Cable Modems
- Thread starter Xymox
- Start date
I was running wifi all along and recently changed to wired connection to great effect. Removing the wifi card from the streamer/NUC gave a great boost to SQ. I don't use Tidal/Quboz, hence nothing streamed from internet but I do stream from a NAS.
My network is as follows
Cable ---> Arris SB6121 ---> Netgear Orbi Wifi Router ---> Edgerouter X SFP ----- fiber ----> eR (B) ---> Streamer
The NAS is connected to one of the A side port of eR (difficult to draw here).
The Arris/Orbi/Edgerouter is in a different room and there are couple of other network devices (like a Vonage router, a media server) connected to the Edgerouter. I run a long fiber connection to the audio room connected to the fiber port A side of eR. (I also have a Sotm sNH-10G loaned from a friend that I am playing with)
As you can see the audio path for the local streaming is all copper and isolated from the rest of the wifi network but I am not sure if its the optimal. I have ordered the SB8200 to replace the SB6121 to see if it further improves SQ - note, both 6121 and 8200 are BCM based but 8200 is DOCSIS 3.1 compliant. If the 8200 still makes an impact, it will be welcomed but I will have no idea why
I used to have a similar configuration to yours, and, upon taking the advice of @nenon, realized a decent improvement in sound quality.
I was going :
Arris SB8200 --> Orbi Router --> Edgerouter EX SFP (Layer 2 switch) --> etherRegen (A side).
I switched to:
A. Arris SB8200 --> Edgerouter EX SFP (WAN+2LAN2)--> etherRegen (A side)
B. Arris SB8200 --> Edgerouter EX SFP (WAN+2LAN2)--> fiber --> Startech FMC --> Orbi Router --> Rest of home devices.
The fiber in this case isolates the Edgerouter from home device noise
I think he connects the Arris SB8200 output to the Edge router. Port A on the router is then connected to etherRegen. Port B also on the router is connected via fiber to Orbi router which provides gateway to the home devices.
Unless I'm wrong and he's using two Edge routers, which sounds overkill and redundant but it isn't because IMHO the boost in SQ is likely to be even more.
As my current layout is similar to the first assumption, I may buy another router and deploy the second layout, hoping for further SQ improvement.
Unless I'm wrong and he's using two Edge routers, which sounds overkill and redundant but it isn't because IMHO the boost in SQ is likely to be even more.
As my current layout is similar to the first assumption, I may buy another router and deploy the second layout, hoping for further SQ improvement.
I'm using just one Edgerouter. You are right about the other points.
Have people found any benefit to using a cable TV ground loop isolator (something like the Jensen VRD-1FF) in front of their cable modem hookup if they are not experiencing any ground loop symptoms? I know that folks that have cable boxes hooked up to their TV often have ground loop issues, but have not seen any discussion about isolators for those who only subscribe to cable internet service.
My only experience with the cable ground was turning off my cable modem once when I had headphones plugged in to the audio system when powered on and hearing a turn-on thump through the headphones when I turned the modem back on. Never heard any hum or buzz, etc.
My only experience with the cable ground was turning off my cable modem once when I had headphones plugged in to the audio system when powered on and hearing a turn-on thump through the headphones when I turned the modem back on. Never heard any hum or buzz, etc.
Even if the cable connection is grounded to the electrical box outside per local code?
Looks like the Jensen is just a ground loop isolator, but does not offer surge protection. I have found on Amazon and elsewhere a few in-line isolators that purport to offer surge protection from companies like TII or Holland, but I’m not sure how effective they actually are.
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Jensen - I removed it because it actually hindered my internet speed. Ping 10 ms, 350 Mbps (download) and 30 Mps (upload). By 2/3-3/4th. Drastic.
There were sonic benefits. I would reconsider if I had a dedicated audio cable internet connection. There would be a benefit in a power surge situation.
http://ep2000.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/EP-catalog-2017.pdf
I installed EP2500 on my main home circuit and a second on a sub-panel then later for different reasons I installed a wall mount Torus Power isolation transformer. This was an unintended triple redundancy. I do recommend one on your main home, especially living in the Midwest.
There were sonic benefits. I would reconsider if I had a dedicated audio cable internet connection. There would be a benefit in a power surge situation.
http://ep2000.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/EP-catalog-2017.pdf
I installed EP2500 on my main home circuit and a second on a sub-panel then later for different reasons I installed a wall mount Torus Power isolation transformer. This was an unintended triple redundancy. I do recommend one on your main home, especially living in the Midwest.
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I would like to see this repeated. Maybe I will try it. I don't seem to have any speed issues. My system never drops out.
There may be a Jensen redesign or another manufacturer that does not have this bottleneck. I have not had time to look into this further.
We went through all sorts of tests and had a technician visit-- only to discover this as the culprit. I felt sheepish.
We went through all sorts of tests and had a technician visit-- only to discover this as the culprit. I felt sheepish.
For all you tweakers out there, you might try a new firmware from DD-WRT. Not only does it improve the safety of traffic on the network, but can also over or under-clock the processor. You will be presented with a host of settings unavailable from the OEM. Gee wiz, a win win for all. Just look up your router model number and see if there is a firmware available. Best of all, it's FREE.
https://dd-wrt.com/
MAK
https://dd-wrt.com/
MAK
I just ordered a gigafoil. It will also isolate from lightning. And it isolates ground loops. The only problem with the gigafoil is you then want a Farad PS, a better power cable and a high end ethernet cable. But even stock, I have not heard 1 person say the gigafoil does not improve the quality of their digital, even stock.
How do you download to the router. I have an Asus. Have to look up my model. The firmware will end up on my computer, not the router. Where is the guide on performing the install. And if I choke, I assume my $500 router is dead?
Yes, you download the firmware to your computer and then flash the firmware to your router. Read the guide on the site. It has all the info you need to flash the firmware. If I were you, possibly buy a compatible router from the DD WRT list, and flash it to get a handle on the process if you think it may brick the 500.00 dollar unit. Heck, spend 50.00 for one, and compare with the 500.00 Asus. My hunch is there probably won't be any difference, but who knows. I am just tossing this out there after reading about the LPS, cables, chipsets, and other tweaks people make. The last thing they do is open the hood to see if the firmware may resolve some issues.
https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/index.php
Installation instructions: https://forum.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Installation
MAK
https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/index.php
Installation instructions: https://forum.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Installation
MAK
I don't have issues. My digital is very organic and natural. I have done a lot of work to get it this way. I do appreciate software. I have heard the impacts modifying software on my server through the years. It can be dramstic. As suck, I am open to tweaking my router to better the performance. I will look for.rhe guide.
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