Moving modem to Road side Pillar box

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Moving modem to Road side Pillar box

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356 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1856215 1-Sep-2017 06:36

2.5 months on report.

All was pretty well, my only lingering issue was the huge Interleave depth of 900+
Keeping downsteam sync below potential possible

This all changed a few weeks back, it came down to 150 range where it probably should be, comparing to what I had before shifting modem
BUT since then i've had issues with FEC errors, jumping up hugely, as in millions per hour

Done some testing, thought it may have been cable from Pillar connection to modem or modem socket, pretty well can rule this out
Some reading this morning on what could be the issue
I see that MPPT controllers put out RF noise, I'm a wondering if this could be my issue
CRC errors not getting a single one, just FECs
I'll do some testing tomorrow, with this
Remove controller controller, then try a PWM controller I have one somewhere
The issue seems most prominent late afternoon and evening, the line drops the SNR by 1db and actual sync becomes higher than attainable = noise city

I'll be back with findings

chevrolux

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#1856312 1-Sep-2017 08:30

I'm still just amazed that there is a 70Mbps VDSL connection out in country that looks like the top of the ruahine's/kaweka's/insert mountain range here.

michaelmurfy

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#1856315 1-Sep-2017 08:32

chevrolux:
I'm still just amazed that there is a 70Mbps VDSL connection out in country that looks like the top of the ruahine's/kaweka's/insert mountain range here.

This is New Zealand - not Australia. We do things properly here.

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raytaylor

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#1856329 1-Sep-2017 09:04

Yes MPPT controllers have a low powered cpu in them that can cause some interference.

PWM doesnt cause as much interference, but the cost is about 10-30% of your solar panel power output will be wasted.

edit: If your batteries are running at 12v i wouldnt suggest running PWM with a solar panel designed for a 24v system.It would need a 12v (max 18v) solar panel as PWM directly connects the panel to the battery and the battery needs to be able to accept that voltage otherwise it will start gassing. MPPT transforms the voltage down to the required level and converts the waste to amps for faster charging.

Ray Taylor

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Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1857013 1-Sep-2017 23:30

Try sticking a noise filter on the output of the MPPT controller. And relocate the MPPT controller next to the solar panel. As the MPPT controller itself could be directly radiating interference, especially as higher switching frequencies mean smaller and cheaper inductors can be used. Jaycar AA3074 if you want a ready made one. Otherwise they are easy to build using an old speaker crossover inductor and some capacitors. An old desktop computer powersupply will also have everything needed to build a noise filter as well. And a very simple thing is to wire a 1nF ceramic capacitor across the output terminals of the MPPT controller.

Also try using a portable AM radio to see if it picks up any extra interference from around the MPPT controller. Although there was a previous thread where a HAM radio operator was complaining about a VDSL modem being the source of interference on his radio.

freakngeek

356 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1857060 2-Sep-2017 08:33

I'm thinking interference is happening at about 55+Mbps, my downoads seem to struggle past.
When I force SNR to 1db, my Downstream sync is 84Mbps, Speednet won't go past 60Mbps
When I force SNR to 8db, my Downstream sync is 71Mbps Speednet still only reports 55-60Mbps

I like the current MPPT controller as it tells me whats happening with everything attached to it, very easy to diagnose any issues
But this is not a controller to go out in the element as it has a LCD display and buttons

I do have a PWM controller, more than capable to do the job, but I would need to add my 2nd battery to make a 24v system as the 270w panel is 30v, overkill on batteries

I also have an outdoor MPPT controller I use to keep the pigs in their run (not always successfully), I may trial this first.
Only issue with this unit is its 10 or 15 amp, and it doesn't like going over at all and faults, I've not seen charging with current model go over 8 amp so may get away with it
I can mount to the Solar panel frame then run power to box with gear in it
Least expensive way to get it away from Modem and more importantly DSL line
I will miss all the data that other one displays

But very first of all I'll remove the MPPT controller all together to confirm it is actually to blame and not something else out of my control
I'll leave off till tomorrow, as the issues don't seem to start till late afternoon

I'll be back.

coffeebaron

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#1857127 2-Sep-2017 10:11

Remember to take approx 15-20% off for overheads. E.g. if your sync is 50Mbps, then you speed test will be low 40's.

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freakngeek

356 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1857143 2-Sep-2017 11:24

OK, its done, everything running on battery alone
MPPT controller completely removed.

Here are stats as at 11:15am

Was getting some FECs earlier this morning about 1000 per hour before the changes
So far so good

Jase2985

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#1857144 2-Sep-2017 11:30

coffeebaron: Remember to take approx 15-20% off for overheads. E.g. if your sync is 50Mbps, then you speed test will be low 40's.

lol

70mbps sync speed 67mbps tested speed and 30mbps down and 28mbps tested

ive never had any where near 15-20% with overheads

hio77

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#1857152 2-Sep-2017 12:00

freakngeek:

I'm thinking interference is happening at about 55+Mbps, my downoads seem to struggle past.
When I force SNR to 1db, my Downstream sync is 84Mbps, Speednet won't go past 60Mbps
When I force SNR to 8db, my Downstream sync is 71Mbps Speednet still only reports 55-60Mbps

I like the current MPPT controller as it tells me whats happening with everything attached to it, very easy to diagnose any issues
But this is not a controller to go out in the element as it has a LCD display and buttons

I do have a PWM controller, more than capable to do the job, but I would need to add my 2nd battery to make a 24v system as the 270w panel is 30v, overkill on batteries

I also have an outdoor MPPT controller I use to keep the pigs in their run (not always successfully), I may trial this first.
Only issue with this unit is its 10 or 15 amp, and it doesn't like going over at all and faults, I've not seen charging with current model go over 8 amp so may get away with it
I can mount to the Solar panel frame then run power to box with gear in it
Least expensive way to get it away from Modem and more importantly DSL line
I will miss all the data that other one displays

But very first of all I'll remove the MPPT controller all together to confirm it is actually to blame and not something else out of my control
I'll leave off till tomorrow, as the issues don't seem to start till late afternoon

I'll be back.

Just remember tweaking could cause other underlying issues causing packet and/or speed loss.

Interesting that your MPPT controller may be causing this though.

Few recent cases here on GZ where customers have been having major issues with packetloss, all ended up being RFI caused from dodgy AC leakage (and modem Resistance against it)

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freakngeek

356 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1857458 3-Sep-2017 09:02

MPPT controller looks to have been the culprit, just 24 FECs in 22 hours

I'll have to do some fiddling today to sort out how/where to charge battery and stay away from Modem.

The <60mbps issue was in the end the R7000 WLAN 5ghz channel width, it set it self to 20Mhz slowing me up
Since setting up a couple of Virtual WLANs its done it twice now, will need to keep an eye on this

raytaylor

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#1857463 3-Sep-2017 09:11

I think jaycar sells metal enclosures where the metal shell is about 1-2mm thick.

If you put the mppt controller inside one, a few metres away from the DSL modem, it might help with the RF leakage.

Ray Taylor

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freakngeek

356 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1857539 3-Sep-2017 12:10

Solar panel with smaller MPPT controller tec-screwed in bottom right corner of frame, looking back towards roadside pillar
Solar panel adjusted into summer (lower angle) mode.

Looking into battery box with just the battery, 12-24DC-DC converter and POE injector and DV130 remaining in the box

Not a single error of any kind thus far.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1858601 5-Sep-2017 00:27

Interesting that you confirmed that it definitely was your MPPT controller. As Im now in the process of setting up my solar PV system. So far it is a single 270W panel feeding a 100AH battery that runs my router, ONT etc. Haven't yet added an MPPT controller yet. Panel is directly feeding the battery, with a super simple shunt regulator circuit to cap the battery voltage to 14.3V (panel is a 35V panel that is normally used in grid connect systems)

Now planning to upgrade the battery storage to a 48V system. And add more panels and loads. And I will definitely check my MPPT controllers and other controllers for noise emissions.

freakngeek

356 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1858613 5-Sep-2017 06:09

I still use a MPPT controller but now have it mounted on the Solar panel frame which is about 8m away from the battery and Modem etc
This seems to work.
MPPT controller seems to inject RFI noise into Line before modem.

ddDLM decided to kick in after I sorted out the issues, and raised the DS SNR to 12db (from 6db)
I'll have to no doubt hang on for about a month before it brings it back again
But other than that all is good

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