Signal strength probs?

[punky]

Hey guys

Every now and again, (but annoyingly, getting more frequent), my STB keeps dropping its broadband connection forcing me to reboot the STB and then renew the IP address again. Weird thing is, the middle light stays on, and the STB for TV works fine.

Ive had signal strength problems before. It was very high for a long time, then they put a limiter on it, so could it be too low? The figures are:

SNR = 33.6
Return Path = 51dbmv

Does that mean the signal strength is fine? Or am I looking at the wrong stats? Any suggestions about what to do when it happens again? I appreciate any help guys, thanx..

[th'engineer]

its within the limits

[Steve H]

Stupid question.. Is the STB well Ventilated?

What Model STB have you got?

[punky]

Not a stupid question, as I think I melted the last one. I had a 2000 series before, but during the heatwave, I started getting internal memory problems and the tech probably said it overheated and replaced it with a 4000 series, and told me to leave the cabinet door off, and preferably drill the back out... I havent drilled the back yet, but I have been checking the temp and its much better. Though im not sure the temp is much of a prob cuz since the heatwave has cooled off, the ambient temp been much better?

Next time it goes, I'll check the temp and see how it feels. It will probably start cooling down though after it disconnects? So I will have to get lucky. Trouble is touching the top of the box to see if its 'hot' is a bit inspecific.. I can only go by how hot my last box got and if its colder, its fine.

The fact the middle light is on is annoying me, means there is a connection to the UBR actively present, doesn't it? *sigh*

[Jarandco]

I get the same sort of problem although my conenction just seems to go but it comes back again within a few minutes on it own... any ideas?? I have a 1000 series box - and its always warm but its generally well ventilated...

[th'engineer]

Originally posted by punky
Not a stupid question, as I think I melted the last one. I had a 2000 series before, but during the heatwave, I started getting internal memory problems and the tech probably said it overheated and replaced it with a 4000 series, and told me to leave the cabinet door off, and preferably drill the back out... I havent drilled the back yet, but I have been checking the temp and its much better. Though im not sure the temp is much of a prob cuz since the heatwave has cooled off, the ambient temp been much better?

Next time it goes, I'll check the temp and see how it feels. It will probably start cooling down though after it disconnects? So I will have to get lucky. Trouble is touching the top of the box to see if its 'hot' is a bit inspecific.. I can only go by how hot my last box got and if its colder, its fine.

The fact the middle light is on is annoying me, means there is a connection to the UBR actively present, doesn't it? *sigh*

Now you did not specify 4000 STB would suggest you talk to CS and request a cable modem 4000 boxes are known to have problems with BB

[punky]

Well, its been happening again :o(

I dont think CS will let me request a CM... I live in an Ex C&W area in East London, and I have DTV. But I might give it a try

When it happened, before I rebooted the STB, I did the PGUP, PGDN, Blue, to look at the stats. The figures seemed find, but in the event log, it said:

"Cannot get downstream lock"

Anyone know what this is?

[Graham F]

I can't see how they can say you can't have a CM if the stb they provide isn't up to the job, they need to provide you with equipment that is up to the job and if a CM is the only/best way so be it>

[Shaun]

Originally posted by punky
Well, its been happening again :o(

I dont think CS will let me request a CM... I live in an Ex C&W area in East London, and I have DTV. But I might give it a try

When it happened, before I rebooted the STB, I did the PGUP, PGDN, Blue, to look at the stats. The figures seemed find, but in the event log, it said:

"Cannot get downstream lock"

Anyone know what this is?

Threaten to leave, that nearly always makes them give you what you want (if you get the right person)

[punky]

Thanx guys, I might try that... im getting a bit fed up with now, the overall service is so sketchy

web surfing is a bit hit and miss now, regularly specifying different proxies does help now and again, but it still a bit 'iffy' (takes ages to make the initial connection, but once thats over its quick), and ICQ/MSN/IRC dropping and FTP having the same sorta problems as web (pings out first 2 times, connects on the 3rd).. Its not speed thats the problem, more, connecting to servers, and ping lag.

Im on the 1meg service, and before my old box melted and I got this box, I got an absolutely superb service for 9 months..

Makes me wonder if its all connected to this "Cannot get downstream lock", or something new to wind me up with.

[punky]

I just decided to check the event log, while it was working (but still playing up now and again), and found the following:

"CM Broadcast ranging failed"

anyone know what it is? Ive tried researching this and the other error message, but not getting anything.

Cuz the problem is intermittent, im really going to need all the info, evidence and technical back up that I can get.

[gnet]

the 4000's have a specific problem with 1Mbit don't they?

I certainly don't fit them if the customer has 1Mbit .. I'll stick with the 1000 / 2000 (if I've got any on the van at the time!)

[punky]

Ahh interesting. The tech who replaced the box said he had to replace it with a 4000 series cuz thats all he had. I'll bear that in mind when I call up, maybe I can request/order a 2000 box like my old one, ta

Do you know what prob it has with 1 meg? The speed is fine, just the dns lookup, and connection to servers.

C:\WINDOWS\Desktop>ping www.yahoo.com
Unknown host www.yahoo.com.

C:\WINDOWS\Desktop>ping www.yahoo.com
Unknown host www.yahoo.com.

C:\WINDOWS\Desktop>ping www.yahoo.com

Pinging www.yahoo.akadns.net [216.109.118.72] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 216.109.118.72: bytes=32 time=96ms TTL=50
Reply from 216.109.118.72: bytes=32 time=96ms TTL=50
Reply from 216.109.118.72: bytes=32 time=97ms TTL=50
Reply from 216.109.118.72: bytes=32 time=123ms TTL=50

Ping statistics for 216.109.118.72:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 96ms, Maximum =  123ms, Average =  103ms

C:\WINDOWS\Desktop>ping www.yahoo.com

Pinging www.yahoo.akadns.net [216.109.118.72] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 216.109.118.69: bytes=32 time=110ms TTL=50
Reply from 216.109.118.69: bytes=32 time=97ms TTL=50
Reply from 216.109.118.69: bytes=32 time=96ms TTL=50
Reply from 216.109.118.69: bytes=32 time=96ms TTL=50

Ping statistics for 216.109.118.69:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 96ms, Maximum =  110ms, Average =  99ms

C:\WINDOWS\Desktop>ping www.yahoo.com

Pinging www.yahoo.akadns.net [216.109.118.76] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 216.109.118.76: bytes=32 time=97ms TTL=50
Reply from 216.109.118.76: bytes=32 time=96ms TTL=50
Reply from 216.109.118.76: bytes=32 time=96ms TTL=50
Reply from 216.109.118.76: bytes=32 time=96ms TTL=50

Ping statistics for 216.109.118.76:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 96ms, Maximum =  97ms, Average =  96ms

The first two connections fail, then its fine. It affects Web, IRC, FTP and now Email. When it eventually connects, its fine. Dunno if this is to do with the STB failing problem, it started soon after though. Its basically, seems to be a DNS related prob. Come to think of it, would all those protocols use the same dns lookup method? Any suggestions/advice?

[gnet]

I've prolly got an email about it somewhere but having to use dialup to retrieve work email means i don't do it often! :-)

If I can find out some more info I'll post here or pm you.