FFTC suitable multi WAN routers

davidthornton · Dec 31, 2010, 09:45:29

I had my FTTC installed yesterday. Would love to post my stats screenshot from the BT checker, but need to make 2 more posts to be able to do so.

Rik · Dec 31, 2010, 09:46:01

So reply to this.

Glenn · Dec 31, 2010, 09:48:05

David,

to the happy forum

davidthornton · Dec 31, 2010, 10:08:30

Quote from: Rik on Dec 31, 2010, 09:46:01
So reply to this.

Thanks. I didn't want to appear to spam!

davidthornton · Dec 31, 2010, 10:09:29

Quote from: Glenn on Dec 31, 2010, 09:48:05
David, to the happy forum

Thanks for the kind welcome.

davidthornton · Dec 31, 2010, 10:12:05

These are my results attached. I am quite close to the Fibre cabinet. Perhaps 30 metres. The Openreach engineer did the test with his equipment from the master socket and showed me results showing pretty much full speed both up and down. He told me that other lines he'd installed had shown less favourable results than mine. Unfortunately my download speed is quite low.

Rik · Dec 31, 2010, 10:15:46

It is, isn't it, I wonder why?

Steve · Dec 31, 2010, 10:41:55

David

What's the connection from the VDSL modem , i.e router and PC connection, cable or wireless.

davidthornton · Dec 31, 2010, 11:01:38

Quote from: Steve on Dec 31, 2010, 10:41:55
David

What's the connection from the VDSL modem , i.e router and PC connection, cable or wireless.

I've got the modem connecting into port 1 of a Draytek 3300V 4 WAN port router. The LAN side of that connects into a Gigabit Ethernet switch which has this computer connected into it, that I ran the speed test from. Wireless is separate access points. There is a chance that it could be the Draytek 3300V throughput but I also have Virgin Media 50Mbit here and can usually get better speeds from that through port 2 on the same 3300V router (I've even had the full 50Mbit out of it through this router, but I am waiting to have a VM Engineer come and adjust the power settings here as it's not performing optimally either at the moment).

The speed test I did this morning is slower than other speed tests I can do via BBmax or Speedtest.net.

I have considered connecting the VDSL modem directly into a laptop and making a dial up PPoE connection to it to see if that improved.

Steve · Dec 31, 2010, 11:05:37

I suppose the direct PPPOE will rule out the router but as you say it has shown with VM it can do the job, BT will be up to no good somewhere along the path.

Rik · Dec 31, 2010, 11:06:26

Quote from: davidthornton on Dec 31, 2010, 11:01:38
I have considered connecting the VDSL modem directly into a laptop and making a dial up PPoE connection to it to see if that improved.

It would be worth a try.

Lance · Dec 31, 2010, 17:10:05

Indeed. Some Netgear routers have been shown up by FTTC as not being fast enough but not other makes as far as I know (yet).

Simon · Dec 31, 2010, 21:06:55

Quote from: davidthornton on Dec 31, 2010, 10:08:30
Thanks. I didn't want to appear to spam!

Believe me, David, you wouldn't have had the chance with Rik the Spam Rottweiler at the door!

Rik · Jan 01, 2011, 11:39:17

Simon · Jan 01, 2011, 12:36:32

davidthornton · Jan 03, 2011, 05:39:51

I managed to make a PPoE dialup connection directly to IDnet FTTC, from a 10/100 FE port on a laptop running Windows XP Professional. I have attached the results. As you can see, they are substantially better than when I go through the router. I've also tested my Virgin Media 50Mbit connection, by DHCPing the cablemodem directly from the same laptop. The speeds were near perfect. I can therefore only conclude that the Draytek 3300V router I have has a throughput ceiling. This is slightly strange because I know I have, in the past, achieved 50Mbit from Virgin Media through this router on WAN port 2. I've looked through the settings but I cannot see anything that would be restricting things. I am currently trying to find out more about the capabilities of my 3300V (which is several years old and has no GE ports on it). However I've noticed that this new 4 WAN port router should be out in February. It supports 150Mbit throughput, so I am probably going to purchase it.

I am very, very pleased with FTTC vs the previous LLU ADSL2+ I had. The telephone exchange where I live is several kilometers away. The FTTC and copper cabinet are very close. I noticed that nobody seems to have achieved an upload speed above 8Mbit, so I am wondering if OpenReach are enforcing a limit at about that? Also, does anyknow know if it would be possible to bond two IDnet FTTC connections or is that not possible because it is not a LLU product and IDnet do not have equipment in my exchange; just OpenReach?

Thanks.

Rik · Jan 03, 2011, 11:10:38

Afak, IDNet don't offer bonding, David.

pctech · Jan 03, 2011, 20:21:16

Don't think any ISP that uses BT for ADSL tails does apart from BT themselves of course

Technical Ben · Jan 03, 2011, 21:48:08

Quote from: pctech on Jan 03, 2011, 20:21:16
Don't think any ISP that uses BT for ADSL tails does apart from BT themselves of course

Only those who use BT as a fall back to when there is nothing in the exchange. IDNet use BT Wholesale exclusively (AFAIK). Where as the likes of O2 use their LLU equipment, and fall back to BT (but with insignificant bandwidth/services purchased it would appear) when there is no LLU.

kev445 · Jan 04, 2011, 08:42:55

Quote from: davidthornton on Jan 03, 2011, 05:39:51
I managed to make a PPoE dialup connection directly to IDnet FTTC, from a 10/100 FE port on a laptop running Windows XP Professional. I have attached the results. As you can see, they are substantially better than when I go through the router. I've also tested my Virgin Media 50Mbit connection, by DHCPing the cablemodem directly from the same laptop. The speeds were near perfect. I can therefore only conclude that the Draytek 3300V router I have has a throughput ceiling. This is slightly strange because I know I have, in the past, achieved 50Mbit from Virgin Media through this router on WAN port 2. I've looked through the settings but I cannot see anything that would be restricting things. I am currently trying to find out more about the capabilities of my 3300V (which is several years old and has no GE ports on it). However I've noticed that this new 4 WAN port router should be out in February. It supports 150Mbit throughput, so I am probably going to purchase it.

I am very, very pleased with FTTC vs the previous LLU ADSL2+ I had. The telephone exchange where I live is several kilometers away. The FTTC and copper cabinet are very close. I noticed that nobody seems to have achieved an upload speed above 8Mbit, so I am wondering if OpenReach are enforcing a limit at about that? Also, does anyknow know if it would be possible to bond two IDnet FTTC connections or is that not possible because it is not a LLU product and IDnet do not have equipment in my exchange; just OpenReach?

Thanks.

We used to use the Draytek 3300v and things slowed down if we used PPPOE or shaping (shaping was the speed killer), without pppoe or shaping the router would max out at about 70Mbit, I believe having many firewall rules would also slow it down. I tend not to touch Draytek equipment anymore, we now use PFSense on a 40Mbit leased line, which works very well.

Ray · Jan 04, 2011, 08:50:53

David

Holodene · Jan 04, 2011, 20:48:56

Quote from: kev445 on Jan 04, 2011, 08:42:55

We used to use the Draytek 3300v and things slowed down if we used PPPOE or shaping (shaping was the speed killer), without pppoe or shaping the router would max out at about 70Mbit, I believe having many firewall rules would also slow it down. I tend not to touch Draytek equipment anymore, we now use PFSense on a 40Mbit leased line, which works very well.

What sort of hardware is pfSense running on?

davidthornton · Jan 05, 2011, 00:14:13

Quote from: Holodene on Jan 04, 2011, 20:48:56
What sort of hardware is pfSense running on?

I intended to ask similar, but you beat me to it.

I used to have an old PC running FreeBSD and two dual NICs do all my routing and DHCP. I remember editing pf.conf.

I wanted to replace this with a solution that I could fit in 1-2U in my comms cabinet. It needed to be easily configurable, reliable and quiet. The Draytek 3300V, together with its FXO and FXS cards, seemed ideal at the time and for the most part it has been fine. However because the 3300V only has FE ports, and given Virgin Media will roll out 100Mbit by the summer, here, I know it's got be replaced at some point in 2011. My main requirements are the ability to accept three GE WAN connections (1 x PPoE, 1 x DHCP and a third which is currently a statically assigned ADSL2+) and allow me to decide which devices on my LAN use them, based on source IP or traffic type. I also want decent IPsec VPN support with good throughput when running with encrpyption. Any suggestions?

.Griff. · Jan 05, 2011, 00:54:19

Did we slightly go off topic?!?

davidthornton · Jan 05, 2011, 11:02:03

Quote from: .Griff. on Jan 05, 2011, 00:54:19
Did we slightly go off topic?!?

Yes. Perhaps the thread could be forked, so there's a seperate one for discussing FFTC suitable multi WAN routers?

Rik · Jan 05, 2011, 11:15:27

As if by magic...

Simon · Jan 05, 2011, 11:21:41

That cut the thread in half trick works so well.

Rik · Jan 05, 2011, 11:34:56

.Griff. · Jan 05, 2011, 12:29:55

Cheers Rik

Rik · Jan 05, 2011, 12:32:53

NP.

kev445 · Jan 06, 2011, 09:44:13

Quote from: Holodene on Jan 04, 2011, 20:48:56
What sort of hardware is pfSense running on?

They don't seem to do the same hardware anymore, the most recent version has a 600Mhz processer, where as our one has a 1Ghz, although 600Mhz may still be enough for 40Mbit (uses about 30% CPU when the 40Mbit is maxed out).

Link:
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=40
Word of warning though, their aftercare support is terrible!

I haven't purchased from this company, however I am planning on purchasing one as a backup.
http://linitx.com/viewcategory.php?catid=79&pp=79
The FX5622 looks like it would make a good business router.

You can however make your own, which would work out cheaper... They recommend Intel ports, as they have good offloading capabilities, which will save CPU.

Kev

davidthornton · Jan 15, 2011, 19:12:33

Quote from: Rik on Jan 03, 2011, 11:10:38
Afak, IDNet don't offer bonding, David.

Just something of interest and potential relevance; I've just read on the Bethere.co.uk forum that someone there has bonded FTTC with ADSL24. It's done with MLPPP. With a RouterBoard 750G running RouterOS. 73Mbit download, 14Mbit upload. I'm thinking of ditching Bethere ADSL for FTTC on my other line too. Before I consider putting standard BT Infinity on it, to compliment my IDnet FTTC on the other BT line, I wonder if IDnet would be able to offer bonded FTTC?

Holodene · Jan 15, 2011, 19:45:17

I'm really interested in bonded FTTC.

http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/otherisp/f/3955044-adsl24-bonded-fttc.html

davidthornton · Jan 15, 2011, 20:03:43

Quote from: Holodene on Jan 15, 2011, 19:45:17
I'm really interested in bonded FTTC.

http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/otherisp/f/3955044-adsl24-bonded-fttc.html

Probably the same guy who's posting on bethere.co.uk forum. I've just ordered one of those 750G's from LinITX.com - only about £50.

addendum: if IDnet are interesting in pursuing a trial of FTTC bonding, just as ADSL24 have with that customer, I'll happily request my MAC code from Bethere and sign up my second BT line for IDnet FTTC. Let me know.

.Griff. · Jan 15, 2011, 20:09:36

BTW seem to have enough problems keeping one FTTC connection working properly so it would be interesting to see what happens if you do end up bonding two FTTC lines.

davidthornton · Feb 28, 2011, 16:31:29

I haven't yet tried bonding. I'll consider doing it, and switching my ADSL2 connection to IDnet on a rolling monthly contract with no minimum time to allow me to test it before committing to a second IDnet FTTC. However I have no idea about how to configure the RouterBoard 750G. I've had a play with it but it's complicated and I haven't found the examples particularly helpful. Too many options! Does anyone think they can help with this?

Otherwise, I've replaced my Draytek 3300V with a Draytek 3200 which was made available last Thursday. It offers a definite improvement on the available throughput. I'm discussing it over on the draytek.co.uk forum.