Visitor
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2 Messages
Downstream power level issues?
Hello, I have been having issues with my download speed dropping drastically from 75mbps to around 1.1mbps-10mbps at random times. It started a few weeks ago and I haven't changed out any equipment or cables. It happens all hours of the day and I had spoken to a rep through Reddit who stated there was some issues with my signal levels, especially with my receive power levels. They stated they had to check a couple times because my modem was not communicating with them at first. They recommended swapping the modem (Gateway model DPC39411T) or having a tech come at and take a look. The Gateway I have is less than a year old, and was hooked up last September. I haven't had any prior issues besides some hard connection drops in the middle of the night every once in awhile that I chalked up to maintenance. I am afraid to have a tech come out as I cannot afford the charge, and same if I would need to pay for a new modem. I was hoping to exhaust all troubleshooting options before calling a tech out. This is what my downstream power levels are displaying as when I log in to the admin panel through my browser:
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lock Status |
Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Not Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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Locked
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| Frequency |
453 MHz
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417 MHz
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423 MHz
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435 MHz
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447 MHz
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459 MHz
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465 MHz
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471 MHz
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477 MHz
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483 MHz
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489 MHz
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495 MHz
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507 MHz
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513 MHz
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519 MHz
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525 MHz
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531 MHz
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537 MHz
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0 MHz
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549 MHz
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555 MHz
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561 MHz
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567 MHz
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573 MHz
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| SNR |
38.983 dB
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38.983 dB
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38.983 dB
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38.983 dB
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38.983 dB
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38.605 dB
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38.983 dB
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38.983 dB
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38.605 dB
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38.605 dB
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38.983 dB
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40.366 dB
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38.605 dB
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38.605 dB
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30.002 dB
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34.346 dB
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33.834 dB
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38.605 dB
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14.021 dB
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33.957 dB
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40.946 dB
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38.605 dB
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37.636 dB
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38.605 dB
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| Power Level |
-1.900 dBmV
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-2.600 dBmV
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-2.700 dBmV
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-2.600 dBmV
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-2.200 dBmV
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-1.900 dBmV
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-1.900 dBmV
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-2.000 dBmV
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-2.000 dBmV
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-1.800 dBmV
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-1.800 dBmV
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-1.800 dBmV
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-1.900 dBmV
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-1.700 dBmV
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-1.500 dBmV
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-1.300 dBmV
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-1.100 dBmV
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-1.000 dBmV
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-1.100 dBmV
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-1.000 dBmV
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-1.000 dBmV
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-0.900 dBmV
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-0.800 dBmV
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-0.900 dBmV
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| Modulation |
256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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64 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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256 QAM
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flatlander3
Problem Solver
•
1.5K Messages
2 years ago
Well, the DPC3941T is a DOCSIS 3.0 gateway. It's old and likely unsupported for your speed tier in your market now. If it's a rental, you're paying $14-$16 bucks a month for it anyway, so swapping it out is fine. It will still be a rental. The Xfinity store is the quick way to swap out if there's one by you.
You can also find/buy a 3rd party gateway that will work with your speed tier and market area here and avoid a rental fee: https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/list-of-approved-cable-modems You don't have to buy it there, shop around after you get a model number.
You've got something else going on though. Signal power can range from -7dBmV to +7dBmV, so it's not the negative value that's a problem. What IS a problem is failing to lock channels, and you've got bad signal to noise going on for some channels. That's a problem coming in from the street, or a problem with wiring/splitters/amplifier (if you have one) in your house.
If you want to look at it yourself, take a look here and see if anything applies: https://forums.xfinity.com/conversations/your-home-network/internet-troubleshooting-tips/602dae4ac5375f08cde52ea0
You can also have a tech come out. If they find splitters/bad wiring/bad connectors in your house, you pay. If the problem is upstream from your house, you do not.
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user_b7010f
Visitor
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2 Messages
2 years ago
Thank you for this! I actually don't pay any rental fee for the gateway or the streaming box due to a new customer promo I believe so hopefully it's just a splitter or cable. I'll try to replace those and see if that's the issue. My plan is 75mbps down/10 up. The building I live in is ancient and the cable that runs into the wall and splitter is probably ancient as well since I can see the landlord has painted over the cable multiple times.
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EG
Expert
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110.8K Messages
2 years ago
@flatlander3 No worries !
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