Errors in router stats - any need for concern?

[kentmonkey]

I've just checked the advanced router stats while logged in as SuperUser and the errors are continually rising.

After 150 minutes connected, I've got the following errors:

Error Seconds (Local/Remote): 17 / 0
FEC Errors (Up/Down): 82 / 67,488
CRC Errors (Up/Down): 82 / 1,095
HEC Errors (Up/Down): 87 / 992

Is that normal? I've no idea what they mean but they appear to be high. Advice?

Other router stats are:

Bandwidth (Up/Down) [kbps/kbps]: 922 / 3,033
Data Transferred (Sent/Received) [kB/kB]: 0.00 / 0.00
Output Power (Up/Down) [dBm]: 12.0 / 17.0
Line Attenuation (Up/Down) [dB]: 36.5 / 63.5
SN Margin (Up/Down) [dB]: 6.0 / 2.5

3mb is the max for my exchange, although with my attenuation I'm surprised to be getting that. I moved to O2 from Sky yesterday, and with Sky I got on average 1.7-2.0mb, so pleased with the line speed increase but worried about the errors. Saying that, I've yet to have a problem while browsing the web or downloading PS3 demos, so wondering whether these errors are actually a problem.

Also is that SN Margin figure good or bad? I got a noise margin rating of 12db on Sky, and I thought optimum was between 10-15db. However this figure might be different as that was 'Noise Margin' and this is 'SN Margin' and may be something completely different.

[Saturday]

Your downstream noise margin is pretty low. The lower it is, the less ability the router has to differentiate between noise and signal. The net result is high levels of errors (especially CRC).

It is completely normal for the noise margin to decrease in the evenings but "normal" is a couple of db below default. Yours has dropped at least 3.5db from the last time it resynced an that's a lot which is indicative of a long and relatively noisy line.

Basically though, errors only matter if they affect your connection e.g. instability and low throughput. If you don't have problems then don't worry about it. If you are worried then simply reboot your router in the evening and then leave it alone (and powered up). This will ensure your noise margin stays up around and above the default of 6db, though your sync speed will drop a bit. Alternatively call O2 and ask them to put you on a 9db profile. Again you'll lose a bit of sync speed.

[Tony1044]

Yeah we had this discussion with someone on here a few months ago and I posted that I had quite a few errors, but that my connection was solid, reliable and with low latency so it doesn't really seem to be a big deal.

And it does seem that O2 routers seem to be either a bit more sensitive to errors, or they just report them in more detail than other routers, so don't worry we said, unless it's impacting your actual connection.

But for some reason, he thought Saturday and I were being sarcastic...! lol