MTU Query

[#1]

Hi,
Wonder if anyone out there in forumland can help.
Occasionally I work from home and when I do so I cannot get my work's Microsoft Office Communicator software to work.  The software works fine when I'm in any of my employer's offices, but refuses to connect from home. I can link by VPN from home into my normal network, email, etc. just not Communicator. No-one else in my team seems to have these issues, although I think they use different ISPs (Sky/Virgin/BT).
After raising a call with my work's helpdesk they tried numerous things without success before I was directed to Plusnet with the suggestion that I needed an increase to my home broadband's MTU.
Having just spoken with Plusnet Technical Support they tell me that they cannot do anything about this. They have suggested that a different router may help, but I would have to arrange that myself (and no I can't see work buying it for me!).
So I guess what I want to know is:
1. Is it definitely an MTU issue or should I be looking at something else?
2. Would a different router enable me to increase the MTU?
3. If so does anyone have any suggestions for a new router?
4. If I get a new router is it easy to change the MTU myself (I am definitely NOT a tekkie).
I'd be grateful for any help. Cheers.

[#2]

I think it very unlikely that you need to increase the MTU, don't know about the new PN router but the Technicolor one already has the recommended maximum MTU of 1492.
You may need to reduce the MTU, this is often suggested for VPN issues, I suggest you try a MTU setting of 1400, if that works try increasing it to 1458 and pick the highest one which works.
The MTU setting in the Technicolor router can be configured via telnet -- see the following instructions.
http://npr.me.uk/telnet.html#mtu
You can find your present MTU settings by clicking the following link:
http://www.speedguide.net/analyzer.php

[#3]

Hi CFWanderer,
MTU is generally considered a basic connection setting so it should be fairly obvious on a router that allows you to alter it manually.
As for which router I'll have to leave that for non-staff members but I'm sure someone will be able to make a recommendation.

[#4]

There are 2 mtu settings one is on the router and the other in windows both could have an effect your best testing to the destination your trying to reach with this test http://www.letmecheck.it/mtu-test.php you can change the mtu in windows