This topic

How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

nurquhar1 — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 14:03:25 GMT

I want to use my new Unify USG Router with my BT Broadband service by connecting a modem to the WAN port of the USG. I was advised in another post on this forum to get hold an HG612 modem which have done, and I have unlocked it by uploading some new firmware which enables the GUI web page.

Where I am now lost is how to configure the settings in the HG612 GUI so it connects to the internet. I found a diagnose option which when run says :

DSL Status The DSL is connected.

PPPoE status Obtaining the IP address of the PPPoE failed.

Network Status Diagnosis is completed.

So it looks like I have do something so it gets an IP address. Anybody able to help ?

BTW my original BT Homehub connects ok. However it does not have a Bridge Mode option so hence the previous suggestion of using a HG612 Modem.

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

imjolly — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 14:09:15 GMT

username bthomehub@btbroadband.com

password BT

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 14:59:01 GMT

No changes should be needed from defaults, with the PPOE credentials @imjolly has given being provided by the router.

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

licquorice — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 21:34:01 GMT

First of all there was no need to unlock it unless you wish to access line stats. The hg612 can be used as either a modem or single port modem/ router. In default setting, it is just a modem and needs no settings changed. Hence the PPPoE session is handled by your router not the hg612.

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

Starman — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 10:00:46 GMT

My unlocked HG612 is in a box somewhere just in case and I can't go dig it out now however I found a thread on competitor ISP forum that may help confirm the config needed for the modem to operate in bridge mode only scroll to the solution quoted or for some reason we can't link search for "trouble getting HG612 + AC-RT68u setup working".

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

licquorice — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 10:13:28 GMT

A factory reset will simply restore it to its default settings of bridge mode with no further changes needed.

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

nurquhar1 — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 18:09:48 GMT

Brill... I used the 'restore defaults' option in the GUI web page under maintenance, now I can't get in to it under the default IP 192.168.1.1. It also does not present the firmware update page after a power on 5s reset.

Could be its bricked now....

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

licquorice — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 18:24:32 GMT

Press and hold the reset button for 10+ seconds and then release. This should restore the default config.

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 18:24:59 GMT

Sounds like you may have wiped the custom firmware. But as previously stated you don't need it to connect, it should connect by default once you add the logon credentials to the router.

Kitz is pretty much the bible for the HG612.

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

nurquhar1 — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 18:37:00 GMT

How is possible to put the login credentials into the device if there is no web page or telnet option into the device. This seems to be the case with the default firmware I understand.

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 18:40:53 GMT

One last time & then I'll give up. You don't put any credentials into the modem, you enter them in the router...

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

licquorice — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 19:09:30 GMT

Exactly that, as has been pointed out multiple times on the thread.

In its default configuration absolutely nothing is required to be changed.

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

nurquhar1 — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 09:05:44 GMT

I apologies for getting you guys frustrated. I did not compute in my head that the bthomehub@btbroadband.com/BT setting had to go into the USG router. I have always seen this setting put into the BT device before, eg the HomeHub's. I am sincerely sorry for the misunderstanding. However thank for persisting with me.

In the Unifi USG Controller Cloud Software there are very few settings I could find for the WAN port other than renaming it or changing the Ethernet media negotiated speed. ie:

After some googling I found that there are some other settings which can only be accessed by bringing up the embedded webpage at 192.168.1.1, ie not through the management software provided. The default for the WAN was DHCP so I changed it to PPPoE which then allow the entry of user/password. So I put the BT credentials in the boxes. It also seemed to allow the entry of a DNS and Alt DNS. Not knowing what they should be I tried leaving them blank and I have tried googles 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4. Neither seemed to work :

On the HG612 the DSL LED is lit, so I assume it thinks there is some sort of line connection. The WAN port of the USG is into LAN1 on the HG612 and the LED's on the port are green and flash occasionally.

However the USG is not seeing internet connectivity, as per the above screen shot.

So do we think the HG612 is broke or am I missing some other settings in the USG ? I am considering getting another eBay HG612. However I may still have the 'who knows what the last guy did to it' nag.

The other option might be to try some of the older BT Hubs I still have kicking about but I am not sure if any of them have a 'Bridge Mode' option.

Looking in my re-cycle pile I have BT Home Hub 2.0 and Home Hub 5.0 - Type B. The 5.0 Type B has a red WAN port on the back, not sure if that makes it a promising option ?

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

Anonymous — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 09:38:00 GMT

Sanity check, make doubly sure that you are connected to LAN1 of the modem.

Your router also appears to have the same gateway address as the HG612, so make sure that LAN2 of the modem isn't connected.

You may be able to use the SH2 to verify that the HG612 is working. Connect to it's web interface & enable Fibre Mode. That will turn LAN4 into a WAN port & you can then connect LAN4 to LAN1 of the modem. If it works the you know the issue is with the configuration.

You could also connect a PC directly to LAN1 of the HG612 & configure the PPPoE session on that.

How to set up a PPPoE connection on Windows 8&10 | TP-Link United Kingdom

Once you're sure the modem is working, you'll need to pursue this with Unify. I see references to "adoption" & "controllers" & have no idea what else may be involved.

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

nurquhar1 — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 13:48:48 GMT

I pushed the boat and went and got another BT Openreach HG612 off eBay (it was not advertised as unlocked or anything).

Proving the HG612 works by connecting to the PC seem like sensible debug approach.

So I have now tried to add new PPPoE network connection by directly connecting between the Ethernet port on my laptop and the LAN1 port of the HG612.

I have tried with my Win 11 laptop using these instructions https://getlabsdone.com/how-to-connect-pppoe-on-windows-11/ and also with my old Win 10 laptop.

I have tried with both of the HG612's I have and with different Ethernet leads. Every combination results in the modem connection failing. I always get 'Connection failed with error 651'.

So still stuck, but now with two boxes that both do the same thing.

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

licquorice — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 14:27:44 GMT

Are you sure you are using the correct PPPoE credentials?

the DSL led solid green on the HG612?

username bthomehub@btbroadband.com

password BT

Turn off Wifi on your laptop so that the Ethernet port is definitely being used for connection.

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

nurquhar1 — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 15:06:45 GMT

I tried again with both HG612's and the WiFi turned off :

Error 651 in both cases.

I believe the connection settings are all correct.

The DSL Light is solid green. Indeed so is the power and LAN1 LED's.

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 15:07:13 GMT

Try manually adjusting the data rate of the ethernet adapter properties to 100Mb in case auto-negotiation is failing.

Did you try the SH2 in fibre mode as I suggested?

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

nurquhar1 — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 15:15:12 GMT

Sorry, never heard of SH2 and how do you configure fibre mode ?

I believe the several miles of ADSL line is copper to the exchange, not sure there is any fibre anywhere. With my BT HomeHub I get about 7mbs. Which is better than the 0mbs they promised in the contract.

Re: How to configure HG612 modem to connect to BT Broadband ?

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 15:49:05 GMT

Apologies, I thought you'd posted that you had a Smart Hub 2.

~~But the HH5 with the WAN port should work with the HG612 into the WAN port.~~