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Forum Discussion
unioncorps
Jul 28, 2023Guide
Is there any benefit to have a wired backhaul for an Orbi Mesh system?
Hello everyone, Apologize for the lengthy post in advance, but wanted to give some background first. Product: 1 wireless RBR750 router, 2 satellites RBS750 Home Size: 2 story, 4100 sq ft Cu...
FURRYe38
Jul 31, 2023Guru - Experienced User
Thanks for letting us know. Sounds like MoCa is the way to go for those that don't have in wall ethernet support. Good to know. Glad it's working. Please mark your thread as solved so others will know. Be sure to save off a back up configuration to file for safe keeping. Saves time if a reset is needed.
https://kb.netgear.com/000062080/How-do-I-back-up-the-configuration-settings-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System
Enjoy. 📡
unioncorps
Jul 31, 2023Guide
Thanks Furry. The only thing that's outstanding for me is that with the introduction of MoCA in my network setup, I had to add 2 splitters which increased my cable modem upstream power levels - they're right now sitting at around 50-51 dbmV. Before I installed MoCA, upstream power was ranging around 48-49 dbmV.
With my MocA setup, I haven't yet experienced internet drops or connectivity issues despite the higher upstream levels. Even so, I feel the power levels are really at the top acceptable threshold and any random blip may cause a disconnection. Since I need to use splitters, are there splitters that are lower loss than others that still are MocA compatible frequency-wise?
I've attached a schematic so you can visualize my setup and splitter output terminal db loss.
- donawaltJul 31, 2023Mentor - Experienced User
unioncorps On the Mac I find WiFiExplorer Lite (free) gives a lot of nice tabular data, as well as a graph below the table. The tabbed data lets you really analyze power level for example - it's 83% vs. 69% over there, which could be hard to see in a graph. It has a graph too. I like the graph on iAnalyzeWiFi (free) a little better as it's bigger - you need something broad-brushed as you are walking around the house. You can fine tune later. Both allow segregating the output to only 2.4 or 5.0 networks which is useful. So if I had to pick one it would probably be WiFiExplorer, although since they are free no issue having both and seeing what you like!
- FURRYe38Jul 31, 2023Guru - Experienced User
Please post a copy and paste of the modems connection status and event log page.
https://kb.netgear.com/30007/How-do-I-obtain-the-cable-connection-information-from-a-NETGEAR-cable-modem-modem-router
https://kb.netgear.com/30008/How-do-I-view-or-clear-the-event-logs-on-my-NETGEAR-cable-modem-or-modem-routerPower specs for CM series modems:
https://kb.netgear.com/24311/Power-level-guidelines-for-a-NETGEAR-cable-modem-router
- unioncorpsJul 31, 2023Guide
Furry, I've been trying to reply back to your response but for some reason my post isn't showing up. I've tried about 5 times now; I initially see my post then once I refresh it's gone.
- FURRYe38Jul 31, 2023Guru - Experienced User
Copy and paste the data in to a word doc than export to pdf and attach the file to your next post.
- unioncorpsJul 31, 2023Guide
Attached is what I tried to post.
- FURRYe38Jul 31, 2023Guru - Experienced User
Connections status looks good.
Power is with in specs:
https://kb.netgear.com/24311/Power-level-guidelines-for-a-NETGEAR-cable-modem-router
Now how about the event logs page from the modem...
- unioncorpsJul 31, 2023Guide
Thanks Furry - the article mentions that "Good Upstream power levels are within 38-48 dBmV," so in my case I'm a little past the max 'good' range being at 50-51 dbmV. I've been checking throughout today and the upstream levels have fluctuated a tiny bit up to as high as 51.5 and other channels back down to 50.x dbmV. I work from home and have not noticed any internet connection issues still (knock on wood).
Since I installed MoCA, the modem logs show nothing and the modem has been up for about 15 hours now. Just checked a minute ago and still no log entries.
- FURRYe38Jul 31, 2023Guru - Experienced User
Ok. Probably ok then.
So nothing seen in the Event Log section at all?
- donawaltJul 31, 2023Mentor - Experienced User
For what it's worth, I am on Comcast and lurk on their forums, and they have specific specs for their network which are for upstream. If applicable, would also indicate you are within spec:
Upstream Power Level: +25dBmV to +54dBmV
Upstream Signal to Noise Ratio (uSNR): >31dB
Upstream Receive Power: -2dBmV to +2dBmV
- unioncorpsJul 31, 2023Guide
donawalt Thanks for the confirmation. It's just the conflict between 'stated' tolerance limits and what truly is acceptable vs.not and I know having those upstream power levels I'm on the higher side.
FURRYe38 correct, I just checked again on the modem logs and nothing shows. Log is empty.
Do you guys think it's worthwhile to swap out my 2-way splitter to something that is still MoCA compatible but with lesser loss? Currently my 2-way splitter is a -4.5 db for each output terminal, but I do see another splitter that I can get that is -3.5 db for each terminal.
- FURRYe38Jul 31, 2023Guru - Experienced User
If it's inexpensive to try, might be worth trying.
- unioncorpsAug 07, 2023Guide
So to update, still with my MoCA setup, I swapped out my 2-way splitter originally having -4.5 db loss for both output terminals for another 2-way splitter that has -3.5 db loss to each terminal. The hope was that swapping the splitters would have a positive impact to lowering my upstream power levels slightly.
Looked at the cable modem signals and downstream remained the relatively the same as before, but the upstream levels actually increased! Definitely was not expecting that - I was thinking that the power would go down very slightly. Before I had power between 50 - 51.5 as the max.
I had restarted the modem and still got these stats. The modem has been up for roughly 15 hours now, no drops, no disconnects, and internet working fine as it did before. Modem log is empty.
Is this expected?
- FURRYe38Aug 07, 2023Guru - Experienced User
If that's what the ISP has for there network and modems...
- unioncorpsAug 07, 2023Guide
What do you mean? The modem is mine (CM1000v2) and not a rental.
- FURRYe38Aug 07, 2023Guru - Experienced User
If the signal specs are what they put forth for modems connected to there network.
- donawaltAug 07, 2023Mentor - Experienced User
Yes- it’s like what I said above, my ISP is Comcast, and these are the specs I found on their website. The range is pretty broad, as you can see. You may have to do some hunting to find what the specs are for your ISP.
Comcast:
Upstream Power Level: +25dBmV to +54dBmV
Upstream Signal to Noise Ratio (uSNR): >31dB
Upstream Receive Power: -2dBmV to +2dBmV
- unioncorpsAug 07, 2023Guide
donawalt on the Xfinity forum, some of the 'experts' firmly disagree with those specs. They are stating that upstream power should reside around 35-50 dmbV as the optimal range and that my current levels now do not offer a buffer for fluctuation. They also mentioned that some modems have chipsets that are slightly more tolerant in higher max thresholds than other modems, which may explain why my modem hasn't rebooted or dropped connection.
I'm tempted to contact Xfinity to see if they can check out the connection from the street to my house, but on the flip side, I don't want them to inadvertently screw anything up which they have done before... The "wait and see" part has been fine so far, as I haven't experienced any internet issues yet with my MoCA setup, but not sure if I continue to wait or if it's worth it to get a tech out.
- donawaltAug 07, 2023Mentor - Experienced User
"some of the 'experts' firmly disagree with those specs." - sure - everybody has an opinion. But I would also be shocked if they come out when the levels are within their own specs.
You haven't shown your modem status page (there was one image post that did not show up for me in your post earlier), are you getting lots of uncorrectable errors on a daily basis? In your log, are there a lot of CM-STATUS messages, especially 16 and 24?
- unioncorpsAug 07, 2023Guide
Since I installed the new splitter, I'm getting 51-51.5 dbmV for upstream power across the 5 bonded channels and no uncorrectables. CM log is empty.
- donawaltAug 07, 2023Mentor - Experienced User
Sounds excellent! If it was me I would just watch it - with no errors and no warnings, it's hard to imagine a concern imho.