DHCP 'Congestion'

mkandy · 22-03-2008, 18:19

Hi, first post here, posting on behalf of my girlfriend's problematic experience with Virgin Media Broadband.

Basically, we've got the NTL Cable Broadband box, connected via a Dynamode wireless router, and then used by 3 other laptops. Everything has been fine for at least 6 months with that set up, beforehand it was connected via ethernet to one laptop.

Anyway, for the last 3 days there has been no connectivity from the WAN. DHCP is picking up nothing, so i assumed something was up with the Dynamode router. Rebooted it, rebooted the PC and the NTL box, nothing. Connected the NTL Box via ethernet to the laptop, nothing.

This morning i phoned the Virgin Media No-Help desk who's first question was 'are you connected through a wireless router' begrudgingly i said yes, and the obvious answer was 'That's your problem'. Oh how i wasn't expecting that. He asked what brand it was, 'Dynamode', 'Yes that's definately the problem, you need a new one'.

My back was up at this point, and i questioned as to why Virgin's website are recommending a supposedly incompatible wireless router. He said it was ok with NTL, but that was ages ago. He went on to say 'You're router is causing DHCP congestion'. When i questioned him why an ISP wont allow a router to ask for some basic IP information, such as DHCP he said 'I've already told you, you are causing DHPC congestion, so we have disconnected you'. When i asked for a possible resolution, he said, 'buy another router, anything will work' when i quizzed him as to why 'any other' router would work, and mine wouldn't it's because 'only Dynamode uses DHCP'. When i stopped laughing, i took his name and hung up, opting for customer service instead.

I'm still not back up yet, and expect it will take a few hours at least, but have any of you seasoned Virgin Media professionals ever heard of this absolutely half arsed excuse for disconnecting a service, or is there any truth to this Dynamode issue. I don't fancy not using DHCP and assigning IP's manually, but if i need to, then maybe i have no choice!

Also, how bad is Broadband support usually, when i asked again why DHCP isn't supported by a supposed 'big' ISP, he said 'stop talking to me, and listen to what i'm saying'...idiot!

Mick Fisher · 22-03-2008, 18:26

Sounds half assed to me. Try another call but this time make sure you have a computer connected direct to the modem and dont mention routers. Hopefully you'll get someone who has a clue if you persevere.
Otherwise try the newsgroup
virginmedia.support.broadband.cable

Toto · 22-03-2008, 18:29

If I'm not mistaken, the Dynamode routers were requesting then rejecting the IP addresses, thus using up the local uBR IP allocation. I think you will find there are one or two helpdesk people who post here.

I'm surprised though they have turned your service off.

May be worth doing a router firmware upgrade when you get back online.

Ginger1 · 22-03-2008, 18:35

Yep, you need to do a firmware upgrade. There is currently an issue with the Dynamode routers whereby they send numerous DHCP requests, the new, current version of the Dynamode firmware solves this issue. Upgrade the firmware, call the call center and tell them you have done this, your service can then be restored.

Hope that helps!

Toto · 22-03-2008, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginger1

Yep, you need to do a firmware upgrade. There is currently an issue with the Dynamode routers whereby they send numerous DHCP requests, the new, current version of the Dynamode firmware solves this issue. Upgrade the firmware, call the call center and tell them you have done this, your service can then be restored.

Hope that helps!

Quetion, if VM have suspended his service, how does he download the firmware update?

Ginger1 · 22-03-2008, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Quetion, if VM have suspended his service, how does he download the firmware update?

Haha, well that is the question isn't it! Short of that its a case of waiting for a new modem to show up! .... Going round to a mates is hopefully a little quicker

lostandconfused · 22-03-2008, 19:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Quetion, if VM have suspended his service, how does he download the firmware update?

The op should have been told what the problem was when he called tsc. Which he was, but the tsc agent was just giving the information that was passed onto him/her without knowing what was actually going on, so when pressed for information by the OP it sounds like he has made a few things up!

the OP should then have been asked to remove the router and power off, and connect one pc directly to the modem. Then the services should have been restored so they can get the updates. Theres nothing to stop the person connecting the router back up again, without the update apart from the same issue will happen again and serivces restricted again meaning more calls to tsc.

Thats what should happen anyway.....

SMHarman · 22-03-2008, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Quetion, if VM have suspended his service, how does he download the firmware update?

By removing the router and connecting directly to the CM?
Downloading the firmware.
Reconnecting the router and patching.
Most routers recommend a wired connection for firmware flashing anyway. Wouldn't want to lose the wireless connection mid patch and brick it.

mkandy · 22-03-2008, 20:05

Currently 'borrowing' a neighbours unsecured network connection!

Thanks for the information dudes, i had a feeling something like that might be the case, will download the firmware now.

Also, big thanks to whoever 'TalkTalk Install' is, pretty nippy connection!

grubbymitts · 22-03-2008, 20:12

Originally Posted by Toto

Quetion, if VM have suspended his service, how does he download the firmware update?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

By removing the router and connecting directly to the CM?
Downloading the firmware.
Reconnecting the router and patching.
Most routers recommend a wired connection for firmware flashing anyway. Wouldn't want to lose the wireless connection mid patch and brick it.

Let's just reiterate this line shall we:

"if VM have suspended his service"

22-03-2008, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by grubbymitts

Originally Posted by Toto

Quetion, if VM have suspended his service, how does he download the firmware update?

Let's just reiterate this line shall we:

"if VM have suspended his service"

O cat stratching at you lol

mkandy · 22-03-2008, 20:42

Success!

Just for information purposes (incase anyone else has this issue), the router is a Dynamode BR-6004 WG-1, and the Dynamode website is totally cack and hasn't been updated for what looks like, years. With some searching i managed to find out the guts of the router are some cheapo chinese brand, who also sell the router to Zonet. Using the following firmware 'should' have resolved the issue:

BR-6004 Firmware Link

The router didn't die on reboot, but seems to work fine, and VM have indeed reconnected us. Hopefully the Dynamode now wont be sending DHCP rejection messages back to them.

Cheers for all your help dudes!

22-03-2008, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by darthlinux

O cat stratching at you lol

Whilst I agree with your sig, it is triggering a Dephormation alert every time I view a thread you have posted in! Any chance of changing it for one which is not trapped as a Phorm-related URL?

AntiSilence · 23-03-2008, 00:00

Yep, same message here.

Graham M · 23-03-2008, 01:55

Link doesn't even work here?`