Heat and Cable modem??

Yep. Don't stack devices that don't have feet that match "dents" in the device below.

That's why I went with a Motorola 5120 - the flat profile of the Linksys warned of potential overheating problems. The Motorola stands with a vertical profile, and convection works better to cool the circuit board. Try stacking the components with more space between them for cool air to come in from the sides, or better, try standing them on their narrow sides.

*TimDaniels*

Thanks for the replies here. Both Linksys devices have feet and a space to cool. I moved the cable modem to the top of the stack and this helped cool it better. Just like yesterday and almost to the hour the modem dropped out again. I moved the modem off to the side by itself. As I mentioned before this drops have been off and on for some time.

This timing thing for the past two days now has me thinking hardware / cable company problem. The last time I spoke to them, "bad modem" was the first thing out of the mouth. Previous calls with the same issue (modem drops)... "the node is being worked on, okay, bye"

The modem may be five years old. I'm going try a hard reset with the button and paper clip ( come to think of it I have never done a hard reset on this thing...even moved it across town to another house ).

Oren

Are you sure some of your signal levels aren't on the ragged edge and when the outside temperature increases it causes the problem? Have you checked your upstream level, downstream level and signal to noise ratio?

I'm not that "techie" about these checks. I cannot config or access this modem by any means (so far). ISP (Cocz) does the MAC stuff.

Outside heat, yes (summer 112 - 117 F), inside is cool though.

Oren

5 years? Most everyone I know with a cable modem supplied by the ISP gets a new one every 2 or 3 years. From what I can tell it's so they can manage their network better.

The downside of using your own is, well, you're on your own much of the time.

When I speak with them, no compatibility issues are raised. I'm already pre-shopping for another modem, just not buying. I'm not paying them for modem rental.

All the time here, the tech cannot touch the keyboard. Just get me cable to the wall and see ya...

Oren

Have you tried accessing the modem using http://192.168.100.1? My ISP provisions the cable modem too but I can access it and see the signal levels. The resistance in the outside cable will vary 3 or 4dbmv from the cool nights to the heat in the middle of the day. If your levels are on the ragged edge during the cooler temps then they might go out of range during the heat.

"Oren" wrote:.

Maybe the local node, if it's outside in the sun, is cooking.

*TimDaniels*

Hmmm. Wonder if he has a splitter in there?

That I got me in. Never knew of this for the modem (not in docs), but did know about accessing the routers. Clipped this out for review. Now I need to decipher the log (grin). Are these up and down numbers proper?

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 1 Symbol rate 5360537 sym/sec Downstream Frequency 675000000 Hz Max Bit Rate No Limit Downstream Power -4.42 dBmV SNR 32 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 16 QAM Channel ID 1 Symbol rate 2560 ksym/sec Upstream Frequency 36400000 Hz Max Bit Rate No Limit Upstream Power 50.00 dBmV Snippet of Log

Log This page provides important information that can be used to resolve problems with your cable modem.

Time Priority Description

2006-08-22 09:26:06 notice Interface index:4 LinkUp 2006-08-22 09:26:06 notice Interface index:3 LinkUp 2006-08-22 09:26:06 notice Interface index:2 LinkUp 2006-08-22 09:26:06 notice SNMP COLD_START(SNMP Nmaccess mode) 2006-08-22 09:26:06 warning Cable Lost FEC lock 2006-08-22 09:26:05 warning Cable Lost FEC lock 2006-08-22 09:26:04 notice Cable Modem Status set to Registration Complete 2006-08-22 09:26:04 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:26:04 error Missing BP Configuration Setting TLV Type: 9 2006-08-22 09:26:04 error Missing BP Configuration Setting TLV Type: 8 2006-08-22 09:26:02 warning Cable Lost FEC lock 2006-08-22 09:25:58 warning Cable Lost FEC lock 2006-08-22 09:25:58 warning Cable Lost FEC lock 2006-08-22 09:25:21 critical TFTP Failed - OUT OF ORDER packets 2006-08-22 09:25:09 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:24:20 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Loss of Sync 2006-08-22 09:24:19 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Loss of Sync 2006-08-22 09:24:19 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:24:09 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:23:58 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:23:48 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:23:38 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:23:27 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:23:07 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:22:46 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:22:36 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:22:26 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:22:16 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:22:06 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:21:55 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:21:45 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:21:35 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing 2006-08-22 09:21:25 critical SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing

No splitters in the house. TV in two rooms, cable in one room. All connected directly to the cable.

Thanks.

Oren

I would guess all on the node would be affected. So far I cannot tell that this is the case. I see several WAPs around me, but they seem to be up all the time, except those that get turned off and on regularly.

Thanks,

Oren

Well, there are three numbers there to pay attention to:

Downstream Power -4.42 dBmV SNR 32 dB

The downstream power of -4.42 dBmV is pretty good. Most modems look to receive a signal between -15 and +15. So you're in between and a little fluctuation shouldn't affect it. The SNR of 32dB isn't the greatest.

Upstream Power 50.00 dBmV

The upstream power level of 50.00 dBmV is approaching the limit. It means that your modem is having to put out a high level to reach the node at the desired level. It's approaching the maximum for most modems. That could be the source of your problem as heat affects the outside cable.

Here's a link that explains the signal levels.

Are you saying that you have three drops from the pole/pedestal?

As the page refreshes, I've seen SNR between 17 and 34.

I'll read up and try to get a better grip.

Thanks,

Oren

Some clarity. From the street to the house (one cable) I'm sure there is a splitter at this house access point. The rest of the rooms come from there. No splitters in any rooms using cable.

Oren

A SNR below 30 is definitely an issue. And that big of a fluctuation in SNR isn't normal either. Mine varies in the 37-39 range. I'd also be concerned about the upstream level of 50 dBmV.