IPv6 address suddenly not visible

krysia · Oct 03, 2020, 15:48:55

When I ran a Think Broadband speed check today, I was surprised it didn't show the IPv6 logo, which it has been doing since we switched to FTTC and enabled IPv6. I checked the router, and our IPv6 address is still there. I then ran an IPv6 test and found out it couldn't detect an IPv6 address (our previous score was 17/20). Anyone have any idea why our IPv6 address is suddenly invisible? I haven't changed any router settings, but we did have a power outage last night. The router rebooted itself when power was restored, and all its settings are as they were.

Postal · Oct 19, 2020, 23:28:25

Having exactly the same problem with a Billion 8800AXL. I don't know how long it has been happening but I only noticed a couple of days ago. We have had no recent power outages or other unforeseen events. We did have a couple of internet dropouts shortly after midnight about three or four weeks ago. I haven't managed to tie everything down yet but my first indications are:

1) It is affecting both of the laptops we have on line in our house.
2) My machine runs 24/7 (stuff like backing up overnight). When I open any browser in the morning, IPv6 is enabled and sites like http://ipv6-test.com/ or http://v6.testmyipv6.com/ show that IPv6 is connected.
3) At some random time later (but in multiples of 10 minutes) the IPv6 connection drops and the IPv6 test sites report no connection.
4) The router has remained connected to IPv6 as the ThinkBroadband Quality Monitor I have running for the IPv6 connection shows no problems.
5) I can restore the IPv6 connection by a re-boot of either computer or router, by disabling and re-enabling the Internet Protocol version 6 setting in the WiFi connection properties or by connecting to another WiFi source like dropping the 5GHz and connecting to the 2.4GHz network from the same router.
6) I haven't had time to see if the problem is also affecting an ethernet connection.

I queried this with IDNet support as it is an IDNet supplied router and they said they had had no similar reports and that I should raise a bug report with Billion. Not quite what I was expecting as it is a router they supplied which appears to have a problem.

Is anyone else having similar problems?

Ray · Oct 20, 2020, 08:38:30

Not seeing any problem with IPV6 connection on my Asus router.

krysia · Oct 22, 2020, 13:55:53

I've found that, if it drops and then reconnects, it takes some hours before IPv6 is visible again.

When I test my IPv6 connection, I get a good score but told there's a bit of room for improvement:

1) Your router or firewall is filtering ICMPv6 messages sent to your computer. An IPv6 host that cannot receive ICMP messages may encounter problems like some web pages loading partially or not at all.

2) There is no reverse DNS record to associate your IPv6 address with a host name. Reverse DNS records are required by some Internet protocols and are usually managed at the ISP level.

Re no. 1, I haven't enabled the firewall or IPv6 firewall on my router, so am a bit puzzled. Re no. 2, is that something that would be set automatically if IDNet provides it?

Postal · Oct 26, 2020, 22:26:22

I suspect that it may be kit-specific. Wife and I both have Dell Inspiron laptops with Qualcomm QCA9377 802.11ac Wireless Adapters. Our router is an IDNet supplied Billion 8800AXL R2. Both of our laptops are losing IPv6 connectivity through WiFi although the router is holding IPv6 connectivity with the WAN.

Today I dug out an old Realtek WiFi dongle (Realtek 8811CU Wireless LAN 802.11ac USB NIC), plugged this into my machine and disabled the supplied Adapter. Since then wife's laptop has continued to drop IPv6 connectivity but mine has remained up for the last 10 hours.

That seems to point to a problem in the interface between the router and adapter. If anyone has any ideas about any settings I can tweak to make the router and adapter play nicely together I would be grateful to hear them.

Postal · Nov 01, 2020, 17:50:05

Quick update.

I've been doing a bit more digging on line and also raised the problem on the ThinkBroadband Forum. I am now fairly confident that the problem is the Qualcomm Wireless Card. The online research showed users of other routers and computers having the same loss of IPv6 connectivity, the only common link being the Qualcomm card. When I connect by Ethernet cable I do not lose IPv6 connectivity; when I connect using a Realtek WiFi dongle I do not lose IPv6 connectivity; when I connect using the built in Qualcomm Wireless Card I lose IPv6 connectivity after a random interval. Exactly the same happens on an old HP Netbook we have in the house which has a Qualcomm Wireless Card. It is not a router problem as the same thing happens when we latch onto our neighbours BT HH6 and BT ISP.

My laptop is only 5 months old and bought direct from the manufacturer so I have complained to Dell. Their response was that it was happening to other computers as well as Dell so it was not their problem. However, they would book me an online session with one of their specialists for a £48 session with a no-fix no-fee guarantee. I have asked how we escalate the matter as the only issue that concerns me is that Dell have supplied me with a machine that does not work properly so I either want it fixed or a replacement machine the does work.

As a side note, I also contacted the Card vendor, Qualcomm and was fobbed off with the answer that they don't deal with riff-raff like the general public they only deal with the manufacturers and other professionals. Pity they are not worried about their reputation getting trashed by the general public.

I'll post back once Dell have responded. I would suggest that anyone else having the same problem should contact the supplier of their kit and raise a complaint.

nowster · Nov 04, 2020, 21:13:21

My guess is the card firmware not handling multicast/broadcast traffic properly, and missing the IPv6 router advertisements.

Postal · Nov 04, 2020, 22:21:31

So one for Qualcomm to address but they are hiding behind the various suppliers that use their kit. The only way to address that will be for the users of kit from those suppliers to keep putting the pressure on.

If you have a computer from any supplier using the Qualcomm firmware that is not effective, please raise a complaint with your supplier.

PS No response from Dell to date.

Postal · Nov 24, 2020, 11:48:10

Update.

Eventually had to write a polite e-mail to the Dell CEO (details from https://www.ceoemail.com/) which brought some action. Their Consumer Resolution Manager accepted the problem at face value and sent out a technician with an Intel card to replace the Qualcomm part. Job now done so we'll have to see how we go.

Simon · Nov 24, 2020, 13:58:12

Shame you had to go to such trouble.

krysia · Nov 27, 2020, 12:50:48

IPv6 seemed stable for several weeks, but I recently realised it had again disappeared, so I contacted TP-Link and got this reply:

'As the TD-W9970 V1 was produced few years ago, and the technical maintenance already stopped, it is not suggested using the router to connect the IPv6.

Please disable the IPv6 function on the router, or set up as pure modem to connect the DSL cable, and connect another router which can support the IPv6 instead.'

So that explains it - the router is too old. Interestingly, my Fire TV stick, which connects to the router via wifi, shows it as having the IPv6 connection.