C

Visitor

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14 Messages

Sunday, October 16th, 2022 8:57 PM

Closed

Packet loss starting in the evenings the past couple weeks

Hi all,

I've had really bad packet loss in the evenings that I've noticed while playing video games. Yesterday, I decided to set up a ping plotter test for a few hours. I started the test around midday and played a few games to test for packet loss. Didn't see anything unusual. Later on in the day, I started to get pretty bad packet loss while playing games, and I was also able to capture this in ping plotter.

I just purchased a new modem (Arris SB8200) because I thought maybe my previous modem (Arris SB6183) had gone kaput. Is there anything else I can try on my end? If not, is there anything someone can help me with before I try to schedule a tech to come out?

https://imgur.com/a/Y7S5HJl

I left ping plotter running all night, and packet loss really dropped off after 8 AM, and no packet loss since noon. 

EDIT: I have added two new photos to the album showing a ~30 hour results from ping plotter. One with my router as a target, and one with an online gaming server as the target. This further shows evidence that the packet loss drastically decreases during the daytime hours. It gets worse in the late evening as night starts to fall.

EDIT 2: I have removed the photo showing the modem event log. I don't think there was anything interesting there, and it had my modem's address visible. I can share redacted if anyone is interested. 

Expert

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110K Messages

3 years ago

The output shows that the packet loss starts right at or before your router on your LAN. 

Is this with a WiFi connection ? If so, for a test, does a computer / device that is hardwired directly to the router / gateway device with an ethernet cable have the same problem ?


With this test, we are trying to isolate this down to being either a WiFi-only problem or a problem with the general connection to the Comcast system which would of course affect both. It's a good first step of troubleshooting before proceeding any further. 

Visitor

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14 Messages

@EG​ I believe you are mistaken, a ping plotter result screenshot from the same time period shows that there is zero loss to my router at 192.168.2.1. 

These tests are not via Wi-Fi

Expert

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110K Messages

3 years ago

Hmmm. I see "77.4%" packet loss at your router (first hop) in that pic that you linked to ?

Visitor

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14 Messages

@EG​ not sure why that is, but there is a separate test in the imgur album that shows no packet loss when the router is the actual target. It's highly unlikely that there is 74% packet loss at the router hop and only 3% at the target

Visitor

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14 Messages

In addition to the photos already in the album, I have added 3 new photos:

  1. 30 hour results from ping plotter with router as the target
    1. This shows packet loss during a router reboot, and one hiccup during a config change on the router.
  2. 30 hour results from ping plotter with online server as the target
    1. This shows ~1-3% packet loss throughout the evening hours, 100% packet loss during router reboot (matches other tests running concurrently), less packet loss during the daytime hours, and increased packet loss again this evening 
  3. 30 hour results from ping plotter with another LAN device as a target (Same LAN, both ethernet connect, but separate subnet as the device running the test)
    1. This only shows packet loss during the router reboot that is marked in the other charts at the same time. 

Expert

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110K Messages

3 years ago

The downstream power is weak to out of spec and it may be intermittently fluctuating even farther out of spec. And the upstream power is too high and it too may be intermittently fluctuating even higher out of spec. That can cause random disconnects, spontaneous re-booting of the modem, speed, packet loss, latency problems, and the un-bonding of channels.

In an effort to try to obtain better connectivity / more wiggle room, check to see if there are there any excess/unneeded coax cable splitters in the line leading to the modem that can be eliminated/re-configured. Any splitters that remain should be high quality and cable rated for 5-1000 MHz, bi-directional, and no gold colored garbage from Radio Shack, Home Depot, Target, etc. Splitters should be swapped with known to be good / new ones to test.

Also check the coax cable for any damage such as cuts, nicks, abrasions, kinks, sharp bends, etc.

If there aren't any unneeded splitters that can be eliminated and if your coax wiring setup can't be reconfigured so that there is a single two-way splitter connected directly off of the drop from the street / pole with one port feeding the modem and the other port feeding the rest of the house/equipment with additional splits as needed and you've checked all the wiring and fittings for integrity and tightness and refresh them by taking them apart then check for and clean off any corrosion / oxidation on the center wire and put them back together again, then perhaps it's best to book a tech visit to investigate and correct.


Good luck with it !

Visitor

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14 Messages

@EG​ Thanks! 

There was only one 2-way splitter where the coax first enters the home. It was installed ~3 years ago when we had the service installed. Last week, I replaced it with another new splitter I had received from Comcast. I had the same signal levels reported in the modem, so I replaced it with a coupler that was in one of my faceplates. At the time, I was worried about my upstream channels being too high, but the coupler brought them down from ~53.8 to ~50. 

There are two couplers in my coax run:
- 1 right where it enters the house (used to be a splitter)
- 1 at a faceplate. 

I tried using a new, shorter coax where the faceplate is, but no change in signal strength unfortunately. 

Expert

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110K Messages

3 years ago

@casual_Dev Quite welcome !

If there is nothing more that can be done to improve the connection quality, then you'll need a tech visit as stated. 


Bear in mind that if the premises facing techs can not find or fix a problem at your home, it is they who are responsible for escalating it to their line / network / maintenance dept. techs. The problem may lie beyond your home in the local neighborhood infrastructure somewhere but it is their S.O.P. to start at the home. And if the problem is found to be on their side of the demarcation point, there will not be any charge.


Good luck !

Visitor

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14 Messages

2 years ago

After two technician visits and a maintenance order, I'm still experiencing this issue weeks later. I'm not sure what to do at this point, but it's getting fairly frustrating. The first tech put in a maintenance request after finding that the signal at the pole was low. The second tech ran all new wiring from pole to modem. I've called a few times since, one tech over the phone suggested getting a rented modem. Another phone tech called me later to say that my issues would be resolved shortly because there had been an outage, and cancelled the appointment to install a new modem. 

Is there any way to get this issue escalated? I still see very frequent packet loss from dusk til dawn. 

Visitor

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14 Messages

@casual_Dev​ A tech visited again today, who has been in contact with the maintenance team. He said the maintenance team is working with our local electric company because they think they have found an issue with a street lamp causing some sort of backfeed/interference. Sounds crazy, but lines up with why it only happens when the sun goes down. 

Expert

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110K Messages

2 years ago

@casual_Dev 

It's not "crazy". It's actually quite common ! Hope they get this squared away for you !

Visitor

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14 Messages

@EG​ Thanks. Supposedly they are going to try to get it fixed today. 

Visitor

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14 Messages

2 years ago

@EG well... 3 months later, I l'm still experiencing this issue. 

Several techs have been to visit, including a supervisor and a maintenance guy. The supervisor gave me his cell to keep in touch, but he stopped replying after they supposedly replaced a line and that didn't fix the issue. 

The last time they came out, they left me an XB8 to rule out my network equipment. I continued to experience the issue. I was assured that I wouldn't be charged for the XB8 since it was for troubleshooting, but I was charged for the last tech visit and the XB8. 

I've since done some more troubleshooting on my own. Turns out, if I go back to my old DOCSIS 3.0 modem, I don't have any issues at all. If I switch to my newer docsis 3.1 modem, or the XB8, I get terrible packet loss. (upwards of 40% for some periods of time.) 

Although I can actually use my internet now (with DOCSIS 3.0), I would like to see this fixed so I could potentially upgrade my speed. I would also like some billing credits for the months of half-working internet, the tech visit, and the XB8. I ended up having to purchase a hotspot plan through a cell service so that I could continue to work while the Xfinity service did not allow for me to work. 

What's the best way to escalate this issue? 

Expert

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110K Messages

2 years ago

Sorry to hear that this is still going on...... I've escalated this to the Comcast corporate employees that are available to these boards. You should get a reply here in your topic. Good luck !

Visitor

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14 Messages

@EG​ thanks! Hopefully we can get this resolved. 

Visitor

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14 Messages

@EG

How long of a wait is expected? Not in a huge hurry at this point, just want to make sure it isn't forgotten 

Expert

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110K Messages

2 years ago

Hmmm... This one may have fallen through the cracks.. I'll attempt to re-escalate it.

Visitor

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14 Messages

@EG​ thanks again! 

Do you think there's any benefit to talking to someone at the local brick and mortar ? 

It's about an hour away, but I need to go anyway to return the XB8 that the tech said they would come pick up :/ 

Official Employee

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1K Messages

Hey there, just read this read and got myself caught up on the situation. Happy to help you out. Please send a DM to XFINITY SUPPORT with your name and address please. 

I am an Official Xfinity Employee.
Official Employees are from multiple teams within Xfinity: CARE, Product, Leadership.
We ask that you post publicly so people with similar questions may benefit from the conversation.
Was your question answered? Please, mark a reply as the Accepted Answer.tick

Visitor

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14 Messages

@XfinityAnthonyT​ thanks, just sent! Just an fyi, I did not get a notification that you replied, probably because it was a reply to EG and I was not tagged. I had been checking my email for notifications. No worries, just an fyi

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