Plusnet Router problems

woody2234

I have a Plusnet router which is a Technicolor TG582n but the "Internet" green light sometimes goes red then internet does not work, Do you think its a good idea to get a new router and if I did do I just put in my name (SSID) and password (KEY) which is on my Plusnet card I have.

What about this one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Belkin-Wireless-ADSL-Modem-Router-for-talktalk-BT-plusnet-EE-orange-sky-NEW-/121858827317?hash=item1c5f5a2435:g:UdMAAOSwFL9Tvk9x

grumbler

I think the name and the password ('key') are for the router, not for Plusnet.

You can try a different router, but I don't think this will help. It happens with all routers, and I just reboot mine (reset connection?) by switching it off/on in such cases.

Alter_ego

Plusnet replaced my router free of charge when I had a problem. Had to pay postage though.

londonTiger

if you are asking questions about SSID (the username and password to connect to wifi) in relation to the actual internet connection (router to pone line).

My hunch is that you will struggle a lot if you change the router. The ISP supplied router [although hopelessly bad in terms of performance] is meant to be plug and play. It will either autodetect all settings and connect or will be preconfgured with all settings apart from 1 or two and a factsheet will tell you how to do the rest.

I have used a few aftermarket routers and it is a PITA to get working. Each router company uses it's own terminolgy in the setup and asks you to enter values in boxes you've never heard or seen before. It makes a relatively experienced compuer guy like me feel like a luddite. To be honest, each and every time I've set up an aftermarket router it's been 25% skill and 75% trial and error, basically entering every single combination of settings and one managed to work.

Either get a computer expert to set up an aftermarket router for you, or dont bother messing with it at all.

Norman_Castle

Try changing the cable between the router and phone socket. I recently had a permanent red light on mine after moving the cable to replace the flooring. New cable fixed it.

esuhl

woody2234 wrote: »

I have a Plusnet router which is a Technicolor TG582n but the "Internet" green light sometimes goes red then internet does not work...

I have the same router with Sky. And every now and then it loses Internet connectivity and I have to log in to the router's web interface and reconnect. I'm not sure if it's the ISP's line, or a dodgy router (but I suspect the latter).

If it happens a lot, I'd speak to Plusnet. Maybe get them to send you a replacement router and test the line if that doesn't help.

I tried using my own router with Sky, and although it worked, my Internet speeds halved. I'm not sure why. I noticed that there's a backdoor into the router that allows Sky to change certain settings automatically, so maybe they have some kind of weird firmware on the router that lets them tweak things in a way that isn't easy/possible with your own router...?

grumpycrab

esuhl wrote: »

If it happens a lot, I'd speak to Plusnet. Maybe get them to send you a replacement router and test the line if that doesn't help.

Agree. Plusnet - ok they're big - but not half as bad as BT to talk too. The usual checks :-

1. goto http://speedtest.btwholesale.com/
Click yes and start the speed test
Note your speed then click Further Diagnostics, enter your landline number and Run...
Your IP profile should be slightly higher than your speed.
Are these what you're expecting? If you're not sure what speed you SHOULD be getting goto
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/products/broadband-packages
and enter your phone and postcode for a guesstimate...

2. try router at master socket if its not already there

I had similar disconnects and upgraded to a cheapish billion. This one. Less disconnects.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Billion-8800NL-Gigabit-Wireless-Router/dp/B00K6D2ESM
Seems a bit pricey @amazon - I bought at nearer £50.

cajef

londonTiger wrote: »

t makes a relatively experienced compuer guy like me feel like a luddite. To be honest, each and every time I've set up an aftermarket router it's been 25% skill and 75% trial and error, basically entering every single combination of settings and one managed to work.

Either get a computer expert to set up an aftermarket router for you, or dont bother messing with it at all.

Hardly an experienced computer guy if you cannot do a simple job like setting up a router what do you think people did before ISP's started to send out routers with pre-set plug and play, you hardly need to be a computer expert.

londonTiger

cajef wrote: »

Hardly an experienced computer guy if you cannot do a simple job like setting up a router what do you think people did before ISP's started to send out routers with pre-set plug and play, you hardly need to be a computer expert.

ISPs have always provided routers since adsl. (56k you dont need a router - pc connected directly to the phone line).

Have you actually bought a aftermarket router and set it up yourself? There are so many variables and a lot of ISPs don't tell you if they are PPPoE, LT2P, PPTP, Dynamic IP, Static IP connection. You can search these online and work out whaty they are but you wont get any further clarity on which one to pick. Additionally I have purchased static IP from my ISP but is this the same as what this setting page is asking for? short answer is no. In the end you just have to flick through each one and work out which looks right and then wing it.

If you cant tell the difference between wifi settings and internet connection settings I think it's going to be a real struggle.

Gloomendoom

londonTiger wrote: »

if you are asking questions about SSID (the username and password to connect to wifi) in relation to the actual internet connection (router to pone line).

My hunch is that you will struggle a lot if you change the router. The ISP supplied router [although hopelessly bad in terms of performance] is meant to be plug and play. It will either autodetect all settings and connect or will be preconfgured with all settings apart from 1 or two and a factsheet will tell you how to do the rest.

I have used a few aftermarket routers and it is a PITA to get working. Each router company uses it's own terminolgy in the setup and asks you to enter values in boxes you've never heard or seen before. It makes a relatively experienced compuer guy like me feel like a luddite. To be honest, each and every time I've set up an aftermarket router it's been 25% skill and 75% trial and error, basically entering every single combination of settings and one managed to work.

Either get a computer expert to set up an aftermarket router for you, or dont bother messing with it at all.

I'm on Plusnet and I am not a computer expert. I have never found third party routers that hard to set up. The necessary settings are available from the Plusnet website.

http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/hardware/broadband-connection-settings.shtml

esuhl

londonTiger wrote: »

ISPs have always provided routers since adsl.

No they haven't. Many provided a "digital modem" (essentially a network bridge) that connected an ADSL line to a single PC (no built-in NAT support) via USB.

But routers can be fiddly to set up because the call-centre staff that work for ISPs don't know the first thing about networking or computers, so can't tell you what settings to use. It's depressing when you ask to speak to someone in the technical department only to find out that you already are. And the user interface of some consumer-level routers is appalling.