This topic

TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

LeVzi — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 10:16:30 GMT

I purchased a TP Link VR2100 which was working fine for a couple of months, then suddenly I am experiencing major lag when gaming, and during speedtests and line tests, packet loss and latency. I worked with TP Link to find the issue, they RMA'd the router and sent me a new one. This router has EXACTLY the same issues.

The Homehub 2 works perfectly well with the WIFI Adapter I use, so I can eliminate that.

Is there some kind of compatibility issue with the VR2100 and BT Broadband ? The router shows 71mbps on a speedtest then suddenly drops to 51 and either stays there or climbs back to 71, that's the issue, the homehub DOESNT do that, its a solid 71.

Reason I changed the router is to have 2 bands (2.4 and 5Ghz) separately. Plus I get better gaming performance from TP Link routers, (At least I used to)

Settings inside the router are that 802.11 ac is set for 5ghz , Short GI, channel number and bandwidth are on Auto , ive tried Ch 48 but that didn't work. (wifi analyzer) broadcast power is high.

So anyone any ideas on how I can fix this ? Or is there really a compatibility issue with TP Link routers and BT Broadband ?

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

imjolly — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 10:43:57 GMT

@LeVzi

I have not seen any posts on forum suggesting a TPLINK router is not compatible with BT Broadband. I am currently using a TPLINK VR2600 without any problems. is it possible the wifi adapter having problems with tplink? have you tried connecting without using wifi adapter

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

LeVzi — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 11:14:32 GMT

As I stated, the wifi adapter is fine with the Homehub2 , no issues at all. Solid 71mbps no drop outs.

This is a VR2100 issue i'd assume, but its setup correctly for BT VDSL , correct ID, I factory reset the box and left it unchanged apart from the Password and its still not working correctly.

I will have to go back to the homehub2 , because this is ridiculous. Pings of over 200, constant drop outs in speedtests and massive jitter. Packet loss. Has to be the router.

Unless anyone can suggest any settings I can alter

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

imjolly — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 11:55:28 GMT

just because adaptyer works with SH2 does not mean it will work well with TPlink so have you tried connecting tplink to internet without the wifi adapter and see what happens. the probability of 2 TPLINK VR2100 having same fault is remote

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

LeVzi — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 18:07:40 GMT

The adapter works fine with the VR2100 and worked fine with its predessor. The VR2100 worked for 2 months before it just stopped working correctly.

Now the new one has the same issue.

I am suspecting the DSL filter has failed. But it is in the BT Main box, has a separate socket for DSL cables. I have never liked these boxes, and I cannot use the standard DSL filter in the main box it won't work, so I can't test it.

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

LeVzi — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 08:43:16 GMT

I think it has to be the VR2100 not being compatible with BT VDSL , they may need a firmware update or such like, but last night I spoke with a BT Technician, and we tested the VR2100 WITHOUT the built in filter, the openreach socket has 2 ports ,1 for broadband 1 for phone. I removed that cover and there is the test socket the old phone style, I put in a working ADSL filter and tested the VR2100 , it had the exact same system.

I replaced the front face on the socket and put back in the HomeHub 2 and its working fine again.

I'd say that was pretty conclusive proof the VR2100 is to blame.

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

licquorice — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 09:24:31 GMT

Try fiddling with the MTU on VR2100 if it is configurable.

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

LeVzi — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 11:19:05 GMT

It's at 1500 default, I assume you mean try it at 1458 ?

Would being over cause massive packet loss and high pings though ?

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

licquorice — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 12:14:22 GMT

@LeVzi wrote:

It's at 1500 default, I assume you mean try it at 1458 ?

Try various values from 1492

Would being over cause massive packet loss and high pings though ?

Possibly

How have you configured IPv6, that might be a factor.

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

LeVzi — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 07:42:10 GMT

I haven't touched anything really from default.

As I stated before, the router was working perfectly fine for a few months, then suddenly just started lagging, packet loss, massive pings. I thought the box had failed, but they replaced it and there is the same issue.

Yet the homehub 2 works OK.

I have to assume this is either the box or the line at fault here. Somehow the BT Homehub isn't having an issue, but the TP Link VR2100 is.

They are sending out an engineer tomorrow to check the box.

For the VR2100 to be working perfectly fine one monday morning, then literally just stop working properly in the blink of an eye suggests something has gone wrong either with the box or the line.

BT are trying so hard but really they are failing me here, even yesterday talking with a tech adviser, they tell me the line max speed is 50mbps, when the Home Hub holds it at 71 without any issues. THey really are out of touch tbh.

I hope the engineer finds something wrong, or openreach come out and check the whole line, I notice Youfibre have been up and down on the pole recently, I wouldn't be surprised if they have broken something.

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

LeVzi — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:21:57 GMT

BT Sent an engineer out today, who changed the BT Box for the more modern one, he said there was an error on the old one.

But this hasn't changed a single thing with a third party router.

The homehub still works fine, the TP Link VR2100 does not work at all.

The next step is openreach to check the external line.

TP Link support were really good , spent over an hour testing the routers with various settings, and nothing worked.

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

licquorice — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:29:58 GMT

If the Home Hub works fine, the problem lies with the TP Link not the external line.

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

LeVzi — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:53:39 GMT

Normally i'd agree, but 3 TP Link routers with all the same problems ? That were working perfectly fine one minute then went bad the next, then the brand new one from the RMA has the problem from the start ?

I don't think so.

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

licquorice — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:55:56 GMT

Either there is a fundamental flaw with the design of the VR2100 or it is not being configured correctly. The problem is not the line.

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

LeVzi — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:57:49 GMT

Again, i'd agree ,but the router WAS working correctly, and nothing was changed within that timeframe.

So again, it cannot be the router. Why would it be working perfectly alright, then just suddenly change ? 2 months working fine, then an issue that cannot be resolved.

The main box has been changed, so it has to be the line, or the VR2100 simply cannot work on a BT line, but even BT sell it, so none of this makes sense.

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

licquorice — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 10:00:50 GMT

But if the hub works fine, it can't be the line.

Can you try the TP Link at a different location, a friend's house?

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

LeVzi — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 10:11:22 GMT

Unfortunately not no, but as I have said, it was working fine, a VR900, now a VR2100 and a brand new VR2100

The BT engineer cannot understand it, so Openreach are the next obvious issue.

Could well be the line, as internal tech of different routers may be the reason the homehub handles the issues better than the TP Link.

Anyway, the appointment is booked.

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

TimCurtis — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:41:53 GMT

@LeVzi

Must agree the others on here that the line is surely not the issue.

Have TP-Link released any new firmware recently that might account for the problem.

Also if you're using a wifi adapter is it possible to temporarily run a long ethernet cable and go wired to the TP-Link to see the effect?

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

LeVzi — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 15:12:16 GMT

The unit hasn't had any firmware updates (That I know of unless it does them in the background) , when I first plugged it in, I check for new firmware releases through the routers admin panel, it didn't need one.

I don't have an ethernet port on my PC, its purely wifi.

But again, I am using the same wifi adapter with the homehub with zero issues.

The TP Link router worked for a few months with no issues.

Nothing was changed, and it happened while I was using the router to game.

When the engineer came out today, he said there was an issue with the box, and changed it, the homehub is now working as it was before, but the TP Link isn't.

If I hadn't had full use of the TP Link router for a period of time, i'd agree, but this happened all of a sudden. Can only assume something happened inside the router, or the line simply doesn't work with TP Link VR2100's.

TP Link have offered to upgrade my router to a DECO X50 free of charge, which I am tempted to take, but if that doesn't work either, I am really stuck.

Re: TP Link Archer VR2100 and BT Broadband

LeVzi — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 11:41:39 GMT

OK had a weird experience with the VR2100.

I was just trying out different settings, enabled SRA and for a short time, it was perfect, the line was stable, speeds were fine, and the VR2100 was working as expected.

THen all of a sudden, the problems come back. Could this be a noisey line causing this issue ? For some reason the SH2 is handling that better than the TP Link ?

Also, there is something up with the SH2, you cannot change the 5ghz channel without it changing the wifi password to something unknown.