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RBR750 router with CM1200 modem - unpredictable and intermittent network speed drops
Hi Posting this here because I'm at a loss for where to go next. For period of 6 weeks I've experienced network issues where download speeds will drop to single digit Mbps or less. Sometimes complet...
Regarding cables:
- using the LAN cables that came with the hardware (modem/router).
- no splitters as far as I know, from the ISP box to the modem (Xfinity tech did bypass some old stuff from previous homeowner's installation, on the morning of 9/7).
- Xfinity tech said the coax running up to modem was functioning well - it's in an enclosed finished room so I dont have easy access to replace anyway.
Regarding power:
- I've power cycled modem/router many times in the past month (including after firmware updates)
Regarding home details
- 2600 sqft, spread across 3 stories. Roughly 900 sqft/floor
- router and satellite are on different floors, opposite corners of the square-shaped house
- far enough away from other houses that I cannot pick up anyone else's wifi, if that is what you mean by wifi neighbors
Regarding configuration:
- using out of the box channels (not familiar with it enough to have changed anything).
- I have not power cycled again since I noticed there was a satellite firmware update this morning, that I had not noticed before. Just updated the satellite RBS750 to same firmware as the router.
- i have not done a factory reset and scratch setup since I had it configured and set up initially 8 months ago. Thought about it, but there's never a convenient time to do it.
sweetgerald wrote:
Regarding cables:
- using the LAN cables that came with the hardware (modem/router). <CAT6 is recommended.
- no splitters as far as I know, from the ISP box to the modem (Xfinity tech did bypass some old stuff from previous homeowner's installation, on the morning of 9/7).
- Xfinity tech said the coax running up to modem was functioning well - it's in an enclosed finished room so I dont have easy access to replace anyway.
Regarding power:
- I've power cycled modem/router many times in the past month (including after firmware updates)
Regarding home details
- 2600 sqft, spread across 3 stories. Roughly 900 sqft/floor
- router and satellite are on different floors, opposite corners of the square-shaped house, <What is the distance between the RBR and RBS?
- far enough away from other houses that I cannot pick up anyone else's wifi, if that is what you mean by wifi neighbors
Regarding configuration:
- using out of the box channels (not familiar with it enough to have changed anything). <Try setting channel 1 and 40 on the RBR. Also set 40Mhz only Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings. I would also maybe set the power to 50% as well.
- I have not power cycled again since I noticed there was a satellite firmware update this morning, that I had not noticed before. Just updated the satellite RBS750 to same firmware as the router. <Be sure that if FW updates are available that the RBS set updated first then the RBR lastly.
- i have not done a factory reset and scratch setup since I had it configured and set up initially 8 months ago. Thought about it, but there's never a convenient time to do it. <I recommend giving this a try on the entire system and setup from scratch.
- Ensure the laptops wifi and ethernet adapter drivers are fully up to date as well.
- will look into CAT6 if needed
- distance between RBR and RBS is about 35 ft in the horizontal plane, and about 6 ft in the vertical plane, on different floors, opposite corners of the house. So let's just assume a bit over 35 if my trigonometry is right.
- what will setting channels do?
- i just generally do the fw updates when the orbi app presents them to me
- Can do a full system reset if there are no other leads to pursue first
- regarding drivers - i'm also seeing the same symptom on all devices simultaneously. Phones, laptop, game console, tv, streaming sticks. It seems unlikely it's a device issue.
- I assume you mean power to mean the signal coming from the ISP into the modem, rather than "electrical" power to the hardware, correct?
- Both Xfinity techs noted an unusually high signal coming from the pole to the house, but both techs did some cabling rearrangement that they suggested would resolve the issue. The second tech did say he'd create a ticket to have someone look at something at the pole, but that is outside the scope of me hearing back from Xfinity about.
- Is there a specific log error or warning I can cite to Xfinity for support? Or is this something to address with my hardware?
sweetgerald wrote:
- will look into CAT6 if needed
- distance between RBR and RBS is about 35 ft in the horizontal plane, and about 6 ft in the vertical plane, on different floors, opposite corners of the house. So let's just assume a bit over 35 if my trigonometry is right.
- what will setting channels do? <Keeps all devices to one channel since there is no other wifi neighbors using same channels and makes it easier for devices to know what there connecting to all the time using manual channels. Something I've been doing for years.
- i just generally do the fw updates when the orbi app presents them to me <I recommend using the RBS web page and RBRs web page to manually update FW. Seen odd problems with the Orib app not correctly updating the system or getting the sequence wrong and updating the RBR and not the RBS thust he RBS gets out of sync with the RBR FW versions. You might try a full on re-load of FW using a wired PC and web browser, then power OFF for 1 minute then back ON.
- Can do a full system reset if there are no other leads to pursue first
- regarding drivers - i'm also seeing the same symptom on all devices simultaneously. Phones, laptop, game console, tv, streaming sticks. It seems unlikely it's a device issue.
- Yes lets get the modem fully working first, then focus on the Orbi system.
Ok thanks FURRYe38. What are my next steps toward getting the modem working, if it is the problem?
The RBR and RBS are on the same FW version now, as far as I know. Those other settings you mentioned are all related to the router, correct?
plemans suggested the errors/warnings may be worth looking into? If I understand correctly, the Cable Connection view of the modem is showing me a snapshot of power/snr/etc. at that moment in time (presently the network is behaving as expected). Should I wait until the symptoms occur again, and at that point check the Cable Connection view for power levels/snr levels/etc.?
correct, power on the coax line.
it could sure be something from the pole causing it. Even something simple as a not tight enough connector on their end.
Is the Correctable Codewords of Downstream ofdm channels in red below of any meaning to me in this situation? Apologies, since I don't know what I'm looking at/for.
I guess I'll continue monitoring the occurrences, and try to check the modem's connection page for power levels/monitor error logs for a while, and reach out to Xfinity if there are continued issues?
Oddly enough, I just started to call Xfinity customer support, and their automated message suggested there was work being done an outage for my address, and I couldnt get an agent until that was resolved. I never experienced any outage today, outside of a small drop for a few minutes this morning.
Downstream OFDM Channels Channel Lock
StatusModulation /
Profile IDChannel
IDFrequency Power SNR /
MERActive Subcarrier
Number RangeUnerrored
CodewordsCorrectable
CodewordsUncorrectable
Codewords1 Locked 0 ,1 ,2 ,3 193 678000000 Hz -2.1 dBmV 41.1 dB 1108 ~ 2987 625850788 371332109 329 2 Not Locked 0 0 0 Hz 0 dBmV 0.0 dB 0 ~ 4095 0 0 0
