[TelstraClear] Motorola SB4xxx/5xxx firmware

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KellyP

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#16471 11-Oct-2007 14:25

How come TCL isn't updating their cable modems to the latest firmware? I did some research and the firmware that are on the modems currently is years old - At least on mine its SB4100-0.4.4.3-SCM01-NOSH which is basically stock.

Telstra in Australia uses the same modems and they update the firmware as soon as it's released.

sbiddle

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#90658 11-Oct-2007 14:57

What does this firmware do that the existing firmware doesn't? If there aren't any issues at present then TCL probably don't want to go down the path of causing any. This because something is newer doesn't mean it's better - look at many other upgrades to firmware and software that typically break more things than they fix!

chiefie

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#90664 11-Oct-2007 15:47

Exactly what I was thinking too earlier... why break something that ain't broken. In this particular case, maybe the modem firmware is the most open version that it doesn't filter or alter the state of the packets, straight passthrough to ensure the data are in and out transparently.

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rscole86

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#90665 11-Oct-2007 15:58

James Bond: How come TCL isn't updating their cable modems to the latest firmware? I did some research and the firmware that are on the modems currently is years old - At least on mine its SB4100-0.4.4.3-SCM01-NOSH which is basically stock.

Telstra in Australia uses the same modems and they update the firmware as soon as it's released.

I would be asking why are you using a SB4100, most people are now using the SB5100

KellyP

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#90666 11-Oct-2007 16:00

rscole86:
James Bond: How come TCL isn't updating their cable modems to the latest firmware? I did some research and the firmware that are on the modems currently is years old - At least on mine its SB4100-0.4.4.3-SCM01-NOSH which is basically stock.

Telstra in Australia uses the same modems and they update the firmware as soon as it's released.

I would be asking why are you using a SB4100, most people are now using the SB5100

So I can just ring them and ask for a 5100?

They gave me the SB4100 in 2003 when I first signed up for the cable service.

doppleganger

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#90853 12-Oct-2007 17:09

James Bond: How come TCL isn't updating their cable modems to the latest firmware? I did some research and the firmware that are on the modems currently is years old - At least on mine its SB4100-0.4.4.3-SCM01-NOSH which is basically stock.

Telstra in Australia uses the same modems and they update the firmware as soon as it's released.

cable modems running docsis 1.1 firmware can only be upgraded by a docsis 1.1 provisioning system, which until recently TCL didn't have. This is also true for moving from docsis 1.0 firmware, which your 4100 is currently running, to docsis1.1 firmware. The latest firmware from motorola is all docsis 1.1. As well as that the modems need to be getting docsis 1.1 configs to upgrade and the TCL cable network is currently run in docsis 1.0 only mode.

I have it on good authority that the TCL chaps are running around like mad things at the moment getting the network up to scratch to go to docsis 2.0 and the modems will be upgraded shortly after they've done that.

And yes, if you ring TCL they'll happily swap out the 4100 you have for a 5100/5101

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