Cable modem reboots on its own alot lately

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Sun Sep 02, 2001 4:58 pm

Just like the subject says. It just did it while I was trying to make this post.

Modem is a RCA DCM215

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Sun Sep 02, 2001 5:01 pm

Just out of curiosity, have you any problems with any of your cable channels on the TV?

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Sun Sep 02, 2001 5:06 pm

Originally posted by Indy
Just out of curiosity, have you any problems with any of your cable channels on the TV?

Hi Indy,

Yes I do! The first 10 channels have had lines going through them for about a week now.

I had these same lines earlier in the year for about three months and it just magically went away one day.

As long is as there is nothing wrong with the modem itself i'll be happy.

Its annoying having this thing reboot when I'm trying to visit a site.

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Sun Sep 02, 2001 5:09 pm

Sounds like an RF issue...probably wouldn't be a bad idea to have a cable tech come out and take a look a the lines...if you're having signal rolloff on the bottom end of the spectrum, it'll definitely affect your cable modem...

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Sun Sep 02, 2001 5:12 pm

Yeah, I'll call them again. They supposedly fixed it last week.

Thanks Indy.

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Sun Sep 02, 2001 5:21 pm

Hey, here's a little trick that you might want to try out with your RCA to see the signal levels and the signal to noise ratio:

Go into your network properties where you can select between using your own ip or specifying an ip. Specify an ip and put in the address 192.168.100.254 with a subnet of 255.255.255.0

Reboot the machine...bring your browser up and type in the address 192.168.100.1/moreInfo.html (note the capitalized I)...that'll give you the signal & SNR...if your Signal to Noise Ratio is below 30, there's a problem. If your transmit signal is above 55, there's a problem...

ace · Post by **ace** » Sun Sep 02, 2001 6:33 pm

i thought that was the internal ip for the surfboard modem. he said he has an rca215... i dont think he will be able to do that.

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Sun Sep 02, 2001 7:12 pm

Indy's trick worked.

Forward Path:
Signal Acquired at 111 MHz
SNR: 32.6 dB
Received Signal Strength: -4.1 dBmV
Micro-Reflections: 17 dBc

Return Path:
Connection: Acquired
Frequency: 38 MHz
Power Level: 56.0 dBmV
Channel ID: 2

CAR-15 · Post by **CAR-15** » Sun Sep 02, 2001 11:45 pm

It might be your modem, cuz i had the same problems few weeks ago..

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 12:15 am

Cabledude:

Forward Path:
SNR: 32.6 dB <==not bad, but not great...would be better to see this around 36-37...the higher the better

Return Path:
Power Level: 56.0 dBmV <===indicates that the signal coming into the modem is too low. Max power level is 58 dBmV.

With the problem that you were describing earlier with the channels on the TV combined with the signal that you're showing here, it definitely looks like an RF issue that needs to be resolved...

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 12:16 am

Originally posted by ace420
i thought that was the internal ip for the surfboard modem. he said he has an rca215... i dont think he will be able to do that.

Surfboards do use the ip address of 192.168.100.1 for the signal configuration page, but with the RCA's, you actually have to manually change your computer's ip address in order to access the signal diagnostics page

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 9:12 am

Thanks Indy. I'll check the diagnostics page a little more often now.

Hopefully, the provider will fix it soon.

VonJames · Post by **VonJames** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 9:56 am

I had a similar situation, in that the channels on my tv at one end of the spectrum would be clear, and the other would be slightly fuzzy, my cable modem would lose sync off an on.

The problem was that, since I live in a condo, everyones wiring goes to one big box. Apparently someone from the cable co. was out, probably looking at someone elses problem, and had unplugged mine for some reason, but when they plugged it back in, it wasn't in correctly.
The guy told me that the center wire has something called a stinger on it, and it has to go dead center into the fitting. Whoever unplugged it before, put it back together with the stinger off to the side. That kept it from getting a good solid signal.

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 11:15 am

Originally posted by VonJames
I had a similar situation, in that the channels on my tv at one end of the spectrum would be clear, and the other would be slightly fuzzy, my cable modem would lose sync off an on.

The problem was that, since I live in a condo, everyones wiring goes to one big box. Apparently someone from the cable co. was out, probably looking at someone elses problem, and had unplugged mine for some reason, but when they plugged it back in, it wasn't in correctly.
The guy told me that the center wire has something called a stinger on it, and it has to go dead center into the fitting. Whoever unplugged it before, put it back together with the stinger off to the side. That kept it from getting a good solid signal.

Yeah, I've seen that happen a few times where the stinger (center conductor) hasn't gone into the port receptacle correctly and cause exactly what you're describing...it happens, unfortunately...