NTL120 Modem
 

Hi Peeps!

can anybody shed a light as to why my router Netgear MR314 would struggle with the above modem if the ethernet type is set at 100Mbs full ? As I was getting what seemed like 1/2 speed I wondered if the default setting which is autosensing is 10Mbs duplex which I think would equate to approx 5Mbs D/L speed. Net result was that my router would then not talk to the modem at all!!!

modem still works and I have reset it to autosensing and all is hunkydory again!!

I have seen many conflicting posts about the abilities of modems and I am a bit confused about wheter I need to talk nicely to c/s to get a new modem or will it all get sorted in the rollout!!
Andy

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

The 120 will only do 5M max due to it's firmware. Experience suggests that setting the ethernet on it to 100 will actually make it worse - 10M duplex seems best, with your PC NIC set to the same (i.e. neither set to auto).

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

do you know if the firmware on the 120 will get flashed or do I just wait for NTL to arrange to install a new modem!!!

the irony is that both of my neighbours have the 1meg service and blue 250 modems !!;)

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

One of those will happen, we have no information on which yet.

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

I've found this abit useful as well. I've set both the Modem to Full duplex 10Mbit and my Ethernet card the same, Results are more stable and much nearer the 5mb Connection, instead of 4mb I was getting.

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

I know I have mentioned this before but I dont think anyone picked up on it, I have a 120 modem and have it set to 100 Full Duplex, as is my Dlink DI604 Router and Intel Pro 100 V Nic.

I am (currently) having no problems on the 3mb tier with this setup, could it be NIC / driver specific do you all think?

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

I only tried the full setting on the modem after i was put on the 10 mb service as i was getting approx 5.2 Mb d/l...3mb was rock solid with only two outages in nearly three years (well done NTL)

Now I know I can get into the modem directly from the pc ethernet connection I am wonering what hether to have another go with 100 half !! but I am quite happy that it is at 5Mb at the mo !! as mates who live in the sticks are stuck at 512 kb !!
;)

I am sure my router should do 100 MB will have to go and check now to see what internet connection it can cope with!!!!

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

I have just been doing some tests d/l headers from the NTL newsgroups, I know the completion rates are s**t but I have always found that I get consistantly top speeds there which make them good for testing.

I found that if I set the Modem and NIC to the same setting I get the following results:

10M Half Duplex. I get a constant 430000 b/s.
100M Half Duplex. I get a constant 470000 b/s.
Auto Negotiate. I get a constant 470000 b/s
10M Full Duplex. Bursty and very slow and stalls
100M Full Duplex. Bursty and very slow and stalls

The ASDSL Guide test Confirms these speeds as follows:

10M Half Duplex. 3917 Kbps
100M Half Duplex. 4361 Kbps

It's early days yet and I wouldn't want to draw any firm conclusions yet but on my system at least "Auto" and "100M Half Duplex" seem to give the best results. I just need the firmware upgrade now, or modem replacement. Before Xmas would be nice :)


Location - Coventry
Modem - NTL Home 120
Router - SMC7004ABR

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

I noticed on mine 10m half and auto sense work best. I think the modem when shipped used to auto sense to 10 half and seems designed to operate in this mode and I also believes it negotiates with the ubr at 10 half hence the 5mbit max speed.

Now if I use auto sense it puts me on 100mbit but I dont know if it is half or full as windows doesnt show which, my lan card is on auto negot.

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

Same here bud, exactly the same results.
Location - East Sussex
Modem - Both NIC and NTL 120 Ambit Modem set to 10MB Full duplex

1st 128K took 266 ms = 492752 Bytes/sec = approx 4100 kbits/sec
2nd 128K took 265 ms = 494611 Bytes/sec = approx 4115 kbits/sec
3rd 128K took 250 ms = 524288 Bytes/sec = approx 4362 kbits/sec
4th 128K took 266 ms = 492752 Bytes/sec = approx 4100 kbits/sec

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

Just spoke with CS and told these modems will take up to 24mb! Also told that as the 10mb isnt 'officially' yet launched there is still network balancing going on.

Once this has been completed and im still not getting 10mb then call them to sort out

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

I seem to be repeating this a number of times - the Ambit 120 will not do more than 5M without a firmware update. At the moment we believe that ntl are working on this (or Ambit are working on it for them ?). We don't know if they will upgrade the firmware or replace them with a 250 atm.

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

I doubt they will replace the modems, Too much expense, Probably why they said Up to 10mb, Typical NTL Clause/escape goat, if things don't work out.

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

Actually modems are not very expensive, and they would probably post you a new one if they went for a largescale replacement programme.

Re: NTL120 Modem
 

I hope your right!.