Advanced Telecom Broadband Settings (for NetComm 3G29WN Gateway)

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Mycenius

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#90851 30-Sep-2011 23:14

Hi All,

I've just got a NetComm 3G29WN Gateway to replace my Cisco/Linksys WAG160N (as FWIW the latter periodically locks up the ADSL interface and has somewhat flaky wireless capability) - but for the life of me I cannot get the ADSL to work. The quick set-up function doesn't work (i.e. there is no connectivity after loading the user name & password) but when I check all the settings for the default ATM interface and the advanced WAN settings for the ADSL connection they all 'seem' to be right for what I know it should normally be for Telecom. Obviously this Router/Gateway has a bit more advanced functionality over the typical run of the mill residential/consumer ones so lacks some of the usual 'easy' set-up options - if anyone has configured one of these previously and/or similar gateways and could tell me what the full set of settings should be for Telecom for the ATM and the WAN that would be much appreciated (and if any of the possible DSL protocols should be disabled e.g. like the T1 one).

Many TIA.

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” -- Albert Einstein

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#527934 1-Oct-2011 01:24

A quick look at the router guides suggests that it is set by default to use a PPPoE connection. Telecom connections require PPPoA to be used.

It MAY be possible to change this in the Advanced Configuration area of the router. In this area you would want to set it to PPPoA VC-Mux VPI 0 VCI 100 and this should allow the router to establish a dsl connection.

HTH

BarTender

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#527953 1-Oct-2011 08:37

Isn't all the settings you need here:

http://telecom.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1180

I normally have the user as user@xtrabb.co.nz and password as "password". Since that is what is set on the default Thompson routers.

But apart from that all the other settings are correct as per the above link.

Mycenius

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#527954 1-Oct-2011 08:37

Thanks OH - and yeah I did all that - in fact it did detect the presence of ADSL sufficiently to default the new connection to PPPoA. The issues I perceived were with the UBR (there is no Auto or Default setting like most Routers, you have to choose with or without PCR, whether QoS should be enabled, etc.

However - strangely enough I left it all hooked up overnight - with no ADSL activity and reporting no connection - got up this morning and it's working fine?!!!

So it must have presumably been something at the Telecom end - I have picked up a Telecom IP Address in a completely different range to what I have had in the past (in fact I have had huge issues with Telecom over the last half of last year with their caching and proxies preventing access to many sites I use or own - and the use of a static IP for several months and other stuff may have affected my new router getting a proper connection with my account log on?) - It's now showing a stable connection with just over 7.6Mbps download and just shy of 0.9Mbps upload speeds - which is about the best you get in my part of my street even with ADSL2.

All fixed I guess - but still a rather strange experience...

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” -- Albert Einstein

Mycenius

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#527955 1-Oct-2011 08:46

BarTender: Isn't all the settings you need here:

http://telecom.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1180

I normally have the user as user@xtrabb.co.nz and password as "password". Since that is what is set on the default Thompson routers.

But apart from that all the other settings are correct as per the above link.

Hi BT - no that's the basic stuff that most simple modems & routers have (although it does clarify the T1 setting for the which Modulation to enable). It doesn't cover the couple of additional (advanced) settings that you have to set in the NetComm (most routers just do these as auto, or have no UI for setting them).

BTW - with Telecom you still want to have user.xadsl@xtra.co.nz logon (and your proper password same as your Xtra Email account) I believe - excluding the .xadsl bit puts you in a different pool of server farms/proxies/DNS/cache/etc (i.e. the masses) and won't pick up any special settings or such for your account - at least it does for me (as an older customer who's been on Telecom ADSL for many years) - e.g. you'll get a different dynamic IP and DNS servers usually if you add or remove the .xadsl bit...

...but I'm sure someone more familiar with Telecom technical stuff can clarify if that is the case or only affects older customers like myself, etc...

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” -- Albert Einstein

Mycenius

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#527969 1-Oct-2011 10:53

P.S. Can anyone advise if AnnexL should be enabled fro DSL Modulation for Telecom? And should Bitswap and/or SRA Capability also be enabled? TIA.

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” -- Albert Einstein

Mycenius

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#528051 1-Oct-2011 17:47

Mycenius: However - strangely enough I left it all hooked up overnight - with no ADSL activity and reporting no connection - got up this morning and it's working fine?!!!

P.S. I spoke to soon - about 30 minutes after my posts above it dropped it's ADSL link and I haven't been able to re-establish it all day...

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” -- Albert Einstein

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plambrechtsen

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#528206 2-Oct-2011 11:19

Mycenius:
BarTender: http://telecom.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1180

Hi BT - no that's the basic stuff that most simple modems & routers have (although it does clarify the T1 setting for the which Modulation to enable). It doesn't cover the couple of additional (advanced) settings that you have to set in the NetComm (most routers just do these as auto, or have no UI for setting them).

There shouldn't be anything other than what is in the above link you need to set no matter the make / model of ADSL hardware to get your connection working.

Mycenius: BTW - with Telecom you still want to have user.xadsl@xtra.co.nz logon (and your proper password same as your Xtra Email account) I believe - excluding the .xadsl bit puts you in a different pool of server farms/proxies/DNS/cache/etc (i.e. the masses) and won't pick up any special settings or such for your account - at least it does for me (as an older customer who's been on Telecom ADSL for many years) - e.g. you'll get a different dynamic IP and DNS servers usually if you add or remove the .xadsl bit...

...but I'm sure someone more familiar with Telecom technical stuff can clarify if that is the case or only affects older customers like myself, etc...

Unless you have a legacy static IP (which you will get now anyway with user@xtrabb.co.nz) or need to have inbound Port 25 open (if you are running a SMTP/Mail server on your DSL line) the preferable option is to use user@xtrabb.co.nz as that will direct you where appopriate via the local content servers and transparent proxies using the new DNS servers.

Mycenius: P.S. Can anyone advise if AnnexL should be enabled fro DSL Modulation for Telecom? And should Bitswap and/or SRA Capability also be enabled? TIA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU_G.992.3_Annex_L No to Annex L
BitSwap and / or SRA... No to that too.

Mycenius

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#528214 2-Oct-2011 11:35

plambrechtsen: Unless you have a legacy static IP (which you will get now anyway with user@xtrabb.co.nz) or need to have inbound Port 25 open (if you are running a SMTP/Mail server on your DSL line) the preferable option is to use user@xtrabb.co.nz as that will direct you where appopriate via the local content servers and transparent proxies using the new DNS servers.

Mycenius: P.S. Can anyone advise if AnnexL should be enabled fro DSL Modulation for Telecom? And should Bitswap and/or SRA Capability also be enabled? TIA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU_G.992.3_Annex_L No to Annex L
BitSwap and / or SRA... No to that too.

Thanks PB - I'll have another go at it today - but it just won't establish a DSL link at present (it's almost as if the hardware doesn't like something with my Telecom ADSL connection, or there is some undetectable interference on the line that it's especially touchy about)...

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” -- Albert Einstein

plambrechtsen

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#528281 2-Oct-2011 16:26

Mycenius: Thanks PB - I'll have another go at it today - but it just won't establish a DSL link at present (it's almost as if the hardware doesn't like something with my Telecom ADSL connection, or there is some undetectable interference on the line that it's especially touchy about)...

I would go back to the config which worked for you.

Plus I assume you have done the standard isolation test - remove all analogue phones & filters, plug in the router in directly to the phone jack.

Plus tried the router at someone elses house who has working ADSL to make sure it's configured correctly.

Are you on an exchange or a cabinet?

Mycenius

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#528346 2-Oct-2011 22:51

plambrechtsen:
Mycenius: Thanks PB - I'll have another go at it today - but it just won't establish a DSL link at present (it's almost as if the hardware doesn't like something with my Telecom ADSL connection, or there is some undetectable interference on the line that it's especially touchy about)...

I would go back to the config which worked for you.

Hi PB - Unfortunately that's not working - it didn't work originally on Friday evening, but then 'magically' started working sometime during the night (when I left it hooked up) - it then dropped the connection after I'd used it for an hour or so Sat morn (I did a soft reboot as I had updated the user name & password) and once it dropped the connection it couldn't re-establish it, even after I left it connected up for several hours on Saturday and tried several different configs (which I repeated again this morning unsuccessfully).

plambrechtsen: Plus I assume you have done the standard isolation test - remove all analogue phones & filters, plug in the router in directly to the phone jack.
Plus tried the router at someone elses house who has working ADSL to make sure it's configured correctly.

Yes I have done the isolation test (only a cordless phone & the MySky to disconnect so only took 2 minutes to do) - plus I know the line should be fine anyway because I have two other routers here (incl. the above mentioned Cisco Linksys WAG160N) and they are both working fine when I connect them up instead (I'm using the Linksys right now). Haven't gone to the extent of trying the router at another person's house though due to the latter...

plambrechtsen: Are you on an exchange or a cabinet?

I thought I was possibly on an exchange originally; but my street was supposedly ADSL2 upgraded in December, and there is a relatively new cabinet been installed about 400m or so down the road from me - so I'm assuming I'm on that...?

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” -- Albert Einstein

plambrechtsen

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#528454 3-Oct-2011 11:33

Mycenius: Yes I have done the isolation test (only a cordless phone & the MySky to disconnect so only took 2 minutes to do) - plus I know the line should be fine anyway because I have two other routers here (incl. the above mentioned Cisco Linksys WAG160N) and they are both working fine when I connect them up instead (I'm using the Linksys right now). Haven't gone to the extent of trying the router at another person's house though due to the latter...

A quick look on the Netcomm site there is NZ and AU firmware:

http://www.netcomm.com.au/sm/firmware/3g29wn

I assume you're running the NZ Firmware??

Have you logged a call with Netcomm or gone back to who you purchased the router off saying you are having issues since your WAG160N is working fine. Since you shouldn't need anything more than the settings on this page: http://telecom.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1180 and putting in your username / password as either your existing .xadsl if you have a legacy static IP or need port 25 open. Or better yet moving to user@xtrabb.co.nz with a password of password.

Mycenius:
plambrechtsen: Are you on an exchange or a cabinet?

I thought I was possibly on an exchange originally; but my street was supposedly ADSL2 upgraded in December, and there is a relatively new cabinet been installed about 400m or so down the road from me - so I'm assuming I'm on that...?

If you do a lookup of your address on the Telecom Wholesale site: http://bcc.telecomwholesale.co.nz/

It will show you if you're exchange or cabinet connected. As there have been known issues with some routers with some equipment, but those issues tend to get resolved by the hardware vendors with newer firmware (such as using the NZ firmware from Netcomm)

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Mycenius

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#528641 3-Oct-2011 17:58

plambrechtsen: A quick look on the Netcomm site there is NZ and AU firmware:

http://www.netcomm.com.au/sm/firmware/3g29wn

I assume you're running the NZ Firmware??

Have you logged a call with Netcomm or gone back to who you purchased the router off saying you are having issues since your WAG160N is working fine. Since you shouldn't need anything more than the settings on this page: http://telecom.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1180 and putting in your username / password as either your existing .xadsl if you have a legacy static IP or need port 25 open. Or better yet moving to user@xtrabb.co.nz with a password of password.

Thanks PB - and strangely enough that was on my list first thing this morning (the firmware) once I had a spare moment - thanks for the link, I'm gonna flash the firmware shortly as it's suggesting it's not NZ or AU. Once I've done that I will talk to the retailer (that I know well) about the unit if needed (e.g. if any known issues). I hadn't expected firmware to be an issue as it's a NZ new unit...

plambrechtsen: If you do a lookup of your address on the Telecom Wholesale site: http://bcc.telecomwholesale.co.nz/

It will show you if you're exchange or cabinet connected. As there have been known issues with some routers with some equipment, but those issues tend to get resolved by the hardware vendors with newer firmware (such as using the NZ firmware from Netcomm)

Thanks - that's a great tool - it's showing a cabinet with ADSL2+ & VDSL capability FWIW...

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” -- Albert Einstein

Mycenius

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#528656 3-Oct-2011 18:29

P.S. FWIW Firmware looks like it's a bust - the version showing in the config after 3 attempts at upgrading is K611-402NCN-T01_R01 (and the label has original version ending -T02_R02) but the NZ download has suffix -T01_R04 (and Australian one is -T02-R05). So I don't think its loading the new firmware (the file is 6MB zipped but the firmware process only runs for about 5-10 seconds which seems to quick and there's nothing in the onboard log I can see). So conclusion is probably a faulty unit - I'll have to log a job with NetComm I guess...

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” -- Albert Einstein

plambrechtsen

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#528693 3-Oct-2011 19:47

Mycenius: P.S. FWIW Firmware looks like it's a bust - the version showing in the config after 3 attempts at upgrading is K611-402NCN-T01_R01 (and the label has original version ending -T02_R02) but the NZ download has suffix -T01_R04 (and Australian one is -T02-R05). So I don't think its loading the new firmware (the file is 6MB zipped but the firmware process only runs for about 5-10 seconds which seems to quick and there's nothing in the onboard log I can see). So conclusion is probably a faulty unit - I'll have to log a job with NetComm I guess...

As per the instructions:

Click Update Software. Warning: do not power off the 3G29Wn during firmware update process. The process should take about 3-5 minutes.

I would download a copy of Portable Firefox to make sure your browser doesn't have any popup blockers or anything else that would prevent the upgrade from working.

Mycenius

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#528748 3-Oct-2011 21:55

plambrechtsen: I would download a copy of Portable Firefox to make sure your browser doesn't have any popup blockers or anything else that would prevent the upgrade from working.

Good point - I disabled my security software but didn't think of that - will give it a go - cheers.

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” -- Albert Einstein

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