Bittorrent & Disconnections - Ambit modems

[ssdd]

Originally Posted by bugheadcjd

Well I have been told by TS that I have the new firmware on my NTL 100 modem.
All that changed after my firmware update was that my download speed increased from 5Mb to 10Mb.
It is since the firmware update that my modem has been rebooting itself and this is also true of a number of my work colleagues.

My modem has the following config file: ntlhm100_ntl0002.cpr

Can anyone confirm this is the latest config file?

Yes thats the latest config file. Had the same problem so rang them up again and they sent an engineer out who swapped my 100 for a 250. It seems the 100's can't handle heavy loads since getting the new config file and "so called" firmware update

---------- Post added at 09:37 ---------- Previous post was at 09:35 ----------

Originally Posted by Paul M

Isn't that post suggesting that there was a problem before the so called firmware update, not after ?

I was just saying that I was told by a ts rep that my "firmware" had been updated. Still got problems after that post.

[ukcobra]

My problems appeared to start once the config file arrived. NTL won;t tell me exactly when they sent it.

[bugheadcjd]

Russ D,

Your NTL contact talks about Before the firmware and config changes:

"The limited number of details we have received from CF and elsewhere haven't revealed anything, although I've asked for more details on a few modems. This isn't meant to suggest that people haven't seen problems, however in the majority of cases reported, ntl: have not recently updated their modem firmware or configurations, so there is no reason for applications such as BitTorrent to suddenly start failing"

but most of us are having the problems After the firmware and config changes.

[coventrycityfan]

i have to echo the previous poster's points. I don't know when i got my firmware update for my 120 silver modem but since Saturday whenever it get's a heavy load the modem will reboot itself.

[ssdd]

Originally Posted by bugheadcjd

ssdd,
Please keep us informed if the new 250 modem sorts your problems out.

Had the new modem for just over a day now and it seems to have sorted my problem. I suggest that anyone else having problems with rebooting to ring ts and get them to send out an engineer out. I had 2 come out to me and the second one gave me the 250

[coventrycityfan]

i've got an engineer coming out tomorrow afternoon, i hope he replaces my 120 with a 250

[Oven Chips]

I'll chip in now and add some comments directly. I am the person that Russ has been talking to and a bit of explanation may help.

To set the scene, of the 13 sets of details I have had from here and elsewhere, 8 modems have not had any change in their firmware/configuration as a result of the 10Mbps rollout. I think there is a misconception that some massive national firmware upgrade happened that affects every modem, it hasn't.

I have asked Russ to ask for the MAC addresses of the 5 remaining ones that could have been affected.

Some observations:

Originally Posted by coventrycityfan

I don't know when i got my firmware update for my 120 silver modem but since Saturday whenever it get's a heavy load the modem will reboot itself.

As coventrycityfan is a 1Mb customer (according to their details) their modem has not been firmware upgraded yet. If its only been since Saturday 26th then its well ("well = 10+ days) after the firmware upgrade they didn't get in the first place.

Originally Posted by bugheadcjd

Russ D,
Your NTL contact talks about Before the firmware and config changes:
<SNIP>
but most of us are having the problems After the firmware and config changes.

As above - 8 out of 13 had not been firmware upgraded. The data Russ has provided is from posters in this thread. I can only go from that data and again 8 out of 13 had not been upgraded. There was not "before" and "after" consideration in my evaluation.

Similarly this concerned me:

Originally Posted by Lemonzest

Modem:NTL 100
Downstream Receive Power Level : -9.93 dBmv

-9.93 dBmv is not a great downstream level to have, close to 0 is best. It may be a factor. The modem is specified to -15 but I've an idea we rolled trucks at -5 or -6. I may be wrong.

I've advised the CF team that I am happy to receive more data, and as above I've asked for the 5 specific MAC addresses.

Thanks to Russ for the compliment "would trust their word on such matters". I'll also point out the phrase

This isn't meant to suggest that people haven't seen problems,

that I used. When I asked for more data it was to try and cross check something that I've been working on.

At this moment of time, with 5 samples that I know next to nothing about, I cannot say much else.

Peter

[bugheadcjd]

Peter,

Thanks for the info. In terms of what I said before and after, when I contacted TS they said that my modem Had been firmware updated and it was around this point that my reboots started, when the modem was under load.

I am at work at the moment, but would it be ok when I get home to PM you my modem MAC address for you to have a look.

My connection seems to be fine when it is being lightly used. It is only when I start downloading or uploading something big (regardless of whether it is HTTP, FTP, Bittorrent, P2P etc).

Cheers,

Chris.

[coventrycityfan]

Peter Many thanks for your info, And yes i have had constant rebooting since Saturday.
Like Chris can i pm you my mac address so you can look at my modem if possible?

[Lemonzest]

just been on the phone with technical support (swanse) and arranged a engineer for tomorrow afternoon for a NTL:250. will let you know how it goes

must say tho, one of the best experiences i have had with NTL support, are they getting better?

[JamboUK]

I have had an engineer around this afternoon... who I can confirm has swapped out the MODEM (have yet to see model - but guessing it is a 250) because I have been having the same problem as everyone else in this thread.


Oddly the problems also started when the incoming feed was moved by an NTL engineer last week - but the symptoms are the same! (Change in signal?)

[Lemonzest]

250 is tiny and blue. is that a description of your modem, and by the sounds of your post. you saying you still have the problem?

[JamboUK]

Originally Posted by Lemonzest

250 is tiny and blue. is that a description of your modem, and by the sounds of your post. you saying you still have the problem?

Nope... I am not.. I haven't been home and tried it yet - hopefully sorted.

My engineer is due tommorow (Thurs 1st Dec) My modem also reboots under heavy load so I will ask the engineer to swap the modem after giving him a cuppa with a choccy biccy.

Will let you know how I get on tommorow....

on a side note.... how can I view the modem logs... ?

[Oven Chips]

To bugheadcjd and coventrycityfan,

I am not sure if you are among the 5 MACs I requested from Russ, but they were all 3 or 10Mbps Tier on 100/120 modems.

However the "rules" are straightforward:

If you were on 3Mbps and had a 100/120 modem you would have received the updated firmware.
If you have updated to 10Mbps since the update process would reboot the modem and update the firmware. If not then a power off then on does the trick.
If you are on 1 or 2 Mbps on a 100/120 modem you haven't had the updated firmware.
If you are on a 200 / 250 modem your firmware hasn't been updated (not needed)
If you are on a Motorola 3100, 3Com or Terayon also no firmware update.
I'm not sure about the scope of the Motorola 4100 firmware update.

I don't want to paint an over-optimistic picture of what I can do. I contacted the team here after this thread was pointed out to me, because I felt there might be a relationship with other work I have been doing (there isn't so far).

I'm not a technical type, or in support (desk jockey in HQ), and certainly wouldn't try to bypass the correct support process.

I hoped to shed some light and find something but sadly it seems unlikely.

Peter