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Extremely variable speeds

mikewebbdev
Tuning in

Tried going through customer services and they have repeatedly said there's no problem or it's just due to external factors... Personally I believe there's something else going on.

Periodically we will see extreme variation in speed, ie from ~100 down to 10-20mbps, across multiple devices.

I have set up a BQM (ignore the large packet loss at start of the graph, router reset)

<a title="Broadband Ping" href="https://www.thinkbroadband.com/broadband/monitoring/quality/share/8ada11259e09e77266ccd786066d041636802d3b-16-07-2021"><img alt="My Broadband Ping - VM monitor" src="https://www.thinkbroadband.com/broadband/monitoring/quality/share/thumb/8ada11259e09e77266ccd786066d041636802d3b-16-07-2021.png" /></a>

 Router logs:

mikewebbdev_0-1626428558127.pngmikewebbdev_1-1626428586929.png

Upstream bonded channelsChannel Frequency (Hz) Power (dBmV) Symbol Rate (ksps) Modulation Channel ID
15370006448.8512064 qam6
26030020149512064 qam5
34620000148.3512064 qam7
43940004447.5512064 qam8


Upstream bonded channelsChannel Channel Type T1 Timeouts T2 Timeouts T3 Timeouts T4 Timeouts
1ATDMA0000
2ATDMA0000
3ATDMA0010
4ATDMA0000

 

Network LogTime Priority Description
15/07/2021 20:44:4criticalNo Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
15/07/2021 10:47:1noticeLAN login Success;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
11/07/2021 17:28:2ErrorDHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
08/07/2021 16:20:47criticalNo Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
08/07/2021 12:53:42ErrorDHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
07/07/2021 09:26:32noticeLAN login Success;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
07/07/2021 00:59:29criticalNo Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
05/07/2021 13:23:9noticeLAN login Success;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
05/07/2021 13:16:26Warning!RCS Partial Service;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
05/07/2021 12:32:26noticeLAN login Success;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
30/06/2021 21:02:42ErrorDHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
27/06/2021 11:49:17criticalNo Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
27/06/2021 09:02:42ErrorDHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
24/06/2021 16:05:5noticeNOTICE ATOM is restarted as part of Self Healing Mechanism;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
23/06/2021 21:02:42ErrorDHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
20/06/2021 11:03:0criticalNo Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
17/06/2021 04:25:11ErrorDHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
14/06/2021 09:39:33criticalNo Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
14/06/2021 08:10:11ErrorDHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
14/06/2021 08:10:9ErrorDHCP RENEW sent - No response for IPv4;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions

Replying as this may be useful for anyone seeing similar problems..

This afternoon the wifi-cards completely gave up, ie hard-wired devices could still connect to the hub but Wifi devices could not despite the SSID still being broadcasted. On call to support the agent said he could see a lot of congestion, so suggested the following fix:

We disabled channel optimisation and set the channels for both bands manually, channel 8 for 2.4ghz and 104 for 5ghz. We also did a push-button hard reset of the router beforehand. The support agent could see immediate improvements in the amount of congestion, and speeds/signal strength appear to be much better.

I wouldn't be surprised if the wifi-cards installed in these hubs are fairly low quality (compared to commercial grade APs such as Cisco/Xirrus)... but I guess that's the wonders of mass-market for you 🙃

See where this Helpful Answer was posted

9 REPLIES 9

jbrennand
Very Insightful Person
Very Insightful Person
Is it just speed fluctuation or do you get total drops too? If so, are the issues only evident on wifi connections or do you see them at the same times on devices connected on ethernet cables? If you don't know, can you check to help diagnose whether it is just a wifi issue or it could be network connection related?

What are the various Hub lights showing/doing when this happens?

Also do a quick check that all of your coax cable connections are in nice and "finger" tight - at the Hub and wall box and also at any connectors etc. Ensure there are no “unterminated cable loose ends. Disconnect all the connections and reconnect to be sure. Also check that the internal wiring is ok with no kinking or chaffing, check that all looks good with the outside cabling and wall box.

--------------------
John
--------------------

I do not work for VM. My services: HD TV on VIP (+ Sky Sports & Movies & BT sport), x3 V6 boxes (1 wired, 2 on WiFi) Hub5 in modem mode with Apple Airport Extreme Router +2 Airport Express's & TP-Link Archer C64 WAP. On Volt 350Mbps, Talk Anytime Phone, x2 Mobile SIM only iPhones.

Welcome to the community @mikewebbdev and thanks for taking the time to post on here on the forums.

 

I have looked into your account and cannot see anything that would be causing this either with your individual connection or in your area.

 

Would you be able to answer the questions from @jbrennand as this will help is determine what the issues are and how best we can fix them. 

 

Regards,

Steven_L

Just speed fluctuations, only evident on wifi connections afaik, Hub light stays white. I have also checked the connections and all are tight, and no evident kinks/faults in the cables. 

From the table below it looks like the 2.4ghz is not running on the correct modes? 802.11n should be capable of higher speeds than that even with a number of devices...

Also worthy to note that M-iPhone and Desktop are both in the same room, as are K iPhone and iPad... so I don't think that it's any signal interference or external factors causing the speed difference.

 

Device nameMAC addressIP addressSpeed (Mbps)Connected to

M iPhone    ##:##:##:##:##:##    192.168.0.48/24    9.98    WI-FI 2.4G VM5009360

Unknown    ##:##:##:##:##    192.168.0.18/24    28.88    WI-FI 2.4G VM5009360

Unknown    ##:##:##:##:##    192.168.0.14/24    34.63    WI-FI 2.4G VM5009360

amazon-8210b9c08    ##:##:##:##:##:##    192.168.0.19/24    423.14    WI-FI 5G VM5009360

HP1CF860    ##:##:##:##:##:##     192.168.0.38/24    58.45    WI-FI 2.4G VM5009360

DESKTOP-V08G0JF    ##:##:##:##:##    192.168.0.36/24    126.95    WI-FI 5G VM5009360

iPad    ##:##:##:##:##:##    192.168.0.41/24    380.85    WI-FI 5G VM5009360

K iPhone    ##:##:##:##:##:##    192.168.0.47/24    12.02    WI-FI 2.4G VM5009360

mikewebbdev
Tuning in

Today's BQM is also showing a lot more latency peaks than normal

https://www.thinkbroadband.com/broadband/monitoring/quality/share/450fe6d175e1e87a9d248d972b704c6111fc5cdb-21-07-2021

 

Hi mikewebbdev, 

Thanks for coming back to us on this. 

If this is only happening on the WiFi then a little optimisation of the connection may help. Try these help pages for some advice:

You may find splitting the bands beneficial but you will need to connect to the WiFi on the best band for the device you are connecting. It can be a bit tricky having to try out a few things so a few tips: 

  • Any devices closer to the Hub would be better placed on the 5Ghz band. 
  • Any devices further away from the Hub would be better places on the 2.4Ghz band.
  • Any devices that can be wired into the Hub, should be.

To split the networks, just follow these steps:

  • Access your Hub by navigating to 192.168.0.1
  • Login with the default login info (on base of Hub) unless you've already updated it.
  • Go to Advanced Settings > Wireless > Security
  • Under Wireless Frequency 2.4GHz change the Wifi Network Name (SSID) and the Wifi password (network key).
  • Repeat for the Wireless Frequency 5GHz and click on Apply changes.*

*Make sure that both frequencies are named differently and are still identifiable

 

Give that a try and let us know how you get on. 

Thanks,
 

 

Kath_F
Forum Team

New around here? Check out the do's and don'ts, in our Community FAQs


Replying as this may be useful for anyone seeing similar problems..

This afternoon the wifi-cards completely gave up, ie hard-wired devices could still connect to the hub but Wifi devices could not despite the SSID still being broadcasted. On call to support the agent said he could see a lot of congestion, so suggested the following fix:

We disabled channel optimisation and set the channels for both bands manually, channel 8 for 2.4ghz and 104 for 5ghz. We also did a push-button hard reset of the router beforehand. The support agent could see immediate improvements in the amount of congestion, and speeds/signal strength appear to be much better.

I wouldn't be surprised if the wifi-cards installed in these hubs are fairly low quality (compared to commercial grade APs such as Cisco/Xirrus)... but I guess that's the wonders of mass-market for you 🙃

Thanks for your reply and update, mikewebbdev, has the reset got everything sorted for you? 

Fingers crossed, it should be! 

Do keep us posted, mikewebbdev.