HA* North London peak hours SO slow, HELP please!

mgc_bb · 02-03-2010, 22:04

Hi Guys,

This is driving me nuts now, been having major slow down at peak times since the first snows came in December last year. At the time thought it was just down to the weather but it never really went back to normal again.

I'm on 20meg and have been very happy with it until this happened, strange thing is its only SLOW! between say 5pm to 11.30pm ish and most of the weekend (so peak times) otherwise is ok so its got to be an oversubed issue I guess.

My mate round the corner has the exact same problem.

Given up trying to bid on ebay in the evening, given up using it really until after 11pm, its crazy.

Anyway, I'm posting the modem data and a mac osx produced traceroute that includes the ping times etc.

Service never drops, just slow like say twice dialup speed.

Any advice on how to approach VM would be most welcome.
Its been two months now, so doesnt look like they are going fix it anytime soon so its time to complain huh!

cheers,
Mac

---------- Post added at 20:58 ---------- Previous post was at 20:53 ----------

Data from around 11am this morning and getting 20mb no probs

Cable Modem Information
Cable Modem : Euro-DOCSIS 1.0/1.1/2.0 Compliant
MAC Address :
Serial Number :
Boot Code Version : 3.1.6d
Software Version : 2.94.1015
Hardware Version : 1.19

Cable Modem Status
Item

Status

Comments
Acquire a Downstream Channel

314750000 Hz

Locked
Connectivity State

OK

Operational
Boot State

OK

Operational

Cable Modem Downstream
Downstream Lock :
Locked
Downstream Channel Id :
26
Downstream Frequency :
314750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation :
QAM256
Downstream Symbol Rate :
6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth :
taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level :
1.4 dBmV
Downstream SNR :
37.8 dB

Cable Modem Upstream
Upstream Lock :
Locked
Upstream Channel ID :
3
Upstream Frequency :
45800000 Hz
Upstream Modulation :
QAM16
Upstream Symbol Rate :
2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level :
49.0 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size :
2

Cable Modem Upstream Burst

Req
Init Maint
Per Maint
Short Data
Long Data

(1)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
Modulation Type
QPSK
QPSK
QPSK
16QAM
16QAM
Differential Encoding
Off
Off
Off
Off
Off
Preamble Length
36
232
232
128
128
Preamble Value Offset
244
6
6
504
504
FEC Error Correction (T)
0
5
5
4
9
FEC Codeword Information Bytes (k)
16
34
34
76
232
Scrambler Seed
338
338
338
338
338
Maximum Burst Size
0
0
0
7
137
Guard Time Size
22
48
48
22
22
Last Codeword Length
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Short
Short
Scrambler on/off
On
On
On
On
On

Cable Modem Operation Configuration
Network Access :
Allowed
Maximum Downstream Data Rate :
20480000
Maximum Upstream Data Rate :
768000
Maximum Upstream Channel Burst :
3044
Maximum Number of CPEs :
1
Modem Capability :
Concatenation Enabled, Fragametation Enabled, PHS Enabled
Cable Modem Event Log
First Time
Last Time
Priority
Description
Sat Feb 27 21:33:10 2010
Sat Feb 27 21:33:10 2010
Warning (5)
DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Information (7)
Downstream sync ok
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Information (7)
locked and synced to rescue CMTS...all is well!
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Information (7)
Downstream sync ok
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Critical (3)
SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Loss of Sync
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Information (7)
Downstream sync failed
Wed Feb 24 09:33:10 2010
Wed Feb 24 09:33:10 2010
Warning (5)
DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Information (7)
The s/w filename specified in the config file is the same as ...
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Information (7)
A software upgrade filename was specified in the config file.
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Information (7)
Authorized
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Information (7)
Registration complete!
Thu Feb 18 17:12:11 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:11 2010
Information (7)
We registered with a DOCSIS 1.1 config file!
Thu Feb 18 17:12:11 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:11 2010
Information (7)
Received a REG-RSP message from the CMTS...
Thu Feb 18 17:12:11 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:11 2010
Information (7)
Sending a REG-REQ to the CMTS...
Thu Feb 18 17:12:11 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:11 2010
Information (7)
CableModem SNMP configure complete
Thu Feb 18 17:12:11 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:11 2010
Information (7)
IP init completed ok
Thu Feb 18 17:12:11 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:11 2010
Information (7)
CableModem TFTP init ok
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Information (7)
CableModem DHCP client init ok
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Critical (3)
DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response.
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Critical (3)
No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Information (7)
MAP w/initial maintenance region received
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Information (7)
Downstream sync ok
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Information (7)
Beginning initial ranging...
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Information (7)
downstream time sync acquired...
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Information (7)
Downstream sync ok
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Information (7)
starting ds time sync acquisition...
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Information (7)
Locked on the downstream. Waiting for UCDs...
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Information (7)
Downstream lock ok
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Information (7)
Sync Start
Thu Feb 18 17:11:49 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:11:49 2010
Critical (3)
Resetting the cable modem due to docsDevResetNow
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Critical (3)
DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response.
Time Not Established
Time Not Established
Critical (3)
Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Un...

mac traceroute from apple network ultility 11:08am 02/03/10

Traceroute has started ...

traceroute to www-fmt.bbc.net.uk (212.58.246.160), 64 hops max, 40 byte packets
1 192.168.1.1 (192.168.1.1) 0.789 ms 0.517 ms 0.502 ms
2 10.*.*.* (10.*.*.*) 13.025 ms 26.006 ms 26.455 ms
3 brnt-core-1b-ge-310-1158.network.virginmedia.net (213.104.146.197) 21.169 ms 14.877 ms 7.771 ms
4 brnt-bb-1b-as1-0.network.virginmedia.net (213.105.174.249) 26.907 ms 11.799 ms 38.909 ms
5 brnt-bb-1a-ae0-0.network.virginmedia.net (213.105.174.225) 13.157 ms 30.361 ms 39.818 ms
6 gfd-bb-b-as1-0.network.virginmedia.net (212.43.163.105) 61.526 ms 18.028 ms 28.911 ms
7 redb-ic-1-as0-0.network.virginmedia.net (62.253.185.78) 19.478 ms 23.806 ms 21.203 ms
8 212.58.239.249 (212.58.239.249) 31.883 ms 44.011 ms 54.415 ms
9 212.58.238.133 (212.58.238.133) 63.952 ms 20.211 ms 11.541 ms
10 te12-1.hsw0.cwwtf.bbc.co.uk (212.58.239.222) 33.932 ms 18.871 ms 26.537 ms
11 212.58.255.12 (212.58.255.12) 34.865 ms 49.665 ms 33.351 ms
12 fmt-vip03.cwwtf.bbc.co.uk (212.58.246.160) 48.842 ms 16.078 ms 66.993 ms

---------- Post added at 21:00 ---------- Previous post was at 20:58 ----------

and here is the data from 8pm ish this evening

Cable Modem Information
Cable Modem : Euro-DOCSIS 1.0/1.1/2.0 Compliant
MAC Address :
Serial Number :
Boot Code Version : 3.1.6d
Software Version : 2.94.1015
Hardware Version : 1.19

Cable Modem Status
Item

Status

Comments
Acquire a Downstream Channel

314750000 Hz

Locked
Connectivity State

OK

Operational
Boot State

OK

Operational

Cable Modem Downstream
Downstream Lock :
Locked
Downstream Channel Id :
26
Downstream Frequency :
314750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation :
QAM256
Downstream Symbol Rate :
6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth :
taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level :
1.3 dBmV
Downstream SNR :
37.0 dB

Cable Modem Upstream
Upstream Lock :
Locked
Upstream Channel ID :
3
Upstream Frequency :
45800000 Hz
Upstream Modulation :
QAM16
Upstream Symbol Rate :
2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level :
49.0 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size :
2

Cable Modem Upstream Burst

Req
Init Maint
Per Maint
Short Data
Long Data

(1)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
Modulation Type
QPSK
QPSK
QPSK
16QAM
16QAM
Differential Encoding
Off
Off
Off
Off
Off
Preamble Length
36
232
232
128
128
Preamble Value Offset
244
6
6
504
504
FEC Error Correction (T)
0
5
5
4
9
FEC Codeword Information Bytes (k)
16
34
34
76
232
Scrambler Seed
338
338
338
338
338
Maximum Burst Size
0
0
0
7
137
Guard Time Size
22
48
48
22
22
Last Codeword Length
Fixed
Fixed
Fixed
Short
Short
Scrambler on/off
On
On
On
On
On

Cable Modem Operation Configuration
Network Access :
Allowed
Maximum Downstream Data Rate :
20480000
Maximum Upstream Data Rate :
768000
Maximum Upstream Channel Burst :
3044
Maximum Number of CPEs :
1
Modem Capability :
Concatenation Enabled, Fragametation Enabled, PHS Enabled
Cable Modem Event Log
First Time
Last Time
Priority
Description
Sat Feb 27 21:33:10 2010
Sat Feb 27 21:33:10 2010
Warning (5)
DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Information (7)
Downstream sync ok
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Information (7)
locked and synced to rescue CMTS...all is well!
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Information (7)
Downstream sync ok
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Critical (3)
SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Loss of Sync
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Fri Feb 26 19:07:10 2010
Information (7)
Downstream sync failed
Wed Feb 24 09:33:10 2010
Wed Feb 24 09:33:10 2010
Warning (5)
DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Information (7)
The s/w filename specified in the config file is the same as ...
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Information (7)
A software upgrade filename was specified in the config file.
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Information (7)
Authorized
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Thu Feb 18 17:12:12 2010
Information (7)
Registration complete!

Traceroute has started ...

traceroute to www-fmt.bbc.net.uk (212.58.244.140), 64 hops max, 40 byte packets
1 192.168.1.1 (192.168.1.1) 14.064 ms 0.522 ms 0.529 ms
2 10.*.*.* (10.*.*.*) 7.533 ms 10.691 ms 11.348 ms
3 brnt-core-1b-ge-310-1158.network.virginmedia.net (213.104.146.197) 102.273 ms * 24.463 ms
4 brnt-bb-1b-as1-0.network.virginmedia.net (213.105.174.249) 114.409 ms 11.743 ms 139.687 ms
5 brnt-bb-1a-ae0-0.network.virginmedia.net (213.105.174.225) 57.512 ms 31.783 ms 154.975 ms
6 * * *
7 * * redb-ic-1-as0-0.network.virginmedia.net (62.253.185.78) 80.751 ms
8 * 212.58.239.249 (212.58.239.249) 117.307 ms 30.011 ms
9 * 212.58.238.149 (212.58.238.149) 43.460 ms 13.276 ms
10 212.58.239.62 (212.58.239.62) 15.349 ms * 43.678 ms
11 212.58.251.43 (212.58.251.43) 13.568 ms 68.680 ms 32.209 ms
12 * fmt-vip01.telhc.bbc.co.uk (212.58.244.140) 13.218 ms 67.956 ms

---------- Post added at 21:04 ---------- Previous post was at 21:00 ----------

So as can be seen the upload speed is just gone and even though its a goodish download speed in reality its like 20 seconds to load an average web page.

Please help if you have any ideas tips.

Oh and I should add, without me doing anything, no resets etc the speed just returns to 20mb after 11pm ish, oversubed bummer huh!

cheers,
Mac

bayards · 02-03-2010, 22:50

Went up to 20 Meg last Friday - I managed an 18 meg fest this morning but tonight its dire (as below)) - I may revoke my upgrade within the 7 days - not worth the extra.

or London server (where I am E15)

Sephiroth · 02-03-2010, 22:51

To find out whether it's congestion, you could report your experience and data to the 2nd line support newsgroup.

If you're on XP, the VM web site tells you how to connect to the newsgroup using Outlook Express (Outlook doesn't support this).

If you're on Vista or Windows 7, you would use Windows Live Mail (a standard part of your system). To get on the VM Newsgroup you need to be operating through the VM broadband system.

In Windows Live Mail, you'd click the "Newsgroups" link at the bottom of the screen and then Tools/Accounts then Add/Newsgroup Account.

Give your Display Name (like mgc), your e-mail address (which can be fictitious) then your server address for the newsgroup which is "news.virginmedia.com".

You'll then be able (via the Newsgroups menu item) to select the Virgin media icon on the left of a search panel, click on "All" and wait a few minutes till it's finished listing thousands of newsgroups.

Scroll down to "Virginmedia.support.broadband.cable" and double click it.

And you're there. You can post your stuff including any evidence you've collected.

bayards · 02-03-2010, 23:13

Better still - i voted with my feet and cancelled my upgrade and gone back to 10 meg. As I don't use the TV now (have Freeview HD) and landline I think Virgin will be chucked and i'll get an ADSL line back in.

mgc_bb · 03-03-2010, 15:31

Thanks for the ideas.

Have reposted this on VM forum, will see what that brings.

All the best,
Mac

m419 · 03-03-2010, 15:38

The Cable London franchise covering Camden,Hackney,Islington,Harringey and Enfield is usually a good area, I myself live in Camden and don't find any difference at peak times, however, my experience of BT Total Broadband between 7pm and 10pm was pretty lousy, the speed of 3 mobile broadband was actually just as fast.

Ignitionnet · 03-03-2010, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by m419

The Cable London franchise covering Camden,Hackney,Islington,Harringey and Enfield is usually a good area, I myself live in Camden and don't find any difference at peak times, however, my experience of BT Total Broadband between 7pm and 10pm was pretty lousy, the speed of 3 mobile broadband was actually just as fast.

One port does not a good franchise of thousands of ports make.

London as a whole is a bit of a crock to be honest. Telewest's neglect caused a fair few issues in their areas some of which are now fixed by Virgin Media but not all.