Internet issues

[RampantAndroid]

OK...to make a long story as short and concise as I can:

I'm paying for 7 mbit down, 700 kbit up. I'm getting around 2 mbit down, 650 kbit up...I'm using a Motorola Surfboard 5120 (Software Version: SB5120-2.14.0.7-SCM00-NOSH) which is a perfectly fine modem normally.

Now, my cable company sent a tech out when I complained...the tech contradicted himself, without knowing it really...first, he tells me that there are network issues they are working on.

Then he pulled a modem out of his truck, plugged it into my cable hookup, and magically got 7 mbit speeds. So I thought my surfboard was bad...so I asked him to reactivate 2 of my old modems I have around, they worked a while back...now they get the same results - around 1-2 mbit consistently. So....how do 3 modems that WERE in good condition suddenly run slowly, but a modem he pulls out of his truck gets the correct speeds?

Is my cable company trying to pull something by making me buy a new modem? Are they pushing out bad updates?

Power levels look fine - down is 4 dbmv, up is 39 dbmv...SNR is 43 db.

Thanks.

Edit: Note, my internet doesn't drop randomly - its a consistent connection...just consistently below what is being paid for.

 

[Captante]

I was having problems with the new faster speeds provided by Optimum online boost awhile back & when the tech came out to see why I wasn't getting the expected performance increase, he tried the same thing with the same result ... my performance more then doubled using their modem instead of mine.

Good news for me is that Optimum doesn't charge a rental fee for cable modems in my area so I just had him leave the newer modem & I was all set ... not sure what the problem was, but my guess is it was a firmware issue or somthing similar.

 

[manowar821]

>> Is my cable company trying to pull something by making me buy a new modem? Are they pushing out bad updates?

Yes, and yes.

 

[bruceb]

Which cable company ? ?
What brand / model of Modem did the tech test with ? ?
Have you recently updated the Modem Firmware ? ? ?
If so, was it worknig ok Before the Update ? ?
It Not, try the Latest Firmware and see what happens

Worst case: See if the cable co charges to rent the modem
or not If not, have them come out and replace it. If they do
charge to rent it, it would be less expensive to buy the Same
Make / Model yourself, but you may want to get it from them as
in some cases, they have special firmware that you can't get.

 

[RampantAndroid]

The cable company charges for a new modem, or a $10 monthly rental fee. The brand they use is webstar - I have an old webstar at home that does NOT get the correct speeds. I have not touched my Surfboard's firmware, and frankly don't know how to update it...if you could fill me in...

and the company is a local company, specific to my region...

Edit: Trying to have my ISP flash my firmware. They don't understand what I am asking them to do. They put me on hold while they ask around. Been on hold 15 min.

 

[bruceb]

The Webstar is made by Scientific Altanta

Webstar(Scientific Atlanta) Cable Modem, DPC2100 series

Do a Google search .. they are easy to find .. here is one on Ebay for only $25 USD

http://cgi.ebay.com/Webstar-Scientific-...QQihZ013QQcategoryZ61822QQcmdZViewItem

Nofe: the ebay one is a used unit

Here is a new one for under $50

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/sys/334704408.html

I did a check ... Motorola does not show any firmware downloads for the cable modems .. only USB drivers

 

[RampantAndroid]

Only the ISP can flash firmware updates. I'm having the ISP call me tomorrow about it, at which point I will have them flash my current modem, if that doesn't work, I'll have them flash my old webstar.