alfun's profile

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4 Messages

Sunday, October 25th, 2020 5:00 AM

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Cable modem resets randomly - Motorola SB5101

For about one week now my cable modem has been resetting randomly.  This is the first time something like this has happened.  It was working pretty well for a long time.  Each time it resets it takes about 30 seconds until it works again, its like an endless loop.  I know my modem is really old and it has been end-of-life for a long time but I'm on the 3.5MBps plan so I never bothered to get a new modem.  The signal levels look fine to me, so what can the problem be?

 

Here's my signal levels:

 

Downstream

DownstreamValue
Frequency621000000 Hz
Signal To Noise Ratio37.1 dB
Power Level2.6 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

UpstreamValue
Channel ID1
Frequency17300000 Hz
Power43.2 dBmV

 

Here is a part of my log:

 

TimePriorityCodeDescription
1970-01-01 00:00:086-NoticeM571.1Ethernet link up - ready to pass packets
2020-10-25 03:39:226-NoticeM573.0Modem Is Shutting Down and Rebooting...
2020-10-25 03:39:223-CriticalR004.0Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
2020-10-25 03:38:503-CriticalR005.0Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - T3 time-out
1970-01-01 00:00:086-NoticeM571.1Ethernet link up - ready to pass packets
2020-10-25 02:42:556-NoticeM573.0Modem Is Shutting Down and Rebooting...
2020-10-25 02:42:553-CriticalR004.0Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
2020-10-25 02:42:223-CriticalR005.0Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - T3 time-out
1970-01-01 00:00:086-NoticeM571.1Ethernet link up - ready to pass packets
2020-10-25 01:46:206-NoticeM573.0Modem Is Shutting Down and Rebooting...
2020-10-25 01:46:203-CriticalR004.0Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
2020-10-25 01:45:473-CriticalR005.0Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - T3 time-out
1970-01-01 00:00:086-NoticeM571.1Ethernet link up - ready to pass packets
2020-10-25 01:39:326-NoticeM573.0Modem Is Shutting Down and Rebooting...

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Expert

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105.3K Messages

4 years ago

The stats are o/k. Perhaps it's malfunctioning or Comcast is doing it deliberately to get you to upgrade it ? After all, it is a DOCSIS 2.0 DINOSAUR !!! They no longer support DOCSIS 2.0, so I am surprised that you can even get online with it anymore. They are now up to DOCSIS 3.0 and 4.0 is on the horizon.

Regular Visitor

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4 Messages

4 years ago

If the stats are ok is it possible that my cable modem can still be faulty?

 

If the stats are ok does that mean the rest of the equipment like the coaxial cable and splitters in the house, outside of the house, and on the street is ok?

 

My Channel ID is usualy 3 but lately I noticed it is at 1.  Does this have to do with channel bonding?  Would a new cable modem with channel bonding benefit me even though my plan is only 3.5MBps?

 

Do you know if Comcast deliberately does this for people with end-of-life cable modems?

Expert

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105.3K Messages

4 years ago

Poster. Spend a buck.... Or rent the latest from them and it'll cost more in the long run.  Good luck !

Regular Visitor

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4 Messages

4 years ago

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

I will gladly buy a new cable modem if indeed my cable modem is at fault.  But what if the problem is on Comcast's end or maybe the equipment like the coaxial cable and splitters in the house are faulty?  What if theres a problem outside of my home or maybe somewhere in the street?  What then will a new cable modem do?  I would just be wasting time and money buying a new cable modem for nothing.

 

You're suggesting I just spend money and buy parts hoping that the problem gets solved.  This is not how you're supposed to diagnose and fix a problem.

Expert

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105.3K Messages

4 years ago

Look. You don't understand that one day soon (very surprised that it hasn't happened already!!!) they are going to completely disable support for DOCSIS 2.0 and the modem will cease to function. Suit yourself.....

Regular Visitor

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4 Messages

4 years ago

That might be true but you don't know when that day will be.  I've gotten letters since 2015 when Comcast told me to upgrade my cable modem and my cable modem has been working fine since without an upgrade.  It only started to have problems about one week ago.  If Comcast is deliberately doing something to cause my cable modem to reset then I guess I have no choice but to upgrade.

 

I just want to know if my stats are ok does that mean my cable modem is ok or can it still be faulty?  If the stats are ok does that mean everything outside of the house and on the street are ok?  I don't want to buy a new cable modem if it doesn't fix my problem.  I'm guessing all the equipment in the house like the coaxial lines and splitters are ok since the stats are ok?

Expert

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105.3K Messages

4 years ago

So you don't think that you are overdue  ? Knock 'yerself out pal..... I already told you that your stats are o/k.... I'm not going to debate this with you any longer.... I'm not an employee..... They don't pay me to wrack my brain with posters..... I'm done here. Good luck !

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