Cable Modem Stats with regard to Vonage

Posts: 1123 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 1123

All,
Being a geek, I wanted your opinion and maybe comparison on cable modem statistics regarding identifying Voip issues. I took a snapshot of my stats for my SB 5120. Bottom line: How do these stats equate to connection and Voip problems?

(BTW: I'm not having a current issue, just trying to suck more knowledge from ya'll)

Downstream Value:

Frequency: 723000000 Hz
Signal to Noise Ratio: 36 dB
QAM: 256
Network Access Control Object: ON
Power Level: -3 dBmV (Downstream Power Level Reading)

Upstream Value:

Channel ID: 3
Frequency: 24000000 Hz
Ranging Service ID: 10
Symbol Rate: 2.560 Msym/s
Power Level: 41 dBmV

Thanks!

Posts: 119 · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:13 am Post subject: Not an answer...

Ok, quick question. How did you get those stats?
I would love to find out all that for my cable connection!

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:17 am Post subject: Re: Not an answer...

j-card wrote:

Ok, quick question. How did you get those stats?
I would love to find out all that for my cable connection!

You should be able to access your modem using the client side URL. For example, my modem takes 192.168.100.1 (Linksys BEFCMU10). Different modems give different IP addresses, and of course your cable provider COULD turn this off if they wanted to.

So, you can try http://192.168.100.1 and see what happens...

Posts: 1123 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 1123

j-card,
NateHoy's advice is exactly what I did. I used to have an RCA modem and that IP worked as well for that one.

Posts: 119 · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:51 am Post subject: Interesting...

Well, I grabbed the documentation that came with my Moto SurfBoard5101, and after combing through that, went to the Motorola Site. No Dice! I cannot find the default IP anywhere! I am calling my cable provider now, but if anyone happens to know it, I would greatly appreciate it!

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:54 am Post subject:

Navydavy -

I'm no expert in these, but I don't think these results are really all that relevant to you in terms of determining Vonage quality. I would use TestYourVoIP.com and other speed/VoIP tests, not modem setting results. These numbers are more likely to help your Cable provider diagnose problems in signalling that would cause problems (to little power = lost packets, too much power = echo) and install or remove filters and/or boosters, or replace your modem, or do rewiring.

My connection works very well, and for your reference here are the results from my BEFCMU10, for what good they do. Note that your results and mine are pretty close. Vonage works great on my connection.

Downstream Channel
The data shown in the table below provides information about the signal coming from the
network to your cable modem.
Lock Status Locked Modulation QAM256
Channel ID 38 Symbol rate 5360537 sym/sec
Downstream Frequency 117000000 Hz Max Bit Rate 3000000 bps
Downstream Power -3.31 dBmV SNR 36 dB

Upstream Channel
The data shown in the table below provides information about the signal being transmitted to
the network from your cable modem.
Lock Status Locked Modulation QPSK
Channel ID 3 Symbol rate 1280 ksym/sec
Upstream Frequency 37500000 Hz Max Bit Rate 256000 bps
Upstream Power 45.25 dBmV

Posts: 119 · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:06 pm Post subject: For anyone looking...

The default IP for the Motorola Surfboard 5101 is 192.168.0.100

However, motorola has blocked access to this page...

Wonder why?

Posts: 1123 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 1123

I think your right Nate, testyourvoip is alot better to get results/stats. I was wondering all of this becuase when I had my old modem, (RCA), I had a downstream Power of -10db. Figuring this was because the cable wiring is split a few times before it makes it to my wall jack, I begged it off. When I got the new Motorola, the result jumped to -3db. I'm thinking my Comcast supplied RCA modem was just a heap of JUNK, and now I'm seeing the real performance. BTW, Vonage and network are runnin full steam ahead with no issues, except the occasional drop of a call when I'm on for more than 80 minutes.

Edited because sometimes my brain goes faster than my fingers can keep up. Or vice versa. Smile

Posts: 119 · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 12:27 pm Post subject: Umm...

Jenk eh

Posts: 14 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Dec 02, 2005 Posts: 14

navydavy2001 wrote:

All,
Bottom line: How do these stats equate to connection and Voip problems?

Signal to Noise Ratio: 36 dB
Power Level: -3 dBmV (Downstream Power Level Reading)
Power Level: 41 dBmV

To be honest, they dont really correlate to Voip at all. They only matter for blocksync issues for your service (can it negotiate a connection or not).

The only two pertinent pieces of data out of that whole thing are your S2N and Power level. Power level is the easiest way to troubleshoot a broadband connection. If its too high or low, the broadband parity system cant regulate properly and you get an unstable blocksync. When that happens, EVERYTHING slows down and you start losing connectivity. S2N is directly related to power. Its a delicate balance and one that if out of whack can only hurt your connection.

Your specs are almost the "optimal" specs for a broadband connection over cable.