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Level 1

9 points

Mac Pro Ethernet /Wifi Ports When Activated Slow Down Internet

Currently I changed my Time Warner Cable Modem [ to upgrade my older devices] to an accepted Motorola SB6141 Cable Modem.

I am using my Airport Extreme 802.11n (4th Gen) I had to do a Factory reset on the AE router to get it to talk nicely with the Cable Modem. See Link: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5048548?start=0&tstart=0

The CM is hooked to the WAN in on the AE through at Cat5E cable. I have a Cisco SB 100D-08 GigabitSwitch cabled to the AE.

I have this MacBook Pro (17-inch Late 2011) Cat5E connected to the GS along with a Mac mini (Mid 2010). On the Internet both of these systems seem to work Great! I use the Speed test @ http://www.speedtest.net/index.php

to judge my Ping Upload and Download speeds. They are all at the normal spec for my TW service.

Whenever I Plug in the Ethernet ports from the MP to the GS/ Turn On through Configure IPv4 Ports Using DHCP under System Pref/Network tab it takes down the entire internet connection to barely working mode. Strangly without the 2 Ethernet ports activated if I turn on the WiFi to the AE it too will take the Internet system down. I have spent the last 2.5 days struggling to bring this home network back online! Originaly I tried hooking up the MP to the CM direct and also tried just the MP hooked up to the AE from the CM and did not work either. If I tried this MBP in either of the 2 mentioned ways the MBP worked.

ANY HELP?

Thanks!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8), Using Airport Extreme base station

Posted on Aug 4, 2013 7:15 PM

21 replies

Mark Scott Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 6, 2013 10:36 AM in response to Mark Scott

Here are some screen shots from Speedtest.net before I switch the Mac Pro problem computer from the Off to the Using DHCP selection under the IPv4:Tab on the Configure Network Pane/System I did this capture at the end of the Upload Speed Test because the Green Graph below the Upload Speed of 1.05 represents the noise on the Download Speed.

This next capture is after I select Using DHCP and select Apply after 2 or 3 more test. Meaning to me that it takes my Mac Pro a few attempts to slow done the system. The Ping is still quick the Download is Very Slow at 0.75Mbps and the Green Graph below the Upload Speed of 0.04 shows those Sawtooth graph I spoke of before.

Mark Scott Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 6, 2013 10:48 AM in response to Mark Scott

Hatter,

Thanks for looking at my issue.

In regards to the Airport Extreme set-up, one of the many times when I was setting up the Motorola SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem I would Directly connect the Good 17" MacBook Pro to the Ethernet Port on the Cable Modem and take Speed Test. Next I would hook up the problem my Main Computer the Mac Pro Tower and after a few Speed Test I would get the results of above of the Internet connection slowing. Thanks for your assistance!

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Aug 6, 2013 11:15 AM in response to Mark Scott

i use the same modem, very happy with it after a year of use, but I have not had trouble with it or 2006 Mac Pro or PCs (and couple wifi devices).

But no Airport, and just R6200 Netgear wifi router.

Speedtest does not work for my ISP for one city, so they no longer allow and isn't listed. A couple of us were complaining and asking what happened on their message board (ISP, which is out of same city too)

My ISP does have great online forum - would be totally lost w/o it.

I lost one modem from a storm that it worked but at 50% and a lot of packet loss and resends and other issues. ISP could look at modem log to see and determne what was happening. I forget how to check the modem and bring up those logs pages.

I also had and still have a modem for telephone from my ISP, they put in all new coax and splitters so the modem is on its own split and anotehr splitter handles the (3) TVs and phone modem. Two modems had to be isoloated.

Oh, APC RS1500 just does not like filtering modems which is how that happened, and my tech at ISP wished it was different. So I bought SMART UPS from Cyberpower and that does not interfere, so it goes through that first, and the RJ45 out of the modem goes back through also, recommended by APC, as still can be too much for router/switch or the Mac's ethernet ports (and some people have lost or damaged enet ports). Not everyone does, I feel lost w/o internet - and no change I could tell with it. And peace of mind.

Each TV has its own UPS and coax goes through before it goes to each set (yes it woudl be nice to put UPS down in the basement where the wiring is but didn't plan ahead when they did the wiring)

Have had to have a unit out on a utility poll replaced once. Though it sounds like you are on FIOS I am not, but just having it come to our area has meant they upgraded all cable services of other companies to comete too.

DSLReports use to be the place to go for help and also to see what others were saying and test results.

Mark Scott Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 6, 2013 4:54 PM in response to Mark Scott

All is Well Now!!

I went to my cable company Time Warner Southern California today and asked them for my original Model Cable Modem the Cisco DPC2100 DOCSIS 2.0. I wanted to try and trouble shoot my current problem of my Mac Pro not working with the Motorola SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 and taking my whole Internet down to a very slow crawl.This model worked before I upgraded to the Motorola SB6141.

They did not have this model in stock but let me Rent an Ambit U10C018 DOCSIS 2.0 Cable Modem. I called Tech Support and spoke with AC and explained that I wanted to install their Ambit Modem.

After installing the Ambit Modem with my always working MacBook Pro on any of my recent configurations directly with a Ethernet Cable to the Ambit Modem I was getting a 46ms Ping, Download 16.25Mbps and Upload of 1.08Mbps.

On my problem Mac Pro I got 615ms Ping, Download 16.24Mbps and Up of 0.73Mbps. This Ping at times increased to 980ms. That seemed like a whole new issue with this temporary Ambit Modem. I was getting a decent up and down rate but the ping times where up to 20x from my speeds before.

I called Tech support again and told Ray the level 3 Tech that I wanted to disconnect the Ambit Modem and reinstall my newly purchased Motorola SB6141 Modem. I re-explained my current 5 day problems with the new modem. Ray said he had to do some updates to the system and when I finally rehooked up the problem Mac Pro Tower directly to the Motorola SB6141 Cable Modem I was getting a 42ms Ping

a 16.24Mbps Upload and a 1.08 Upload! YES I HAD A WORKING INTERNET COMPUTER AGAIN!

I reinstalled all of my previous gear, the Apple Airport Extreme, turned on WiFi, the Cisco Gigabit Switch, added the 2 Mac Minis, the 17" MBP and the Mac Pro and all works GREAT after 5 Days of PAIN!

What changed and made the Mac Pro behave with the New Motorola SB6141 Cable Modem. It was on the Cable Companies end either with an update to there system or an update to the modem.

Best of Luck to All who Venture into the Bleeding Edge of Technology!

Mark Scott Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 6, 2013 4:56 PM in response to Mark Scott

ALL IS WELL

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Aug 7, 2013 6:01 AM in response to Mark Scott

Good to hear. And yes something on their end. Lucky they did not have to come out and check but sometimes storms can knock out their lines.

I live 500-600 miles from Chicago but I get the best speedtest results out of there, low ping, high download, Comcast (which I am not).

Your modem should bond over 4-channels. I found mine worked when the oem modem RCA and even their Cisco unit would not even connect. So it seemed to be able to handle even adverse line noise and lack of good signal and power.

Mac Pro Ethernet /Wifi Ports When Activated Slow Down Internet