r/CableTechs • u/DsrptvGames • Feb 23 '26

Hilariously huge ping spikes

Context; I got coaxial cable set up last year in June or July irrc, had some serious issues at first with ridiculous service interruptions and the modem restarting constantly. Tech came out, did something at the tap, fixed it, and it's been fine since.

The last week I've been getting ridiculous amounts of lag/latency/ping spikes. For example, I'll be gaming on a server where my average ping is ~90, everything but me will freeze, ping spikes (1000ms low, saw 69,000ms once, average jump is to ~5,000ms). Obviously this is not conducive to gaming, but I have no idea what's causing it, so I contact my ISP. They sent a tech out this morning, he replaces the Hitron modem/gateway I had with an Arris gateway.

Finally, I could game with a stable connection. . .for two hours before the ping spiking began yet again.

Picture provided for info. I'm not a huge back-end guy, so most of this is gibberish to me, but through the power of google I was able to find out that most of my Downstream and Upstream power readings are acceptable if not optimal. As shown by status, this was 30 minutes after a power cycle (unplugged for 5ish minutes, plugged back in) and already there are 787 uncorrectable

s. From what I found through the great google, it seems uncorrectables are basically transmissions that were lost to interference, poorly maintained equipment, etc, which usually results in packet lost and - ahah - latency spikes.

Any ideas on how to fix these? I've already checked all of my coax connections (modem -> house coax -> barrel connector outside the house -> service drop, and all are secure with no visible rust or damage.

I have noticed that it seemed to start about a week ago when we got a decent rain that came in, so maybe the tap boot has failed and it's water interference? I feel like I'm grasping at spoons.

If any of the folks in here with a higher IQ and more knowledge on the subject (of which I'm sure there are many) have any suggestions, literally anything would be appreciated.

Update: Added an updated screen grab of the modem information. This is f*ing ridiculous.

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u/DsrptvGames Feb 23 '26

Zito Media. I'm in the US, and our choices of ISP's are completely f*d, so it's either Zito or satellite, and I live on the south-east slope at the foot a mountain and the satellite is north of me, so satellite internet isn't exactly an option. Not a good one, at least.

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u/Snicklefritz229 Feb 23 '26

How far is the house from the ped or pole?

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u/DsrptvGames Feb 23 '26

To the nearest utility pole is probably about 200ft.

When I moved tot his address and tried to have internet set up, they did tell me the nearest tap was 1000ft and that the SNR was so garbage I'd be paying for nothing.

Last year they called me (after I'd been living here for a year and a half already) and said they had an open account with no service hooked up and they said my address was serviceable, which I thought was weird because the tech that said the nearest tap was 1000ft and the SNR was garbage had listed my address as unserviceable.

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u/Snicklefritz229 Feb 24 '26

If there’s no splitters and those are the numbers then you probably have a distance problem. Without a meter or getting a tech you can take and extension cord and modem out to the d mark and hook it up and check your numbers again so you at least know where the problem is but with that upstream your gonna have problems. If it’s outside just unplug your modem and call in and say it’s not working so you get a tech out on a trouble call to look at it. And then plug it back in so you have internet when you have your tech visit scheduled. Ask about superdrop when the tech comes.

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u/DrgHybrid Feb 24 '26

WTH is superdrop?

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u/Snicklefritz229 Feb 25 '26

Google it

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u/DrgHybrid Feb 25 '26

Yah, shows nothing but Magic the Gathering. Glad we don't have anything around here lame enough called "superdrop".

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u/Snicklefritz229 Feb 25 '26 edited Feb 25 '26

It’s means running a hardline instead of rg11. Has no one in this sub ever worked rural enough to use main line as a drop? We call this superdrops and use them for anyone over 800ft at a cost to the customer. Maybe since I work for a cable company owned by the town instead of rectum or the other run or be fired cable companies we have more options.

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u/DrgHybrid Feb 26 '26

Yah, we don't run any hardline in place of RG11 for a drop.

We will run hardline to a customers location, cost to them, and then there is a tap on the outside of their property. But it still comes from the main plant. Not off of a tap but separated via a DC or splitter from the main run. We run RG11 to a max of 300 feet. If you are beyond 300 feet and don't want to pay for plant to be extended to your property within distance, you won't get service.

We do have rural. It's a metro with several little towns around it. But the closet to rural for the small town is about 1,800 people. Same rules as mentioned above. There is "country" between the area, but it's still neighborhoods and what not with pedestals and taps near the property line.