20mb problem, please help? :)

KungFuKitty · 13-03-2008, 20:34

Okay firstly Hi everyone! (am new to the CF!)
I'm reading the "Read before you post" thread as i'm doing this..
Intro!:
I have been on the 2mb line since the blueyonder/virgin switch at first the line was terrible aka virgin up and down alot but recently it seems to have been great so i figure... hey! lets upgrade to the 20mb line

because running a laptop and pc and ps3 all off a 2mb line has kinna sucked!!

Ok specifically my issue is:
Rang up earlier (well my gf did!) and asked to upgrade to 20meg "Sure it will take around an hour" was what we were told..

hour pass's by at the speed sure enough went up, but thats the problem.. from getting around 2064(down) and 244(up) on my 2meg line since i've upgraded i only get around 3010(down) 734(up).. the up seems to be fine, i'm not sure what i 'should' be getting on the 20mb line in upload but i'm pretty certain i should be gettin' more than a 3mb line worth or atleast closer to 20,000kbps??!

So i rang this time and was asked typically the general questions of "how is your pc connected" .. "do you have programs currently downloading" .. .."have you checked for spyware and antivirus"

we finally got down to.. "All you can do is ring back again when you have the phone next to your pc and we can do some speed tests with our other team to determine the problem.. on which i replied "But my pc is upstairs as is the connection! and i can't be on the phone downstairs whilst the pc is upstairs the same time

" i was advised to maybe ring on a mobile phone .. ... ..

ummm @ 25p a min+?! (maybe more on my mobile) ugh.. so i'm lost now at what to do and would like some advice from you guys if thats ok

I currently have my pc directly connected to my Motorola SB4200i Modem though usually i have it connected to my Belkin router along with my girlfriends Laptop and our PS3 networked together... (I tested it and was the same as directly connected but still.. for now its direct)
I'm running on Windows XP SP2, have used TCPOptimizer from Speedguide.net to tweak for 20mb line (had my 2mb tweaked before and it worked perfect) i followed the steps on the Virgin Media site on how to setup your 20mb line (disable QoS etc)

|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| WinMTR statistics |
| Host - % | Sent | Recv | Best | Avrg | Wrst | Last |
|------------------------------------------------|------|------|------|------|------|------|
| 10.9.128.1 - 0 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 13 | 32 | 15 |
|80-192-0-1.cable.ubr01.azte.blueyonder.co.uk - 0 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 50 | 203 | 15 |
| aztw-t3core-1a-ge-010-0.inet.ntl.com - 0 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 11 | 31 | 15 |
| win-bb-a-so-200-0.inet.ntl.com - 0 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 13 | 62 | 15 |
| gfd-bb-b-so-100-0.inet.ntl.com - 0 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 13 | 16 | 15 |
| redb-ic-1-as0-0.inet.ntl.com - 0 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 15 | 62 | 15 |
| 212.58.238.189 - 0 | 28 | 28 | 15 | 23 | 156 | 16 |
| 212.58.238.149 - 0 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 19 | 156 | 16 |
| 212.58.239.62 - 0 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 15 | 31 | 31 |
| www4.telhc.bbc.co.uk - 0 | 28 | 28 | 15 | 16 | 32 | 15 |
|________________________________________________| ______|______|______|______|______|______|
WinMTR - 0.8. Copyleft @2000-2002 Vasile Laurentiu Stanimir ( stanimir@cr.nivis.com )

Ran WinMTR for about 30 seconds then copied that to here, is that ok?

In my Motorola Settings:

Status:
Acquire Downstream Channel Done
Obtain Upstream Parameters Done
Establish IP Connectivity using DHCP Done
Establish Time Of Day Done
Transfer Operational Parameters through TFTP Done
Register Connection Done
Cable Modem Status Operational
Initialize Baseline Privacy Skipped

Signal:
Downstream Value
Frequency 338750000 Hz Locked
Signal to Noise Ratio 38 dB
Power Level 7 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 4
Frequency 29200000 Hz Ranged
Power Level 32 dBmV

Is there anything else you need to know?

i'll post asap

Thanks guys and sorry my first post is with a problem

~ Kitty xx (sorry if i rambled on!)

EDIT: Ok i've fiddled around in device manager (i was on full duplex 100mbps) changed that to half and also tried auto detect.. now i'm getting...
13398kbps (down) 730kbps (up) from speedtest.net "Recommended server"
Still shouldn't this be closer to the 20k mark??

ceedee · 13-03-2008, 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by KungFuKitty

EDIT: Ok i've fiddled around in device manager (i was on full duplex 100mbps) changed that to half and also tried auto detect.. now i'm getting...
13398kbps (down) 730kbps (up) from speedtest.net "Recommended server"
Still shouldn't this be closer to the 20k mark??

It should be faster but at this time in the evening, it's probably mostly network congestion.
Give it a try at a quieter time of day?

KungFuKitty · 13-03-2008, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceedee

It should be faster but at this time in the evening, it's probably mostly network congestion.
Give it a try at a quieter time of day?

Ok will do i'll try around 2am seeing as i'm up all night anyway

i keep gettin around 10-13mb of the line so far, atleast a big improvement on the 3mb i was getting

Hopefully it'll get better

Would any of you have any advice for optimizing my connection to get its best results? Also is the modem i'm on good enough or should i request a new one?

Any tips would be good

Thanks

~ Kitty x

fatassmichael · 13-03-2008, 22:18

Try this link kitty http://www.virginmedia.com/help/20mb...timisation.php
Welcome to the forum BTW.

moaningmags · 13-03-2008, 22:49

If your ex-telewest your modem is on wrong frequency.

Frequency 338750000 Hz Locked

should be 339000000

in browser type http://192.168.100.1

go to configuration tab and change it there
save the settings and reboot the modem

if it won't change call tech for a new modem.

Being on the wrong frequency will cause slow speeds and intermittent connection.

HTH

KungFuKitty · 13-03-2008, 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by moaningmags

If your ex-telewest your modem is on wrong frequency.

Frequency 338750000 Hz Locked

should be 339000000

in browser type http://192.168.100.1

go to configuration tab and change it there
save the settings and reboot the modem

if it won't change call tech for a new modem.

Being on the wrong frequency will cause slow speeds and intermittent connection.

HTH

Thanks for your reply, i just changed it to "339000000" as you suggested

It seems to have dropped down to 8mb's or so at the moment but i'm not worried untill later, will test around 2am-ish

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatassmichael

Try this link kitty http://www.virginmedia.com/help/20mb...timisation.php
Welcome to the forum BTW.

I've tried those already

but thanks for the link and thank you for the welcome!!

Edit: Oh just out of curiousity, do you CF guys have a live chat room? any late nighters!?

KungFuKitty · 14-03-2008, 02:02

Hiya guys, just a follow-up i've recently tested on Speedtest.net and got around 14-15mb's, tested it on this forum speedtest also and keep getting the same around 13-15mb's.
So i'm just wondering as its now off-peak wheres the other 5mb's-ish?!?! Or atleast be a little closer to the 20 mark.
My modem is: Motorola Surfboard 4200i (Which i got years back from blueyonder/telewest)
UBR03: cable.ubr03.azte.blueyonder.co.uk
Location: Bristol, not far from an exchange
Router: Belkin Wireless G Router http://tinyurl.com/vfck (Wired setup)
Firmware: Upto date
Virus's/Spy|Adware: None, totally clean system
Anything else you would need to know about router config / modem config let me know please

Thanks in advance guys

~ Kitty xx

moaningmags · 14-03-2008, 02:58

1st thing I'd suggest is a direct connection to the modem.
Then go to http://gamefiles.blueyonder.co.uk
Start 2 downloads of big files, sit them side by side and add the transfer rate of each together.
This is the best method of testing your download speed.
Then try again with router connected.
Apparently the SB4200 can give 20meg, but if you can't get this speed during the night, I'd be looking at requesting a new modem.

KungFuKitty · 14-03-2008, 04:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by moaningmags

1st thing I'd suggest is a direct connection to the modem.
Then go to http://gamefiles.blueyonder.co.uk
Start 2 downloads of big files, sit them side by side and add the transfer rate of each together.
This is the best method of testing your download speed.
Then try again with router connected.
Apparently the SB4200 can give 20meg, but if you can't get this speed during the night, I'd be looking at requesting a new modem.

Ah okie

i just tried that.. and then after adding the transfer rates you multiply by 8 right?
My results download 2 1.4gig demo's from that site: (based on rate+rate*8=??)
The speeds were a little up/down didnt settle out alot but close enough:
14,464
14,248
14,488
15,096
Does that seem right? ...14-15mb line worth, yea?

So hmm what would you suggest i do? ring and ask for a new cable modem tomorrow? when my girlfriend asked earlier she got the reply of "your modem should handle 20mb line fine"

but i'm guessing if i say the speeds arnt upto scratch and i've ran tests as advised by Cable Forum they'll throw me a new modem free?

Kinda confused what to do lol... advice welcome

Thanks <3
~ Kitty xx

ceedee · 14-03-2008, 04:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by moaningmags

If your ex-telewest your modem is on wrong frequency.
Frequency 338750000 Hz Locked
should be 339000000

Is it worth trying 331000000 too?
Or are they set by region?

(ref: Modem trouble shoot thread)

KungFuKitty · 14-03-2008, 04:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceedee

Is it worth trying 331000000 too?
Or are they set by region?

(ref: Modem trouble shoot thread)

Would hurt to try would it?

if not i'll give it a shot now

I'll be in the Lounge in CF chat if anybody is still awake and stuff :P

Edit: (4:54am *yawnz!!*)
I tried changin' the freq but the light on the modem after save/reboot would just keep flashing on "Send" and go no further.. oh well was worth a try

So anyway...
Just finished havin' a chat with ceedee in the CF live chat who informed me about the newsgroup and gave me this advice:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceedee

04:29:35 [ceedee] : I'd recommend you contact TS via the dedicated newsgroup - quick service, dealing direct with the techs
04:32:00 [ceedee] : Okay, so you get drop a message on the virginmedia.support.broadband.cable newsgroup with the
following info.
04:40:27 [ceedee] : 3 consecutive traceroutes to www.bbc.co.uk
A netstat -a
4 simultaneous downloads from the VM game server / Zen test files
plus the signal data from your modem - just cut'n'paste all of them.

So i'm gonna try that when i wake up tomorrow and hopefully all goes to plan! *cross's kitty paws!* thanks alot ceedee for your advice & chat, nice bloke

just gotta get him on the phone if i end up havin' to call VM again

..anyways off to sleep now, thanks for all you guys help today <3
Nitey nite ~ Kitty xx

KungFuKitty · 15-03-2008, 06:08

Me again

Hi everyone

I've been pretty busy today with rl issues

but i finally got around to doing the tracert's pings and such, was just on my way to writing into VM's tech support newsgroup and.... tadaaaah!

I checked my speed out and FINALLY seem to be getting what i'm paying for!

my 20mb line!!! I also tried with my router instead of directly wired and got slightly lower but 2meg down / 768 up results

Super-duper happy.. atleast now i don't have to ring VM's (mostly) shoddy CS again! and i know that i can get proper results.. although its late at night so less traffic it's still a huge relief

If anyone could point me to some router tips (as its a lil better direct) to try that'd be great, i just know its going to drop down to 13-15mb's worth again.. but its good to know it'll be there later yanno?

Okay sorry for rambling! and thanks very much to all of you thats helped me thus far.. especially ceedee

I'll try give a lil help in the general section when i can, more my field

Cheers guys ~ Kitty xx

sidenote!: if anyone is interested my download results from http://fuller.zen.co.uk/test/ gave me...
1. Combined of 2 transfers - 2033 kb/sec (Router wired / firefox)
2. Combined of 2 transfers - 2701 kb/sec (Directly connected / firefox)
3. Combined of 2 transfers - 2.36 mb/sec (Directly connected / IE)

bigsinky · 15-03-2008, 11:01

expect that speed to drop to about 7-8 meg at peak hours

Jonnymeg · 15-03-2008, 15:50

I am suprised that no one has yet told you that 20meg is not supported on the old Motorola modems.

http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html...t_service.html

You need to get your modem swapped out for a new one.

ceedee · 15-03-2008, 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonnymeg

I am suprised that no one has yet told you that 20meg is not supported on the old Motorola modems.
http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html...t_service.html
You need to get your modem swapped out for a new one.

Before offering KungFuKitty any advice, I went and found several chats on the VM support newsgroup where TS have stated that the Motorola SB4200 is compatible with 20Mb. (Although the Motorola 4100 and earlier models are not and require swapping out.)

The link you suggest is for the EvenFaster section of VM's website which is for people currently on 4Mb to check which cable modems are suitable for the upgraded 10Mb service -- it's got nothing to do with 20Mb!

If you've got any more reliable information, please post it?