@geekPete try this page for some help maybe http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=40&topicid=195243

http://screenshots.portforward.com/routers/Technicolor/TC7210.dNZ/DMZ_Host.htm

Thanks for the suggestions PhantomDB. :)

Latest update:

Rang VF tech support just now, to see about possibility of setting the device to bridge/CM (cable modem) mode. While I was waiting for Andrew to get back with an answer, I set the DMZ setting to the external IP of my Tomato router (192.168.0.254), clicked [Apply], then tested the port forwarding, using the Open Port Check Tool at http://www.yougetsignal.com/tools/open-ports/

Blow me down with a rubber duck... it now works! Yay.....and hmmmm....because it's still feeling like a Wellington house built of bricks. :\

So I set the DMZ setting back to 192.168.0.0 (Off), clicked [Apply]. Still works. Huh?

So here's what's different than last night, and/or what may have triggered the setup to work as required:

1) VF did something overnight that increased my speed from the old 15/2 to 100/10, since yesterday's upgrade "didn't get fully completed" during the install in the day. This may have something to do with remotely reseting the Technicolor, or not (maybe just a local VF node thing)...?

2) I rebooted my internal Win7x64 server that the port-forwards were being directed to. My assessment that the port forwarding wasn't working was based on a "no response" to an outside-initiated scan, rather than looking at any logs of what's going through the router. It may be that its networking stack got corrupted by me adding an additional IP+gateway+DNS to its NIC (for when I was testing it with the initial 192.168.0.x subnet of the TColor), and then removing it later. That would be odd though, since last night, the server was responding fine to networking requests on its ports (e.g. File Sharing, Web requests) from the inside, before the reboot...?

3) Setting the DMZ on the TColor triggered its Port Forwarding to work properly...?

4) The passage of time to allow the power of blasphemy to do its magic...?

FYI: VF tech support said:

1) No, as a matter of policy, they would not replace the Technicolor with the previously-dispensed Cisco bridge. It's the TC or nothing.

2) They would/could not put the TC into bridge mode, though they said it could be done "apparently", but didn't have any docs on how to do the "unsupported" procedure, nor could they tell me if anyone else had actually done it.

So if there's any problems from no on, my only option would be to cancel the service. But for now, my email is being delivered, and my fingers are crossed. :|

BTW, VF support was absolutely immediate at answering the phone -- on all 3 occasions, no waiting! -- which was a massively pleasant surprise, given past experience. (Plus friendly, patient and as good as you could expect!). So well done, VF TechSupport Makeover Project 2016! 4-stars (-1 star, because of the lack of flexibility towards our more geeky setups)  :)

Can you folks use Technicolor as this is the product name? People using any "funny words" will get a banhammer.

freitasm:

 

Can you folks use Technicolor as this is the product name? People using any "funny words" will get a banhammer.

 

What is a "banhammer"

Methinks "BanHammer" is a "funny word", and consequently deserving of a Technicolor. ;D

freitasm: I think GeekPete just found out what a ban is.

Sorry if this has already been discussed, but can I plug in an old router and use it as an access point (I think that's what it's called)? The Technicolor's wireless performance is so bad and I have the latest software. I need to try something!

MarkCerny:

 

Sorry if this has already been discussed, but can I plug in an old router and use it as an access point (I think that's what it's called)? The Technicolor's wireless performance is so bad and I have the latest software. I need to try something!

 

Yep

Turn off WIFI on the technicolor. Turn Bridge mode on with your AP so that all dhcp comes from the technicolor. For a simple home setup it should be adequate, and doing little more than media convert cable to Electrical Ethernet

Awesome! I'll give it a go tonight and report back!

I was in a charity shop the other day and spotted an vodafone old cisco cable modem (I hope).

I'm hoping I will be able to set my static IP and it'll magically work, letting me use my own router.