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Jitter issues via Orbi vs direct to modem
I recently replaced my Arris SB6190 modem with a Netgear CM600 due to the well publicized issues with jitter/latency on Intel's Puma 6 chipset that the SB6190 uses.
One of the tools used to help diagnose this issue is here: http://www.dslreports.com/tools/puma6
Its essentially pinging a server on the internet but instead of using ICMP its using TCP. This is because some internet routers/etc block ICMP, or lower the priority of ICMP in favor of TCP/UDP. So a TCP test is more accurate.
Anyways, if I am cabled directly into my Netgear CM600 modem I experience almost no jitter. For example, everything is tightly clustered around 35ms in this test:
Compare that to test when my mac mini is cabled into the Orbi:
The response time distribution isn't so neatly packed around 35ms - many responses are 2x that!
Things I have tried:
- I downgraded router & both satellites to V1.4.0.18 from V1.4.0.34 - didn't help
- I made the mac mini the only client on the Orbi. I did this by removing power from both satellites and disabling both the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz radios on the router in the Advanced Wireless settings. I also unplugged a switch with more wired devices from the router. At this point my mac mini was the ONLY client listed in Orbi's management inteface - didn't help jitter issues at all.
Anyone else seeing jitter problems with the Orbi? This is bad for gaming, VOIP, etc. - any latency sensitive applications. I did find this other thread where somoene mentioned periodic latency issues on their Orbi:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-latency-peaks-every-10s/m-p/1200477
So inexplicably, since the morning of Monday, January 22nd I've run multiple jitter tests using dslreports.com's tools and no jitter issues are observed. The following test was done via Wi-Fi connected to Orbi on a Mid-2012 retina macbook pro running Sierra.
So I have to imagine whatever was going on was unrelated to Orbi or my Netgear CM600 cable modem. Firmware versions same on both devices since my original post, and I've changed nothing on configuration. Seeing these results across multiple macs behind my Orbi router.
13 Replies
I am seeing the same issues the past couple of days after upgrading to 1.4.0.34. I have always used google voice, webex, skype etc for voice calls from my laptop without issue. Since the update I can hear people on calls but they report my voice being choppy, gravely, unintelligible etc. I will run the test below on my side as well and report back.
I too have switched from the SB6190 to the CM600. However, I'm not having any ping issues with this configuration. Below is what is reflected when connected from my iMac via WiFi (older so not using 802.11ac)
From what I could tell from here (New Jersey, USA), your results with this test are -highly- dependent on your location and ISP.
A region-served service like Google is a far more accurate test - if you mtr to www.google.com for, say, 250 packets, you should get a much better idea of where you're at in terms of latency than with this test. (And, for the record, Orbi produces -excellent- results in that department - far lower than Google OnHub or eero, based on my own testing, even over wifi).
Rodney
MarkC1024 wrote:I too have switched from the SB6190 to the CM600. However, I'm not having any ping issues with this configuration. Below is what is reflected when connected from my iMac via WiFi (older so not using 802.11ac)
What router are you using? Is it an Orbi? If so, what firmware version? How many satellites? What version of MacOS X on your iMac? Thanks!
Just to Orbi with 2 satellites and the most recent FW. As my 2011 iMac, running the most recent version of Sierra is in the room next to the router, it's connect to that vs the satellites. If I test from the satellite, where I have my Windows PC connected via ethernet, I get simllar results.
I checked out that thread on dslreports and gotta say I'm shocked. The SB6190 is getting slammed over there with the Puma6 fiasco for dropping UDP packets and erratic pings. I gotta say I'm not that tech saavy but I know this. I have a CM600 and a SB6190. I don't think there is enough bandwidth in my neighborhood because the cable in my area gets saturated on Friday and Saturday nights. I can go from 235mbps down to 150mbps or even 90mbps for 6 hr blocks on end during the "prime times". I can switch back and forth between the modems and the SB6190 will repeatably give me 10% better throughput over the CM600. Sorry if off topic
farfromovin wrote:I can switch back and forth between the modems and the SB6190 will repeatably give me 10% better throughput over the CM600. Sorry if off topic
Do you live in an area with 32 downstream channels? That could explain an SPEED edge by the SB6190 if your node is congested. But the issue with SB6190 is extreme jitter that disrupts gaming, VOIP and packet loss. DNS uses UDP so this results in slower web page loads.
Yes I do have 32 streams here. This is unfortunate. I think the only other 32 channel variants are the CM700 (Puma6) and the CM1000. Looks like I'm going to return my SB6190 and get a CM1000.
- Pre-ordered, thanks!
So inexplicably, since the morning of Monday, January 22nd I've run multiple jitter tests using dslreports.com's tools and no jitter issues are observed. The following test was done via Wi-Fi connected to Orbi on a Mid-2012 retina macbook pro running Sierra.
So I have to imagine whatever was going on was unrelated to Orbi or my Netgear CM600 cable modem. Firmware versions same on both devices since my original post, and I've changed nothing on configuration. Seeing these results across multiple macs behind my Orbi router.
