piffery1's profile

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3 Messages

Sunday, June 30th, 2013 5:10 AM

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Cisco DPC3010 Modem link light

     Dell Optiplex GX620 with Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet and Windows XP SP3.  Cisco DPC3010 Modem lights all solid Green  with link light flashing green when only the computer is connected to the modem.  When I install my Cisco/Linksis WR310N R Gigabit router ( no other computers connected ) between the computer and modem, the link light changes to flashing amber and the download speed as measured with "Speedtest.net" drops about 5%.  Cox technicians have recently installed a new cable from pole amplifier to house and the signal is excellent at modem. 

     What is causing link light to change to amber with the router in the system?  What needs to be done to fix it?

New Contributor

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5 Messages

12 years ago

For many modems the Link Light flashes amber to indicate the sending and receiving of data.  If you have just your computer hooked up to the modem with no apps, services, or programs running that require going out to the web, the light (for many modems) should be green to indicate that it is connected.  Your router is running background services that are going out to the internet and coming back, so your light is flashing, demonstrating the data flow.  Also remember that despite claims to the contrary, devices between your computer and the net (your router) can affect your speed.  Your computer's requests for data have to go through the router for processing before being sent off, and on returns get processed through the router before being delivered to your computer.

New Contributor

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3 Messages

12 years ago

The question remains unanswered.  I understand the flashing link light (either color) indicates data flow. The question remains; why is link light flashing green with computer and modem only and flashing amber with computer, router (no  other computers connected to router) and modem?  Latest Speedtest.net (New Orleans server) trial indicates ~25.5mbps without router and ~24.5mbps with router, not a significant performance dropoff with router in the system.  With slower Speedtest servers the light performs in the same manner as well as with any websites.  With my old Motorola Surfboard DOCSIS 2.0 modem and Belkin 10/100 Ethernet router, the link light flashed green whether or not the router was in the circuit.  So, what does the flashing link light color change indicate?

New Contributor

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5 Messages

12 years ago

http://www.broadstripe.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Cisco-DPC3010-Modem.pdf

Page 33

ON
-
When a single device is connected to either the Ethernet or USB port and no data is
being sent to or from the modem
BLINKS
-
When only one Ethernet or USB device is connected and data is being
transferred between the consumer premise equipment (CPE) and the cable modem
OFF
-
When no devices are connected to either the Ethernet or USB ports
Notes:
When both Ethernet and USB devices are connected to the modem at the same time,
and data is being transferred through only one of the devices (Ethernet or USB), the
LINK LED status indicator illuminates continuously.
Whenever data is being sent through both data ports (Ethernet and USB)
simultaneously, the indicator blinks as described above.

Former Moderator

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7.1K Messages

12 years ago

The amber link light indicates a non-Gigabit Ethernet connection.  If it only goes amber with the router connected it sounds like the router and modem aren't negotiating a gigabit link correctly.  Maybe that can be set in the router settings or could indicate that the WAN port on the router may be experiencing problems.

New Contributor

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3 Messages

12 years ago

Christ,

Thanks for the hint.  I replaced the brand new ethernet cable between the modem and router.  Now the link light is flashing green with or without the router in the circuit and the speed test results are essentially the same either way.  "New does not necessarily mean good"! 

Piffery

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