A 2Wire Dual SSID BT2700HGV BT Business Hub

[LesD]

Having found in recent times that my tried, tested and well loved Single SSID 2Wire BT2700HGV BT Business Hub has become subject to the "12 day reboot" phenomenon, despite having the BT software version 5.29.107.19 in it, I bit the bullet, dug deep into my pocket and paid the princely sum of 99p + p&p for a brand new boxed and sealed 2Wire Dual SSID BT2700HGV BT Business Hub complete with all the associated bits and pieces. 

Today it arrived on the next day delivery service my eBay seller offered in his auction and it is it just as described with both a WEP key and a WPA key on the Serial Number label on the underside of the router. I powered it up and held in the Reset button for a count of 30 and then plugged the ethernet cable that came with it between one of its four ethernet ports and the ethernet LAN port on my old XP machine. This done I booted the XP box and went straight into the Summary Page and saw the information below but with the serial number displayed that I have removed before showing it on a public forum.

System Summary

System            
Model:   BT2700HGV         
Serial Number:            
MAC Address:   --:--:--:--:--:--         
Hardware Version:   2701-100589-005         
Hardware Options:   Wireless present         
DSL Modem Type:   ADSL         
Current Software:   5.29.117.6         
DSL Modem:   7.2.6         
            
Configuration            
Key Code:   528Y-27G4-A222-22BJ-B22V         
System Time:   Retrieving date and time settings from the Internet...         
Time Since Last Boot:   0 days 00: 09: 19         
Last ID Post:   Thursday, January 1, 1970
00:00:00 AM      

From what I have read the version of software I see above is vulnerable to BT's imposed upgrade to version 6 over which I have little control.
Is this correct?

I also understand that should this upgrade happen that I should still be able to use this Dual SSID Router with IDNet. I trust this is correct too.
I have read about the intricate process that is involved to get this working compared to what I have done previously with my version 5 software and found it a little daunting but I am sure you guys will get me through it when the time comes. 

For this evening I shall satisfy myself by getting my IDNet credentials, router access password and other setting done but I won't be connecting it on-line this evening because as dusk approaches I know my sync speed would be down at least 500 kbps and as I have 3520 kbps at the moment I don't want to jeopardise it unnecessarily.
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OK since writing the above information I have been to my XP machine and put my configuration settings into my new Dual SSID 2700HGV Router.
To do this I followed Alan's (Kinmel's) instruction towards the top of this Child Board and all went well but with this version of the BT software there was no no Remote Management box to remove the tick from at the Firewall Advanced Settings page.

This done I wanted to double check that my IDNet credentials were in so I used this URL:
http://gateway.2wire.net/xslt?PAGE=J05&THISPAGE=J15&NEXTPAGE=J05
to check and see.
Sure enough my user name looked OK so I guess my password is too but I noticed VCI was 35 not 38 and that the Encapsulation setting was Bridged whereas I use Routed VC-Mux in the older Single SSID Router so I decided to change them but like with the Single SSID router the Submit button would not work and I had to use the line: javascript:document.pagepost.submit()
in my brower's address bar to get these changed setting to take.
I now wonder if this change to these two settings was strictly necessary so I would be interested to hear from anyone who knows for sure.

I think I have my new router ready to connect to my ADSL line but it is dark now so I won't be doing it tonight.
I will post again when I have got it connected.

[kinmel]

This modem will eventually update to firmware V6 unless you change the acs_url using Simon's method ( There is an unconfirmed report that upgrades have been suspended since mid March 09 )

There are still problems using V6 to connect to non-BT ISPs, but progress is being made on developing a foolproof method to do so. Again Simon and Tripod lead the field on methodology

V6 has a number of known bugs for which no work around is available.

Enhanced Services ( Parental Control and Access Control ) can now be re-enabled on routers with Firmwares BT 5.29.107. 12 and BT 5.29.117.6 - with 5.29.107.12 the acs_url first needs to be changed to https://pbthdm.bt.motive.com/cwmpWeb/CPEMgt and on both Firmwares the Provisioning Code changed to 528Y-2374-A222-22BJ-B2QA.  The enhanced services will re-appear shortly afterwards.

[LesD]

  for putting all the links together here in one place in this thread for me Alan.

I have followed at least some of them already but have no experience of the Brower Opera so hold this aspect in a little awe.

Any thoughts on the fact that after the Factory reset VCI was 35 not 38 as mentioned above in this version of the 2700?

[kinmel]

Any thoughts on the fact that after the Factory reset VCI was 35 not 38 as mentioned above in this version of the 2700?

Except when using the Manual Provisioning Code, the DSL, ATM and Connection Type options are pre-set by the specific Provisioning Code selected.  BT's Codes automatically over-ride any user choices with VCI = 38, ATM ENC  = Routed VC-Mux and a PPPoA connection type,; so those entries shown on the page are irrelevant.

The Remote Management is also irrelevant since you don't use BT support for assistance 

[LesD]

Ah my ignorance is showing now! 

BT's Codes automatically over-ride any user choices with VCI = 38, ATM ENC  = Routed VC-Mux and a PPPoA connection type,; so those entries shown on the page are irrelevant.

I simply saw these setting in my IDNet Customer Account area and thought they had to be used. 

The Remote Management is also irrelevant since you don't use BT support for assistance 

I made sure this one was not ticked in my original single SSID 2700, when I first heard about automatic updates to v6 early on and read something Simon posted along the lines that it might stop it happening. I have read since that it does not but knowing I had the box in my v5 I noticed that it had gone in v6. As usual I expect I am playing catch up or simply had one of those "senior moments" I find that I am using as an excuse for a lot of things these days! 

Well having read all the useful advice you have once again provided for me in this thread and others today I have downloaded and installed Opera on my old XP box and done the deed having seen what you say below I have to concur.

Follow the guide and it is a simple process; be sure to use https://gw-5-29-117.cwmp.cms.2wire.com as the new acs_url.

One surprise was that having logged out and then back in again the extra bits in, Advanced – Configure Services -- Routing were no longer visible but at Advanced – Provisioning Information -- Server Set Configuration I could see that the change was still there so I guess this is as it should be.

Once again I am reluctant to try this new router on -line at this time of day because I know that if I do I will take a hit on my IP Profile so it will have to wait until tomorrow but fear not I will post again when there is more to tell. 

[LesD]

I made sure this one was not ticked in my original single SSID 2700, when I first heard about automatic updates to v6 early on and read something Simon posted along the lines that it might stop it happening. I have read since that it does not but knowing I had the box in my v5 I noticed that it had gone in v6.

In my last post the above should read:

I made sure this one was not ticked in my original single SSID 2700, when I first heard about automatic updates to v6 early on and read something Simon posted along the lines that it might stop it happening. I have read since that it does not but knowing I had the box in my v5.29.107.19 I noticed that it had gone in v5.29.117.6.

Sorry about that!  Another senior moment!

[Simon]

Yes, and sorry about the misleading reference to the Remote Management tick box.  I did only pass it as a suggestion, as it seemed logical, but I don't think any harm is done either way. 

[LesD]

Yes, and sorry about the misleading reference to the Remote Management tick box.  I did only pass it as a suggestion, as it seemed logical, but I don't think any harm is done either way. 

Certainly not Simon no worries on that score. Any port in a storm as they say and it certainly looked worth a try at the time! 
We can all be wiser after the event when more and better information come to light.

I can certainly concur with Alan, that the editing process using Opera is a straighforward one for anyone with reservations but be it on your own head, as they say, if you do decide to give it ago. 

For the 99p + p&p that I paid I was certainly up for it, especially with a couple of functional Single SSID ones and my original Netgear DG834 "Mk1" to fall back on! 

[LesD]

Here are some figures from the 2Wire Dual SSID BT2700HGV now that I have it connected to IDNet and in full service.

DSL                               Down  Up
Current Rate:             3136 kbs   448 kbs 
Max Rate:                  3136 kbs   1068 kbs 
Current Connection:
Current Noise Margin:    16.0 dB   26.0 dB 
Current Attenuation:     41.1 dB   26.0 dB 
Current Output Power:  19.0 dBm 11.9 dBm 

I lost 384 kbps with the resync despite leaving it until late morning!
I notice that the noise margin "Down" is being reported at about 1 dB higher than with the older Single SSID router.

Here is a cut and paste from the "Advanced – Provisioning Information" taken from under:
Server Set Configuration
periodic_enabled 1
periodic_base 0
periodic_interval 86400
acs_url https://gw-5-29-117.cwmp.cms.2wire.com
acs_username 
acs_passwd 2wiregateway
keycode 528Y-27G4-A222-22BJ-B22V
bootstrapped_keycode 
css_url css://css.cms.2wire.com:3428
pkgset_active 0
pkgset_url

This shows the modified ACS URL that I changed last evening using the Opera script editing technique from Simon at Tripod as recommended by Alan. 

[Rik]

I found that my older single-SSID gave me higher sync speeds, Les, but with the 12-day re-boot problem. Individual modems do seem to have their own performance characteristics, more so than on other brands.

[LesD]

I found that my older single-SSID gave me higher sync speeds, Les, but with the 12-day re-boot problem. Individual modems do seem to have their own performance characteristics, more so than on other brands.

Yes I recall minor differences between the two Single SSID ones I got about this time last year.

I went for a reboot earlier this afternoon and got a sync of 3424 kbps so if I can hold this I should get back to an IP Profile of 3500 kbps in a day or three.

I have just run a BT Speed Test and obtained the result below so it looks promising.
The other speed tests I have run this afternoon at BBMax have been a bit up and down and my pings are up in the 70's whereas normally at that site I see 53 ms. I wouldn't have thought that this could be anything to do with the new Router though. 

Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test:  -provides background information.
    Your DSL connection rate: 3424 kbps(DOWN-STREAM),  448 kbps(UP-STREAM)
    IP profile for your line is - 2500 kbps
    Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 2044 kbps

[Rik]

3424 will only get you 3M, Les, you need 4000 sync to get 3.5M.

[kinmel]

The 16dB SNR is way too high, is it deliberately set that high by BT ?

[Rik]

It could be DLM at work, Alan.

[LesD]

The 16dB SNR is way too high, is it deliberately set that high by BT ?

Having been at 12 dB from the time I got my 2Wire it seemed to jump to 15 dB last Summer time after one odd "noise" event. After a while I asked IDNet to get BT to reduce it and we went for a figure of 9 dB but not long after BT had set it to 9 dB it went back up to 15 dB. 

3424 will only get you 3M, Les, you need 4000 sync to get 3.5M.

With 12 dB I could sync at over 4000 kbps most of the time and get the IP Profile Rik has corrected me about, I should have said I was hoping to get back to 3000 kbps not 3500! 

The problem with my line/exchange is that during the evening after dusk has fallen my noise margin drops by 5 to 6 dB to 10 dB. It is this big change that seems to be an issue for me because the line attenuation is not too bad compared to some people's that I have seen.

[Rik]

I wonder if there's an industrial plant along the route of the cable, Les? That 15db NM target suggest some fairly intensive noise bursts. I also wonder whether an RF filter might help you, if BT could be persuaded to fit one...

[LesD]

I wonder if there's an industrial plant along the route of the cable, Les? That 15db NM target suggest some fairly intensive noise bursts. I also wonder whether an RF filter might help you, if BT could be persuaded to fit one...

Nothing industrial between my and the exchange that I am aware of but the Police Headquarters with a tall mast and lots of aerials is en route.
I don't know if such transmitters still use rectified AC for DC power but I know big radio ones did in years gone by so that's what I glare at when I go by.

[Rik]

Have you told IDNet about that, Les? As I say, a little part of me is wondering whether a BT RF filter might be the answer.

[LesD]

Have you told IDNet about that, Les? As I say, a little part of me is wondering whether a BT RF filter might be the answer.

No I haven't mentioned it to IDNet. I thought it was just a bit of my paranoia! 

I didn't know that BT fitted RF filters. You learn something new every day! 
I will see how I get on with this Dual SSID Router. If I can get past the 12 days maybe the noise margin will improve. From what I read if you can hold sync for 14 days the noise margin should come down by 3 dB. Being stuck with 12 day reboots I haven't made it to 14 days for months now.

Just got this at speed.io

[Rik]

I know that 12 day feeling. Luckily, I've never had a NM issue to make it a problem.

[LesD]

I know that 12 day feeling. Luckily, I've never had a NM issue to make it a problem.

Day one is done of hopefully twelve plus and many more at a sync of 3424 kbps with my new Dual SSID 2700 Router.
I have my  that if I can get passed the14 day mark that BT's DLM might work in my favour for a change. As usual time will tell. 

[LesD]

Well it took six days but I finally got my 3000 kbps IP Profile back by yesterday.

This evening I have just done a BT Speed Test with the following result:

Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test:  -provides background information.
    Your DSL connection rate: 3424 kbps(DOWN-STREAM),  448 kbps(UP-STREAM)
    IP profile for your line is - 3000 kbps
    Actual IP throughput achieved during the test was - 2784 kbps

I have now held sync with this new Dual SSID 2Wire Router for 7 days and almost 4 hours so  that I can get past 14 days.

[Rik]

It's looking promising, Les. I'll join you in a 

[Sebby]

And me...

[LesD]

Thanks guys!