Cable modem issues

[Nick R]

I've already talked briefly to the Time Warner guy, and they are sending someone out on wednesday to fix it.

A few weeks ago I started having issues where the Cable modem (Motorola SB5101U) would start flashing "Send" at me for a few minutes, then "receive" for a minute, then send again. No internet, and unable to access the Modem's settings via 192.168.100.1. Called Time Warner and just as he answered, it started working. He checked the signal, and (I was able to get in now too), the Downstream is good,

Frequency 561000000 Hz
Signal To Noise Ratio 38.0 dB
Power Level -2.0 dBmV

But he said the upsteam power level was too high (no, it wasn't over 9000....)

Channel ID 7
Frequency 29900000 Hz
Power 55.0 dBmV

He says 55dBmV used to be the upper limit, but with more subscribers it's been lowered to 50.0dBmV. He says it's not too high to always cause issues, but it would be sporadic, which is what it's been.

Here is the logs from the modem as well


Time Priority Code Description
1970-01-01 00:00:22 3-Critical D003.0 DHCP FAILED - Requested Info not supported.
1970-01-01 00:00:15 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 7)
1970-01-01 00:00:07 6-Notice M571.1 Ethernet link up - ready to pass packets
1970-01-01 00:01:18 3-Critical D003.0 DHCP FAILED - Requested Info not supported.
1970-01-01 00:01:18 6-Notice M571.1 Ethernet link up - ready to pass packets
1970-01-01 00:01:03 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:00:09 6-Notice M571.4 Ethernet link dormant - not currently active
2011-07-19 00:48:15 6-Notice M573.0 Modem Is Shutting Down and Rebooting...
2011-07-19 00:48:15 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
2011-07-19 00:48:15 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:00:23 3-Critical D003.0 DHCP FAILED - Requested Info not supported.
1970-01-01 00:00:16 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 7)
1970-01-01 00:00:07 6-Notice M571.4 Ethernet link dormant - not currently active
1970-01-01 00:00:23 3-Critical D003.0 DHCP FAILED - Requested Info not supported.
1970-01-01 00:00:16 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 7)
1970-01-01 00:00:07 6-Notice M571.1 Ethernet link up - ready to pass packets
2011-07-19 00:31:07 6-Notice M573.0 Modem Is Shutting Down and Rebooting...
2011-07-19 00:31:07 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:24:52 3-Critical D003.0 DHCP FAILED - Requested Info not supported.
1970-01-01 00:24:44 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 7)
1970-01-01 00:24:34 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:24:08 3-Critical T002.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing
1970-01-01 00:24:07 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:24:07 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:22:56 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 8)
1970-01-01 00:22:49 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 12)
1970-01-01 00:22:39 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 11)
1970-01-01 00:22:27 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 10)
1970-01-01 00:22:21 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:21:10 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 9)
1970-01-01 00:21:04 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:19:49 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 7)
1970-01-01 00:19:38 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:18:57 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 10)
1970-01-01 00:18:52 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:17:40 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 9)
1970-01-01 00:17:36 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:16:25 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 8)
1970-01-01 00:16:17 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 12)
1970-01-01 00:16:06 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 11)
1970-01-01 00:16:00 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:14:45 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 7)
1970-01-01 00:14:33 3-Critical T002.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing
1970-01-01 00:14:33 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:14:23 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 12)
1970-01-01 00:14:14 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 11)
1970-01-01 00:14:02 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 10)
1970-01-01 00:13:57 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:12:46 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 9)
1970-01-01 00:12:40 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:11:29 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 8)
1970-01-01 00:11:24 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:10:13 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 7)
1970-01-01 00:09:58 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:09:58 3-Critical T002.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing
1970-01-01 00:09:58 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:09:55 3-Critical T002.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing
1970-01-01 00:09:55 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:09:45 3-Critical T002.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing
1970-01-01 00:09:44 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:09:33 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:08:21 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 8)
1970-01-01 00:08:07 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 12)
1970-01-01 00:07:59 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 11)
1970-01-01 00:07:55 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:06:44 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 9)
1970-01-01 00:06:33 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 10)
1970-01-01 00:06:28 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:05:16 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 7)
1970-01-01 00:05:03 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:04:40 3-Critical T002.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing
1970-01-01 00:04:39 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:04:38 3-Critical T002.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing
1970-01-01 00:04:38 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:04:38 3-Critical T002.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing
1970-01-01 00:04:37 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:04:36 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:03:25 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 8)
1970-01-01 00:03:14 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 12)
1970-01-01 00:03:03 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 11)
1970-01-01 00:02:55 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 10)
1970-01-01 00:02:50 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:01:38 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 9)
1970-01-01 00:01:31 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:00:18 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 7)
1970-01-01 00:00:07 6-Notice M571.1 Ethernet link up - ready to pass packets
1970-01-01 00:16:00 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 12)
1970-01-01 00:15:54 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 11)
1970-01-01 00:15:47 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:14:33 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 9)
1970-01-01 00:14:25 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 10)
1970-01-01 00:14:21 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:13:08 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 7)
1970-01-01 00:12:56 3-Critical T001.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing
1970-01-01 00:12:18 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:11:06 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 8)
1970-01-01 00:10:55 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 12)
1970-01-01 00:10:46 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 11)
1970-01-01 00:10:42 3-Critical R004.0 Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance o
1970-01-01 00:09:28 3-Critical R002.0 No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out (US 9)


First of all, from what I understand the downstream power level is good, but the fact that the modem is trying to transmit at 55.0dBmV means that there is something wrong? What are they going to try to do to fix this?

And what does the stuff in the log mean? Some of it I understand, such as the DHCP stuff, and Ethernet link, but the other stuff is gibberish to me.

 

[Colt45ws]

55dBmV is the most power the modem can transmit at, that is why it is bad to be there. If its using 100% power there is no way to tell (on your end) if that is enough power to actually reliably connect.
You might check for bad connections, open CATV connectors, and find out what type of splitter is being used and how many ports it is. Ours is setup with a two way with one port to the modem and the other port has a filter then it goes to a 5 port that the TVs connect to.

I had this problem back a couple years ago. Eventually they came out and bumped the power at the local amplifier a notch. That fixed the issue.

 

[Nick R]

It's coming in from outside to my room where the modem is. It's going through a Monster Cable (Don't laugh, I get it dirt cheap) 2Ghz 2-way splitter, through a Rocketfish 12-Port surge protector, into the modem.

I tried removing the splitter and the surge, and he said it only dropped to 53.8, so those weren't the problem.

 

[Colt45ws]

Do you have open CATV ports?

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Do you have open CATV ports?


Maybe.

It comes in from outside, to a professional-grade splitter, which go to the bedrooms upstairs. The other goes to a TW supplied Amplifier, and splitter, which go to 2 CATV outlets in the living room, and to the VOIP modem in the basement.

My room has the cable modem, my sisters has a cheap splitter that goes to her, and then through the wall to my brothers TV. My parents have a DVR Cable box in their bedroom, and downstairs there is the DVR Cable box, and the other one is empty. Neither cable boxes seem to have any signal issues at all, they work 100% of the time.

 

[Viggen]

It's a good idea to get terminators (little metal caps that screw onto any open outputs) on a splitter...

Just call your cable company office and ask for them for free.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Do you have open CATV ports?


Maybe.

It comes in from outside, to a professional-grade splitter, which go to the bedrooms upstairs. The other goes to a TW supplied Amplifier, and splitter, which go to 2 CATV outlets in the living room, and to the VOIP modem in the basement.

My room has the cable modem, my sisters has a cheap splitter that goes to her, and then through the wall to my brothers TV. My parents have a DVR Cable box in their bedroom, and downstairs there is the DVR Cable box, and the other one is empty. Neither cable boxes seem to have any signal issues at all, they work 100% of the time.

Hmm. Is that amplifier bi-directional? Sounds like it may be since you have another(?) modem type device plugged into it. I would steal that for a bit if it is and see what happens.

 

[eljefino]

It's goofy that the internal config webpage on those cable modems only works when they have internet.

 

[OVERKILL]

try hooking it up before the "professional" splitter temporarily and see what it is at.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: Viggen
It's a good idea to get terminators (little metal caps that screw onto any open outputs) on a splitter...

Just call your cable company office and ask for them for free.


The only kind they'll likely have are the locking ones..which you need a special tool to remove. RadioShack sells the normal kind, or they used to.

 

[brianl703]

Oh by the way, the modem itself could be failing.

 

[Nick R]

He came out today and reconfigured the amplifier in our box. Also removed the splitter in my room (I don't use the TV much anyway) and it's sitting at 49dbm now.