Linksys cable modem questions

Linksys cable modem questions
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Subject Author Date
Linksys cable modem questions Mark Klebanoff 08-07-2005
Posted by Mark Klebanoff on August 7, 2005, 3:14 pm
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I bought Comcast's upgrade from 4 to 6 MB in Montgomery County MD, but
noticed that not only was I not getting 6 MB, I wasn't even getting 4,
as determined by multiple test sites (bandwidthplace, testmy.net,
speakeasy.net and others). When I went to the 192.168.100.1 page my
several year old Linksys BEFCMU10, version2 was recorded as a DOCSIS
1.0 device, with firmware 1.07.

First read I got back from Linksys support was that the modem could
not be upgraded and I'd need to buy a new one to get 6MB download. So
I bought a version 3, and now I can get better speeds, (usually around
4.8, with 6.0-6.5 when I hook my PC directly to the modem instead of
the Linksys befsr41 router). However, I was wondering if I got the
right answer from Linksys-- while I still have time to return the new
modem for credit. I called Linksys again, and this time the tech
support person said that Comcast has more recent firmware than 1.07
and should be able to push upgrade my version 2 to the DOCSIS 1.1
standard. When I called Comcast tech support they knew nothing about
it.

So what's going on-- was the old modem the reason I couldn't get even
4 MB? Does it matter if the modem is DOCSIS 1.0 or 1.1, and can that
modem be upgraded by Comcast?
--



Posted by Warren on August 7, 2005, 4:08 pm


Mark Klebanoff wrote:
>I bought Comcast's upgrade from 4 to 6 MB in Montgomery County MD, but
> noticed that not only was I not getting 6 MB, I wasn't even getting 4,
> as determined by multiple test sites (bandwidthplace, testmy.net,
> speakeasy.net and others). When I went to the 192.168.100.1 page my
> several year old Linksys BEFCMU10, version2 was recorded as a DOCSIS
> 1.0 device, with firmware 1.07.
>
> First read I got back from Linksys support was that the modem could
> not be upgraded and I'd need to buy a new one to get 6MB download. So
> I bought a version 3, and now I can get better speeds, (usually around
> 4.8, with 6.0-6.5 when I hook my PC directly to the modem instead of
> the Linksys befsr41 router). However, I was wondering if I got the
> right answer from Linksys-- while I still have time to return the new
> modem for credit. I called Linksys again, and this time the tech
> support person said that Comcast has more recent firmware than 1.07
> and should be able to push upgrade my version 2 to the DOCSIS 1.1
> standard. When I called Comcast tech support they knew nothing about
> it.
>
> So what's going on-- was the old modem the reason I couldn't get even
> 4 MB? Does it matter if the modem is DOCSIS 1.0 or 1.1, and can that
> modem be upgraded by Comcast?


When you power-cycle the modem, it will get a new config file. If it needs a
firmware update, Comcast will automatically push it to you. If Linksys says
there's a later version of the firmware than what you have, that's
irrelevant. Comcast will use the version that they feel is best for their
system. A customer service tech at whatever outsourcer Linksys is using does
not know the Comcast network better than the Comcast engineers who decide
which version to use. All the Linksys CSR knows is that there is a version
with a different number that's higher, and it is dated later. The Comcast
customer service rep isn't an engineer, either. They may or may not even
know that firmware is pushed out to your modem. They certainly don't have
the knowledge to decide what version is better, nor would they ever be given
the authority to mess with the network like that.

Perhaps the later version does update the modem to DOCSIS 1.1, but it's
unlikely that's the only change. So just because one aspect seems to be
better, we don't know what else was involved, or why Comcast isn't using
that version. All we know is that they're not using the version, and your
old modem has limitations that prevent it from performing as well as what's
available to you.

Perhaps some day Linksys will release a new firmware for the version 2 that
meets whatever requirement Comcast has that the current latest firmware
isn't, and that firmware will be pushed out to the version 2's still in
service. Perhaps Linksys has moved on, and won't be updating the old model
anymore. Perhaps they'll come out with another update that still doesn't
meet Comcast's requirements. None of these things are something that
customer service reps would know about, and even if you did happen to speak
to one who has the level of technical expertise (yet is still in a job
paying less than half what people with that expertise make), they can't
accurately speculate what everyone who's involved will or won't do, and if
anything will change or when.

In other words, you know the new modem solves your problem. You're gambling
if you keep the old modem hoping that other people's efforts will combine,
and combine in a timely fashion, to come up with a different solution -- and
who knows if that solution will really be a solution!

Sell your old modem on eBay to someone who doesn't know, doesn't care, or
has a cable company that won't be upgrading their service as promptly as
Comcast updated yours.

--
Warren H.

==========
Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my
employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife.
Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is
coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this
response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants
to go outside now.
Have an outdoor project? Get a Black & Decker power tool::
http://www.holzemville.com/mall/blackanddecker/





Posted by Dr. Cajones on August 7, 2005, 11:26 pm


> I bought Comcast's upgrade from 4 to 6 MB in Montgomery County MD, but
> noticed that not only was I not getting 6 MB, I wasn't even getting 4,
> as determined by multiple test sites (bandwidthplace, testmy.net,
> speakeasy.net and others). When I went to the 192.168.100.1 page my
> several year old Linksys BEFCMU10, version2 was recorded as a DOCSIS
> 1.0 device, with firmware 1.07.

<snip>

> So what's going on-- was the old modem the reason I couldn't get even
> 4 MB? Does it matter if the modem is DOCSIS 1.0 or 1.1, and can that
> modem be upgraded by Comcast?

I have the Linksys BEFCMU10 version 2, for a few years now. Everytime there
has been a mention here of increased speeds, I have power cycled, and
immediately was operating at or above the stated new speeds. You said you
"bought" the upgrade, do you mean you paid extra? I am paying regular price
for the speeds posted below. I am in Springfield, MA area.

I don't think the version is the issue. Perhaps the modem went bad?
Contrary to Warren's suggestion vis a vis eBay, if you return the newer
modem, and find he was correct, you can always go and buy the modem again.
Perhaps with rebates or a better price. Don't you think finding with a bit
more certainty what the problem is might lead to better result? Is RCN an
option?
My few cents.

dj

my stats: (can you say underpopulated node?)

Standard Specification Compliant DOCSIS 1.0
Hardware Version 4.0
Software Version 1.0.7 (befcmu10v2_107.bin)


:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 6356 Kbps about 6.4 Mbps (tested with 5983 kB)
Download Speed is:: 776 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (server1)
Test Time:: Sun Aug 7 23:17:37 EDT 2005
Bottom Line:: 114X faster than 56K 1MB download in 1.32 sec
Diagnosis: Awesome! 20% + : 62.39 % faster than the average for host
(comcast.net)




Posted by Mark Klebanoff on August 8, 2005, 4:20 am


I've recycled the old modem with no improvement.

On Mon, 8 Aug 2005 03:26:36 UTC, "Dr. Cajones"

> > I bought Comcast's upgrade from 4 to 6 MB in Montgomery County MD, but
> > noticed that not only was I not getting 6 MB, I wasn't even getting 4,
> > as determined by multiple test sites (bandwidthplace, testmy.net,
> > speakeasy.net and others). When I went to the 192.168.100.1 page my
> > several year old Linksys BEFCMU10, version2 was recorded as a DOCSIS
> > 1.0 device, with firmware 1.07.
>
> <snip>
>
> > So what's going on-- was the old modem the reason I couldn't get even
> > 4 MB? Does it matter if the modem is DOCSIS 1.0 or 1.1, and can that
> > modem be upgraded by Comcast?
>
> I have the Linksys BEFCMU10 version 2, for a few years now. Everytime there
> has been a mention here of increased speeds, I have power cycled, and
> immediately was operating at or above the stated new speeds. You said you
> "bought" the upgrade, do you mean you paid extra? I am paying regular price
> for the speeds posted below. I am in Springfield, MA area.
>
> I don't think the version is the issue. Perhaps the modem went bad?
> Contrary to Warren's suggestion vis a vis eBay, if you return the newer
> modem, and find he was correct, you can always go and buy the modem again.
> Perhaps with rebates or a better price. Don't you think finding with a bit
> more certainty what the problem is might lead to better result? Is RCN an
> option?
> My few cents.
>
> dj
>
> my stats: (can you say underpopulated node?)
>
> Standard Specification Compliant DOCSIS 1.0
> Hardware Version 4.0
> Software Version 1.0.7 (befcmu10v2_107.bin)
>
>
> :::.. Download Stats ..:::
> Connection is:: 6356 Kbps about 6.4 Mbps (tested with 5983 kB)
> Download Speed is:: 776 kB/s
> Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (server1)
> Test Time:: Sun Aug 7 23:17:37 EDT 2005
> Bottom Line:: 114X faster than 56K 1MB download in 1.32 sec
> Diagnosis: Awesome! 20% + : 62.39 % faster than the average for host
> (comcast.net)
>
>


--



Posted by Dr. Cajones on August 12, 2005, 4:33 pm



> I've recycled the old modem with no improvement.

recycled? for a new modem?
if you mean power cycled, what steps are included for your power cycle?
My experience has shown good results with following a pretty sequence
specific pattern.
Shut down computer
disco the network cable between computer & modem
power off modem
disco coax from back of modem
count to some small multiple of 60, even a multiple of one seems ok, but if
you can leave it be for a bit, thats ok.
reconnect the coax first, them power up the modem, wait for all lights to
sequence and go normal
connect the network cable, power up the computer, then check your speeds.
my linksys ( i posted the details earlier) has been a super coworker since
leaving the box some years ago.
good luck.

dj




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