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CelticDubstep's avatar
CelticDubstep
New Contributor
5 years ago

Gulf Coast: Possible Signal Issues?

I'm located in Pensacola, FL. I have a Netgear CM1000 (It was the only modem we could get working with Cox after trying various Arris models) which has been rock solid. No Packet Loss.... However, an issue we've always had is we've never had consistent speeds and we have Gigablast. I recently purchased two new laptops and noticed while downloading software to them that the speeds were much slower than normal and during the download, I was unable to use YouTube, Netflix, etc on other devices (which are all hard wired) which normally I can do without an issue while downloading, so I performed some troubleshooting (factory resetting router, bypassing router, factory resetting modem at 192.168.100.1, checking cable connections, etc) and noticed I couldn't get anything faster than 175 Mbps for download whereas I've had as high as 945 Mbps before. I took a look at my model signal levels compared to 2 months ago and noticed that they have changed drastically. 

Screenshots are posted below to previous and current. Not sure what may have happened? The only thing that changed was roughly 2 months ago we tried to upgrade our cable service to some type of "Cloud DVR/IPTV" service Cox offers now (using the Panoramic Modem I assume as I was required to switch to it) and after 6+ hours of troubleshooting, we gave up and simply reverted back to our own modem and old cox equipment (Cisco Digital Cable Boxes) which all worked flawlessly. This was done as a self install so nothing changed other than swapping equipment. 

Old Levels:
https://imgur.com/a/f6mHKfz

New Levels:
https://imgur.com/a/5Xc7DQq

Any suggestions? 

  • Bruce's avatar
    Bruce
    Honored Contributor III
    5 years ago

    I'm not sure what the power level should be for gigabit, but your DOWNSTREAM POWER definitely got looser from the tight 8's into the teens.  Low teens isn't bad but you definitely lost some down volts.

    Did you add any coaxial splitters or relocate an electrical device close to the cable?

    Perhaps you could call Cox to "re-provision" your previous (now installed) modem.

    • CelticDubstep's avatar
      CelticDubstep
      New Contributor
      5 years ago

      They've re-provisioned it multiple times, no changes. I also manually logged into the modem myself and did a factory reset on it, same thing. No changes... same splitter, location, power outlet, UPS, etc. All of our TV's have been pixelating a lot more than normal lately, so much so that a channel will "lock up" and we'll have to change stations and change back to get the picture to come back. We've always had pixelating issues and have got used to it, but never to the degree it is now. 

      The only "issue" on my side is that the side of the house the modem is on has reversed polarity (meaning the hot and neutral's are backwards) which isn't anything new and was this way even when I was getting 940+ Mbps download and the levels were better. It's a very old house. I'm in the newer addition of it which was built back in the very late 80's (or very early 90's) which has all 3 prong outlets. There are sections of the house that only have two prong outlets. We had an electrical company come out and give us an estimate, but they wanted to shortcut and simply install GFCI outlets (which is legal, I get it) where the 2 prongs are instead of running a actual ground. In the paperwork it also said that our neutral and grounds are connected at the panel (which was typical back when this house was built) as the main cloth feeder line from the outside panel/electric meter to the inside panel is only 3 lines (two hots and a neutral, no ground) So the outside panel itself is grounded (so I believe) but there is no ground wire running from it to the breaker box inside the house. 

      Rewiring the house is on the to-do list for sure, but with everything going on in the world right now, it isn't exactly top priority, especially since this wiring has been this way for the past 60 years without issues. 

      • Bruce's avatar
        Bruce
        Honored Contributor III
        5 years ago

        I was referring to the voltage of your signal on the coax from Cox...not your household electrical.

        I thought you could only do factory resets via the recessed button on the chassis of the modem.  Is there an option within the menu of the modem?  There are 4 different "nudges" you could do with a modem:  reboot (unplug), software reset, factory reset and re-provision.

        You could look for the recessed button.  However, if your cable boxes are also effected, it may be just the signal getting to your house.  How far can Cox get to your house to test your signal?