This topic

3rd party VDSL router setup issues

dan515 — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 09:09:14 GMT

Hi,

I know this type question has been asked a few times but I'm totally stuck. I'm trying to setup a zyxel VMG1312-T20B. But while it will connect I'm getting speeds of around 1Mb. And the connection is unreliable. I've set it to PPPoE, the vlan to 101 and the login to bthomehub@btbroadband.com password BT. I've reverted back to the smart hub and all is working as normal.

Added a screen shot of the the settings page.

Many thanks!

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

TimCurtis — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 10:04:30 GMT

@dan515

Did you run a setup wizard - if Zyxel have one - or did you set up manually?

The MTU is usually 1492 not 1500 btw.

Is there another setup screen rather than just the General one?

In my Asus I have a screen actually showing my DSL status , do you have one?

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

dan515 — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 10:26:56 GMT

I did go through their wizzard. Not much to set in there. Just region and WiFi stuff mainly.

There is an advanced DSL settings page, but it's mainly just toggles for protocols. I'll try and grab a screen shot.

In terms of status, it's reporting roughly 44,000 Kbits up and 7,000 down. Which is about what I see on the BT router.

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

dan515 — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 20:29:18 GMT

@TimCurtis

This is the advanced settings page. I'll try and grab the status page. I think the kids will kill me if I break the internet now 🤣

Thanks!

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

dan515 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 00:11:38 GMT

Adding some stats from the router.

=============================================================================

xDSLFwVersion: FwVer:5.10.6.0_B_A60901 HwVer:T14.F7_0.0

Line State: Up

Modulation: ITU G.993.2(VDSL2), G.998.4(G.INP) DS ONLY

Annex Mode: ANNEX_B

=============================================================================

TPSTC type: 64/65B PTM TC

near-end interleaved channel bit rate: 0 kbps

near-end fast channel bit rate: 43999 kbps

far-end interleaved channel bit rate: 0 kbps

far-end fast channel bit rate: 8035 kbps

near-end FEC error fast: 24823

near-end FEC error interleaved: 0

near-end CRC error fast: 0

near-end CRC error interleaved: 0

near-end HEC error fast: 0

near-end HEC error interleaved: 0

far-end FEC error fast: 0

far-end FEC error interleaved: 0

far-end CRC error fast: 0

far-end CRC error interleaved: 0

far-end HEC error fast: 0

far-end HEC error interleaved: 0

DSL uptime :19 min, 10 secs

DSL activetime :0 min, 19 secs

Downstream:

relative capacity occupation: 100%

noise margin downstream: 6.6 dB

output power upstream: 6.4 dbm

attenuation downstream: 14.3 dB

Upstream:

relative capacity occupation: 100%

noise margin upstream: 6.2 dB

output power downstream: 6.3 dbm

attenuation upstream: 0.1 dB

Bit table:

carrier load: number of bits per tone

tone 0- 31: 00 00 00 00 00 04 42 22 34 45 55 9a aa ab bb bb

tone 32- 63: 0d dd de ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ef ef ff ee

tone 64- 95: ff ef ef fe ef ee ef ee ef ef ee ef fe fe ee ee

tone 96-127: ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee de ed ee ee ee ee ee

tone 128-159: de de dd dd dd dd dd dd cd dd dd dd dd 0d cd dd

tone 160-191: dc dd dd dc dd dc dc dd dc cc cc dc cc cc cc cc

tone 192-223: dc cd cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cb cc cc cc cc cc cc

tone 224-255: cc cc cc bc cc cc cc cc cc bc 9c cb bb bb aa bb

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

Crimliar — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 01:36:02 GMT

Why are you trying to use this router? It's a WiFi4 (802.11n) router with only 100Mnps LAN ports. It's an old, bad, underpowered router!

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

dan515 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 08:53:19 GMT

@Crimliarit's a fair point. My plan is to use it in bridge mode as a modem. I have wireless AP's dedicated DHCP, DNS ect. But before investing in the router side of things I wanted to make sure it would work.

Plan B I guess would be to use something with integrated VDSL but ideally I wanted to leave my options open.

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

TimCurtis — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 09:15:39 GMT

@dan515

There doesn't seem to be much wrong with the settings you've got and the DSL connection speeds seem good.

@Crimliarhas made a good point but what exactly are you trying - ultimately - to achieve?

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

Crimliar — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 09:43:16 GMT

Ooof! If you intend to game or do anything on the network that involves the need for a lag-free connection, you'll have problems. Using many modems/routers in bridge (modem-only mode) still uses the buffer memory on the switch and you'll get increased latency (you are adding another buffer) - been there done this!

If the latency isn't an issue, I'd still be looking at a far more modern modem/router from eBay, and I'd base my purchase on advice from the likes of the http://kitz.co.uk forums.

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

dan515 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 09:45:44 GMT

@TimCurtisI've got a small home lab and I want more control over the router side of things. Few projects I've kicked down the road that would need configuration on the router side which I can't do currently. I'd also like to split the role of modem and router. My plan was get this working, look at something like a Zimaboard to roll my own router or something off the shelf.

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

dan515 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 09:50:00 GMT

Thanks @Crimliar that's a good point. Would a dedicated modem like a Draytek Vigor V167 suffer the same issue?

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

Crimliar — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 10:00:26 GMT

Yup the Vigor 167 will work just fine (any additional buffering would be unnoticeable) - so long as it's the UK version - if the version isn't mentioned don't buy! I'd check the BT/EE shop for prices on them because oddly they have at times been significantly cheaper than any anywhere else.
The old advice used to be to get the old BT modems secondhand, but with the age of these, it's probably not a great idea!
*My old Vigor 166 was bought from the BT shop for about £90 a few years back. When we moved to FTTP it sold on eBay for just over £90!

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

licquorice — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 10:05:53 GMT

Regardless of age, the Huawei HG612 is still a rock solid go to modem for VDSL.

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

dan515 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 10:15:01 GMT

Thanks for your help and time @Crimliar and @TimCurtis, I'm going to chalk the zyxel as a failure and look at the draytek. FTTP I can only dream 🤣

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

licquorice — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 10:46:58 GMT

I really wouldn't waste money on a Draytek modem

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

dan515 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 11:10:45 GMT

@licquoricewhat other vendors or modems would you recommend? Ideally I'd like to avoid Huawei or TP link for reasons. But definitely open to suggestions.

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

licquorice — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 11:26:03 GMT

The only other pure modem is the Netgear DM200 which is poorly rated

Not sure what your objection to the HG612 is but it is certainly the one I would choose.

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 11:27:47 GMT

There's also the ECI version that Openreach deployed alongside the Huawei. From memory nothing really to choose between them performance wise, but the ECI can't be unlocked. Not that there's any real need to unless you want to obsess over line stats.

I know Huawei are currently the lepers of networking, but I've never heard of any issues with ye olde HG612. I might even resurrect mine shortly if I find any issues with the Smart Hub I've just put back into service to feed a mesh system.

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

dan515 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 11:54:33 GMT

@licquorice @Anonymous I accept I'm likely wearing a tinfoil crown of paranoia. I think that's why I'm exploring options. Ultimately the HG612 may be the way to go.

@licquoriceNetgear where never the pick of the bunch but seem to have gone down hill in some areas. Shame as they were good for affordable feature rich products in the past.

Re: 3rd party VDSL router setup issues

TimCurtis — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 13:10:11 GMT

@dan515

The HG612 as mentioned is rock solid and no need for paranoia as in all probability you'll connected to a cabinet from the same source and if you are then the ECI would be a poor choice as your speeds would be slightly reduced.

The HG 612 can be sourced sub £30 and would have a similar resale value I'd guess.