Internet will not stay connected

can ypu explain me is it the only power light is on no other light is ON. not even LAN light.

First thing I'd suspect is an intermittent cable short. These modems have built-in circuit breakers that shut down the modem in the event the shielding layer shorts across the center conductor. This is commonly as a result of  a poorly installed connector, this issue can be intermittent - influenced by wind/gravity/moisture/vibration/et cetera. When the short condition corrects itself, the modem will restart. The restart sequence has one stage where the Power LED is the only one illuminated. The LAN LED is typically next, followed by RX - TX - SYSTEM in that order.

//greg//

Quote:
Seem to be ok isn't meaningful from the standpoint of a cable short. Only continuity testing can confirm/deny same. Because the design of that internal safety switch is such that - when the short condition is corrected - the modem powers back up automatically. Hence, the possibility of an INTERMITTENT short.

Having said that, are you positive that the modem is ACTUALLY shutting itself off? or is it perhaps just RESTARTING itself? Because there is a brief period during the restart sequence where all five LEDs temporarily extinguish.

Remove the cables altogether. Open a browser and go to https://192.168.0.1/fs/advanced/advanced.html and look at the left hand column. Click LOGS, then click RESET LOGS. Tell us what you see there.

//greg//

Well, your own words stated the modem "shuts itself off". But I won't dwell there. So. If you've completely ruled out cable fault, I was next going to suggest intermittent RFI. But let's pursue the VxWorks fault first.

It's possible that the modem's software could have become corrupt. Most self-hosted Hughes modems store up to two previous versions for just this reason. If in fact it's a software issue, the usual fix is to roll back to a previous version (that includes another VxWorks). Once reconnected, the NOC will detect an out of date version and re-transmit the current software over the satellite.

But it's your provider that should be responsible for directing you to launch the rollback command. If that doesn't work, the next typical step is to physically replace the modem. In the mean time, you should consider RFI as well. If at Ku-band, it would be in the 12-14GHz range. If at L-band, it would be in the 900-1500 MHz range.

//greg//

heres some updates and to help maybe.
i did exactly as you both said and unplugged the cables and looked at the logs.  no errors for about 15 minutes.  i then hooked up the cables and ran the internet (as i was the only one connected to the modem) fine for 30 minutes.  Plugged the switch board back in and within a the next 15 or so minutes got these two reset reasons.

ime of Reset :      SAT AUG 30 20:54:02 2008 [GMT]
Asserted at :      
Reset Type :      Software Reset
Reset Reason :      Reset due to Unexpected VxWorks Exception

Time of Reset :      SAT AUG 30 20:48:02 2008 [GMT]
Asserted at :      
Reset Type :      Hardware Reset
Reset Reason :      Reset due to SysAD bus exception

both of them happened at different times.  Both of these error happen during the on/off intermittent operation.  The vx works happening more often of the two. 

My buddy and i go up to the dish and try playing with the signal.  start of it the horizon meter shows signal of 214, and 99%.  the signal strength on the computer showing 90-91.  After we moved it ever so much and working for 30-45 more minutes. we got it to 215 and still 99%.  more of a steady 91 on the computer.  We hooked everything back up and called it a day.  well last reset was at 2054, and we have been running internet all day.  not saying much as most of the guys has gone to sleep already so no one has used the internet.  we cant get the transmit signal out of 1/2.  maybe some of this will help.  will repost if modem continues with resets.

Matt

actually the Rx and Tx stay locked during these operations.  The Tcp acceleration status changes from operational to impaired or not operational.  one of those 2 will occur.  Also the web acceleration status will change to in active or not operational. 

---------------Last ACP Validate/Revalidate Statistics--------------

Last Validate Timestamp.....                                 Last Revalidate Timestamp....
Last Validate Isolation..... 0                               Last Revalidate Isolation... 0
Last Validate SQF........... 0                               Last Revalidate SQF......... 0

currently the internet is back to intermittent operation.  which is confusing alot of people.  hope the information i provided is what you were asking for

The zeros are not unusual in the case of a modem that's constantly restarting (many statistics are cleared during restarts). I realize that security reasons may preclude you actually telling us WHERE you're located, but there's a chance that your POL angle is out of spec. And accurate POL angle is the mechanical basis for usable ACP, TX isolation, ranging, network timing.....you get the picture. Unfortunately, the only way for me to calculate your POL angle, is to know where you're at.

//greg//

You can use this satellite dish aiming calculator for Iraq

The various calculators assume the polarisation as it leaves the satellite is either parallel with the equator (called horizontal) or parallel with the earth's axis (called vertical).

The above is true for virtually all satellites except Astra and Eutelsat.  I believe that Astra is tipped +7 deg clockwise and Eutelsat +3.5 deg clockwise.   This was done when these companies started up with view of keeping the polarisation as near to parallel and at right angles to the ground in the middle of the beam coverage area.   This gives a slight improvement in reducing cross-pol interference during rain.  Anyway that is all history now and the beams go all over the place but it is difficult to implement a system wide polarisation change once there are many fixed dishes installed.

If calculated result = +40.5 then  +40.5 + 3.5 = +44

In all cases fine adjustment is recommended once pointed at the satellite, with assistance from the hub in the case of transmit antennas.   This copes with the Astra/Eutelsat problem but also deals with the polarisation angle differing slightly from the calcualted angle.

Best regards, Eric.

Read the opening post again please. I interpret Matt's response to your subsequent question to mean that only the Power LED is on when it restarts. This is normal. After that, the LAN LED comes on, then the RX, then the TX, then the System.

The opening post also suggest that this system works/worked part time,  which further suggests that the LAN is in fact detected. And FWIW, the HN modems have self-sensing LAN ports  - as do presumably the HX modems. So it doesn't matter if they use a regular Ethernet cable or a crossover.

But Matt - if either of us is misreading your posts - straighten us out.

//greg//

Thanks Greg and Eric

I was trying to resolve step by step from scratch. any way i don't want puzzle any more, talking too many people can disturb or confuse the person @ ground. so i quit.

Thanks

Well sorry for the long wait on replies from myself.  A little update.  i have a signal strength of 92.  the internet has been working for about a week and then it will go into the same problem were it resets every 6 minutes.  this lasts about 2 days or a little more then goes back to working normal.  reset logs still state  reset due to Vx works exception.  Another reset is due to sys AD bus exception.  this has started again yesterday after working for a week.  the last time it happened was large storms in England and we thought maybe that was the reason.  there is an FM antenna in close proximity, but this antenna has been here next to the dish the entire time the internet worked.  This system worked for about 6 to 7 months before it started this.

James i will be contacting you as soon as i can directly.  thankyou for your support.

Chief, are you over there on the "Dark Side"?  I'm here at Kirkuk, and am willing to help out or take a look at your system.  Sometimes another set of eyes can help out.

Jay

As an update we are still having this problem.  we have tried everything we could think of.  We tried to set the dish to the settings it said and was getting no signal at all.  We are in kirkuk. 

Our setting is:  elevation 45-50 degrees, magnetic azimuth 220-225 degrees, pol is 40-41 degrees

Factory settings are: elevation 33.1 degrees, magnetic azimuth 228 degrees. and pol of 43.5 degrees

Any ideas now  we have a signal strength of 92 and still lose internet connections with a vx works error and a sys adbus error.

Matt

Chief,
Sorry I haven't gotten over there yet, it's been busy here.  Let me know if you want me to come over and take a look.  I've been thinking about this a little.  If you're at the MEDEVAC, what kind of power do you have?  Is it the same as the rest of the base, or are you on generators?  What if you tried to use a UPS to see if that fixes it?

Out