About tsmccull

I used the trial version of pingplotter to monitor some routes in Comcast's network.  Didn't see any local issues during those checks, but did see some major data dropouts when going through a Comcast hub in Chicago, but that didn't impact my local connection.  However, I am seeing some degradation of the signal levels at my router in the mornings.  Right after the tech installed the amp, I was getting levels from around 0 to +1.6 dBmv or so.  This morning I'm seeing the following along with over a thousand uncorrectable errors on several channels (the ones with the least signal levels - 7 thru 12 or so).  Looks like a relative drop of 4 to 5+ dB over a period of a couple of weeks.  I'm not seeing any internet dropouts on my system yet, but if those same fluctuations were occuring when my nominal signal levels were in the -7 to -8 dBmv range prior to the amp, perhaps that's what was causing the router to loose connectivity.  Why the signal levels are changing that much is a mystery to me since nothing inside the house has been touched since the tech was here.   I would have thought signal levels would tend to drop at the higher frequency end due to cable losses, etc., but this data implies that there's more loss in the center of the channel frequency band which I find odd.   Downstream Channel Bonding Value                                               Index 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Lock Status Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Frequency 531.00 MHz 537.00 MHz 543.00 MHz 549.00 MHz 555.00 MHz 561.00 MHz 567.00 MHz 573.00 MHz 579.00 MHz 585.00 MHz 591.00 MHz 597.00 MHz 603.00 MHz 609.00 MHz 615.00 MHz 621.00 MHz 627.00 MHz 633.00 MHz 639.00 MHz 645.00 MHz 651.00 MHz 657.00 MHz 663.00 MHz 669.00 MHz SNR 40.37 dB 38.98 dB 40.37 dB 40.37 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 37.64 dB 37.64 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB Power Level 0.20 dBmV -0.40 dBmV -0.70 dBmV -0.70 dBmV -1.40 dBmV -1.90 dBmV -2.60 dBmV -3.50 dBmV -3.80 dBmV -3.10 dBmV -2.80 dBmV -2.20 dBmV -2.10 dBmV -2.50 dBmV -2.20 dBmV -2.20 dBmV -2.50 dBmV -1.90 dBmV -1.90 dBmV -2.30 dBmV -1.70 dBmV -1.50 dBmV -1.60 dBmV -1.20 dBmV Modulation 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM ... View more

Everything still seems to be working, but I'm starting to see uncorrectable codewords listed by the router for the first time since the amp was installed.  DS signal levels remain in the -2 to +0.5 dBmv range on the various channels, at least when I happen to look at them.   Question:  without the router's log function working, is there any practical way to monitor what happens over time as far as signal level changes and/or errors seen in the data stream?  I assume not, but wanted to ask.  Thanks. ... View more

It's a warm day today (> 50 deg.), but it looks like some of the DS signal variations are getting close to your 3 to 4 dB deltas when compared to those I recorded in my 11/18 email (particularly on the higher frequencies):   Downstream Channel Bonding Value                                               Index 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Lock Status Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Frequency 531.00 MHz 537.00 MHz 543.00 MHz 549.00 MHz 555.00 MHz 561.00 MHz 567.00 MHz 573.00 MHz 579.00 MHz 585.00 MHz 591.00 MHz 597.00 MHz 603.00 MHz 609.00 MHz 615.00 MHz 621.00 MHz 627.00 MHz 633.00 MHz 639.00 MHz 645.00 MHz 651.00 MHz 657.00 MHz 663.00 MHz 669.00 MHz SNR 40.37 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 40.37 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB 38.98 dB Power Level -0.10 dBmV -0.60 dBmV -0.60 dBmV -0.30 dBmV -0.50 dBmV -0.60 dBmV -0.90 dBmV -1.50 dBmV -1.80 dBmV -1.20 dBmV -1.30 dBmV -1.10 dBmV -1.30 dBmV -1.90 dBmV -1.90 dBmV -2.10 dBmV -2.50 dBmV -2.10 dBmV -2.10 dBmV -2.60 dBmV -2.00 dBmV -1.90 dBmV -2.00 dBmV -1.60 dBmV Modulation 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM ... View more

I suspect that something somewhere must have been causing signal dropouts prior to the tech installing the new amp, since nominal levels pre-amp were typically in the -6 to -8 range and, although low, were usually enough to maintain connectivity most of the time, particularly from mid-day onward.  The tech stated that signal levels to the outside connection at the rear of the house were fine, so the amp seems to have compensated for in-house cable losses.  That's good and perhaps any continuing signal dropouts (if they exist) are basically benign to my gateway now since it's starting from much higher nominal signal levels.   One thing I have noticed that's different is that before the amp installation I was getting thousands of correctable codeword errors along with hundreds of uncorrectable errors on many channels, while now with the amp inserted, at most I see a couple dozen correctable codeword errors on 4 or 5 channels with zero uncorrectable errors.  I assume if external things start acting up again, I'll probably start seeing many more correctable and uncorrectable codeword errors.  Does that sound like a good assumption? ... View more

Thanks for the info.  Should be interesting to see what the variation becomes in winter when we sometimes get down to -20 deg. F. ... View more

So far, so good, but I wanted to ask a question about the downstream results I'm seeing.  In the mornings, the channel values typically range from around -1.0 dBmv to +1.0 dBmv, while in the afternoons, those same values are always higher, from maybe -0.2 dBmv to +1.8 dBmv (different for different channels).  Any thoughts on what might be different in the AM vs. PM? ... View more

The tech came out today.  Didn't find anything obvious wrong, but he did replace an old cable wall outlet and installed an amp in place of the house's 3-way splitter.  I'll watch things for a while and see if I see any more dropouts - if they continue he recommended swapping out the gateway (same model) to see if perhaps something's wrong with mine.  He thinks it's unlikely, but worth a try if the amp doesn't fix things.  Downstream readings are more robust now:   Upstream Channel Bonding Value Index 1 2 3 4 Lock Status Locked Locked Locked Locked Frequency 29.40 MHz 16.60 MHz 23.00 MHz 35.80 MHz Symbol Rate 5120 KSym/s 5120 KSym/s 5120 KSym/s 5120 KSym/s Power Level 37.68 dBmV 37.50 dBmV 37.00 dBmV 37.50 dBmV Modulation 64 QAM 64 QAM 64 QAM 64 QAM Channel Type DOCSIS2.0 (ATDMA) DOCSIS2.0 (ATDMA) DOCSIS2.0 (ATDMA) DOCSIS2.0 (ATDMA)   Downstream Channel Bonding Value Index 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32   Lock Status Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Not Locked Not Locked Not Locked Not Locked Not Locked Not Locked Not Locked Not Locked   Frequency 429.00 MHz 435.00 MHz 441.00 MHz 447.00 MHz 453.00 MHz 459.00 MHz 465.00 MHz 471.00 MHz 477.00 MHz 483.00 MHz 489.00 MHz 495.00 MHz 507.00 MHz 513.00 MHz 519.00 MHz 525.00 MHz 531.00 MHz 537.00 MHz 543.00 MHz 549.00 MHz 555.00 MHz 561.00 MHz 567.00 MHz 573.00 MHz                   SNR 40.37 dB 40.37 dB 40.37 dB 40.95 dB 40.37 dB 40.37 dB 40.37 dB 40.95 dB 40.37 dB 40.37 dB 38.98 dB 40.37 dB 40.95 dB 40.37 dB 40.95 dB 40.37 dB 40.37 dB 40.37 dB 40.37 dB 40.37 dB 40.95 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB                   Power Level 1.70 dBmV 1.60 dBmV 1.80 dBmV 1.80 dBmV 1.70 dBmV 1.60 dBmV 1.60 dBmV 1.50 dBmV 1.70 dBmV 1.70 dBmV 1.40 dBmV 1.70 dBmV 1.10 dBmV 1.40 dBmV 1.30 dBmV 1.20 dBmV 1.40 dBmV 0.90 dBmV 0.80 dBmV 1.10 dBmV 0.80 dBmV 0.80 dBmV 0.50 dBmV -0.10 dBmV                   Modulation 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM                   ... View more

I would if I could.  Under Troubleshooting > Logs, when I click on "Show Logs" for either System, Event or Firewall logs for today, it goes off and shows a "Operation in Progress" msg for 10 or 15 seconds which then goes away, but once that occurs, no logs appear for either Printing or Downloading.  It's as though there aren't any.  I did make sure I had Internet connectivity when I did this, so I don't know if it's not recording any logs, or they're further upstream and I have no access to them.  I also tried to get logs for past time periods; no luck there either.   I've scheduled a technician visit for tomorrow afternoon.  Should I keep it and, if so, what should I tell him? ... View more

Yes.  I have a PC directly connected to the Xfinity box via ethernet cable and it also alerts me when it doesn't have internet connectivity.   It usually tells me first, and then I'll notice wifi going out throughout the house (OOMA VOIP drops, iPhone looses connection, etc.).  Eventually everything will come back up once the Xfinity modem resyncs itself after a while. ... View more

TG1682G Xfinity box with dual-band wifi.  Sequence of events appears to be that the box looses connection to the Internet which means both wifi bands do also, the box recognizes that it's not connected and eventually reconnects itself, followed of course by wifi coming back online.  It's happened about 4 or 5 times already this morning.      Upstream         Index 1 2 3 4 Lock Status Locked Locked Locked Locked Frequency 29.40 MHz 16.60 MHz 23.00 MHz 35.80 MHz Symbol Rate 5120 KSym/s 5120 KSym/s 5120 KSym/s 5120 KSym/s Power Level 46.25 dBmV 46.25 dBmV 45.25 dBmV 46.00 dBmV Modulation 64 QAM 64 QAM 64 QAM 64 QAM Channel Type DOCSIS2.0 (ATDMA) DOCSIS2.0 (ATDMA) DOCSIS2.0 (ATDMA) DOCSIS2.0 (ATDMA)   Downstream                                                 Index 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Lock Status Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Locked Frequency 531.00 MHz 537.00 MHz 543.00 MHz 549.00 MHz 555.00 MHz 561.00 MHz 567.00 MHz 573.00 MHz 579.00 MHz 585.00 MHz 591.00 MHz 597.00 MHz 603.00 MHz 609.00 MHz 615.00 MHz 621.00 MHz 627.00 MHz 633.00 MHz 639.00 MHz 645.00 MHz 651.00 MHz 657.00 MHz 663.00 MHz 669.00 MHz SNR 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB 40.37 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.98 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.61 dB 38.98 dB 38.98 dB Power Level -6.00 dBmV -6.50 dBmV -6.40 dBmV -5.80 dBmV -6.10 dBmV -6.00 dBmV -5.90 dBmV -6.50 dBmV -6.80 dBmV -5.90 dBmV -6.00 dBmV -6.10 dBmV -6.00 dBmV -6.70 dBmV -6.90 dBmV -6.80 dBmV -7.20 dBmV -6.90 dBmV -6.80 dBmV -7.20 dBmV -6.90 dBmV -6.50 dBmV -6.60 dBmV -6.20 dBmV Modulation 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM 256 QAM ... View more