Really annoying modem dropouts

[MatthewWalsh]

For a few days now we've been having trouble with our VM broadband in RH10 postcode. At first it was random cutouts of all services for about two to three hours at a time. Recently the cable modem has been cutting out every five to ten minutes, working again only after a hard reset. Is this a known issue that will resolve itself at their end, or should I call for an engineer to take a look at the damned thing? Given the stupid cost of their tech line I thought I'd check here first.

[what?]

most likely modem frequency or someting like that
check on the config page and post the levels here

address for modem 192.168.100.1
onto the signal page and post what its showing on here

have you checked their status phoneline?

[MatthewWalsh]

Thanks! Results are such.

Downstream Status
Operational
Channel ID 7
Downstream Frequency 339250000 Hz
Modulation QAM256
Bit Rate 20480000 bps
Power Level -3.24 dBmV
Signal to Noise Ratio 31 dB


Upstream Status
Operational
Channel ID 2
Upstream Frequency 29200000 Hz
Bit Rate 768000 bps
Power Level 53.00 dBmV

---------- Post added at 19:42 ---------- Previous post was at 18:38 ----------

Okay, been having issues again after half hour of solid use. I noticed the logs seemed a bit odd:

Time Level Description
2008-03-06 16:56:40 error ToD request sent - No Response received
2008-03-06 16:54:44 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 16:54:44 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 16:54:02 error ToD request sent - No Response received
2008-03-06 16:54:01 information Ignore SW upgrade via provisioning: same image!
2008-03-06 16:54:00 notice TLV-11 - unrecognized OID
2008-03-06 16:54:00 notice Interface index:4 LinkUp
2008-03-06 16:54:00 notice Interface index:3 LinkUp
2008-03-06 16:53:59 notice Interface index:2 LinkUp
2008-03-06 16:53:59 notice SNMP COLD_START(SNMP Nmaccess mode)
2008-03-06 16:53:59 notice Cable Modem Status set to Registration Complete
2008-03-06 16:53:59 information Received REG-RSP from CMTS
2008-03-06 16:53:56 information Sending Registration Request
2008-03-06 16:53:56 notice TLV11#3 node not found
2008-03-06 16:53:56 notice TLV11#2 node not found
2008-03-06 16:53:56 information Processing Configuration File
2008-03-06 16:53:54 information DHCP: IP complete
2008-03-06 16:53:54 warning DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response
2008-03-06 16:53:54 warning DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response
2008-03-06 16:53:54 debug DHCP_coldstart() successfully
2008-03-06 16:53:52 information Beginning ranging process. Initial Power=53.00 dBmV
2008-03-06 16:53:52 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 16:53:48 information Sync recovery loop is locked
2008-03-06 16:53:44 information Scan Downstream Frequency...
2008-03-06 16:53:41 error BPI FLASH: The Mfg CA certificate not found!
2008-03-06 17:12:49 critical Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - T3 time-out
2008-03-06 17:12:40 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:12:40 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:12:27 error ToD request sent - No Response received
2008-03-06 17:11:12 critical Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - T3 time-out
2008-03-06 17:10:52 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:10:52 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:10:41 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:10:41 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:09:49 error ToD request sent - No Response received
2008-03-06 17:09:23 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:09:23 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:09:05 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:09:05 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:09:04 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:09:04 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:08:57 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:08:57 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:07:32 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:07:32 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:07:11 error ToD request sent - No Response received
2008-03-06 17:06:35 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:06:35 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:06:06 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms
2008-03-06 17:06:06 information Got a map with the new UCD change count, and changed upstream parms

Is that normal? A few googles of the "T3 Timout" error seems to yield similar reports. The date also seems to be wrong.

[moaningmags]

If you are an ex-telewest customer then you're modem is on the wrong frequency.

for the scientific atlanta epc2100 go to
http://192.168.100.1/gscan.asp

for the webstar dpx100 go to
http://192.168.100.1/gscan.htm

delete starting frequency, type in 339000000
press enter, you should get message saying set successful
modem will reboot and should then be on the correct frequency.

[what?]

ah, ya sneaky wee so and so

if you do as mags said shud fix you're problem.
if not and you check your frequency and it's still the same try once more and if it still
fails call tech support who can order a replacement modem.

[MatthewWalsh]

Originally Posted by moaningmags

If you are an ex-telewest customer then you're modem is on the wrong frequency.

for the scientific atlanta epc2100 go to
http://192.168.100.1/gscan.asp

for the webstar dpx100 go to
http://192.168.100.1/gscan.htm

delete starting frequency, type in 339000000
press enter, you should get message saying set successful
modem will reboot and should then be on the correct frequency.

Thanks for that! I actually discovered it on my own after about an hour of googling the T3 error and it's all fixed now, but your effort is very much appreciated. I wonder how many other people were affected by it - I can't help but think it's related to the recent outages we've been having in RH10 area.

Do VM replace old modems? I read somewhere that the Webstar DPX100 isn't rated for 20mbps, is that correct?

[what?]

yeah, that is correct.

they will only replace the modem if it has a fault on it or if you are on the 20mbps service and therefor need a new modem.
the modems are supposed to last you as long as your on the service so they wont replace it just because it is an older model.