I have had problems with splitters dropping the signal too much. Even the so-called high quality ones would have the problem. The cheapies from radio shack sometimes were better. On 7/24/06, tclug-list-request at mn-linux.org <tclug-list-request at mn-linux.org> wrote: > Send tclug-list mailing list submissions to > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > tclug-list-request at mn-linux.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > tclug-list-owner at mn-linux.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of tclug-list digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. OT: cable modem and cell questions (Chuck Cole) > 2. Re: OT: cable modem and cell questions (jason reynolds) > 3. Re: OT: cable modem and cell questions (David Alanis) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:22:01 -0500 > From: "Chuck Cole" <cncole at earthlink.net> > Subject: [tclug-list] OT: cable modem and cell questions > To: "TCLUG" <tclug-list at mn-linux.org> > Message-ID: <DIEPJAHDNINGELBLJLJCGEIFHMAA.cncole at earthlink.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > BlankThese questions are almost on-topic since they deal with techie > parts of how we choose to connect sometimes... :-) > > > > 1) do cable modems have very different sensitivity or dynamic range > specs? > > Problem: My old linksys BEFCMU10 (no version number) occasionally > suffers from too low a signal and I must either wait until Charter's > signal rises some, or remove the power splitter allowing my TV and cable > modem each to get signal. The cable modem is normally attached after > two two-port splitters, and removing one is enough to get adequate > signal level on "bad days at Charter". Both spillters are pretty new > and adequate. > > Questions: > > 1a) Charter says they can read what my modem "sees" as signal level. > That would account for all path losses (if true). Can I read this > somehow so I could tell whether the Charter signal is marginal? > > 1b) Is this old Linksys cable modem known to have problems? > > 1c) Is the Motorola Surfboard SB5100 any better? I have one of those > also, but have never used this one. The SB5120 is current for Comcast. > > > > 2) Roughly how big is a "cell" for cell phones? Actually a hard > question to ask because I'm curious about the "effective size" of a cell > in the midst of a planned cell coverage, and the criteria of size is the > approximate point where the phone makes a logical switch from one cell > to the next as one signal fades but hasn't dropped out, but the next is > stronger. > > > > 3) An ad for the Verizon Razr phone sez GPS, video, & music > > 3a) does it actually have storage for offline videos and music or just > keep web links for these things? Seems like too much memory is needed. > > 3b) Is it a full and independent GPS or a partial implementation (like a > Winmodem) using some unique cell network data? > > ie, if I had such a phone and took it to the Boundary Waters where there > is no signal, can I play stored videos and music and use the GPS or some > or all of that dead when out of range? > > > > Chuck > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://mailman.mn-linux.org/pipermail/tclug-list/attachments/20060724/921ea6a3/attachment-0001.htm > -------------- next part -------------- > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > Name: not available > Type: image/gif > Size: 145 bytes > Desc: not available > Url : http://mailman.mn-linux.org/pipermail/tclug-list/attachments/20060724/921ea6a3/attachment-0001.gif > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:48:33 -0500 > From: "jason reynolds" <jeruvin at gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [tclug-list] OT: cable modem and cell questions > To: cncole at earthlink.net > Cc: TCLUG <tclug-list at mn-linux.org> > Message-ID: > <6eb23c4e0607241248w3cc25773y41fb581cfe97bacd at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > I used to work at a telecommunications company (different state, not > comcast) and will offer my 2 cents. > > On 7/24/06, Chuck Cole <cncole at earthlink.net> wrote: > > > > These questions are almost on-topic since they deal with techie parts of > > how we choose to connect sometimes... :-) > > > > > > > > 1) do cable modems have very different sensitivity or dynamic range > > specs? > > > > Yes I've seen different modems stay connected at lower ranges than other > modems. > > Problem: My old linksys BEFCMU10 (no version number) occasionally suffers > > from too low a signal and I must either wait until Charter's signal rises > > some, or remove the power splitter allowing my TV and cable modem each to > > get signal. The cable modem is normally attached after two two-port > > splitters, and removing one is enough to get adequate signal level on "bad > > days at Charter". Both spillters are pretty new and adequate. > > > Ok I'll give you a quick rundown on the spliiter level dropping thing. > Everytime you put a splitter in the way you will drop the signal and make it > more difficult for your modem to chat with comcast. So there is both an > upstream and downsteam going on. > > Having a homerun (Comcast connection -> two way split -> (Modem, TV's) ) is > the best to keep a great signal level with your modem. > > There is a chance that the signal hitting your house is not sufficient and > that is why you keep getting dropped. In that case it's a line tech that > will need to climb a pole and adjust some amps to fix your signal issue. > More signal could create noise and whanot, so maybe they are truely unable > to do anything about it. Or they just haven't checked lately. I'm not sure > how the cable companies do it around here. > > Questions: > > > > 1a) Charter says they can read what my modem "sees" as signal level. That > > would account for all path losses (if true). Can I read this somehow so I > > could tell whether the Charter signal is marginal? > > > > There ususally is a diagnostic page accessable using a stardard web browser > pointed to the modem's ip. I'd search the manufacturers website or the > almighty google to find that and the username password if there is any. > > Also keep in mind that this number is not always correct. I had to use a > meter to read the signal at the modem and on some cable modem brands it > would read high or low or just be plain wrong. > > 1b) Is this old Linksys cable modem known to have problems? > > > > I do not know. In the area where I used to troubleshoot modems we had some > brands that would work great for us, but terrible on the competitor. So it > may all depend on the company and thier setup. > > 1c) Is the Motorola Surfboard SB5100 any better? I have one of those also, > > but have never used this one. The SB5120 is current for Comcast. > > > > I would try to find out what people are experiencing with comcast. A good > source would be their better technicians that do higher level > troubleshooting with cable modems. > > 2) Roughly how big is a "cell" for cell phones? Actually a hard question to > > ask because I'm curious about the "effective size" of a cell in the midst of > > a planned cell coverage, and the criteria of size is the approximate point > > where the phone makes a logical switch from one cell to the next as one > > signal fades but hasn't dropped out, but the next is stronger. > > > > > > > > 3) An ad for the Verizon Razr phone sez GPS, video, & music > > > > 3a) does it actually have storage for offline videos and music or just > > keep web links for these things? Seems like too much memory is needed. > > > > 3b) Is it a full and independent GPS or a partial implementation (like a > > Winmodem) using some unique cell network data? > > > > ie, if I had such a phone and took it to the Boundary Waters where there > > is no signal, can I play stored videos and music and use the GPS or some or > > all of that dead when out of range? > > > > > > > > Chuck > > > > _______________________________________________ > > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > > http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list > > > > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: http://mailman.mn-linux.org/pipermail/tclug-list/attachments/20060724/a7a413e0/attachment-0001.htm > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 15:20:23 -0500 > From: David Alanis <SDALAN04 at smumn.edu> > Subject: Re: [tclug-list] OT: cable modem and cell questions > To: "jason reynolds" <jeruvin at gmail.com>,tclug-list at mn-linux.org > Message-ID: <2006072420202368f0e9aef3 at mail.smumn.edu> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hello: > > Hope that I am not being repetitive or ignorant. But when you have an old modem especially one that has worked in the past but now is experiencing troubles, you may have an old DOCSIS 1.0 modem. If you experience drops, resets, and slow connections check with yous ISP to see if it is being supported. This I learned through personal experience. If anyone knows different, let me know? One more thing, I did see your modem type reach a version three (v3). However, my ISP Comcast still suports all three. > > David > > Comcast: > > > On Monday, July 24, 2006 2:48 PM, jason reynolds wrote: > > > >Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:48:33 -0500 > >From: jason reynolds > >To: cncole at earthlink.net > >Subject: Re: [tclug-list] OT: cable modem and cell questions > > > >I used to work at a telecommunications company (different state, not > >comcast) and will offer my 2 cents. > > > >On 7/24/06, Chuck Cole <cncole at earthlink.net> wrote: > >> > >> These questions are almost on-topic since they deal with techie parts of > >> how we choose to connect sometimes... :-) > >> > >> > >> > >> 1) do cable modems have very different sensitivity or dynamic range > >> specs? > >> > > > >Yes I've seen different modems stay connected at lower ranges than other > >modems. > > > >Problem: My old linksys BEFCMU10 (no version number) occasionally suffers > >> from too low a signal and I must either wait until Charter's signal rises > >> some, or remove the power splitter allowing my TV and cable modem each to > >> get signal. The cable modem is normally attached after two two-port > >> splitters, and removing one is enough to get adequate signal level on "bad > >> days at Charter". Both spillters are pretty new and adequate. > >> > >Ok I'll give you a quick rundown on the spliiter level dropping thing. > >Everytime you put a splitter in the way you will drop the signal and make it > >more difficult for your modem to chat with comcast. So there is both an > >upstream and downsteam going on. > > > >Having a homerun (Comcast connection -> two way split -> (Modem, TV's) ) is > >the best to keep a great signal level with your modem. > > > >There is a chance that the signal hitting your house is not sufficient and > >that is why you keep getting dropped. In that case it's a line tech that > >will need to climb a pole and adjust some amps to fix your signal issue. > >More signal could create noise and whanot, so maybe they are truely unable > >to do anything about it. Or they just haven't checked lately. I'm not sure > >how the cable companies do it around here. > > > >Questions: > >> > >> 1a) Charter says they can read what my modem "sees" as signal level. That > >> would account for all path losses (if true). Can I read this somehow so I > >> could tell whether the Charter signal is marginal? > >> > > > >There ususally is a diagnostic page accessable using a stardard web browser > >pointed to the modem's ip. I'd search the manufacturers website or the > >almighty google to find that and the username password if there is any. > > > >Also keep in mind that this number is not always correct. I had to use a > >meter to read the signal at the modem and on some cable modem brands it > >would read high or low or just be plain wrong. > > > >1b) Is this old Linksys cable modem known to have problems? > >> > > > >I do not know. In the area where I used to troubleshoot modems we had some > >brands that would work great for us, but terrible on the competitor. So it > >may all depend on the company and thier setup. > > > >1c) Is the Motorola Surfboard SB5100 any better? I have one of those also, > >> but have never used this one. The SB5120 is current for Comcast. > >> > > > >I would try to find out what people are experiencing with comcast. A good > >source would be their better technicians that do higher level > >troubleshooting with cable modems. > > > >2) Roughly how big is a "cell" for cell phones? Actually a hard question to > >> ask because I'm curious about the "effective size" of a cell in the midst of > >> a planned cell coverage, and the criteria of size is the approximate point > >> where the phone makes a logical switch from one cell to the next as one > >> signal fades but hasn't dropped out, but the next is stronger. > >> > >> > >> > >> 3) An ad for the Verizon Razr phone sez GPS, video, & music > >> > >> 3a) does it actually have storage for offline videos and music or just > >> keep web links for these things? Seems like too much memory is needed. > >> > >> 3b) Is it a full and independent GPS or a partial implementation (like a > >> Winmodem) using some unique cell network data? > >> > >> ie, if I had such a phone and took it to the Boundary Waters where there > >> is no signal, can I play stored videos and music and use the GPS or some or > >> all of that dead when out of range? > >> > >> > >> > >> Chuck > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > >> tclug-list at mn-linux.org > >> http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > "Great Spirits Have Always Encountered Violent Opposition From Mediocre Minds" - Einstein > > "Cuanta estupidez en tan poco cerebro!" > > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list > > End of tclug-list Digest, Vol 19, Issue 42 > ****************************************** >
