FTTP problems
 

I'm looking to understand if theres a problem with my broadband.

I moved back to Virgin Media last year when FTTP came to the area. The broadband feels kinda crap since then. We switched from Sky on Openreach FTTC and while its much faster its kinda flakey. The Sky had always been fine and reliable, rarely went down and everything worked. On Virgin the downloads are fast but streaming doesn't work very well. Either music or video streaming drops out fairly frequently.

I have a BQM running on thinkbroadband.com and it always looks terrible. When I first switched it looked worse but its not much better recently. I used to use bittorrent directly through the router but after reading about Hub 3.0 having problems with this I 've been running that through a VPN but it still seems to be rubbish.

So I turned off bittorrent last night to see what was what and now today my BQM is poor at best considering nothing has been downloading for over 12 hours. What do I need to do? or do I just need to live with it?

https://www.thinkbroadband.com/broad...20-02-2023.png

Re: FTTP problems
 

First of all I'm going to assume the your TBB graph looked much, much better than that before you moved away from Sky FTTC (Openreach Network). I'm also assuming that apart from the fact you now using the Virgin Media Hub you have changed nothing about your home network. Another thing: Are you connected to the router by wifi or Ethernet and if wifi, is your router placed in the best possible location?

What Virgin package are you on? Did you say you have been given Hub 3? Your BQM looks a lot like Hub 3 graphs before VM used a firmware modification to fix the issues with the Puma 6 chip. e.g. Your basic latency is not good! That was over four year ago. Have you tried a Hub 3 reboot, just incase?

Re: FTTP problems
 

From my experience and memory my graph didn't look as bad as that when I originally had the hub3 as a tester before the puma fix.

Re: FTTP problems
 

I remember that at the time that my graph was normal through my Hub 3, but I just found this from when the Puma fix was applied. The fix cleared up the mess, but didn't improve latency much in these examples. To my untrained eye this looks similar to Bubble's problem.

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...light=puma+fix

Re: FTTP problems
 

Yes on Sky FTTC it was much "quieter" it was very much less eventful.

I have the same network. Virgin Hub in modem mode connected to Asus AX86U as router. I was using 3rd party DNS and a few other things, but because we have Virgin TV I had to switch this to Virgin DNS so nothing fancy on the router now.

I have both wired and wireless connections but both get the streaming issues particularly music and radio. I have AIMesh wifi with an AC86U on wired backhaul upstairs. I can use wifi to about 3 doors away and its fine everywhere in the house.

I know about the Puma 3 issue but I hoped they had mitigations in place for it.

I'm on the 500Mb package (350Mbps with Volt Boost from O2 SIM)

Went back in my history on thinkbroadband
https://www.thinkbroadband.com/broad...11-02-2023.png

This doesn't look so bad but this week has been like the first one.

Re: FTTP problems
 

I see nothing in your set up that could cause that graph or streaming issues. Are you running QoS on your main router? It shouldn't produce a graph like that, but on a 500Mb connection you shouldn't need QoS. It's worth switching it off.

You mentioned DNS in connection with Virgin TV. TV is on a separate channel and internal cables. It doesn't go through the modem or your router. Your are fine on whatever your third-party DNS you were on - Google, Cloudflare or whatever.

I'm hoping someone else here has ideas about your issue. Display your Hub levels on here. Someone might see a level too high or too low, but meantime I would want to eliminate possible causes. Apologies if you already did this.

Try switching your Hub 3 back to router mode with your main router temporarily taken out of the network altogether. If that makes the difference, the problem may be with your main router. Having eliminated the Hub then try taking your router back to factory settings, let it update and then reintroduce your settings one at a time.

If taking the Hub back to router mode makes no difference, then the problem is with the Hub or your connection. Either way you would need to contact CS because your service is being affected. First thing in the morning is the best time on a week day.

Re: FTTP problems
 

No QOS in use.

The TV breaks within a week (on demand, recording and apps) if the V6 doesn't see Virgin DNS servers. Had this problem for months and this was the only fix.

Did a full reset last night.

Hub 3.0 device information
The information below shows current status of this Hub 3.0.


Standard specification compliant : DOCSIS 3.0
Hardware version : 10
Software version : 9.1.2208.100

Cable modem serial number : AA1P80880910
System up time : 0 days 3h:6m:53s
Network access : Allowed


Acquired Downstream Channel (Hz)

299000000
Locked
Ranged Upstream Channel (Hz)

32600000
Locked
Provisioning State

Online

Channel Frequency (Hz) Power (dBmV) SNR (dB) Modulation Channel ID

1 331000000 -3.2 38 256 qam 25
2 203000000 -1.2 38 256 qam 9
3 211000000 -1.2 38 256 qam 10
4 219000000 -1.4 38 256 qam 11
5 227000000 -1.5 38 256 qam 12
6 235000000 -1.5 38 256 qam 13
7 243000000 -1.7 38 256 qam 14
8 251000000 -2 38 256 qam 15
9 259000000 -2.4 38 256 qam 16
10 267000000 -2.5 38 256 qam 17
11 275000000 -3 38 256 qam 18
12 283000000 -3 38 256 qam 19
13 291000000 -3.2 38 256 qam 20
14 299000000 -3.2 37 256 qam 21
15 307000000 -3.2 38 256 qam 22
16 315000000 -3.4 38 256 qam 23
17 323000000 -3.5 38 256 qam 24
18 339000000 -3.2 38 256 qam 26
19 347000000 -3 38 256 qam 27
20 355000000 -3.2 38 256 qam 28
21 363000000 -3.4 38 256 qam 29
22 371000000 -3.5 38 256 qam 30
23 379000000 -3.5 37 256 qam 31
24 387000000 -3.5 38 256 qam 32


Downstream bonded channels
Channel Locked Status RxMER (dB) Pre RS Errors Post RS Errors
1 Locked 38.6 6 0
2 Locked 38.6 5 0
3 Locked 38.6 7 0
4 Locked 38.6 7 0
5 Locked 38.9 7 0
6 Locked 38.6 4 0
7 Locked 38.6 5 0
8 Locked 38.6 4 0
9 Locked 38.9 9 0
10 Locked 38.6 10 0
11 Locked 38.9 16 0
12 Locked 38.6 14 0
13 Locked 38.6 14 0
14 Locked 37.6 8 0
15 Locked 38.9 7 0
16 Locked 38.9 14 0
17 Locked 38.6 9 0
18 Locked 38.6 5 0
19 Locked 38.6 6 0
20 Locked 38.6 8 0
21 Locked 38.9 9 0
22 Locked 38.6 6 0
23 Locked 37.6 8 0
24 Locked 38.6 3 0



Network Log: (I have remove the MAC's)

22/02/2023 22:14:45 notice LAN login Success;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
22/02/2023 22:14:29 Warning! LAN login FAILED : Incorrect Username / Password / ConnectionType;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
22/02/2023 22:12:4 notice LAN login Success;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
22/02/2023 22:11:58 Warning! LAN login FAILED : Incorrect Username / Password / ConnectionType;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
22/02/2023 22:11:12 notice LAN login Success;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
22/02/2023 22:04:5 notice SW download Successful - Via Config file
22/02/2023 22:01:18 notice SW Download INIT - Via Config file
22/02/2023 20:37:23 notice LAN login Success;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
20/02/2023 04:46:36 critical No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
19/02/2023 14:34:1 Error DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=4;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
19/02/2023 09:33:48 notice LAN login Success;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
17/02/2023 04:08:47 critical No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
16/02/2023 09:05:16 Error DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
14/02/2023 23:44:56 critical No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;

13/02/2023 11:04:20 notice LAN login Success;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
12/02/2023 13:54:48 critical No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=4;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
12/02/2023 07:02:45 Error DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
09/02/2023 01:23:30 critical No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
08/02/2023 19:02:45 Error DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
06/02/2023 03:16:29 critical No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=;CMTS-MAC=;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;

I have posted this on the community forum, too.

Its less bad since the system reset but still not great

Re: FTTP problems
 

You should post your upstream power levels too, you should have atleast 4 upstreams.

Re: FTTP problems
 

Upstream bonded channels
Channel Frequency (Hz) Power (dBmV) Symbol Rate (ksps) Modulation Channel ID
1 32600000 36.3 5120 64 qam 9
2 39400000 35.8 5120 64 qam 4
3 46200000 35.5 5120 64 qam 3
4 23600000 36.3 5120 64 qam 10


Upstream bonded channels
Channel Channel Type T1 Timeouts T2 Timeouts T3 Timeouts T4 Timeouts
1 ATDMA 0 0 0 0
2 ATDMA 0 0 0 0
3 ATDMA 0 0 0 0
4 ATDMA 0 0 0 0

Re: FTTP problems
 

So an update.

I put my Hub into Router mode earlier today and I put my Asus Router with a fixed IP into the DMZ.

Result:
The BQM is much smoother, but I'm a bit confused as the BQM for the Asus Router is also now similarly smoothed.

:confused: :shrug:

Re: FTTP problems
 

All looks as expected now.

Re: FTTP problems
 

As SnoopZ says, your graphs look normal ... for VM. If you saw my BQM for my Vodafone\Cityfibre connection, normal would have a different meaning. :D

I'm impressed that you managed to set up a DMZ when Hub 3 is in router mode! How does that work? Have you managed to devote one of the Hub 3 ethernet ports to your DMZ? With that setup, surely both your BQMs will be taking data from your WAN IP not your internal 192.168.*.* on the default subnet. Both will be similar if not identical.

You said you were confused. I probably confused you some more. :angel:

Re: FTTP problems
 

I put the Asus at a fixed IP on the Hub and put that on DMZ, then I have a DDNS so pointed the BQM at the DDNS host.
May not be valid really.

It lasted 2 days then had started to get more laggy again.

I've now switched to Default Asus Firmware and back to modem mode but its getting progressively worse since 9.30am this morning.

I'm going to factory reset Virgin Hub and router tonight then see what it looks like in the morning.

Re: FTTP problems
 

Looking at you BQM just now - 12.29 pm, the graph looks normal from your last reboot, just before 11.00 am. Is that with the firmware resets?

Re: FTTP problems
 

Sort of between the two red lines is after the resets with asus .388 firmware.

I decided that I hadn't had any issues when on Sky FTTC so switched back to the firmware version I had back then. So now I'm on version 3.0.0.4.386_46061 which seems to be better so far, but I wasn't doing much online [put a bit of a rant on the VM Community Forum] so who knows.
There might be an issue with the new .388 firmwares.