Equipment Support > Hardware By Brand > Motorola > sb5120 testing?

reply to jctoad

Re: sb5120 testing?

Ebay

Ok, because I've seen too many disappointing endings for people when buying modems off of Ebay. A portion of auctioned modems are stolen, hacked or not working properly.

True it does happen. I bought a used sb6120 on ebay this week and it works perfectly. I wasn't from the same seller though. The person that I got this problem modem from was not a "modem dealer". She had mostly used clothes and baby items for sale which seemed like actual personal items. The description said "It works great and never gave me any headache."

It does suck to get a hosed modem. Will she take it back?

At first I thought the modem was going to work fine, so I left + feedback. I have not contacted her about it yet. I really don't want to return the modem since all she could do is refund my money as I doubt she has a warehouse full of them. The Condition section on the listing was selected as Used. "An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended." It might work just fine on usb (which I plan to try later) however, usb won't work for this application as it needs to be connected to LAN to a router.
I have been searching for another 5120, but I haven't found any deals good enough for me yet. I like trying to figure things out and this one seems to be a good mystery. I figured that someone here would have an answer. There's been 85 visitors looking at this thread but you're the only one to post about it.
If I decide that it's totally broken and she doesn't want to refund me, I can take it to ebay because the item is not a described and they would refund the money. This thread is my documentation of what was tried and when.
It was only $15.49, which included the shipping, so is it worth making that big of a deal over? I just want to get a working modem that I can give to my friend so she can stop paying Charter the $7/month rental fee.

For that price I wouldn't care.
As for finding another SB5120; expand your search to include the SB5101. It's actually a newer model than the SB5120 & is a solid performer.

sb5101 is newer? Go figure. Thanks.
I checked the LAN jack on the modem to make sure all the contact wires were in proper condition. If you have a broken or miss aligned wire, it will give the problem that I was seeing. (Media disconnected so no ip address and no page can be seen.) Unfortunately, everything in there looked fine. Still could be a bad solder joint or something.
I installed the usb drivers and I have good news and bad news.
Good is that I was able to access the internal page via the usb.
Bad is that after I reset the modem to factory defaults, the LAN still doesn't work. :(
Here's some of the info I got from the modem. It pretty much seemed typical to me. Seems like you always find some error or another in the log files especially when the modem isn't registered. The modem is connected to the cable but the MAC isn't registered so of course there's no web surfing going on. But the modem shows that it's online and communicating with Comcast with good signal level. I think copied the ipconfig before I connected the coax to the modem.

Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:
        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.100.2
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Software Version: SB5120-2.19.0.10-SCM01-NOSH
Hardware Version: 4
MIB Version: II
GUI Version: 1.0
VxWorks Version: 5.4

Item Value
Serial Number 		155003613905236507070000
HFC MAC Address 	XXXXXXXXXXX
Ethernet IP Address 	192.168.100.1
Ethernet MAC Address 	XXXXXXX
CM USB IP Address 	192.168.100.1
CM USB MAC Address 	XXXXXX
CPE USB MAC Address 	XXXXXXX
# 	Known CPE MAC Address (Max 1) 	Status
1 	00 17 ee 95 1f 37 			Dynamic

2011-12-17 22:09:35 	4-Error  	IGMP: ERROR - Group address 0.0.0.1 is not a legal multicas  t
2011-12-17 22:09:34 	4-Error  	DIST: Management Message with unidentified Version->4 - Dis  card message
2011-12-17 22:09:14 	7-Information  	SNMP: Working in SNMP V1/2c Only NmAccess mode
2011-12-17 22:09:12 	4-Error  	DIST: Management Message with unidentified Version->4 - Dis  card message
2011-12-17 22:09:12 	7-Information  	INITIALIZATION COMPLETE - MODEM IS OPERATIONAL
2011-12-17 22:09:12 	7-Information  	SEC: Co-Signer CVC from configuration file was verifi  ed
2011-12-17 22:09:11 	7-Information 	B401.0 Authorized
2011-12-17 22:09:11 	7-Information  	REGISTRATION COMPLETE - Waiting for Operational statu  s
2011-12-17 22:09:11 	7-Information  	REG: Capability type  isn't supported by CMTS
2011-12-17 22:09:11 	7-Information  	Registration file - downloaded
2011-12-17 22:09:10 	4-Error  DIST: 	Management Message with unidentified Version->4 - Dis  card message
2011-12-17 22:09:10 	7-Information  	Trying to download Configuration file ...
2011-12-17 22:09:10 	7-Information  	Time of day - retrieved
1970-01-01 00:30:46 	7-Information  	DHCP - parameters acquired
1970-01-01 00:30:46 	7-Information  	DHCP: ACK: Setting (*) CM TFTP Boot file: d11_walledg  arden.cm
1970-01-01 00:30:46 	7-Information  	DHCP: Setting CM IP address to: 96.146.201.13
1970-01-01 00:30:45 	4-Error  	DIST: Management Message with unidentified Version->4 - Dis  card message
1970-01-01 00:30:42 	7-Information  	DHCP: Setting (*) CM Syslog Server address to: 0.0.0.  0
1970-01-01 00:30:42 	7-Information  	DHCP: Setting (*) CM Time Server address to: 68.87.77  .17
1970-01-01 00:30:42 	7-Information  	DHCP: Setting (*) CM Subnet mask to: 255.255.252.0

reply to Johkal
I remember why I didn't bother looking at the sb5101. Charter has SB5100E and SB5101E on their blacklist. They are not on Comcast's list, but Charter is the final destination of the modem. I know there's the U model that works fine, but I figured that with my luck, someone would send me an E model either by accident or on purpose. None of the 5120 were on the blacklist.

reply to jctoad
SB5120-2.19.0.10-SCM01-NOSH is an older version, but not problematic.
You can fiddle with it for as long as you want to experiment, but I say the modem is hosed at least for using the ethernet port.

Another note: Check Charter's list for the Linksys BEFCMU10 v4 modem. This modem is a strong performer. (Make sure it is the "v4")
--
In God we trust; all others bring data!

Linksys BEFCMU10 v4 is also on their blacklist »www.myaccount.charter.com/custom···eid=2623
I think their rule is "If it's good, don't let them use it."

With sb5101 that are for sale, some say U and some say nothing. Some have the number 515290-087-00 with them. I can't figure out if that is just the long version of the model # or if it also has something to do with the version?

The original SB5101 models had no letters on the end. The newer models are the "U" & "N". The only difference between those 2 newer models is that the "U" has the additional USB port.

Forgot to mention: The "E" version is "Euro" which is non-compliant. So according to the list, the SB5101 is compliant.

I don't know why Charter doesn't like the E version. I was comparing the specs and the only thing I see different between the E and the N/U version is that:
the downstream max data rate is 51mbs with 8mhz bandwidth on the "E"
the downstream max data rate is 61mbs with 6mhz bandwidth on the "N/U"
Ah, now I see your explanation of the E version. The bandwidth is the difference between Euro and US standards.
Was there any real differences between the original and the N/U version? I searched around but I can't find anything about that.

The only differences with the older SB5101s, would be the presence of a standby button, different chipset & different pwr supply.

You are a walking encyclopedia of modems
I feel comfortable considering a sb5101 now.

LOL!

I have quite a few modems; the SB5101 being 1 of them. I often buy certain modems for informal testing. My SB5101 performed with not 1 hiccup during its time in service.

I've had pretty good luck with the Motorolas. My parents had a sb4200 for about 10 or 11 years. Then came the letter from Comcast that they wanted to send a new modem. Their service is for 12mbs but still had the docsis 1 modem. I really didn't want to change as I didn't feel the speed was worth the trouble and the 4200 never causes problems. Comcast didn't want the sb4200 back and the rental was now like $7/month which makes that 4200 cost more than $500 over the years. So I figured that now was the time to buy a modem. That was the sb6120 that I got on ebay.
I did 9 days of speed tests with the 4200 and was getting about 4.5mbs down. I put the 6120 online two days ago. It kicked it up to about 6.1mbs. The tests were all done to the local Comcast server. Tests to servers outside are in the 3-4mbs range. So was it worth it for the extra speed? Not really. But I got the modem for $56.17 including shipping »www.ebay.com/itm/190612289244 so if it lasts 8 months, I'm ahead of the game money wise.
I figure I will keep the 4200 in case the new modem dies. I could try to get Comcast to put it back online (the 4200 is on their blacklist). It would give me time to look for a new modem without having to spend top dollar at some local retail store.

As I understand, any Motorola 4xxx series modems that are removed from an account would have a slim to none possibly of being re-provisioned on Comcast's network.