cablenut tweaks for broadband

[Dan]

ok, I'm still trying to optimize my broadband connection to see if I can get the "choppy" out of videos. I have one of those Rabbit tv devices and haven't had very good results. I realize my pc is 10 years old, but the minimum requirements for this device are way below the spec.s for mine...their support says I should be able to watch with no problems.
When I was on dialup, I used cablenut (along with a modem with an onboard processor) to speed things up to an acceptable level. I'm hoping to get enough speed to use this device.
When I used cablenut for dialup, I just copied and pasted some settings from a forum I visited...I guess I got lucky because the new settings greatly improved my speed. but I tried the settings for broadband from another forum and had no improvement.
without getting into a discussion of how I need to upgrade my computer, does any one have any suggestions for settings to use for cablenut?
can't afford a new build right now, just trying what I can to add enough speed to use the tv device...
the directions that I've found on cablenut sites are beyond my comprehension, just need some settings to copy and paste...or any other software related tweaks to try.
thanks all
~D
here are my current speeds:
ping: 46ms
download: 7.76 mbps
upload: 0.76 mbps

[glc]

Those speeds should be plenty good enough - that's over twice as fast as my DSL. It almost has to be your computer.

[MaxRat]

what programs are you using to watch video and what are your PC specs?

[Dan]

youtube, silverlight, windows media player...flash player...(all recently updated)

I have a tyan s2266 mb, maxtor 7200rpm 200gb hdd, 2 gb ram, nvidia 6200 video w/500mb ram , intel pro/1000 network adapter, winxp home, soundblaster

all of this is about 10 times the requirements listed with Rabbit tv....

I know my pc is 10 years old, but why isn't it good enough for video?

[David M]

To confirm this borrow someone's laptop and see how well it plays video from your ISP.

What are your computers specs?

[Force Flow]

What browser are you using? I've typically gotten the best results with chrome these days.

How many apps do you have loading in the system tray? How may processes in the task manager?

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Force Flow What browser are you using? I've typically gotten the best results with chrome these days. How many apps do you have loading in the system tray? How may processes in the task manager?

FF-
I've tried IE8, Firefox and Chrome...all act the same way. I did a windows update tonight, hoping it would make a difference but it did not.
The only program I have running in the systray is adwatch (and my speaker volume). All the processes in task manager are system related (There ARE 4 instances of svchost.exe running tho')
I've tried this on my laptop and get the same sort of results...
I really can't understand this...these are the minimum hardware requirements for the RabbitTV device, you will see that I more than meet them...leaps and bounds:
- 1.33GHz Intel Pentium 4, AMD Athlon 64 2800+, or faster processor
- 128MB of RAM
- 64MB of graphics memory
This is a mystery to me...I do not believe that this is hardware related (sorry glc), I think there is a software glitch somewhere that I just cannot figure out. First person that figures it out gets a winning lottery ticket...(LOL)
any help or step in the right direction greatly appreciated...

[glc]

I've tried this on my laptop and get the same sort of results...

Then it's an ISP or modem/router issue! Aren't you on some kind of wireless?

[Dan]

Originally Posted by glc Then it's an ISP or modem/router issue! Aren't you on some kind of wireless?

I have a wireless router/modem, but my pc is connected via cat5...
my isp has assured me that I should be able to view flashplayer videos...
unless there's something wrong with the modem?!?
I wonder if I can purchase a better modem, or if I have to use the one my isp provided (Fairpoint)...

[glc]

Is the connection to the ISP wired or wireless? What is the brand/model of the modem/router?

[Dan]

Originally Posted by glc Is the connection to the ISP wired or wireless? What is the brand/model of the modem/router?

thanks glc,
the modem is wired to the isp.
I did a little research on the modem (Westell 7500) and it seems every review talks about how flakey and what a piece of trash it is. The phone company gave me two of them when I signed on to broadband. I wondered at that time why I got two, when I knew I could only use one at a time. I think maybe the second one was a back-up!!!
I'm going to try the other one they gave me tomorrow. I don't hold a lot of hope for much better results.
You know, the broadband connection is like the Autobahn, but just because the speed limit is 140, doesn't mean your Ford Fiesta is going to be able to travel that fast.
Thanks for you continued efforts glc, I think we're finally on the the cause of the problem...
now, what wireless broadband router/modem should I replace it with?
is this overkill:
Amazon.com: Netgear N750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit DSL Modem Router - Premium Edition (DGND4000-100NAS): Computers & Accessories

is this too much of a Lamborghini ???

[glc]

Never been a fan of Netgear modems or routers - I sure wouldn't spend that kind of money. Here are some others to look at that won't break the bank:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16825115068

TP-LINK TD-W8960N 300Mbps Wireless N ADSL2+ Modem Router 24Mbps Downstream, 3.5Mbps Upstream Ethernet Port ADSL/ADSL2/ADSL2+ Standards - Newegg.com

Amazon.com: Actiontec 300 Mbps Wireless-N DSL Modem Router (GT784WN): Electronics

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by Dan youtube, silverlight, windows media player...flash player...(all recently updated)

Aside from youtube are you experiencing this problem on every media site you visit?

[David M]

Borrow someones (relatively new) computer, at least this way you could start reducing the possibilities.

[glc]

I believe his laptop is relatively modern.

[Dan]

Well this is beginning to be a real puzzler for me. I ran into town and bought another wireless router/modem.
Certain noticeable differences, like my browser loads faster, Facebook loads faster and most of everything else that I do online is faster. But, the video issue is still an issue. Some players show a little improvement, but Adobe Flash still has choppy playback and audio out of sinc....Youtube and Hulu are about the same....but no ability to stream smoothly what so ever, which I find odd because of my results from speed test.com. I've tried three different computers; my main tower and two laptops (one wired and one wireless). I tried to view a Youtube clip on my wife's Nexus tablet (which of course is wireless) and found freezing and choppy playback also.
So I think we can rule out my main pc's age....
Any other ideas greatly appreciated...I think I'm going to discuss this with my isp and report back...
thanks again guys, for all the input..

oh ya, I tried three different browsers too....

[glc]

What modem/router did you buy?

[Dan]

Originally Posted by glc What modem/router did you buy?

well, I went off to a small office supply in the nearest town and bought a Netgear DGND3700-N600-Wireless-Router/modem. It was the only one they had, I didn't read your comment about Netgear until I got back from town with it.
I probably should've ordered something online, but life is getting shorter every day.
I spoke with tech support for my isp after I set it up and got no change of playback. He ran me through a couple of ping tests and determined the service was excellent...no loss.
I have been able to watch a few movies, but most of what I try is still pretty choppy.
The tech suggested that I contact customer service and request a new modem. He said they don't distribute the Westells any more. Maybe I'll try that tomorrow, I can return this modem if I want...
Still, none of this really shines any light on what the problem is...

[Dan]

Originally Posted by rjfvillarosa Aside from youtube are you experiencing this problem on every media site you visit?

most media is choppy and video is out of sinc with audio...

[glc]

Just so you know, Fairpoint is getting some really crappy reviews on line.

How powerful are your laptops? Take the most powerful one and try it wired, if it's choppy, it's a modem or ISP issue, period.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by glc Just so you know, Fairpoint is getting some really crappy reviews on line. How powerful are your laptops? Take the most powerful one and try it wired, if it's choppy, it's a modem or ISP issue, period.

thanks,
the laptop that I have in the shop has the fastest cpu.
I ran a waterproof cat5 down there...same problems.
All three modems act the same way...so it must be ISP

I did chat with a friend in Louisiana tonight who gets all his tv off the internet. he said for about the past three or four months (ever since he updated Adobe Flash) that he's been having similar problems.
I think it might have something to do with player technology...he said when he uninstalled the latest version and installed an older version, things seem to smooth out a bit.
I'm sure if I subscribed to direct tv I wouldn't have this problem...it's the free services that don't work well. I am able to watch some free movies ok now...no choppy, pretty smooth.
I watch too much tv as it is....I guess maybe I've made this into a bigger issue than I need to...

thanks again for all your help...

[Eggo]

I think you're running into congestions, especially on a free service.

Try it on off hours.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Eggo I think you're running into congestions, especially on a free service. Try it on off hours.

thanks, I'll give it a try....

[DOS_equis]

I bought a used Draytek Vigor 120 off of eBay for around 30 bucks shipped to replace the ISP supplied modem and it helped out with some random irregularities in the connection. They are one of the best modems out there from what I read, which is why I bought one. You will have to have a seperate router if you use this since it's only a modem.

It seems when Adobe updates the flash player it breaks stuff or makes it laggy. I would try an older version of flash player to see if that helps before updating anymore equipment.


DOS_equis

[Dan]

Originally Posted by DOS_equis I bought a used off of eBay for around 30 bucks shipped to replace the ISP supplied modem and it helped out with some random irregularities in the connection. They are one of the best modems out there from what I read, which is why I bought one. You will have to have a seperate router if you use this since it's only a modem. It seems when Adobe updates the flash player it breaks stuff or makes it laggy. I would try an older version of flash player to see if that helps before updating anymore equipment. DOS_equis

thanks much....

[Dan]

I tried viewing at various times of the day...didn't find any change in quality, still choppy.
No difference with the new modem, so I returned it...maybe I'll try one of the ones that glc recommended.
As far as an earlier version of Flash Player goes, any one know where to look for a download?

thanks again for all the suggestions...
~D

[DOS_equis]

Originally Posted by Dan I tried viewing at various times of the day...didn't find any change in quality, still choppy. No difference with the new modem, so I returned it...maybe I'll try one of the ones that glc recommended. As far as an earlier version of Flash Player goes, any one know where to look for a download? thanks again for all the suggestions... ~D

Try this:

Old versions of Windows, Mac and Linux Software Downloads & Abandonware Games - OldVersion.com



DOS_equis

[Dan]

well, I think I finally figured things out.
first, all my computers have the same version updates and downloads of flash, this is probably why they all have been acting the same way.
My friend in Louisiana told me that he uninstalled Adobe Air, shut off his antivirus temporarily and uninstalled all beta versions of flash (Adobe support suggested that I install the beta version...and I did). So, after he did all this he said things were running very smoothly with no choppy video or out of sinc audio.
I tried this, except I didn't turn off my AV. When I uninstalled flash, I used add/remove programs NOT the adobe uninstaller. This left me with no flash player at all.
The next step is to go to a site with flash videos, like youtube, and try to play one. You get an error message telling you that a flash program is needed with a link to adobe flash. I downloaded and installed it from there. Rebooted and now movies, video clips, tv shows, everything plays smoothly and the sound is in perfect sinc.
And here I thought I needed a new build....

[DOS_equis]

Glad you got it sorted out. Flash is buggy little monster that can be a pain to get right.


DOS_equis