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Cable router on BT broadband?

Just moved into a new house, only to find that the previous owners haven't cancelled their BT broadband. Line is still open, supposedly. Not sure if they're on ADSL or fibre.

I used to be on Virgin Media (cancelled services months ago when I moved in with a friend) and still have my Asus RT-AC56U router.
https://www.asus.com/uk/Networking/RTAC56U/

So while I'm waiting for them to sort that out I did a factory reset and connected it to the BT broadband socket. But it didn't get any internet connection.

Any idea why? Any special settings I need?

I don't have a landline phone - got rid of that years ago - so can't check if the phone line still works.

Thanks :)

Comments

  • techquest
    techquest Posts: 294 Forumite
    edited 23 February 2019 at 11:04PM
    You have to have the account details pertaining to your ISP in the router to get the service. The previous owners were BT and you were Sky different ISP's, so it won't work, you can't get a service your not paying for.
  • techquest wrote: »
    You have to have the account details pertaining to your ISP in the router to get the service. The previous owners were BT and you were Sky different ISP's, so it won't work, you can't get a service your not paying for.
    This was a router that was used previously on Virgin Media, not Sky. And it has no Virgin Media settings in it - it just connected to the output of the VM superhub.

    Or is that the key - do I need some BT equivalent of the VM superhub to sit inbetween the socket and router?

    And the previous owners are paying for it, and they don't live in the house any more so nobody's using it. So until I can get my own account it may as well be me. Unless the BT socket has some kind of spy camera and facial recognition so it knows I'm not the person on the account, that can't be the reason for it not working :)

    I want to pay for it, I just can't.
  • Robisere
    Robisere Posts: 3,237 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    edited 23 February 2019 at 11:56PM
    Previous owners may have had a password for the BT broadband service to the router they used. The initial password would have been on the rear or base of their router, but they could also have changed that through their router's webpage. Which is the first thing I do when I install a new router to a new ISP.

    That is a very good router, btw, but you need the password. As I understand it, you are setting up BT as your next ISP. Are they sending you a router, or are you using your own? Either way, your ISP will give you a password in their documentation or on the router.
    I think this job really needs
    a much bigger hammer.
  • emptybox
    emptybox Posts: 442 Forumite
    edited 24 February 2019 at 1:00AM
    This was a router that was used previously on Virgin Media, not Sky. And it has no Virgin Media settings in it - it just connected to the output of the VM superhub.

    Or is that the key - do I need some BT equivalent of the VM superhub to sit inbetween the socket and router?

    And the previous owners are paying for it, and they don't live in the house any more so nobody's using it. So until I can get my own account it may as well be me. Unless the BT socket has some kind of spy camera and facial recognition so it knows I'm not the person on the account, that can't be the reason for it not working :)

    I want to pay for it, I just can't.

    What you need is the username and password for the previous owners so you can enter it into the settings of your router. Otherwise you'll get nowhere.

    In fact it might be a blasted nuisance trying to get their broadband off the line before you can get a service of your own set up.
    Unless you are planning to go with Virgin fibre?
  • unforeseen
    unforeseen Posts: 7,400 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    You will also need a modem. That router does not have an inbuilt modem to accept ADSL/Fibre.
  • JJ_Egan
    JJ_Egan Posts: 20,281 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    As above it has no modem its a router.
    Could be used via Ethernet to extend wifi signal from BT Hub ..
  • stragglebod
    stragglebod Posts: 1,324 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Thank you everyone, I'll see if I can scrounge a modem from someone she see if that works.
  • You will still need account details, and you need to find if it is ADSL or VDSL, plus they may be unbundled eg SKY/TT
    4.8kWp 12x400W Longhi 9.6 kWh battery Giv-hy 5.0 Inverter, WSW facing Essex . Aint no sunshine ☀️ Octopus gas fixed dec 24 @ 5.74 tracker again+ Octopus Intelligent Flux leccy
  • RumRat
    RumRat Posts: 5,024 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    If you haven't been able to check the phone line, how do you know for sure that the BB is still enabled.
    Drinking Rum before 10am makes you
    A PIRATE
    Not an Alcoholic...!
  • Any idea why? Any special settings I need?
    1. You need a modem - you only have a router at present.

    2. Even if you had a modem,you would still need the PPP username and password to log in to the broadband service.
    Proud member of the wokerati, though I don't eat tofu.Home is where my books are.Solar PV 5.2kWp system, SE facing, >1% shading, installed March 2019.Mortgage free July 2023
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