TP-Link C3200 won't connect

[#1]

This is how my C5 log show the whole connection

Feb 17 00:44:34  PPP            ERROR   LCP down
Feb 17 00:44:34  PPP            WARNING LCP down
Feb 17 00:44:34  PPP            INFO    send_phase 2196 pppd_phase = 0x4
Feb 17 00:44:34  PPP            INFO    In pppd the httpd-id is 603, set link phase is 0x4
Feb 17 00:44:34  PPP            INFO    sent [LCP TermReq]
Feb 17 00:44:34  PPP            INFO    rcvd [LCP TermAck]
Feb 17 00:44:34  PPP            INFO    send_phase 2196 pppd_phase = 0xa
Feb 17 00:44:34  PPP            INFO    In pppd the httpd-id is 603, set link phase is 0xa
Feb 17 00:44:34  PPP            INFO    send_phase 2196 pppd_phase = 0x0
Feb 17 00:44:34  PPP            INFO    In pppd the httpd-id is 603, set link phase is 0x0
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            NOTICE  call pppoeFormatCmd
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            NOTICE  Standard authentication.
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            NOTICE  g_cmdBuf:pppd pppoe  rp_pppoe_service "Plusnet"  eth0.2 defaultroute unit 0 noaccomp nopcomp httpd-pid 603 user_len 18 passwd_len 9  special-flag 100 mru 1492 mtu 1492
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    send_phase 2196 pppd_phase = 0x2
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    In pppd the httpd-id is 603, set link phase is 0x2
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    sent [PADI Service-Name:Plusnet Host-Uniq(0x00000709)]
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    rcvd [PADO AC-Name:acc-aln2.bdy AC-MAC:a0:f3:e4:33:f8:32]
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    sent [PADR Host-Uniq(0x00000709)]
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    rcvd [PADS Service-Name:Plusnet sess-id(255)]
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    send_phase 2196 pppd_phase = 0x4
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    In pppd the httpd-id is 603, set link phase is 0x4
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    sent [LCP Req mru=1492 magic=0x2b063398]
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    rcvd [LCP Req mru=1492 auth=chap-MD5 magic=0x63da45c0]
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    sent [LCP Ack mru=1492 auth=chap-MD5 magic=0x63da45c0]
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    rcvd [LCP Ack mru=1492 magic=0x2b063398]
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    send_phase 2196 pppd_phase = 0x5
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    In pppd the httpd-id is 603, set link phase is 0x5
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    rcvd [CHAP Challenge (97b69f500462c7b54246dceccebb81d197db8cb5d7e879b1a38de927e55656fd8df54e915916c61bdca387ab600a7e77e50bac3ef426ef9834593f1a3096), name = "acc-aln2.bdy"]
Feb 17 00:44:38  PPP            INFO    sent [CHAP Response (b202b5989d25a3c4ad164000f0ea92b1), name = "username@plusdsl.net"]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    rcvd [LCP Req auth=chap-MD5 magic=0x34f64b9c]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            ERROR   LCP down
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            WARNING LCP down
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    send_phase 2196 pppd_phase = 0x4
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    In pppd the httpd-id is 603, set link phase is 0x4
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    sent [LCP Req mru=1492 magic=0x8c14a3e0]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    sent [LCP Ack auth=chap-MD5 magic=0x34f64b9c]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    rcvd [LCP Ack mru=1492 magic=0x8c14a3e0]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    send_phase 2196 pppd_phase = 0x5
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    In pppd the httpd-id is 603, set link phase is 0x5
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    rcvd [CHAP Challenge (7c34c2951e0e7fb8b2210a6cc023c1f2450ca815ca84a4448f7dadb50ca4), name = "JUNOS"]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    sent [CHAP Response (06f3c99d81cec4cde6fb8ac4cc51f094), name= "username@plusdsl.net"]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    rcvd [CHAP Success ""]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    send_phase 2196 pppd_phase = 0x7
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    In pppd the httpd-id is 603, set link phase is 0x7
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    sent [IPCP Req addr=0.0.0.0]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    rcvd [IPCP Nak addr=81.174.129.223]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    sent [IPCP Req addr=81.174.129.223]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    rcvd [IPCP Ack addr=81.174.129.223]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    rcvd [IPCP Req addr=195.166.130.151]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    sent [IPCP Ack addr=195.166.130.151]
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO     ipcpup : ipcp_wantoptions[0].default_route = 1^M
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO      delete old gateway^M
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    send_phase 2196 pppd_phase = 0x8
Feb 17 00:44:39  PPP            INFO    In pppd the httpd-id is 603, set link phase is 0x8
Feb 17 00:44:41  PPP            NOTICE  PPPoE connected
F

 What is missing is that the router does not receive from  Plusnet the following

INFO    rcvd [LCP Req auth=chap-MD5 magic=0x34f64b9c]

After the CHAP Challenge and Response sequence. Instead Plusnet send an LCP EchoRep after which the router just tries to renegotiate the LCP phase and fails.

[#2]

@Anonymous

If you are looking at message just above your question, the logs are from the old working router not the C3200.

[#3]

@Anonymous I have posted logs for the working old router (which does indeed connect) & the non connecting new router. Which log are you looking at? I think you are confusing the working (old)router logs in post 104 with the non-working (new) router logs in post 103

@SpendLessTime @godsell4 

[#4]

---

@SpendLessTime wrote:

This is how my C5 log show the whole connection

 What is missing is that the router does not receive from  Plusnet the following

INFO    rcvd [LCP Req auth=chap-MD5 magic=0x34f64b9c]

After the CHAP Challenge and Response sequence. Instead Plusnet send an LCP EchoRep after which the router just tries to renegotiate the LCP phase and fails.

---

@SpendLessTime @Anonymous @godsell4

What's causing it do you think or what would fix it?

[#5]

@laralou, @SpendLessTime - I am confusing these, so I was right, I was missing something; 'The Obvious!'

[#6]

Yep and those logs show the PPP session getting connected, which has to happen *before* the CHAP authentication will work. On the AC3200 we do not see the PPP session connect successfully.

It really sounds daft, but can you please try a different ethernet cable to connect the BT modem to the AC3200?

[#7]

@godsell4 I had already tried this, but I've just tried again, both cables work on the old router. The new router doesn't connect with either

[#8]

I'm out of ideas.

It could be

1. a dodgy WAN port in the router or
2. the router code has a fault or
3. who knows what else.

As it is a new router, could you get the supplier to replace it under warranty as a fault?

Or could you try the C3200 at  a friend or family members house? You would have to disconnect the old working router at home first though as it would cause issues have 2 routers with the same Plusnet login details trying to connect.

Or you could push the issue onto TP-Link support.

But sorry I cannot think of any other options.

[#9]

@SpendLessTime

I really appreciate everyone's help. I contacted TP-Link last week & was on the phone forever trying different things. Then they got me to send them the log & said a 'senior engineer' would look at it & I'd be contacted within 24hrs. Four days later they haven't contacted me again so I just rang them to be told the engineers are now on 'holiday' & I have to wait another two days.

I made clear that I can't keep waiting, that the longer I take to send it back, if it is a router fault, the more suspicious it looks to the retailer.

For 168 quid item I'd expect better service. They now said they'll find someone to look at the log & phone me back in an hour after I made clear that if they don't give me a yay or nay on whether they think it is faulty or not I'll switch brands & get the equivalent in an ASUS or something.

[#10]

@laralou the routers from most makers are based on chipsets from Broadcom and Qualcomm and even if you switch to Asus from TP-Link, you may well find it has the same chipset as the AC3200 and the same problems.

[#11]

@godsell4 TP-Link phoned back & said it might be a compatibility issue but they can't tell me for two days, when I'll have to troubleshoot with them again

[#12 · Accepted solution]

@godsell4 @SpendLessTime @Anonymous

After many many hours back & forth with TP-link  involving using something called wireshark to capture & record what the router was doing & some diagnostic firmware. Finally they have sent me some new firmware that works.

Thank you for all your help on the forum I really appreciate it.

They said that the next firmware released on the tp-link website will have this problem fixed but for now I'm to use their custom made test firmware.

I asked what the cause of the problem was & they said

"It's hard to say as it's too technical for common users. It's related to the negotiation process of PPPoE connection. We changed a little on its mechanism and solved the issue.

In addition, this issue will be fixed in the next official firmware release. So you can upgrade to the latest official firmware if its version is newer than 160116(not yet)."

Thanks again

[#13]

@laralou - That's great news, glad to hear it's all sorted now.

[#14]

@Anonymous 

I'm so relieved, even if the c3200 does look like a dead spider on its back. A gothic router.

[#15]

That is good news for sure.

Please could you send a copy of the router logs again, pretty sure we will see the PPP session properly negotiate this time.