TP-Link W9970 BT VDSL

[michel]

I  have BT VDSL. Works fine with older versions of the  TP-Link W9970 router, but Version 4  will not connect to VDSL.

The interface looks ok until the last step. It came supplied with a 12volt PSU, whereas 9v is stipulated. Could it have been damaged by 3v overvoltage?  Or is there any way of making it (and me) happy???

[Keith_Beddoe]

@michel 

The version 2 is a 12V supply so I would be surprised if the later versions are not the same. TP Link wireless access points seem to be 9V, although I would expect them to cope with 12V.

I used one on ADSL but they do work on VDSL, as they were used at other family members.

You can either manually select BT VDSL, or use auto configure. It will not work with GFast.

I stopped using it on ADSL as BT changed the ADSL profile causing random disconnects, so I reverted back to the home hub 4.

[Pete31]

I just checked mine - it is not in use at the moment, I keep it as a spare.

I have version 4.0 and you are right, on the base of the unit it specifies a 9v power supply. That's what mine was supplied with too, the power supply is labelled 9V  0.85A.

Other than that, I'm not sure whether it is simply a configuration issue rather than a hardware fault. I did use mine for VDSL a few months ago, it worked fine.

[michel]

Keith and Pete,

Thanks for your respective responses.  I am beginning to think that my W9970  v4 might be faulty, although

the menu looks normal until finally a big SORRY appears (no internet).   The menu  is quite different from that of v1

and v2. There might be settings that I need to identify and change...  

I will wait and see if others have experience with v4.

Michael

PS: Keith you,  and others,  were VERY helpful years ago when BT would not recognise the intermittent

fault on our copper phone line, which only occured in high winds, which are frequent here. 

A ping-plot I submitted enabled you to get OR techs to come out and repair the line, which has

been trouble-free since 🙂

[Pete31]

Hi Michel, are you able to reach the TD-W9970 diagnostics page?

Mine is not in use right now, but from my previously saved details, there should be a page which looks like this:

TD-W9970 Diagnostic Tools

Firmware Version:1.3.0 0.9.1 v00a1.0 Build 220616 Rel.70089n
Hardware Version:TD-W9970 v4 00000001

10:31 27/02/2023

Diagnostic Tools
Click the Start button to test the Internet connection of the router.

Below that you should get up to three lines of details showing xDSL, WAN and NCSI  test results.

[michel]

Thanks for taking up the W9970 v4 challenge!

"Diagnostic tools" does not show - only the "SORRY, no internet" message.

I think there might be an issue with VDSL settings, but I haven't found any clues in the TP-Link document for v4.

HOWEVER, I did a reset and let the v4 loose on our fibre  connection (Airband, 'cos BT fibre  ain't available here ...)

It auto-configured itself  for  Airband fibre,  and it works !  That suggests that the hardware is ok, and perhaps the v4 setup settings  for VDSL are secret.  I need the BT VDSL as a backup - for when a tractor on the adjacent farm rips out the fibre - as happened last year 😞

Fibre settings  that now work  below.  So  if someone knows the "secret"  settings for BT VDSL, tht should likewise work...

  

[Pete31]

That's good, it's a kind of progress.

Perhaps I could connect my TD-W9970 v4 when I have time. Then I could share whatever settings I have. But that isn't a promise.

My current connection via the BT hub has a sold connection of 64 days and I'm not in a hurry to disturb it.

Actually, somewhere I should have my own notes on the step-by-step setup process that I used. I'd need to search for those notes.

[michel]

Thanks, Pete!

It's less urgent now. I have one spare router for fibre (the suspect v4) and a v2 that works on BT VDSL.It was a bit risky (Murphy's Law...) to risk the working fibre connection - but it came good!

As we are in an elevated location,  vulnerable to lightning, and to high wind twisted copper breaks (thanks, Keith!),       I sleep better with working backup modem-routers at-the-ready. Of course, fibre is less vulnerable, but the PSU would not resist a close lightning strike...

Please let me know when you have settings that might work.

Thanks, all !

[Pete31]

As far as I can tell, apart from setting a new password, the initial setup was fairly straightforward. This is what I have - but I'm reading from my notes, rather than looking at the actual on-screen display:

auto config:
BT_VDSL

Internet Connection Tyoe:
PPPoE

user:
bthomehub@btbroadband.com
pswd: (blank)

 Hope that helps.

[michel]

I used those entries, but with "btbroadband.com"  (and also  /co.uk).

I would be surprised if that made a difference, but worth another try

when I am a bit older 🙂     I must also plough through the official

TP-Link WW9970 v4    document more meticulously ...