Cisco DPC3825 slow, re-boot =OK?

[drkailey]

Upgraded to 80GB Express, changed to the Hitron CDE-30364 modem but had big problems port forwarding so switched to the older DPC3825.

Got it all configured but every couple of days the speed slows to a crawl (10 Mbps up), I re-boot the modem by pulling the power and it's back to 30+.  Went away for a week and it was down to 0.57 Mbps up!  

It's on the desktop hardwired to it, wireless connections are the same.  I'm using it as a "gateway", ie: modem and router in one. I see others bridging it and using router for wireless but that's not my issue.

I've replaced the unit twice and spent hours with tech support, they ping it and find nothing.  They wanted to send tech support but I doubt they'll find anything, I've triple checked all the connectors, cables etc. and all is good.

Any ideas?

***edited labels***

[RogersShaan]

Any of our members would like to add some input into this.

[Gdkitty]

Is there any rhyme or reason to the slowdowns... specific time of day, etc?

[drkailey]

Thanks for the replys.

Doesn't seem to any particular time of day, or after doing a bunch of downloading etc.

Just  that every 3-4 days things slow to a crawl (10 Mbps or less d/l), I reset the gateway/modem and right back to 30+.  

Here's a copy of my DOCSIS log:

http://gallery.intlwaters.com/albums/userpics/10068/DOCSIS_Log.JPG

http://gallery.intlwaters.com/albums/userpics/10068/DOCSIS_Log2.JPG

http://gallery.intlwaters.com/albums/userpics/10068/DOCSIS_Log3.JPG

Seem to be getting a lot of that "Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - ..." is this normal?

You can see where I re-booted the modem on March 4, 8, 12, 16, 19, 23, 28 (away for a week), Apr. 5, 8.

Maybe I should re-boot it with a steel toe?

[Gdkitty]

The unicast message.. is fairly normal
(well.. i guess it shouldnt be normal) that my SMC gets the same messages... but i DONT have the issue.

Normally.. i would say MODEM.. but you said you have swapped it..

If it was back end.. i reboot on your end, really wouldnt help it then..

Only thing i can think.. is that the firmware on the modem maybe in general, at its current itteration, is flakey in that sense?

[sbenninger]

I had the same issue a while back where my CGN2 in bridge mode would slow to a crawl then a reboot would fix it for a while. At that time it was an issue with the rogers network in my area. The routes(internet paths) kept changing and seemed to leave open connections on the modem/router. That could be your issue. Record traceroutes when the service is good and the service is bad and compare that path taken on the rogers network. 

I have also read of a capacitance condition of the cable feed itself causing similar issues. The line will gradually build up a small capacitance charge and the reboot (or a disconnect of the cable from the modem) will discharge it. You would need a skilled tech on site to diagnose thise condition though.

[drkailey]

Thanks for the reply, good to hear from someone that had the same issues.

It slowed to 2.57 up this am 3 days after the last re-boot, forgot to try your suggestions before re-booting but definately will next time and report back.

How do you "record trace routes"?

[Gdkitty]

to do a traceroute..

Open up a DOS prompt on your PC

type in

tracert

followed by a space then address of the site which is going slow.. EG:  www.google.ca

it will give you a trace of the path of servers/nodes it takes to get from A to B.

if you right click on the dos window, select MARK

you then can highlight all the information, then right click again.
this COPYS the information.

You then can paste into a text file.

[drkailey]

Great, thanks, here's a current trace:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]

Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Owner>tracert www.google.ca

Tracing route to www.google.ca [74.125.226.127]

over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1     *        *        *     Request timed out.

  2    10 ms    16 ms     8 ms  209.148.242.221

  3     7 ms     8 ms    14 ms  69.63.249.62

  4     9 ms    14 ms     8 ms  209.148.224.246

  5     8 ms    10 ms     9 ms  72.14.222.87

  6    14 ms    16 ms     8 ms  216.239.47.114

  7    12 ms     8 ms    13 ms  209.85.250.207

  8    10 ms     8 ms     8 ms  yyz08s13-in-f31.1e100.net [74.125.226.127]

Trace complete.

C:\Users\Owner>

[Gdkitty]

That looks fairly good.
Was that durring a GOOD time?

[drkailey]

Yup, that's after a re-boot, getting about 30 Mbps up.

Will check it again when it slows down in a few days...

[drkailey]

Day 3 after re-boot and I'm down to 6.0 Mbps again, here's a trace:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]

Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Owner>tracert www.google.ca

Tracing route to www.google.ca [74.125.226.119]

over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1    10 ms     9 ms    10 ms  7.11.160.233

  2    11 ms    11 ms    19 ms  209.148.242.221

  3    11 ms    10 ms    11 ms  24.156.156.173

  4    10 ms    11 ms    11 ms  pos-0-0-0.gw02.abcgy.phub.net.cable.rogers.com [

24.153.7.118]

  5    13 ms    11 ms    11 ms  72.14.222.87

  6   496 ms    54 ms   614 ms  216.239.47.114

  7    12 ms    27 ms    12 ms  209.85.250.207

  8   189 ms   165 ms    26 ms  yyz08s13-in-f23.1e100.net [74.125.226.119]

Trace complete.

After re-boot getting 28.2 Mbps d/l, trace:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]

Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Owner>tracert www.google.ca

Tracing route to www.google.ca [74.125.226.127]

over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1     8 ms     7 ms     8 ms  7.11.160.233

  2    11 ms    11 ms    11 ms  209.148.242.221

  3    16 ms    13 ms    10 ms  69.63.250.169

  4     8 ms     9 ms     9 ms  209.148.224.246

  5     9 ms     8 ms     9 ms  72.14.222.87

  6     8 ms     9 ms     9 ms  216.239.47.114

  7     8 ms     8 ms     9 ms  209.85.250.207

  8     9 ms     9 ms     8 ms  yyz08s13-in-f31.1e100.net [74.125.226.127]

Trace complete.

C:\Users\Owner>

Seems to be a lot less milliseconds, is this my problem?

[Gdkitty]

In the BAD trace..

There is a lag between 5/6 and 7/8... nothing HUGE, but a fair bit.
This i would NORMALLY account to being part of the problem maybe... that the ROUTING outwardly, there is a problem at certain nodes.
In this case though, those are within GOOGLE.. so nothing within rogers.

The ODD thing is though, after your reboot.. it takes the SAME path (same addresses) and is fine.

A reboot, normally SHOULDNT effect anything path related.. you have no control over those nodes, etc from the rogers end.

Only other thing i can think of might be packet loss.
Durring a good time, do a PING to an address.   At the end should show the % packet loss.

Try again durring a bad time.. see if there is a % there.

Only other thing i can sugest, is if you have a 3rd party router handy, is to try bridged mode.. SEE if its just gateway/router problem

But if its line, something else.. might not make a difference.

[sbenninger]

Notice the route on Rogers network is different during the slowdown. I believe depending on what route you take out of the Rogers network you get slower performance.

Bad

 1    10 ms     9 ms    10 ms  7.11.160.233

  2    11 ms    11 ms    19 ms  209.148.242.221

  3    11 ms    10 ms    11 ms  24.156.156.173

  4    10 ms    11 ms    11 ms  pos-0-0-0.gw02.abcgy.phub.net.cable.rogers.com [

24.153.7.118]

Good

  1     8 ms     7 ms     8 ms  7.11.160.233

  2    11 ms    11 ms    11 ms  209.148.242.221

  3    16 ms    13 ms    10 ms  69.63.250.169

  4     8 ms     9 ms     9 ms  209.148.224.246

I had this exact issue. I believe it was related to conjestion on Rogers network and or upgrades to their network being performed. It eventually straigtened itself out but it lasted for several weeks. I did contact support on several occasions and first level support seemed to think it was the modem...they said swap for a new one. I never bothered as it has been rock solid since. 

For reference my router has always been in bridge mode.

I did experience some packet loss when the issue was occurring. You can do the pings as GDkitty suggested to verify.

[drkailey]

OK, thanks for the replys, will try the ping test in a few days when it slows down again.

BTW, tried unscrewing the cable to discharge any built up capacitance and that didn't help so I've ruled that out.

[Gdkitty]

Nice catch sbenninger

i missed that spot, was concentrating on the next points, where the response was higher, and missed the different route.

Change a modem, or briding.. i dont think would make a difference.. at this point.
Likely a more back end issue.

[drkailey]

Down to 12 Mbps this am, ping test is good, 0 packet loss and A's & B's results.

Must be the Rogers network in my area is overloaded, oh well, having a look at Sympatico... 

[Gdkitty]

Could be doing maintenance too.. might clear up after a few weeks..

I can understand if you did though.
Just make sure to do ALL your research first.

Check with others in the area with the same thing, see how theirs is (dont want to walk into a similar thing).. and that their packages can offer comparable.
(EG: here the fastest DSL offered is 1/5 the fastest i can get with rogers.. and aful upload speeds)

[drkailey1]

Couldn't log back in so created a new user.

Anyway just an update, the problem definately was on Roger's end, 2 weeks now and no re-boots and the speed is good.

Too bad they just couldn't tell people they're having issues and not waste customer's time...

[nophonetone]

Curious......what area are you located?

Have been having similar issues, wondering when it will end??????

[tkeeley]

West Mississauga, L5M6M3.

Lasted a few months then gone as quick as it came.  Don't waste your time with customer service, even the 2nd level support either doesn't have a clue or have been told not to admit they have a problem.