Broadband Plus and Routers

MarkD · 17-12-2005, 21:42

As Broadband Plus is now free to 2MB users I thought I would give it a go. A week after it being made live I am unable to use it. I have been in touch with ntl broadband support and despite them trying all sorts of things I cannot access the service. I just get the buy NTL broadband pages. The support staff have passed the problem higher, however after putting down the phone one things I realised that they never asked me was whether I had a router. I connected one of the PCs directly and it seemed to work correctly. So I was wondering if anyone has been able to use this service via a router?

Chris W · 17-12-2005, 21:43

I did the trial of it using a router (this was quite a long time ago now though)

I can't think of any reason why having a router should cause a problem. What was the exact issue that you were having?

MarkD · 17-12-2005, 21:48

In a nutshell it just acts as if I am not connected to NTL.

From www.ntworld.com, using the broadband plus quick button I get http://www.ntlworld.com/broadbandplu...index.php?i=nb
rather than the broadband plus portal.

Chris W · 17-12-2005, 21:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkD

In a nutshell it just acts as if I am not connected to NTL.

From www.ntworld.com, using the broadband plus quick button I get http://www.ntlworld.com/broadbandplu...index.php?i=nb
rather than the broadband plus portal.

hmm interesting. could be a problem with the ip range... when you switch from router to standalone pc you will get a different ip. If the one the router has is in a range that for some reason ntl is not recognising properly, you won't get onto BB+. The pc's ip may be in a range where there is no such issue.

If you are really bothered about having BB+ through the router, you could try cloning the mac address of the pc that you connected standalone onto the router, then connecting this to the modem. You will also then have to change the mac address of the nic in the pc to avoid address conflicts on your home network.... so might be more hassle than it is worth! However, if you need more detailed instructions let me know

MarkD · 17-12-2005, 22:11

If I get really bored I might try messing with the MAC addreses. Its not really high on my must solve list. I just thought it might be of some use for the kids mainly the espresso education, and the britannica. Though living in Scotland I am not sure how useful the espresso education will be, and I can get other encyclopaedias online via our local library service. So its really only a since its free, not even a nice to have. I guess I will wait and see if someone from NTL can work it out. Thanks for the help, at least I now know that it should work in theory.

Chris W · 18-12-2005, 01:26

hmm. actually now i have thought about it a little more it seems more strange... You are not getting the non-ntl customer page that I would expect, but in fact the page for ntl customers who can't have the BB+ service (ie 1meg)

basically (very rough with the technical details and specifics) the BB+ service checks the modem/ stbs service level and then directs you to the appropriate page- either the portal if aok, or if not then the page you are seeing.

This suggests that for some reason when the router is connected the test cannot read the configuration properly... hmm... how bizarre.

Are you using a stand alone modem or a set top box?

May have to ponder on this one a little more.........

Graham M · 18-12-2005, 01:29

Its working perfectly for me behind a router, I clicked on the Broadband + Quicklink, clicked Sign Up Now, Clicked 2MBit/10MBit User and Entered Name and Email Address and got in no problems.

paul11974 · 18-12-2005, 02:07

Works Ok On A Router Here

th'engineer · 18-12-2005, 08:32

and works here could it be the router mac address they use mac address youn need to clone you pc mac address that it works with

18-12-2005, 09:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris W

If you are really bothered about having BB+ through the router, you could try cloning the mac address of the pc that you connected standalone onto the router, then connecting this to the modem. You will also then have to change the mac address of the nic in the pc to avoid address conflicts on your home network.... so might be more hassle than it is worth! However, if you need more detailed instructions let me know

Surely it's the external MAC address of the modem which is being changed. No need to change the PC MAC?

th'engineer · 18-12-2005, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnHorb

Surely it's the external MAC address of the modem which is being changed. No need to change the PC MAC?

Unless you registered without the router if i change my mac address it will not let me in

MarkD · 19-12-2005, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris W

Are you using a stand alone modem or a set top box?

May have to ponder on this one a little more.........

Its a stand alone modem. From what the guy on the helpdesk said I think that he could get the correct configuration info and I think that is what confused him too.

th'engineer · 20-12-2005, 12:30

its nowt to do with the modem its mac address of PC

---------- Post added at 11:30 ---------- Previous post was at 11:29 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnHorb

Surely it's the external MAC address of the modem which is being changed. No need to change the PC MAC?

you need to understand its mac addresss not modem

Chris W · 20-12-2005, 21:57

when i used to work in TS, it was the mac address of the cable modem/ set top box that was registered in the BB+ management tool, and this controlled who got access and who didn't (sort of).

However, what you say is correct- the mac address of the modem does not need to change in order for a new ip to be leased, it is the pc's mac that will determine this.

It appears that BB+ access is now determined by client mac as well though... hmm......

20-12-2005, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by th'engineer

its nowt to do with the modem its mac address of PC

---------- Post added at 11:30 ---------- Previous post was at 11:29 ----------

you need to understand its mac addresss not modem

Sorry - my mistake - I meant it is the external MAC address of the ROUTER (not modem) which can be cloned to match the MAC address of the original PC. Since it is the EXTERNAL MAC address of the router, no need to also change the PC MAC.