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Rinzler's avatar
Rinzler
New Contributor II
6 years ago

Latency and Packet Loss Issues

I have noticed latency issues and slight but constant packet loss with PC gaming for many months that varies from obnoxious to making games unplayable. I primarily play CS:GO and PUBG. The network diagnostics in game for PUBG indicate I am having constant 3-10% packet loss on upstream data only, with occasional higher spikes.

Network info: Netgeear CM1000 modem; ASUS AC2900 WiFi router (both purchased December 2018); hardwired connection b/t router and desktop PC.

I contacted COX by phone last month about latency issues. They tried to find my previous COX-rented internet/telephone modem remotely, but had issues finding it. Eventually, I was told the modem was bad and to visit the local COX store for a replacement. Instead of renting the panoramic WiFi, I decided to purchase the setup described above from Amazon. While the home WiFi coverage is far more reliable with the new router, I am still having latency issues and packet loss.

I have not had a tech come out to check the lines yet. One possibility that comes to mind is the sagging cable line between my house and the utility poll. Since I bought the home in 2015, it has been hanging too law in the yard. The wire between the two utility polls behind my house, that looks like it is designed to support the cable line, must have snapped in a storm years ago. I reported the sagging line to COX when I moved in, and they sent someone to look at it. He said there was nothing he could do about it personally, but that he would report it to the line maintenance department at COX and they would come fix it. They never did anything about it, and I didn't follow-up further. I'm wondering if the stress on the line has made the line bad or caused a bad connection at the tap that could explain the issues I'm having.

Any help solving these issues would be greatly appreciated.

Posting my signal strength info and cable modem log info since reset 5 days ago.

Downstream Bonded Channels
Channel Lock Status Modulation Channel ID Frequency Power SNR / MER Unerrored Codewords Correctable Codewords Uncorrectable Codewords
1 Locked QAM256 30 957000000 Hz 3.4 dBmV 39.0 dB 3424909635 1 0
2 Locked QAM256 1 783000000 Hz 7.6 dBmV 40.8 dB 3423400561 0 0
3 Locked QAM256 2 789000000 Hz 7.5 dBmV 40.8 dB 3423410443 0 0
4 Locked QAM256 3 795000000 Hz 7.8 dBmV 40.7 dB 3423419739 0 0
5 Locked QAM256 4 801000000 Hz 7.8 dBmV 40.6 dB 3423430177 1 0
6 Locked QAM256 9 831000000 Hz 5.2 dBmV 40.0 dB 3423438516 0 0
7 Locked QAM256 10 837000000 Hz 6.3 dBmV 40.3 dB 3423448763 3 0
8 Locked QAM256 11 843000000 Hz 5.1 dBmV 39.8 dB 3423544327 0 0
9 Locked QAM256 12 849000000 Hz 5.4 dBmV 39.9 dB 3423574865 3 0
10 Locked QAM256 17 879000000 Hz 4.8 dBmV 35.7 dB 3422528905 1055462 732
11 Locked QAM256 18 885000000 Hz 5.0 dBmV 32.2 dB 3408869922 13728953 995709
12 Locked QAM256 19 891000000 Hz 3.9 dBmV 38.9 dB 3423603997 2 0
13 Locked QAM256 20 897000000 Hz 3.7 dBmV 39.3 dB 3423613563 0 0
14 Locked QAM256 21 903000000 Hz 4.3 dBmV 39.5 dB 3423475423 47016 99858
15 Locked QAM256 22 909000000 Hz 4.4 dBmV 39.7 dB 3423367728 50086 205290
16 Locked QAM256 25 927000000 Hz 3.5 dBmV 39.2 dB 3423398058 38975 192362
17 Locked QAM256 26 933000000 Hz 3.2 dBmV 39.0 dB 3423650482 0 0
18 Locked QAM256 27 939000000 Hz 3.3 dBmV 39.1 dB 3423659495 0 0
19 Locked QAM256 28 945000000 Hz 2.7 dBmV 38.5 dB 3423668710 1 0
20 Locked QAM256 29 951000000 Hz 2.7 dBmV 38.7 dB 3423678809 4 0
21 Locked QAM256 33 357000000 Hz 9.0 dBmV 41.2 dB 3423686744 0 0
22 Locked QAM256 34 363000000 Hz 9.1 dBmV 41.4 dB 3423697726 0 0
23 Locked QAM256 35 369000000 Hz 9.1 dBmV 41.5 dB 3423706011 0 0
24 Locked QAM256 36 375000000 Hz 8.8 dBmV 41.6 dB 3423715690 0 0
25 Locked QAM256 37 381000000 Hz 8.9 dBmV 41.4 dB 3423724874 0 0
26 Locked QAM256 38 387000000 Hz 8.8 dBmV 41.5 dB 3423735360 0 0
27 Locked QAM256 41 405000000 Hz 8.4 dBmV 41.6 dB 3423744164 0 0
28 Locked QAM256 42 411000000 Hz 8.2 dBmV 41.6 dB 3423753186 0 0
29 Locked QAM256 43 417000000 Hz 8.4 dBmV 41.6 dB 3423761751 0 0
30 Locked QAM256 44 423000000 Hz 8.3 dBmV 41.5 dB 3423769905 0 0
31 Locked QAM256 45 429000000 Hz 8.4 dBmV 41.5 dB 3423772023 0 0
32 Locked QAM256 46 435000000 Hz 9.2 dBmV 41.5 dB 3423778823 0 0

Upstream Bonded Channels
Channel Lock Status Modulation Channel ID Frequency Power
1 Locked ATDMA 1 19400000 Hz 38.3 dBmV
2 Locked ATDMA 2 24300000 Hz 39.3 dBmV
3 Locked ATDMA 3 30800000 Hz 38.8 dBmV
4 Locked ATDMA 4 37300000 Hz 39.0 dBmV
5 Not Locked Unknown 0 0 Hz 0.0 dBmV
6 Not Locked Unknown 0 0 Hz 0.0 dBmV
7 Not Locked Unknown 0 0 Hz 0.0 dBmV
8 Not Locked Unknown 0 0 Hz 0.0 dBmV
Downstream OFDM Channels
Channel Lock Status Modulation / Profile ID Channel ID Frequency Power SNR / MER Active Subcarrier Number Range Unerrored Codewords Correctable Codewords Uncorrectable Codewords
1 Locked 0, 1, 2, 3 159 300000000 Hz 12.7 dBmV 42.5 dB 1108 ~ 2987 3281989321 81250433 0
2 Not Locked 0 0 0 Hz 7.8 dBmV 0.0 dB 0 ~ 4095 0 0 0
Time Priority Description
2019-01-29, 07:30:35 Critical (3) Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - T3 time-out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:30:13 Notice (6) CM-STATUS message sent. Event Type Code: 3; Chan ID: N/A; DSID: �; MAC Addr: N/A; OFDM/OFDMA Profile ID: N/A.;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:30:13 Warning (5) Unicast DSID PSN startup error
2019-01-28, 17:29:43 Critical (3) No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:29:33 Critical (3) Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - T3 time-out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:29:32 Critical (3) No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:29:31 Critical (3) Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - T3 time-out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:29:31 Critical (3) No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:29:30 Warning (5) Dynamic Range Window violation
2019-01-28, 17:29:30 Warning (5) RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power in Excess of 6 dB Below the Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:29:30 Warning (5) Dynamic Range Window violation
2019-01-28, 17:29:30 Warning (5) RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power in Excess of 6 dB Below the Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:29:29 Critical (3) No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:29:29 Warning (5) Dynamic Range Window violation
2019-01-28, 17:29:29 Warning (5) RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power Exceeds Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:29:29 Warning (5) Dynamic Range Window violation
2019-01-28, 17:29:29 Warning (5) RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power in Excess of 6 dB Below the Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:29:29 Warning (5) Dynamic Range Window violation
2019-01-28, 17:29:29 Warning (5) RNG-RSP CCAP Commanded Power in Excess of 6 dB Below the Value Corresponding to the Top of the DRW;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:29:19 Notice (6) DS profile assignment change. DS Chan ID: 32; Previous Profile: ; New Profile: 1 2 3 .;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-28, 17:29:10 Notice (6) TLV-11 - unrecognized OID;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
Time Not Established Warning (5) DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response ;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
Time Not Established Critical (3) DHCP FAILED - Request sent, No response;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
Time Not Established Notice (6) Honoring MDD; IP provisioning mode = IPv4
Time Not Established Critical (3) SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
Time Not Established Critical (3) No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
Time Not Established Critical (3) SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-24, 07:52:40 Critical (3) Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - T3 time-out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-24, 03:27:30 Critical (3) Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance opportunities received - T4 time out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-24, 03:27:22 Critical (3) Unicast Ranging Received Abort Response - Re-initializing MAC;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-24, 03:27:22 Critical (3) Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance opportunities received - T4 time out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-24, 03:27:11 Critical (3) Unicast Ranging Received Abort Response - Re-initializing MAC;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-24, 03:27:11 Critical (3) Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance opportunities received - T4 time out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-24, 03:27:03 Critical (3) Unicast Ranging Received Abort Response - Re-initializing MAC;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-24, 03:27:01 Critical (3) Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance opportunities received - T4 time out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-24, 03:26:52 Critical (3) Unicast Ranging Received Abort Response - Re-initializing MAC;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-24, 03:26:51 Critical (3) Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance opportunities received - T4 time out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-24, 03:26:31 Critical (3) Unicast Ranging Received Abort Response - Re-initializing MAC;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-24, 03:26:31 Critical (3) Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance opportunities received - T4 time out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
2019-01-24, 03:01:36 Critical (3) Received Response to Broadcast Maintenance Request, But no Unicast Maintenance opportunities received - T4 time out;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.1;
  • Hi Rinzler. Do you only have issues when playing games? What happens when you watch Netflix, Hulu, etc? If you need further troubleshooting, please email this information along with your complete address and name on the account to cox.help@cox.com. Thanks, Lisa
    • Rinzler's avatar
      Rinzler
      New Contributor II

      Thanks for the reply. Streaming services seem fine. Speed test results have been pretty consistently good. It's the ping and packet loss that have given me trouble in games.

    • Rinzler's avatar
      Rinzler
      New Contributor II

      I sent an email to the address you gave and arranged for a technician to come today. I left work early to meet him, so I was surprised when he said he doesn't do line maintenance. That was the entire purpose of the visit based on the complaint in this thread and the response I got from the email.

      He tested the signal at the inside outlet where my modem is plugged in and was able to verify some packet loss. He also agreed that the damaged line from the utility pole and stress on the tap were the most likely culprits. He then says he actually is qualified/trained/whatever to expect the tap, which is located on a utility pole in my neighbors backyard.

      However, my neighbor's pit bull was in the backyard, so he said we would need permission from the neighbor. My neighbor is a recluse who runs every time I have tried to approach her. Probably has something to do with the armed men in body armor I saw surround her house earlier this year. When we tried to approach her for permission, she brought the dog in, went inside, and we heard her locking the deadbolts. The technician said, even though the dog was no longer in the yard, he would not go into the yard without her permission from the neighbor. I don't blame him for being concerned, and I don't want anyone getting hurt fixing this issue. However, He also said it would be up to me to coordinate with her a time when COX can come by to fix the tap. Coordinating the arrival window with COX during the work day is hard enough without having to convince my neighbor to talk to me for the first time after years of behavior like this. The suggestion that I am responsible for getting COX access to the public easement utility pole in my neighbor's backyard that brings the service I subscribe to into my home sounds like a joke. That should be the utility's responsibility. The most I can do is leave a note to tell her when COX is coming to repair the line, but I can't make her answer the door to me and I can't keep her from letting her dog outside.

      After discussing this issue with the technician, he asked for access to the outside box. I showed him where it was and went back inside. A few minutes later, I looked for him and his truck was gone and the outdoor box was in worse shape than when he arrived--totally unsecured to the wall and requiring me to screw it back to the side of the house.

      • Pam613's avatar
        Pam613
        Contributor II

        There's a pole in my back yard that serves a few neighbors and Cox came into my yard without permission from us. When we saw 3 of them back there they told us they don't have to ask permission because they have to maintain the pole.