not Est. Time Not Est. Information (7) Received a UCD message!
Time Not Est. Time Not Est. Information (7) Downstream lock ok
Time Not Est. Time Not Est. Information (7) Locked on the downstream. Waiting for UCDs...
Time Not Est. Time Not Est. Information (7) Received a UCD message!
Time Not Est. Time Not Est. Information (7) starting ds time sync acquisition...
Time Not Est. Time Not Est. Information (7) Downstream sync ok
Time Not Est. Time Not Est. Information (7) downstream time sync acquired...
Time Not Est. Time Not Est. Information (7) Beginning initial ranging...
Time Not Est. Time Not Est. Information (7) Downstream sync ok
Time Not Est. Time Not Est. Information (7) MAP w/initial maintenance region received
Thu 18:14:04 Thu 18:14:04 Critical (3) DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response.
Thu 18:14:04 Thu 18:14:04 Information (7) CableModem DHCP client init ok
Thu 18:14:04 Thu 18:14:04 Information (7) CableModem TFTP init ok
Thu 18:14:04 Thu 18:14:04 Information (7) IP init completed ok
Thu 18:14:05 Thu 18:14:05 Information (7) CableModem SNMP configure complete
Thu 18:14:05 Thu 18:14:05 Information (7) Sending a REG-REQ to the CMTS...
Thu 18:14:05 Thu 18:14:05 Information (7) Received a REG-RSP message from the CMTS...
Thu 18:14:05 Thu 18:14:05 Information (7) We registered with a DOCSIS 1.1 config file!
Thu 18:14:05 Thu 18:14:05 Information (7) Registration complete!
Thu 18:14:05 Thu 18:14:05 Information (7) Authorized
Thu 18:14:05 Thu 18:14:05 Information (7) A software upgrade filename was specified in the config file.
Thu 18:14:05 Thu 18:14:05 Information (7) The s/w filename specified in the config file is the same as ...
Thu 18:14:10 Thu 18:14:10 Information (7) SA Map State Machine Started
Thu 18:14:10 Thu 18:14:10 Information (7) Map Reject - Downstream Traffic Flow Not Mapped to BPI+ SAID ...
Fri 13:21:36 Fri 13:21:36 Information (7) SA Map State Machine Started
Fri 13:21:36 Fri 13:21:36 Information (7) Map Reject - Downstream Traffic Flow Not Mapped to BPI+ SAID ...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Andrewcrawford23]

the modem might be on it last legs but the modem is trying to doa formware upgrade and not succedding form wha ti can see i suggest you ring ansd say your having conenciton problem they will most liekly send you out a superhub and you will be ready for the speed boost to 60mb

[howard.bates]

I'm not questioning your diagnosis, just trying to understand a bit more. What makes you believe that the firmware upgrade is failing ?

[Andrewcrawford23]

Thu 18:14:05 Thu 18:14:05 Information (7) A software upgrade filename was specified in the config file.
Thu 18:14:05 Thu 18:14:05 Information (7) The s/w filename specified in the config file is the same as ...
Thu 18:14:10 Thu 18:14:10 Information (7) SA Map State Machine Started
Thu 18:14:10 Thu 18:14:10 Information (7) Map Reject - Downstream Traffic Flow Not Mapped to BPI+ SAID ...
Fri 13:21:36 Fri 13:21:36 Information (7) SA Map State Machine Started
Fri 13:21:36 Fri 13:21:36 Information (7) Map Reject - Downstream Traffic Flow Not Mapped to BPI+ SAID ...

[howard.bates]

According to my docsis.org, researches, the Map Reject message means ...

"the modems is going BPI but not BPI+, due to the fact you are using a common config file for mutli-vendor modems. The CVC file for each modem is not included in the file. It's generally harmless, but annoying as it fills up the log."

BPI is apparently Baseline Privacy Interface, which handles MAC level authentication and encryption.

[thenry]

call VM as Andrew said and have your modem replaced. If they give you a SuperHub dont worry theres modem mode so you can link your current router.

[Andrewcrawford23]

basically it saying the dociss file says ther eis firmwaare upgraded, but when it tries to upgrade the firmware tells it is upgraded but there is some sort of difference in versions so it kidna arguing with itself wheteher it needs upgrading

that is the stupid way of putting it but hope that helps you undestand

also suggest you leave your modme off and tell them the modme isnt turning on and you haev tried other power sockets

[howard.bates]

Gentlemen,
Thanks very much for your help and advice. At least I'll have a decent connection while VM decide if they want to give me a SuperHub !

[horseman]

the modem might be on it last legs but the modem is trying to doa formware upgrade and not succedding form wha ti can see …..

That's a normal "upgrade" stanza for the Ambit -
Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Information (7) The s/w filename specified in the config file is the same as ...
Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Information (7) A software upgrade filename was specified in the config file.
Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Information (7) Authorized
Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Information (7) Registration complete!

…..and could be VM don't have BPI+ enabled on that chassis?

[Andrewcrawford23]

That's a normal "upgrade" stanza for the Ambit -
Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Information (7) The s/w filename specified in the config file is the same as ...
Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Information (7) A software upgrade filename was specified in the config file.
Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Information (7) Authorized
Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Sat Feb 25 09:00:42 2012 Information (7) Registration complete!

…..and could be VM don't have BPI+ enabled on that chassis?

im aware offirmeware upgrade and yoru is what hapens when it goes right but for some reaosn the op isnt succeeding it could be as you say bpi+ isnt enabled it could be the modem dying it could be a few thign either way the first protocol is replce the modem and go form there

[craigj2k12]

im aware offirmeware upgrade and yoru is what hapens when it goes right but for some reaosn the op isnt succeeding it could be as you say bpi+ isnt enabled it could be the modem dying it could be a few thign either way the first protocol is replce the modem and go form there

BPI is nothing to do with a firmware upgrade

[Andrewcrawford23]

BPI is nothing to do with a firmware upgrade

fair enough not something i am aware of i dnt know the modmes processing that well out of my field :0, but when a firmware upgrade is successful it says so it doesnt in this case so i stil think the firmware upgrade has failed in some way