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XB6 Modem - Noisy?

robtoe
I'm a reliable contributor

Contemplating the jump to Ignite, but aside from the picture quality concerns I've seen here, I saw a reference to the XB6 modem using fans, and it being noisy.

 

My existing modem is passively cooled, so a noisy XB6 one would be a showstopper.

 

Any input from existing users?

 

***Added Labels***

50 REPLIES 50

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

Sooo ..... you're saying that the XB7 has now been released to the public ?????

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

Don_Ca
I'm a senior contributor
I saw it was in testing.

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

Hello, @Datalink

 

Thanks so much for your inquiry! 🙂

 

There has been a lot of excitement around the new XB7 modem so I can understand your enthusiasm about it. 

 

We have begun a soft launch for the new XB7 modem. More inventory will be available in the coming weeks. At this time, customers cannot order or request this gateway model. The model a customer receives may vary depending on fulfillment at the warehouse.

 

We will have more information around eligibility and processes for the new modem in the near future.

 

RogersTony

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

Don_Ca
I'm a senior contributor
Do we know if the XB7 are all Arris Puma or Technicolor Broadband? I would not want a Puma chipset.

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

Hello, @Don_Ca

 

There are two versions of the XB7 that will be carried by Rogers.

 

One is made by Technicolor and the other is made by Comscope.

 

RogersTony

 

 

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

Don_Ca
I'm a senior contributor

Commscope bought Arris, so that makes sense.  I would assume it is a Puma chipset.  

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

robtoe
I'm a reliable contributor

The XB7 could be moot in terms of noise anyway unless the instruction set is more efficient (stays slightly cooler).    Suspect they're still at the mercy of fan bearings unless they are somehow passively cooled in this gen.

 

Either way, my XB6 has been fine so far.  [wood knocking]

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

-G-
Resident Expert
Resident Expert

@Don_Ca wrote:

Commscope bought Arris, so that makes sense.  I would assume it is a Puma chipset.  


The CommScope (formerly Arris) XB7 uses a MaxLinear DOCSIS chipset , that pre-dates MaxLinear's acquisition of Intel's Connected Home division.  I don't know anything about the MxL278 so I can't say anything about its performance.

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

SSMk
I've been around

It's been 3 months, since i upgraded to Ignite Modem...  Besides being extremely noisy (humming sound) and irritating, it has impacted my hearing capabilities. I have my WFH (Working from Home) office on the upper level of my house.  Now i got an additional router, and shifting my office in the basement. 

Additionally, this new modem has not at all improved the Wi-Fi (wall-to-wall). On the ground level, our T.V. frequently drops the Netflix streaming... 

Soumitra 

Mississauga

 

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

Hello, @SSMk

 

Welcome to the Rogers Community Forums!

 

It's disappointing to hear about all the issues you've been experiencing since upgrading to the new modem. 😞

 

Are you using a separate wireless router for your office? If yes there could be some interference affecting your Wi-Fi. 

 

You can use an app to see how many wireless devices are broadcasting in your area and which channels are in use. There are Wi-Fi analyzing apps that you can use for both Android and iOS devices. For Android devices, you can use Wifi Analyzer and for iOS, you can use Network Analyzer.

 

You'll want to ensure you are choosing a channel for your office router that is different from the Wi-Fi that your modem is using.

 

Feel free to post your results so the community can review which channel would be ideal to avoid interference.

 

RogersTony

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

ionel
I've been here awhile

Unfortunately I just want to confirm the fact that this modem is horrible. I have it set up near my couch in the living room (not much space to move because of the Rogers outlet). It hums like an helicopter. Every 20 minutes I go check my washer in the basement, only after realising that is just my new "enhaced" modem.

I would like to know how can I change to the new XB7 modem or just go back to the old one, which was MUCH better.

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

robtoe
I'm a reliable contributor

Simply put, that isn't normal.   You shouldn't be able to hear it casually, and if it's as loud as you describe you should get a replacement.

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

ColdGranite
I'm a senior contributor

I am not sure how loud is "loud".

 

I got one of those $1.39 noise-level apps for my iPad.

 

In my house, a locked bathroom with nothing happening registers about 25 db on it.

With my iPad microphone 1/4 inch away from the XB6, measures about 33.

 

 

 

I sit hours about 5-6 feet away from the XB6, and the background THERE (with the XB6 humming and nothing else happening) is about 29.   I can make out the low level hum, but not to the point of distraction.

If anything else is happening: tv on, personal conversation, etc.  it is lost.

 

That may give you some idea of what it "can" sound like.  

If your experience is markedly different, it probably should be replaced.

 

 

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

ColdGranite
I'm a senior contributor

And the hum appears to be identical to a tone generated at 2800 hertz.

 

Again, if what you are hearing is substantially noisier / different, it is probably defective.

 

 

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

whatever123
I've been here awhile

Hello All

 

Hope everyone is safe and well.

I last posted here on Jan 31 about my new Ignite box being quite noisy.

Others have the same issue, and was wondering if it's best to call Rogers and get the new model. 

It's been over a month and has become frustrating..

I have to unplug it at night as I can hear it humming away.

I live a in small condo and it's in the living room, and I actually hear it in the bedroom.

Not a lot of options for me in moving it around etc, but it shouldn't be that loud imho.

Never had issues in the past with noisy equipment.

Being home all day obviously exascerbates  a lot of things, but it's getting to be incredibly annoying.

Any advice on this appreciated, cheers !

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

ColdGranite
I'm a senior contributor

@whatever123 wrote:

Hello All

 

Hope everyone is safe and well.

I last posted here on Jan 31 about my new Ignite box being quite noisy.

Others have the same issue, and was wondering if it's best to call Rogers and get the new model. 

It's been over a month and has become frustrating..

I have to unplug it at night as I can hear it humming away.

I live a in small condo and it's in the living room, and I actually hear it in the bedroom.

Not a lot of options for me in moving it around etc, but it shouldn't be that loud imho.

Never had issues in the past with noisy equipment.

Being home all day obviously exascerbates  a lot of things, but it's getting to be incredibly annoying.

Any advice on this appreciated, cheers !


Can you give something for comparisons?

 

Is it noisier than your refrigerator, for example?  

 

In my case, the hum is pretty much imperceptible beyond 12 feet.  At 6, it is there but not distracting in a quiet office with computer.  (quiet fans).   

I sleep exactly 26 feet from it ... separate rooms but open doors, and I do not hear it at all.

 

[Granted: age may have something to do with it, but my hearing is considered "good".]

 

If your experience is significantly different than that, you might consider asking for a replacement.

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

ColdGranite
I'm a senior contributor

One other thing that you might try, is to place the XB6/7 on a foam pad, such as those pink insulation pads that you can get at Home Depot, or the anti-static pads available at electronic stores.

 

DO NOT place it on the soft pad directly, but put a piece of cardboard or thin plywood onto the pad, and put the modem on the cardboard.  You need that so that the air circulation through the bottom is not blocked off .

 

This does not reduce the volume of the hum, per se, but it reduces the transmission through the hard table or shelf, and that may reduce the radius of annoyance.

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

SpeedyC
I'm a reliable contributor

Hi.

 

1. Can anyone confirm if the XB7 is quieter than the XB6 ?

2. Any idea when we can switch to the the XB7?

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

whatever123
I've been here awhile

I can hear it as soon as I get in my condo, and the modem is about 30 ft from the door.

And yes it can actually be louder than my fridge, but it's also quieter at times.

 

Once the backlog from the outage yesterday dies down, I'll contact them and see what happens.

Cheers

 

 

 

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

Don_Ca
I'm a senior contributor
If it is louder than the fridge, something it wrong. I sit less than 10 feet away from my XB6 and cannot hear it. I have had my hearing tested in the past year, no loss.

Re: XB6 Modem - Noisy?

ionel
I've been here awhile

I think it depends on the location is placed. It has a ventilator, therefore it can vibrate. I use to have it on a wood shelf and it wasn't necessarily noisy, but it was annoying.  I live in townhouse with poor sound insulation and I hear my washer in the Living Room, especially when it spins with high speed. It's the noise that I could compare with. I have a 5.1 surround and I was praying to have noises during movies to cover the annoying buzz. Every time when you had silence you could hear that buzz. I think if you place it on a soft surface it could cancel that sound. To be honest I am happy that I got rid of it.

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