"Looking up..." Delay

[net91]

I can't find any reference to FEC on my router.

I am attempting to find wheather I am using fast path or interleaved.

[net91]

I have tried to find out wheather I am using interleaved or fast path using the method below, but I keep getting an error message saying 'stats not found'.


(Method from this website.)
<sup>You have to go round the houses a bit to get the information, but it's not too difficult.

First logon to the router and then select this address:

http://192.168.0.1/setup.cgi?todo=debug

which should result in a screen which just says 'Debug enable'.
(That's assuming that you haven't changed the router's IP address from the default).

Then exit from the web interface and open a command-line window. Type:

telnet 192.168.0.1

You should get a BusyBox welcome message to confirm that your telnet connection is established.

Now type:

cat /proc/avalanche/avsar_modem_stats

This will give you a stream of information about the ADSL connection. Scroll up and find a section something like this:

        [Upstream (TX) Interleave path]
        CRC:    0       FEC:    0       NCD:    1
        LCD:    0       HEC:    0

        [Downstream (RX) Interleave path]
        CRC:    0       FEC:    0       NCD:    0
        LCD:    0       HEC:    0

        [Upstream (TX) Fast path]
        CRC:    1       FEC:    68      NCD:    0
        LCD:    0       HEC:    0

        [Downstream (RX) Fast path]
        CRC:    49      FEC:    0       NCD:    0
        LCD:    0       HEC:    0

In this example the interleave figures are all zero, apart from the first NCD value, which always seems to be 1, so this router is in fast mode. If you see zeros in the fast path sections and other figures in the interleave sections, then interleave is on.

Eric</sup>

[Sebby]

I can't help you there, Dan, as I don't have a Netgear anymore, but hopefully someone else will be able to.

[net91]

Are there any other ways of finding out wheather I'm using interleaved?

Thanks
Daniel

[Sebby]

Other than asking IDNet, I think that's the only way, but someone should be able to give you some more help.

[net91]

Ok thanks, I will phone IDNET support tomorrow if I don't get anywhere before.

[Rik]

The method you're using, Dan, is the one I would. Possibly it's a firewall issue.

[net91]

I have the firewall that comes with MAC OS X enabled and the router has a firewall. Which one of these is likely to be causing the problem?

Thanks
Daniel

(I've attached a screeshot of the error message if it's of any use.)

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Rik]

If anything, it would be the machine firewall, but the not found message makes me wonder whether it's router firmware. What model is it?

[net91]

It's a Netgear DG834PN. (I have installed the latest firmwere updates.)

I'll try with my machine's firewall disabled.

[Rik]

Don't know the PN, Dan, but I think it has a Broadcom chipset, so may well need a different command. Check ThinkBroadband or the Netgear forums if disabling the firewall doesn't work (or just ask support...)

[net91]

I think I will just ask support if I don't get anywhere with the firewall disabled.

[Rik]

That's the quick way.

[net91]

No luck with the firewall disabled, phoning support now.

[net91]

I've spoke to support and they said that my router does not display information about wether it is using interleaved or fast path. They pinged my router and said from the way it is responding it is highly likely that intervealing is not being used.

[Rik]

Odd, given the ping times, I'd have sworn you were on interleaving. 

[net91]

Odd, given the ping times, I'd have sworn you were on interleaving. 

The pings times shown in the screenshot I posted previously?

[Rik]

Yes. I ping IDNet in 23-25ms normally, and I do have interleaving on. OTOH, I am close to a BT RAS, which might make the difference.

[net91]

Is interleaving generally faster?

[Lance]

Nope, it normally adds between 10ms and 30ms to your ping

[net91]

Is there anyway to alter whether fast path or interleaving is used?

[Rik]

If it's on, but not as a measure to stabilise your line, then it can be turned off. The default setting is auto - it's only used when the error count goes up. OTOH, unless you're a gamer, a few ms on a ping will have no impact on your use of the 'net.

[net91]

So changing this setting would not make any difference to the time taken to switch between webpages, or the "looking up..." message showing up?

(I have looked on the internet for more information about finding out whether my router is interleaving (and so far found nothing) and also posted on the Netgear Forum.)

Thanks
Daniel

[Rik]

In practical terms, a difference of a few milli-seconds is too brief for you to see.

[net91]

Personally, I wouldn't consider that a worry, Daniel, as long as you're getting through to the sites in good time. 

Does this advice still stand then?