New Router & Target Noise Margin

[JohnSayce]

Recently due to killing my old router I now have a new black v2 router.

Previously I had changed the firmware on my old router and set the noise margin higher to keep my connection stable. I liked this rather than getting sky to cap my connection as I have quite poor phone cabling in my house that needs changing. So when I get arround to sorting it out I can lower it. As my master socket is wedged shut due to my double glazing its a project that like most diy often gets unfinished. So I want to do something similar with my new router and set the target noise margin higher.

So is setting the target noise margin possible in any way with the new router?

Also is it just as for sky to detect the a firmware change (if this is required) as it is for them to detect a different mac address?

I ask as keeping the same router and thus mac address felt fairly safe. But if sky can detect the change in firmware as easily as they can detect a different mac address I might as well just use a different router all together. As I really dont want to risk my cheap broadband connection but at the end of the day I do want it setup in a satisfactory way.

[James67]

It's pretty hard to increase your target noise margin on the new routers. In the case of the Netgear version of the new router (you can see the manufacturer's name on the label on the underside of the router - it'll either say Netgear or Sagem), it might be pretty much impossible.

But these new routers are generally far more tolerant of poor wiring than the old white router. I suggest leaving things as they are, and seeing whether you actually need to change the target noise margin - you may well find that you don't.

[JohnSayce]

I have one of the new netgear ones.

It is better. I still get connection dropouts but the router comes back up rather than falling on its ****. None the less having 5-10 drop outs every weekday from 6-11 just isnt something I'm willing to live with. I'd rather just ignore the t&cs all together and use my own router if thats the reality but I'd rather have a go at messing with my new router first.

[James67]

Not many routers offer the facility to set a target noise margin, although there's lots of utilities, alternate firmwares and stuff like that that do allow you to do this, especially with Broadcom-based routers like the DG834GT and the Sagem F@ST2504 (the other dark grey Sky router).

Really though, if the DG934G isn't holding the line during the evening, then improving the phone wiring is what you need to do. Even if you can't make it perfect or make all the changes you'd like to implement, doing what you can might be enough to get it more stable.

[Brian69]

Hi John.
Would be much better to get your wiring sorted. You are just treating the symptoms and not the disease otherwise.

[JohnSayce]

I'm fully aware of this. As I say my master socket is wedged shut by my double glazing which was installed over the top. The slim possibility of getting disconnected by sky and thus paying more for my internet connection doenst even compete with the cost and agrovation of having to remove my window to move my master socket only to put it back again. Unless of course you happen to be a philanthropic double glazing installer who travels the road helping strangers?