Request For Summary of Commissioning Steps for Single SSID 2-Wire 2700 Router

iankathy · Jun 13, 2008, 11:34:05

I have recently taken delivery of a used 2700 2-wire router that I believe to be a single SSID version, as there are not two labels on the side. I have tried to use the excellent quick setup guide (Alan Woodward), but I get no response to step 3, i.e. setting HOME in my IE7 browser - this results in an invalid message from the browser.

I was wondering if a commissioning guide for the single SSID version exists in this forum - I have been unsuccessful in using the search facility though. I would be grateful if someone could direct me to past topics where the commissioning of a single SSID version of this router are explained, together with issues that need to be taken into account.

Thanks in anticipation,

Ian.

Rik · Jun 13, 2008, 11:42:36

Have you read this thread, Ian?

All I did was to factory reset the router, then go in and manually set it up.

Inactive · Jun 13, 2008, 11:42:57

Hi Ian, and welcome to IDNetters...

Someone will answer your question very soon..

Whoops Rik got there.

Lance · Jun 13, 2008, 11:57:56

Welcome to the forum, Ian

LesD · Jun 13, 2008, 17:30:50

Quote from: iankathy on Jun 13, 2008, 11:34:05
I get no response to step 3, i.e. setting HOME in my IE7 browser - this results in an invalid message from the browser.

Hi Ian,

Try: http://gateway.2wire.net/xslt?PAGE=J03&THISPAGE=A02_POST&NEXTPAGE=J03

in your IE7 Browser address bar instead of Home.

If this works look for the Configure options etc. on the left hand side.

I hope this helps.

iankathy · Jun 13, 2008, 18:18:44

To begin, can I thank those who have responded to my query in a pretty sprightly way, as seems to be the norm in this forum.

The link suggested by Rik was the sort of thing I was looking for - thanks very much. The main issue seems to have been concerned with the very protective way that Vista operates. Initially I had a cable connection to the router, and not being able to communicate with the router led me to asking for help. Subsequently I used the wifi connection from my laptop (the Vista machine), and this allowed me to interact with the management pages of the router, and get my ISP details entered into that system. I have other machines that use Win 2000 Professional, and I discovered that these were much more eager to communicate with the router - even though all my machines use the same firewall (ZoneAlarm) - its just a pity I had not used one of these initially!

Also, thanks to LesD for his suggested link into the router management pages - this worked fine.

At the moment, the router has been connected to IDNet for about 3 hours, and significant traffic has been generated from the laptop (wifi) and a desktop. You might be interested in the following data obtained from the router:
Current rate down 1152 kb/sec
Noise margin 9.0 dB
Atten. 62.3 dB (Yes, I am at the end of a 5km+ telephone line)
O/P power 15.4 dBm
Tx 10.7 Mbyte 0 errors
Rx 85.9 Mbyte 0 errors.

Can I ask whether there is some configuration that it is important to carry out so that the association with BT is broken?

I will report further in a while when more data becomes available.

With many thanks,
Ian.

Rik · Jun 13, 2008, 18:28:28

You need to use DNS poisoning, Ian:

Follow this proceedure:-

Open Page http://gateway.2wire.net/management again and this time select Advanced, DNS Resolve.

One at a time, add the following entries:-

DNS Name IP Address

cwmp.cms.smehomehubrms.bt.com 10.0.0.0

gateway.cms.smehomehubrms.bt.com 10.0.0.0

pbthdm.bt.motive.com 10.0.0.0

pbthdm2.bt.motive.com 10.0.0.0

HTH

Sebby · Jun 13, 2008, 18:50:15

You might want to take a look here. There's lots of information, including a generic firmware to get rid of the BT branding and remove the need to do DNS poisoning.

Simon · Jun 13, 2008, 21:02:52

Can't help with the technical stuff, but another

Ian!

Ted · Jun 16, 2008, 00:22:46

Hi Ian and or Kathy
Go to the link from Sebby a couple of posts above and decide precisely what model of 2700hgv you have.
If you do have an early model single ssid version (not early 2008) you have a few choices of what to do with it

1, Leave it as it is. It looks as if BT have disowned non BT connected Routers

2, You can flash it with the Singtel firmware, works well, i have tried it

(also works fine on the Dual ssid model.

3, And this would be my recommendation. You can flash it with the SBC firmware. Its very stable, you will receive the vulnerability Hotfix from 2wire and best of all......... No BT. If you need content filtering you can get this by using Open DNS.

If you have any questions, just ask away.

Oh, and welcome to the forum but just remember the old axiom, "you don't have to be mad to work here, but it helps"

iankathy · Jun 16, 2008, 18:11:42

Hello Ted,

Many thanks for your comments and pointers to possible ways forward. Here is information to identify the precise model of "2700HGV that I have:

Assembly No. 4201-003003-006
Hardware Ver. 2701-100588-005
Software Ver. 4.25.33
Key Code (which I have not changed) 528Y-27G4-A222-22BJ-B22V

The arrangement of labels is exactly like the left hand picture in the section entitled "Identifying BT2700HGV Model" in the link you provided. In the absence of two labels with SSID indications, I conclude this is a single SSID model.

I have carried out the DNS poisoning described in Rik's post above, also I have implemented the Firewall Setting changes, and Router Password setting as advocated in the setup guide by Alan Woodward. Additionally, I have enabled the wireless system, using the authentication to WPA-PSK, using the default Key. This raises a question that I would be interested in hearing views: The PSK key printed on the label on the base of my unit has 10 decimal numbers. Now I presume that these are hex numbers (and it just so happens that mine are all less than "a") and the 10 digits correspond to a 64-bit encryption. Is the system capable of implementing 128-bit encryption if 26 hex digits are entered?

I had hoped to report on the first few days operation, but I think there has been a problem with my local circuit/exchange, for which I have submitted an Email query to IDNet, so I'll wait on this.

Cheers for now,

Ian.

Ted · Jun 16, 2008, 19:51:15

Quote from: iankathy on Jun 16, 2008, 18:11:42
Hello Ted,

Many thanks for your comments and pointers to possible ways forward. Here is information to identify the precise model of "2700HGV that I have:

Assembly No. 4201-003003-006
Hardware Ver. 2701-100588-005
Software Ver. 4.25.33
Key Code (which I have not changed) 528Y-27G4-A222-22BJ-B22V

The arrangement of labels is exactly like the left hand picture in the section entitled "Identifying BT2700HGV Model" in the link you provided. In the absence of two labels with SSID indications, I conclude this is a single SSID model.

I have carried out the DNS poisoning described in Rik's post above, also I have implemented the Firewall Setting changes, and Router Password setting as advocated in the setup guide by Alan Woodward. Additionally, I have enabled the wireless system, using the authentication to WPA-PSK, using the default Key. This raises a question that I would be interested in hearing views: The PSK key printed on the label on the base of my unit has 10 decimal numbers. Now I presume that these are hex numbers (and it just so happens that mine are all less than "a") and the 10 digits correspond to a 64-bit encryption. Is the system capable of implementing 128-bit encryption if 26 hex digits are entered?

I had hoped to report on the first few days operation, but I think there has been a problem with my local circuit/exchange, for which I have submitted an Email query to IDNet, so I'll wait on this.

Cheers for now,

Ian.

Hi Ian
Looks like you do have a single ssid model.

The answer to the 128-bit encryption is yes.

Quote from the manual "2. To use the encryption key that came with your gateway, click the Use default encryption key radio button.
To create a custom encryption key, click the Use custom encryption key radio button.
If you select Use custom encryption key, you can define a 64-bit or 128-bit encryption key. For 64-bit
encryption, enter a 10-digit hexadecimal number. For 128-bit encryption, enter a 26-digit hexadecimal
number. A hexadecimal number uses the characters 0-9, a-f, or A-F.
3. Click SAVE."

Here is a link to the 2700HGV MANUAL

Let us know how you get on.

Ted

LesD · Jun 16, 2008, 22:18:17

A couple of things are puzzling me now Ted.

The first was this that you said way back in post no. 9:

2, You can flash it with the Singtel firmware, works well, i have tried it (also works fine on the Dual ssid model.

I understood that you could only use the SBC s/w in the Single SSID model.
So what's the Singtel firmware that also works fine on the Dual SSID model?

The second is this:

My 2700 has both the Phone 1 & Phone 2 labels/LED's on the front as you would expect but my Hardware Version is 2701-100588-005 just like Ian's. See the copy and paste from the System Summary from my running online 2700 below:

System Summary
System
Model: BT2700HGV
Serial Number: Blanked Out
MAC Address: --:--:--:--:--:--
Hardware Version: 2701-100588-005
Hardware Options: Wireless present
DSL Modem Type: ADSL
Current Software: 5.29.107.19
DSL Modem: 7.2.2

Printed on the underneath of the case I can see the same number that Ian states 4201-003003-006 but it does not state the SSID type anywhere that I can see.

So have I got a Single and not a Dual despite the two Phone labels on the front or has Ian got a Dual and not a Single?

The only difference that I can spot is that I have different software, BT's 5.29.107.19 but that cannot make the difference surely it has to be hardware?

Since my label on the underside looks like the one described as on the left hand side picture in the link referred to by Ian, I am coming to the conclusion that maybe both the ones I have are in fact single SSID ones after all. What's the concensus of opinion folks?

Rik · Jun 16, 2008, 23:38:09

You'll have two phone lights whether it's dual or single SSID, Les, the latter is to do with WiFi and BT Fusion.

Ted · Jun 16, 2008, 23:57:18

If the hardware version is 2701-100588-005 and the assembly number is 4201-003003-006 with a single WEP code then you have a single ssid router. The two lights on the front have nothing to do with it being a dual ssid (as Rik said)

The singtel firmware will work on this router, i had it on mine for a while but now have the SBC firmware installed.

I have
4201-003003-006
2701-100588-005
First four numbers of the serial are 4806
Single ssid
Running SBC FW 4.25.19
Keycode 522P-22P4-6262-22AT-F2NV

The original firmware was 4.25.33

Sebby · Jun 17, 2008, 00:02:20

The Singtel firmware is a different firmware from a US ISP that works on both.

To tell if you have a dual SSID model, have a look on the local network page. If you see a BT Fusion SSID in addition to the BTBusinessHub one, it's dual SSID.

Ted · Jun 17, 2008, 00:13:44

Quote from: Sebby on Jun 17, 2008, 00:02:20
The Singtel firmware is a different firmware from a US ISP that works on both.

The SBC fw is from U.S. Now taken over by AT&T
The Singtel fw is Singapore Telecom

Good tip with the wireless page

Sebby · Jun 17, 2008, 00:18:07

That's right - SBC is US and Singtel is Singapore.

LesD · Jun 17, 2008, 08:32:36

That's it sorted beyond doubt, I have a pair of single SSID models but with the BT 5.29.107.19 fw.

For my needs and purposes this fw is working fine. The DNS is poisioned in line with all the advice so what is the incentive to change it?

Sebby · Jun 17, 2008, 08:59:30

I don't think there is a reason, Les. If it works well, I wouldn't bother risking a change.

Danni · Jun 17, 2008, 09:16:46

Can I make you all jealous and say I managed to configure mine for IDNet just by going through the wizard?

Simon · Jun 17, 2008, 09:39:26

Same here, Danni.

David · Jun 17, 2008, 10:21:58

Just a warm welcome Iankathy......

as you will ddiscover Im a man of few words and dont use this forum very much...

Ted · Jun 17, 2008, 11:55:40

Guess i'm just the curious kind

It's interesting to see how the different firmwares perform against each other.
There is always some risk when flashing any firmware, i've done loads over the years, mobos and routers. Never had a problem and to be honest the 2700 is getting really cheap on Ebay. (i have some spare ones)

LesD · Jun 17, 2008, 21:07:35

Quote from: Ted on Jun 17, 2008, 11:55:40
Guess i'm just the curious kind
It's interesting to see how the different firmwares perform against each other.
There is always some risk when flashing any firmware, i've done loads over the years, mobos and routers. Never had a problem and to be honest the 2700 is getting really cheap on Ebay. (i have some spare ones)

I was thinking along those lines Ted when I posed the question about the incentive to try another firmware.
Having the two routers I would only be trying out alternatives on one of them.
Is the BT 5.29.107.19 firmware available somewhere to go back to if I should so wish?

There is something gnawing away in the back of my mind that I read somewhere that one firmware update disable the wireless option but I may have this wrong. I have read so much here, on the scream and elsewhere that I forget the half of it.