Could do with some fairly basic info please [Archive]

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AlabasterLyn

31-08-2010, 13:38

Sorry it this seems a stupid question, but I don't know where else to ask.

We have our internet going through a stand alone modem, a lead from that to our current desktop pc tower and then a lead from that to the router where we pick up the wireless for our laptop.

Our current desktop is so old and slow that I am thinking of buying my OH a new one for his birthday. However I'm really unsure how to go about swapping them over. Do I just do a basic swap over or do I need to set up the internet again? I was planning on buying one of those all in one desktops as they seem so much neater and I noticed they are wireless too. Does that mean I can either hard wire it or just let it pick up the internet through the router? If I do that is there a certain way of connecting the modem up so that it all works.

Hope that makes sense to someone :confused:

Kymmy

31-08-2010, 13:44

The lead should go from the modem to the router and then from the router (by either wires or wifi) to the desktops/laptops

If you buy another desktop it should come with an ethernet port and you should very simply be able to plug that directly into the router and it should work (OS's these days tend to default to the settings needed to get an address/gateway/dns straight from the router)

If the desktop has Wifi then it'll connect in exactly the same way as a laptop (you might have to put in security details for the wifi but it'll be the same as the details you put into the laptop)

pip08456

31-08-2010, 13:46

Your setup should be:- Cable connection to modem-Wired connection to router-either wired or wireless from router to other devices (PC Laptop etc).

When to come to swap it's easy. Just unplug the old one from the router and plug the new one in (or setup wireless) and away you go.

If you do not yet use wireless you need to set it up with a wired connection.

Kymmy got in while I was replying:o:

AlabasterLyn

31-08-2010, 14:21

Thanks for that, I didn't want to go out and buy a new one and then find I couldn't get back online as I'd be totally lost without my internet up and running :shocked:

pip08456

31-08-2010, 14:34

Go do it, you'll be OK

Peter_

31-08-2010, 14:35

If you have any issues just call up technical support and they will help you.

AlabasterLyn

01-09-2010, 20:41

If you have any issues just call up technical support and they will help you.

I am bound to have countless issues I'm sure, which is why I am making sure I have some idea of what I am doing.

At the moment my internet connection is not only very slow but also drops out about 3 times a day and has done since we upgraded to 20Mb. I know the only way I can find out if it's the modem or the router is to bypass the router and plug directly into the back of the modem, but as it's like spaghetti junction behind the current pc it's a bit difficult to know where to start. I am hoping that with an all in one pc with just the one mains lead I might be able to sort that out.

Nearly bought an HP all in one earlier today but then an Apple all in one caught my eye and I do have a love of all things Apple so might go back and get that :rolleyes:

Peter_

01-09-2010, 21:13

AlabasterLyn

02-09-2010, 08:10

If you are having the internet drop out you may be having some issues with your connection so could you follow the instructions below.

Please post the Upstream and Downstream stats from your modem just click http://192.168.100.1/CmOpConfig.asp or if that does not work click http://192.168.100.1/

Cable Modem Upstream
Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 4
Upstream Frequency : 29200000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QAM16
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 52.5 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2

Cable Modem Downstream
Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 4
Downstream Frequency : 586750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM64
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : 3.2 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 38.5 dB

Peter_

02-09-2010, 08:57

Cable Modem Upstream
Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 4
Upstream Frequency : 29200000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QAM16
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 52.5 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2

Cable Modem Downstream
Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 4
Downstream Frequency : 586750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM64
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : 3.2 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 38.5 dB
All fine.;)

AlabasterLyn

02-09-2010, 10:28

All fine.;)

Well I'm glad all that made sense to you as it doesn't to me :confused:

This morning I've had to reboot the modem and router twice already and it's only 10.26am :shocked:

I am on my 2nd router as I bought a new one a few years ago as I thought the router was causing the internet to drop out. I now have a Netgear one and it was working fine till we upgraded to 20Mb. Do you think I need to get yet another new one and if so is there one which would be so good I'd have a stable connection :confused:

Peter_

02-09-2010, 10:40

Well I'm glad all that made sense to you as it doesn't to me :confused:

This morning I've had to reboot the modem and router twice already and it's only 10.26am :shocked:

I am on my 2nd router as I bought a new one a few years ago as I thought the router was causing the internet to drop out. I now have a Netgear one and it was working fine till we upgraded to 20Mb. Do you think I need to get yet another new one and if so is there one which would be so good I'd have a stable connection :confused:
If you have to keep rebooting then I would advise you to call up as the may be an issue that needs sorting out.

Sephiroth

02-09-2010, 10:54

Upstream transmit Power Level : 52.5 dBmV

Not sure it is fine. If that level is steady, then OK. If it's moving arpound, then not OK.

When you're on the Upstream page, refresh it every 5 seconds 10 times and see if it varies. If it goes above 55 dBmb, there is the prime case for losing connexion and you'd need to get that cause checked.

Let us know.

AlabasterLyn

02-09-2010, 13:03

Peter_

02-09-2010, 13:12

Upstream transmit Power Level : 54.0 dBmV

Getting towards the high side I guess :confused:
As I said earlier if the connection is unstable give support a ring.

AlabasterLyn

02-09-2010, 13:41

As I said earlier if the connection is unstable give support a ring.

I just phoned them and they just said the connection is fine and couldn't really answer my query as to why the connection keeps dropping out other than to suggest I phone them the next time it's actually dropped out so they can test it.

---------- Post added at 13:41 ---------- Previous post was at 13:25 ----------

It just dropped out again so I phoned technical support and as soon as I get to the broadband fault part there is a recorded message saying something about a fault in the WD3 area, which I don't live in, then it disconnects me. I've now tried twice and I give up for today :rolleyes:

Sephiroth

02-09-2010, 13:49

Upstream transmit Power Level : 54.0 dBmV

Getting towards the high side I guess :confused:

If it's steady at 54 that would be OK. But it's not steady at 54 because you were on 52.5 before and that kind of swing is unusual. If it doesn't go above 54, then it's likely to be coping but there could well be problems. Maybe we should see your event log (after normal use not after a reboot) and see if there are any T3 timeouts in there.

As Masque says, any problems, call it in - but I agree with your approach of finding out as much as possible beforehand so you don't get fobbed off 9as occasionally happens).

AlabasterLyn

02-09-2010, 13:58

If it's steady at 54 that would be OK. But it's not steady at 54 because you were on 52.5 before and that kind of swing is unusual. If it doesn't go above 54, then it's likely to be coping but there could well be problems. Maybe we should see your event log (after normal use not after a reboot) and see if there are any T3 timeouts in there.

As Masque says, any problems, call it in - but I agree with your approach of finding out as much as possible beforehand so you don't get fobbed off 9as occasionally happens).

First Time Last Time Priority Description
Thu Sep 02 12:37:07 2010 Thu Sep 02 12:37:07 2010 Information (7) The s/w filename specified in the config file is the same as ...
Thu Sep 02 12:37:07 2010 Thu Sep 02 12:37:07 2010 Information (7) A software upgrade filename was specified in the config file.
Thu Sep 02 12:37:07 2010 Thu Sep 02 12:37:07 2010 Information (7) Authorized
Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Information (7) Registration complete!
Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Information (7) We registered with a DOCSIS 1.1 config file!
Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Information (7) Received a REG-RSP message from the CMTS...
Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Information (7) Sending a REG-REQ to the CMTS...
Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Information (7) CableModem SNMP configure complete
Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Information (7) IP init completed ok
Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Information (7) CableModem TFTP init ok
Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Information (7) CableModem DHCP client init ok
Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Thu Sep 02 12:37:06 2010 Critical (3) DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response.
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 Sep 02 07:01:14 2010 Thu Sep 02 07:01:14 2010 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 Critical (3) Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Un...
Time Not Established Time Not Established Critical (3) No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out
Time Not Established Time Not Established Critical (3) No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out
Time Not Established Time Not Established Critical (3) No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out
Wed Sep 01 12:47:35 2010 Wed Sep 01 12:47:35 2010 Critical (3) DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response.
Wed Sep 01 07:41:03 2010 Wed Sep 01 07:41:03 2010 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 Critical (3) No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out
Time Not Established Time Not Established Critical (3) Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Un...

Sephiroth

02-09-2010, 14:15

You are getting T3 tomeouts which is an indocation that your modem is struggling to communicate with the other end. This is usually down to issues in the upstream and is characterised by high upstream power levels.

I'd guess that there was noise ingress to the upstream channel somewhere which tech support could check at their end.

You might want to register on the VM we bsite forum and post your levels there. tech support would look at your circuit and advise how it's to be dealt with.

You can call it in by telephone as Masque has advised. if you're lucky and get a good tech, they might check the circuit for you before (or instead of) offering an engineer to come to your home. Above all I'd say it is important for the tech to check your circuit before deciding whether or not to send an engineer; we don't want that visit to be pointless.

AlabasterLyn

02-09-2010, 14:17

Thanks for your reply. I will try and register there if I can find out where it is.

You would think the guy at technical support would have seen that when he checked my modem :rolleyes:

kwikbreaks

02-09-2010, 14:46

http://community.virginmedia.com/

Specific board - http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Fibre-optic-broadband-cable/bd-p/Fibre

Peter_

02-09-2010, 14:59

You can call it in by telephone as Masque has advised. if you're lucky and get a good tech, they might check the circuit for you before (or instead of) offering an engineer to come to your home. Above all I'd say it is important for the tech to check your circuit before deciding whether or not to send an engineer; we don't want that visit to be pointless.
It depends if the agent can actually interpret what they see in the tools as well.;)

AlabasterLyn

02-09-2010, 15:11

Thanks for your help. I have joined the forum and posted on it and apparently yes there does seem to be a fault, so I am waiting for one of the mods to post and hopefully try to arrange for an engineer to come and fix it :)

Sephiroth

02-09-2010, 15:53

Thanks for your reply. I will try and register there if I can find out where it is.

You would think the guy at technical support would have seen that when he checked my modem :rolleyes:

The guy prolly checked 4/5 of 5/8 of F-all!

Boabyboy

02-09-2010, 18:12

AlabasterLyn

02-09-2010, 19:21

If you thinking about getting a Macintosh, AlabasterLyn, go for it! Currently just now while i am typing this response to you, i am using an iMac G5 20 inch screen with Leopard 10.5.8 for almost 5 years and has never had any major issues or problems like my other PC had. So yeah, go treat yourself and get a Macintosh.

I've had an Apple Mac Laptop for about 2yrs and just love it. The main reason I bought it was because I had managed to break about 4 previous laptops because I put them on my lap rather than a table and always end up damaging the jack plug and of course with the Apple Mac you get the lovely little magnetic thing at the side.

Of course there are a million and one other reasons why a Mac is so much better than Microsoft computer ;)