Internet keeps dropping - buy a 3rd party router?

[Leefamily]

Hi all, 

I've been with Vodafone broadband for years, and have regularly had issues with broadband dropping out. We've put up with it (after numerous phone calls at the beginning of my contract to the technical desks/Openreach etc), but it's now a big issue as we're all at home and need the internet to be reliable. We get the internet dropping out numerous times per day, for a few minutes each time and then it reconnects. It's very frustrating. 

I use BT Wholehome wifi discs to extend the wifi around the house, and have switched off the wifi on the Vodafone router. 

On an online chat the other day to Vodafone (about an issue with our landline billing) I mentioned the issues we were having with broadband and the chap told me various settings to adjust (DNS address and secondary DNS address). He swore this would solve all my problems. Alas no. 

I'm wondering whether I should go for a 3rd party router and use it instead of the VF one. Is this likely to fix our issues and stop the constant drop-outs? I don't particularly want to spend hours on online chats and with engineer visits if there was a way I could sort this quickly myself. Very grateful for any suggestions!

Many thanks

Fiona 

[BandOfBrothers]

Although the Vodafone Connect Router should be adequate some people have indeed found using another router better for their needs @Leefamily 

》HOW-TO-Use-a-third-party-router-on-Vodafone-VDSL. 

[Anonymous]

I'd always try to make sure that you are fixing the right problem first.  So next time the internet drops out see if you can still connect to the router.  If you can then it's the line and not the WiFi that's the problem!

Regards DNS, unless you want to use VFs filtering you are probably better avoiding their DNS servers (they are fast, give them that, just not always 100% reliable).  But changing the DNS servers is just changing a look up server, AND WILL NOT CHANGE THE ROUTING!

Just one word of caution, older versions of the BT whole home discs play very fast and loose with a couple of multicast protocols, as such they are not 100% compatible with multiple routers!

[Leefamily]

Thanks very much. When the internet drops, our router is telling us there's no internet - as in, the red light is flashing on the bottom of the router. So does that mean it's a problem with the line, and a new router wouldn't fix it? 

(Apologies if these are very simplistic questions!)

[Anonymous]

It really means that you need to speak to someone at Vodafone and have them test the line!  It could be the modem+router (that's important if you do end up buying your own), or the line, or even the cabinet you are connected to!

If you went straight out and bought a new modem+router, got your username+password, set it up and plugged it in, and then still had the line dropping, you'd have to plug in the VF modem+router before tech support would help you!

[Leefamily]

 Many thanks. I know you're right - I will bite the bullet and contact VF again. I've been putting it off! 

Appreciate all the advice. 

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@Anonymous wrote:

It really means that you need to speak to someone at Vodafone and have them test the line!  It could be the modem+router (that's important if you do end up buying your own), or the line, or even the cabinet you are connected to!

If you went straight out and bought a new modem+router, got your username+password, set it up and plugged it in, and then still had the line dropping, you'd have to plug in the VF modem+router before tech support would help you!

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