New STB router problem
 

Hi,

I receive broadband via my set top box which I have wirelessly enabled with a DSL router.

I was using an old Pace box and I set the router's config to clone the MAC address of my PC's NIC and everything was working perfectly. However I've have just upgraded to a new Samsung SMT-2110C set top box and now I have no connection.

I can get broadband with the network cable plugged directly from the STB to my PC. However if I plug the STB into the router I have no connection. The PC's NIC address has been cloned within the router.

I have noticed that I now seem to have a static IP (rebooting does not change the IP as it did on the PACE), so I have configured the router for a static connection with the exact same IP, subnet and default adress that I see if I ipconfig with the working direct PC to STB connection.

It is therefore totally illogical that the connection does not work. The exact same setup worked with the old Pace box but with the Samsung it does not.
The PC's NIC MAC address has not changed and besides it is registered with the new box as the direct PC connection works.

The only other things that I can guess making a difference are:

- the cable required between the router and stb (crossover/straight)
- the MTU setting that exists within the routers config (currently 1516)

Any feedback would be appreciated as I simply have no idea!

Thanks,

Rob.

Re: New STB router problem
 

:welcome: to Cable Forum :tu:

IPs for the router need to be dynamic, i.e. allocated to the router to the Set Top Box.

You need a straight through ethernet cable (some of the Pace STBs used crossover).

You must power cycle the Set Top Box when swapping whatever is connected to it.

You should not need to clone the PC's mac address into the router. When you first browse the internet via the router you should be redirected to the ntl (virgin media) registration page.

MTU should be auto, no more than 1500

Re: New STB router problem
 

Rob,

Thanks for the reply, on the old Pace box my PC was always assigned a dynamic IP. With the new Samsung it seems to assign the same IP everytime hence the reason I choose Static of Dynamic connection type. However as you instucted I will change it back to the Synamic type.

The Pc's NIC MAC address has been cloned.

I have a feeling the cable type maybe a factor. If I plug the working cable (that usually goes from STB to PC) into the router I get no connection, I wonder if the router does not auto switch if the cable type is incorrect?

I will also set the MTU to 1500 and report back.

Thanks,

Rob.

Re: New STB router problem
 

Although the IP range being assigned by the Samsung is dynamic, I found when I had broadband via STB the assigned IP rarely changed unless you did something like change the mac address of the device connecting - and then you'd have to go through the registering device stuff again.

You must power off the Set Top Box and router when you change the connection between those devices. If you don't there is no way the router will connect to the Set Top Box.

What Router are you using. It might be easier to do a reset to factory default settings, and then start from there. Normally with a router the default settings will work, unless you have something weird.

Re: New STB router problem
 

Hi,

I got it working, I did not read the small print on the back of the router and consequently I did not have the network cable plugged into the WAN port. Instead it was plugged into the WAN port!

What an idiot ;0)

Rob.

Re: New STB router problem
 

Ah it's nice (in an annoying sort of way) when things proove to be so simple ;)

Re: New STB router problem
 

as far to my knowledge we no longer suply the broadband of the back of the box all runs of a S.A.C.M. (STAND ALONE CABLE MODEM )
do you get a connection of the samsung?????? without the router???

Re: New STB router problem
 

post #5 says it's sorted which confirms he does have broadband via STB. Many customers still get broadbadn this way, if that's how they were originally connected. New customer connections will always be via a SACM.

Re: New STB router problem
 

as we have been informed when we do box swaps we have to explain to customers that they will have to book in for a new modem as it will no longer work of the back of there box

Re: New STB router problem
 

Yes connection STB.

Thanks,

Rob.