topic Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode in Broadband

Idiot's guide to bridge mode

Junkman — Mon, 13 May 2024 12:29:09 GMT

Good afternoon,

Is there an idiot's guide anywhere to using the Hub 2 in bridge mode i.e. VDSL to Hub 2 to existing router? Is it as simple as connecting the Hub 2 to the phone line then LAN 1 on the Hub 2 to the WAN port on the existing router or are there any other hoops to jump through? (e.g. do some sign-in credentials have to be entered?)

Thanks,

Stuart

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

MisterW — Mon, 13 May 2024 12:34:26 GMT

You will need to configure the WAN connection, on your existing router, as PPPoE with your Plusnet credentials.

Username is <your account name>@plusdsl.net , password is the one you use to login to the member centre

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

Junkman — Mon, 13 May 2024 13:42:45 GMT

@MisterW thank you. I understand the Plusnet credentials bit but how do I configure my WAN as PPPoE?

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

MisterW — Mon, 13 May 2024 13:44:08 GMT

@Junkman what make/model is your existing router ?

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

Junkman — Mon, 13 May 2024 13:47:42 GMT

@MisterW it's a Billion 8800AXL R2.

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

Junkman — Mon, 13 May 2024 13:57:12 GMT

This page?

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

MisterW — Mon, 13 May 2024 14:02:11 GMT

@Junkman if you are already using on a PLusnet connection then you have a PPPoE connection on the DSL port.

You need similar settings but selecting the Ethernet/EWAN port, the exception being that you need to disable VLAN ID .

See page 97 onwards of the manual

This page?

The manual I'm looking at has an additional drop down at the top to allow selection of the WAN port

edit: look at page 110

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

Junkman — Mon, 13 May 2024 14:08:41 GMT

@MisterW really appreciate you taking the time to try to help me and I'm sorry to be dull, but which manual? I am indeed already on Plusnet and they are sending me a Hub 2 which I want to use in bridge mode. If I select the DSL page in my router interface then this is what I get. I can't see an Ethernet/Ewan port or anywhere to toggle VLAN

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

MisterW — Mon, 13 May 2024 14:13:25 GMT

@Junkman I'm looking at the manual downloaded from here http://www.billion.uk.com/esupport/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/413/123/bipac-8800axl-r2-full-user-manual

Are you sure yours is an 8800AXL ? If it is , then you don't need the Hub 2 at all.

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

Junkman — Mon, 13 May 2024 14:20:08 GMT

Thanks very much for guiding me to that.

So I think I need to add a WAN port on the WAN Service page using my Plusnet credentials and VLAN set to -1?

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

MisterW — Mon, 13 May 2024 14:25:12 GMT

Correct

Except as I said above, you don't actually need the Hub 2 at all. The 8800 DSL port can support VDSL2.

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

Junkman — Mon, 13 May 2024 14:31:53 GMT

So I don't need to change the VPI/VCI or Encapsulation mode or anything else?

I know I don't need the Hub 2, but I have a dropped sync speed problem (after 26 months of total stability) and Plusnet have more or less insisted that the only thing left to try is a more modern device than my 5 year old Billion. Just trying to find the easiest way to do that rather than configuring the Hub 2 for my LAN static IPs, virtual servers and open ports (all of which I'll need to figure out how to do when I'm fairly familiar with the Billion interface).

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

MisterW — Mon, 13 May 2024 14:35:41 GMT

Ok, lets step back a bit!.

I'd assumed you were upgrading from ADSL to Fibre, I'm guessing that was wrong.

What Plusnet product are you actually on ? and are you changing or is it just that PN think your router is causing the problem ?

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

Junkman — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:00:02 GMT

@MisterW No I'm on FTTC. A fair distance from the cabinet but my target SNR reset to 3 in early 2022, which gave me stable sync speeds 39-40 and a download speed c 38 on a quiet (rural) connection for more than 2 years. Then after 3 dropouts in 24hrs April 12/13, DLM reset the target SNR to 6 and my sync speed dropped to 32, where it stubbornly remains. I've jumped all the usual Plusnet hoops including changing my router (for another Billion - an 8800NL - that I have). Plusnet then closed the ticket said the fault had been resolved.

So I called them and sending me this Hub 2 is what they came up with 'cos my Router is 5 years old.

I'm happy to try anything if it makes sense, cos a 20% drop in speed matters when you are down as these speed levels. But if I'm wasting my time with this Hub 2 the it can go in the cupboard when it arrives.....

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

MisterW — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:00:33 GMT

Ok, I understand now. TBH I don't think the problem is your router BUT lets humour them!

Back to Plan A , add a WAN connection, port Ethernet , Type PPPoE as on page 110. Then set the Hub 2 in bridge mode, connect a LAN port (any of 1-3) to the 8800 EWAN port 5. You dont need to change any of the 8800 DSL port setttings, they should remain.

I'd be amazed if it makes any difference to your speed, it WILL make it difficult to see the DSL stats e.g sync speeds , since they are now in the Hub 2. The only way you can see them will be to connect a PC directly to the Hub 2 (which will ONLY be able to access the Hub 2 GUI i.e no internet ).

I suspect support said they will be able to run remote diagnostics with the Hub 2, they won't! (its in bridge mode)

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

Dan_the_Van — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:09:44 GMT

@MisterW

I was going to reply to @Junkman other thread here:- https://community.plus.net/t5/Fibre-Broadband/Billion-BiPAC-8900AX-R2-Setup-Guide/td-p/1327048 which will help explain the background.

Dangers of opening another thread for basically the same issue

HTH

EDIT: I thought it was a FTTC connection which is VDSL not ADSL

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

Junkman — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:10:54 GMT

@Dan_the_Van guilty as charged. But at wit's end and after posting didn't think anyone would see it there - in a thread with a different title - and there's no option to delete or I would have done! And yes, FTTC

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

MisterW — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:10:02 GMT

@Dan_the_Van thanks. I think the mods are doing some 'tweaking' to combine the threads ?

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

Junkman — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:15:33 GMT

@MisterW I think not seeing the connection stats might be a deal breaker. They actually didn't mention doing anything remotely they just left a ticket to call me back a week today. TBH the Plusnet guy I was talking to didn't seem to know even the basic terms that I as an IT numpty know. Kept having to refer to his boss. So if this is gonna make no difference I'd rather avoid the likelihood of hair-tearing!

Re: Idiot's guide to bridge mode

MisterW — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:27:21 GMT

I think not seeing the connection stats might be a deal breaker.

@Junkman I guessed that might be the case

I suspect that to get any traction on progressing a line fault (which is probably what it is!) you're going to have to 'bite the bullet' and replace the 8800 with the Hub 2 , at least for a little while so support have the ability to run remote diagnostics.

I appreciate its a pain to re-setup reserved addresses and port forwards but I'm not sure there's any other way to progress a fault.

I understand where you're coming from , I've been with PN for many years and have always used my own router. I actually do have a Hub 2 but since I'm on FTTP, PN can run diagnostics direct to the ONT so there's no additional tests that a Hub 2 would help with.