Whirlpool

Thought I'd ask people about my modem.
Not a problem as such, but trying to figure out if the modem I use is still what I should be using.
I've recently upgraded my computer to new hardware devices ie 280gtx 9450cpu and I'm curious to see if maybe my cable modem is a something I should change.
I'm on Bigpond 25gig extreme and I'm using the same Motorolla 5100 surfboard that i got when I join BP years and years ago. Dont really need wifi as I will be running only the one computer and if I network, I'll hard wire it.
And if its old tech and I might be better off changing it , will BP exchange it for something newer without trying to charge me an arm and a leg as I've been a customer with cable, fax no, home and mobile's phones for years?

You have not received any replies yet so I will have a say. From what I have read in this forum in the past, I do not think you need a new modem. I am on the standard 12 GB Liberty plan and I have a Motorolla SB5100. Works well.

The old 4200 was not much chop on extreme but the 5100 is supposed to be OK. Might be a good idea to look at the BigPond website and see what they say there.

Edit – This page says the 4100 and 4200 cannot handle extreme -
http://bigpond.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/bigpond.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_sid=9lKikZcj&p_lva=12151&p_li=&p_faqid=13590&p_created=1189738272

Some people do not think the SBG900 is a great deal and that you would be better off using a normal extreme cable modem and a router.

Second Edit – The SBG900 is not good enough in Melbourne anyway, and I see from your profile that you are in Melbourne.

Cheers for the help
But yeah not much info on Bigponds site about modems other then the wifi upgrade that you can buy. I've searched there before so I thought I'd try here ;)

Motorola have two other versions of my surfboard modem SB5100. Looks like it has been superseded by the SB5101 and the SB5102.
Unless some one knows there exchange policies or if its worth me bothering I'll maybe just give them a call. Just wasn't looking forward to the call waiting :D

fencer writes...

I'm on Bigpond 25gig extreme and I'm using the same Motorolla 5100 surfboard that i got when I join BP years and years ago.

What speeds are you getting? The SB5100 should handle 30Mbps extreme as well as any other modems currently being used by BigPond. The only modems they are issuing these days are the SB5101 and CG814WG.

yeah my speeds/pings are fine but I'm getting more times when my net freezes for half sec when gaming and I was wondering maybe a nice new modem couldn't hurt compared to one I've had for 6 plus years, especially if its free ;)

fencer writes...

yeah my speeds/pings are fine but I'm getting more times when my net freezes for half sec when gaming

Can you post your signal levels? (http://192.168.100.1/signal.html)

especially if its free ;)

BigPond have been known to provide a free modem in exchange for a new 24 month contract.

compared to one I've had for 6 plus years

I didn't realise that they were issuing the SB5101 SB5100 (oops) that long ago ... I've had BigPond cable for over 7 years, but my first few years was using a Nortel CM115.

After 6 years, the first thing I'd be looking at is the quality of the tap in the street. It might have started corroding.

Edit – typo

this right?

Frequency 513000000 Hz Locked
Signal to Noise Ratio 39 dB
Power Level 0 dBmV

Upstream Value
Channel ID 1
Frequency 37200000 Hz Ranged
Power Level 50 dBmV

And its the SB100 not the SB101, so its a bit older again
I'm not positive its 6 years as I had it before my son was born and he's 6 in December. So it actually could be even older then 6 years. Time flies with kids :)

fencer writes...

Frequency 513000000 Hz Locked
Signal to Noise Ratio 39 dB
Power Level 0 dBmV

Upstream Value
Channel ID 1
Frequency 37200000 Hz Ranged
Power Level 50 dBmV

That's fine, although the upstream value is starting to get up a bit. Check it from time to time to see if any of the following values change:
Downstream power level
Downstream SNR
Upstream power level.

Especially check it when you have your hiccups.

I changed to the number two channel and I got this. Is it better?

Channel ID 2
Frequency 24400000 Hz Ranged
Power Level 49 dBmV

41-49 is pretty normal for Upstream Power Level. Id be worried if it was higher then 57+

Blinkybil writes...

Edit – This page says the 4100 and 4200 cannot handle extreme -

Typical bigpond trying to steal your money.. Motorola 4200 Design specifications state that it can handle speeds up to 38Mbits down, 10Mbits up. When i'm on the Extreme plan i get just over 27Mbit down, 1.1Mbit up.

fencer writes...

I'm using the same Motorolla 5100 surfboard that i got when I join BP years and years ago.

Bigpond are currently issuing the SB5101, which is exactly the same except that the SB5100 uses a Broadcom BCM3348 chipset and the SB5101 uses a Broadcom BCM3349.

So really, I doubt you would gain much by upgrading your modem.

JunkCrusader writes...

That's fine, although the upstream value is starting to get up a bit.

Not to hijack the thread or anything, but I noticed that he stated his downstream power level was 0 dBmV.

I checked my SB5101 modem out, and saw that it was:

Downstream Value
Frequency 507000000 Hz
Signal to Noise Ratio 39 dB
Power Level 4.8 dBmV

Upstream Value
Channel ID 2
Frequency 21200000 Hz
Power Level 53 dBmV

I have been getting erratic speeds lately downloading and when I tried pinging telstra.com would get around 10ms then for a min or two will get like 80ms, then back down to 10ms (and yes, I wasn't dl'ing anything when running the ping). I've also had some issues with VoIP, but not enough to follow it up with any companies.

Should I be concerned with the modem values? or is there something I can/should do?