What to look at on a system it won't work right

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

The easiest way is to host your screenshots on a free photo site (Photobucket, Google, Flickr, etc.), then just post the URLs here.

If you can do that, it would be best so experts here can advise you further.

You'll be looking for noise on the line, possible bridge tap(s), too many uncorrected blocks/retrains, distance from the VRAD, your profile, number of streams, etc.

Post screenshots of these tabs:
IP/Profile
Error Table
Bitloading
Coax/HPNA
Channels/Streams

[mike2636]

Really like RT!! My neighbor and I have used it extensively troubleshooting ham radio issues on 160m. Watching the RG make notches at various frequencies is pretty neat!! I have a new 3801 RG which solved the ham radio issues. ATT has been pretty good (for a mamouth companny) on the support side.

My question is this:  I'm running RT on XPSP3 in a Virtual Box on Mac OSX. It works well except....I can't seem to get the channels/streams to show up. Perhaps it is due to the virtual adapter?

VB automatically uses the AMD PCNET Family Ethernet Adapter

All network connectivity seems to work fine. I turned of the windoz firewall. I tried the other various adapter modes

(Bridged adapter, internal network and host only) but no luck.  The "real" hardware is a Broadcom 5764 on the Mac.

The VB  choices are:

• AMD PCNet PCI II (Am79C970A);

• AMD PCNet FAST III (Am79C973, the default);

• Intel PRO/1000 MT Desktop (82540OEM);

• Intel PRO/1000 T Server (82543GC);

• Intel PRO/1000 MT Server (82545EM);

• Paravirtualized network adapter (virtio-net).

Is this the problem? Or, do I need to look somewhere else?

Thanx,

Mike

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

Try the Intel Pro/1000 MT Desktop adapter, and make sure Virtual Box is connecting it in bridge mode (not internal or host mode).

For this to work, Virtual Box must support emulation of the Intel Pro/1000 MT in promiscuous mode.  I do not know for sure if it does or not.

Also, in UVRT, make sure in the configuration tab that the Intel Pro/1000 MT network adapter is the one selected to collect channel information on.  It's llikely the virtual Windows machine has more than one network adapter in it to facilitate communication with other Virtual Box virtual networks, and if one of those network adapters is selected, there isn't any traffic to analyze.

Glad that the 3801HGV has solved the 160 m HAM issues.  Be aware though, that the 3801HGV tends to mask interference on the bitloading graph.  In other words, there's probably still notches present when your HAM set is transmitting, but the 3801HGV tends to not show that on the bitloading.  The 3801HGV probably handles the interference a lot better though, since it over-allocates bits on the line (i.e. it kind of creates an "immediate bit reserve" that can be instantly used when interference occurs).

[mike2636]

Thanx for the reply. I actually got it working with the virtual AMD adapter/driver whatever It seems that I neglected to wait the five minutes for the refresh. I will pass along your comment about masking notches. My neighbor and I both had new lines run from the pole and new 3801 RG's. The ethernet side of mine failed and had to be replaced a few weeks after the install. The 3801 handles RFI a LOT better! My neighbor used to be able to crash the 3800 with as little as 100 watts. He has transmitted at full legal limit (1.5 Kw) and the 3801 reacted and reallocated bandwidth in a very impressive fashion. Is there a way to unmask the notches? On a somewhat related note..... why do the prem techs prefer to use coax to the STB(s)? Can I switch to CAT 5 or 6 to take advantage of the stream analyzer? I'm guessing I will need a switch for distribution instead of the cheap coax distribution box. Thanx for your help.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

No way to unmask any interference on the 3801 ... the masking is due to it's firmware and the way it reports the bitloading.

Prem techs prefer to use coax simply because that wiring is already installed in most houses, whereas most houses do not have Cat5e going everywhere.

You can use the stream analyzer with coax connections or Ethernet connections.  The connection diagrams required to use it for either one are on pages 20-22 of the ReadMe file (Start -> Programs -> U-Verse Realtime -> ReadMe).

[dhascall ACE - Professor]

UVRT Issues: Can no longer connect to 2Wire Router and UVRT sw takes forever to load.

As most of you know, I have had loads of interference and link retrains.  I have used the daylights out of U-Verse Realtime. 

Sometime this morning, U-Verse Realtime started:

1. Taking forever to load (2 minutes?) and it never looks complete

2.  It started saying "unable to connect to 2Wire Router" or "Attempting to Connect."

3. Frequently becomes unresponsive

4. Features like "Save Screenshot" do no work

5. The tabs either do not do anything or the program takes like 45 seconds to unhide from the background although in the task bar it appears that UVRT is the active program

6. Other than the tabs, the body part of the software is blank.

I tried to use print screen to capture the UVRT oddity but that didn't work either.

It does have automatic checked and the standard UV IP address 192.168.1.254 in the box.

I did uninstall and reinstall (actually upgraded to 1.7.0.0.

I did RT*M too.

Any helkp would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks.

Dave

[dhascall ACE - Professor]

A screenshot showing the funny looking UVRT:

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

I can't see your picture yet, but I have seen this happen when the RG is extremely unresponsive for whatever reason.  Normally UVRT requests information from the RG on a background thread so that the user interface does not freeze like this, except when the program first starts up.  Initially, a request is made to the RG that is not on a background thread that retrieves what RG model and firmware version UVRT is talking to.  If the RG isn't responding to that request, the user interface will freeze up as you describe.

Close UVRT, open a web browser, and attempt to load:

http://192.168.1.254/xslt?PAGE=C_0_0

If you can't get that page to load, that is the problem.

[dhascall ACE - Professor]

Will give that a try tonight.  I noticed this behavior after a tech visit.  

If that is the case, what does it mean?  Does the RG need to be replaced or ???.  I know that I'm putting the cart before the horse by asking questions beforehand.....  

EDIT: Would a reboot of thge RG possibly fix this?  Of course, if I were home, I would know if it did. 

Thanks.

[dhascall ACE - Professor]

---

SomeJoe7777 wrote:

I can't see your picture yet, but I have seen this happen when the RG is extremely unresponsive for whatever reason.  Normally UVRT requests information from the RG on a background thread so that the user interface does not freeze like this, except when the program first starts up.  Initially, a request is made to the RG that is not on a background thread that retrieves what RG model and firmware version UVRT is talking to.  If the RG isn't responding to that request, the user interface will freeze up as you describe.

Close UVRT, open a web browser, and attempt to load:

http://192.168.1.254/xslt?PAGE=C_0_0

If you can't get that page to load, that is the problem.

---

Yep that timed out.  I can't reboot the RG tonight but not sure if that would fix it.

Thanks!

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

UVRT 1.8.0.0 is getting close to release.  I have had to switch to a different installer program to work around some technical issues and that has added a lot of time.

Here's a preview of the new usage tab (premium version):

[RCSMG ACE - Master]

Very nice SJ, lots of people will love this.

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

Looks nice!  Premium version will be for-fee; more features?

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

---

spd2demun wrote:

Looks nice!  Premium version will be for-fee; more features?

---

 Correct.  Baseline features for the Usage meter (included in the free product) will include:

• Tracking of total uploaded and downloaded data using one of the interfaces on the 2Wire router.
• Real-time display of uploaded, downloaded, and total data updated every 5 minutes, accuracy to 0.1 GB.
• Bar meter of total data, color-coded for threshholds of 60%, 90%, and 100%.
• Ability to see total data use in the past 30 days, or see total data from any given date until today.
• Show total data using SI units (10^x, where 1GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes), or using Binary units (2^x, where 1GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes).

Premium Usage Meter includes all of that and also adds:

• Graphical time-based representation of the amount of uploaded, downloaded, and total data transferred in resolutions of 5-minutes, 30-minutes, 2-hours, or 1-day.
• Ability to see the usage meter statistics (uploaded, downloaded, and total data transferred) as well as the usage graph in the UV Realtime embedded web server.
• Ability to see total data use between two arbitrary dates.
• Metering cycle mode such that the usage statistics automatically reset on a certain day of the month.
• In metering cycle mode, a bar meter of the number of days into the metering cycle is shown next to the bar meter of usage.  This allows quick at-a-glance judgment of whether your usage is on track to be under or over for the metering cycle.


Pricing for the premium meter will be posted on the UV Realtime website.

[iml3g3nd]

Is there a way to reset stats of InterFaces? I mean when counting monthly usage i can reset router VDSL line stats to 0 and count for the month but Interfaces are still accumulating into old usage from previous month. 

So i was wondering if we could reset or have a way to count interfaces usage states for a period of time only?

Another querry i have is that my total VDSL stats are much more than total of usage shown for interfaces i have. Even if i add usage of my wireless (my laptop+tv with netflix) + IPTV(Uverse connected through Ethernet port)+ Vonage (ethernet) the total of all these items is much less than what i see total for VDSL. 

Im` not much versed with these but is it normal?

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

Yes, the interface statistics can be reset, as well as the VDSL statistics.

Reset the VDSL statistics on this page at the bottom (also clears your error statistics):

http://192.168.1.254/xslt?PAGE=C_1_0

Reset interface statistics on this page at the bottom:

http://192.168.1.254/xslt?PAGE=C_2_0

It's normal for the numbers to not add up properly due to computer-to-computer communication as well as RG-initiated and RG-terminated sessions. However, if the numbers are WAY off, it usually means that at some point one of the two interface counters above has been reset but not the other.

[iml3g3nd]

When i installed UVRT last month i reset VDSL stats to count my monthly usage and i had no idea how to reset interface stats and i did not reset those. 

Here is a snapshot of my uvrt some days back 

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

UV Realtime v1.8.0.0 is released.

The program (.exe installer) may be downloaded from the UV Realtime web site.

If you have already installed v1.7.0.0 or earlier, you can install this version on top of it and it will upgrade. v1.7.0.0 will also auto-update to this new version.

UV Realtime is a standalone program for PC computers that can retrieve information from a typical residential installation of the AT&T U-Verse® IPTV/VOIP/Internet system. Some of the information displayed consists of VDSL line analysis, network interface data rates, DVR information, STB channel and stream information, and Internet usage information. This program requires that your U-Verse® Residential Gateway (the 2Wire 3800HGV-B, 3801HGV, 3600HGV, or i3812V) be running firmware version 6.1.9.24 (3600HGV/3800HGV-B) or 6.3.1.47 or higher (3801HGV/i3812V) only. Previous versions will not work with this program.

Fixes and New Features

• Fix Egress stream count (not yet updated for Phase 3 of THDVR)
• Fix flash/flicker of ListPanel controls when values are updated
• Fix crash when quitting program immediately after startup (graceful shut down of auto-update threads)
• Fix Line1/Line2/Aggregate indicator text label anchors on bitloading graph
• Fix iNID interface meter and graphic
• Fix one cause of program crash when unable to send IP multicast group join packet
• Fix no spacing with "Days" label in Error Table Last Event column
• Fix IP Geolocation due to change in API for www.infosniper.net
• Fix several misc items related to properly clearing the display when the 2Wire router is disconnected.
• Apply certain optimizations to embedded web server for better performance
• Change channel submission to only submit channels with a declared channel number
• Change form style to non-resizable
• Change thresholds for highlighting noise margin to <=12.0 dB
• Change self-extractor to WinZip SE to avoid problems with some anti-virus programs
• Change program name to UV Realtime on web site, documentation, program
• Change program web site to http://www.uvrealtime.com
• Change copyright dates to 2010-2011 on web site, documentation, and several other locations
• Change About tab to reorganize, move libraries and other software licensing to its own separate window
• Change UV Realtime licensing specifics - license is now full EULA, proprietary closed-source license
• Change to .Net Framework 4.0
• Upgrade to WinPcap 4.1.2
• Upgrade to PCap.Net 0.8
• Change installer from Visual Studio built-in Installer to WiX Installer to handle prerequisites
• Add manual removal instructions to documentation
• Add run on Mac using VM to system requirements on web site and in documentation
• Add premium feature product activation mechanism
• Add premium feature: Internet Usage Calculator
• Get periodic data totals, log to RRDtool
• Show total data for intervals: 5 min, 30 min, 2 hours, 1 day
• Add usage counter info to web server
• Graphs in windows form and in web server
• Add .Net code obfuscation/protection

A few additional notes regarding this version:

• Most of your personal settings will be lost upon upgrade to this version due to program name change (STB names will be retained)
• If you are still running 1.6.0.0, it will not auto-update to 1.8.0.0. Either manually install 1.8.0.0 or allow auto-update to 1.7.0.0, then auto-update to 1.8.0.0
• Make SURE to review network connection diagrams on page 21 of the Main Documentation -- "Architecting your Network for the Usage Meter" if you plan to use the usage meter. If you don't connect the network as shown in one of the examples, the usage meter is not accurate.

As always, please post here with any comments or bugs.

[RCSMG ACE - Master]

Very nice SJ, I downloaded it and installed it.  Looks great.  After the eval period is over I am planning to get the Lifetime plan.

Does the computer have to be physically connected to the RG to see information on the Stream Analyzer?  The display screen says "No streams detected".

[mike2636]

Tried to install 1.8.0.0 and got an error complaining that I needed a newer version of the Windows installer service. I am running XP sp3. What do I need to upgrade?

[mike2636]

I figgered it out. Windows Update actually got it right, that's weird!

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

Yes, I noted this last night.  The UV Realtime installer itself only requires Windows Installer 3.1 (which everyone has, it was included all the way back in Windows XP SP1).  But, the bootstrapper installer from Microsoft which installs Visual C++ 10.0 runtime requires Windows Installer 4.5, which is only included in Windows 7, and optional for XP & Vista.

If you need to install Windows Installer 4.5, go here:

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=8483

Make sure you download the correct version!  There are versions there for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Vista/Server 2008.

I will probably release a bug-fix installation at some point which will up the bootstrapper installer to 4.5 which will allow the installer to install it for you rather than requiring a separate download.

[jwe4400]

Yesterday UV REaltime wanted to update the application to 1.8.0.  I let it and it has not worked since.  I have un-installed everything and re-installed (several times).  It always crashed at the same place.  The splash screen comes up and then a second dialog displays the release notes and has a "Close"  button.  As soon as the "Close" button is clicked the application crashes.  There are two error entries in the Windows application logs:

Error 1:

Application: UV Realtime.exe

Framework Version: v4.0.30319

Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.

Exception Info: System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception

Stack:

at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithCreateProcess(System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo)

at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()

at DynamicClass.(System.Object)

at
..
(System.Object)

at _UVRealtime.Utility+RunCmdOnOwnThread.DoTask()

at DynamicClass.(System.Object)

at
.

.
(System.Object)

at _UVRealtime.Utility+ThreadWrapperBase.
()

at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart_Context(System.Object)

at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.runTryCode(System.Object)

at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.RuntimeHelpers.ExecuteCodeWithGuaranteedCleanup(TryCode, CleanupCode, System.Object)

at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)

at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)

at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)

at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart()

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Error 2:

Faulting application name: UV Realtime.exe, version: 1.8.0.0, time stamp: 0x4deead67

Faulting module name: KERNELBASE.dll, version: 6.1.7601.17514, time stamp: 0x4ce7b8f0

Exception code: 0xe0434352

Fault offset: 0x0000b760

Faulting process id: 0x1cec

Faulting application start time: 0x01cc2867258cc6dc

Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\UV Realtime\UV Realtime.exe

Faulting module path: C:\Windows\system32\KERNELBASE.dll

Report Id: 66c37fca-945a-11e0-829a-0013a9ff9898

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

Can you verify that RRDtool got properly installed? Please look in C:\Program Files\RRDtoo\ and see if rrdtool.exe is there.

To verify that RRDtool is working properly, please open a command window (Start -> Run -> cmd), and type in the following commands:

c:
cd \
cd "Program Files"
cd "RRDtool"
rrdtool.exe

Make sure that results in the text/header of RRDtool displaying properly in the command window and that you don't get any error.

[jwe4400]

It would seem so...

C:\Program Files\RRDtool>rrdtool
RRDtool 1.4.3  Copyright 1997-2010 by Tobias Oetiker <tobi@oetiker.ch>
               Compiled Jun  5 2011 02:06:25

Usage: rrdtool [options] command command_options
Valid commands: create, update, updatev, graph, graphv,  dump, restore,
                last, lastupdate, first, info, fetch, tune,
                resize, xport, flushcached

RRDtool is distributed under the Terms of the GNU General
Public License Version 2. (www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html)

For more information read the RRD manpages

[ausgewandert]

I can't get the usage meter to work either. No problems with installation of UV Realtime. It installs perfectly, no errors. I can activate the usage meter but when I go into the usage panel everything is 0 and nothing is moving. I rebooted, checked the rrdtool installation folder, ran the program with command options and it runs fine, although it is not listed as running under processes in task manager....I started UV Realtime with Admin rights, same problem.

probably missing something simple and essential?

windows 7/64 bit, Uverse - Ohio

g.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

jwe4400,

OK, try running UV Realtime as the Administrator:

Go to C:\Program Files\UV Realtime\

Right-click on UV Realtime.exe and select "Run As Administrator".

See if this works. If so, it means we have a permissions problem somewhere.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

ausgewandert,

The usage meter may take 30-45 minutes to show data in the numbers and the graph the first time you start it. This is due to the way RRDtool summarizes the data.

Please configure it and leave it running for an hour and see if the numbers begin to show up.

[ausgewandert]

thanks for the quick response. will do that and let you know if successfull. thank you

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

Looks really nice, SJ!  I, for one, really appreciate your hard work on this (and am doing your Premium trial now).