Ubiquiti USG

[draevans]

Las anyone successfully replaced the Vodafone router with a USG.

I have entered the PPPOE credentials into the USG but never get a connection. The USG has been updated. I have FFTP via CityFibre. Connecting the USG to the vodafone router doesn't work as the router has no bridge mode and hence two DNS servers and same IP address etc.

Ubiquiti suggest simply reseting the MAC on the USG to match the Vodafone router.

Any suggestions welcome..

BTW I have tried Vodafone's customer helpline - and received nothing that was helpful.

[bwel]

Is it possible to have both a USG and Vodafone Router Connected at the same time to the Cityfibre ONT, perhaps via an Ethernet bridge ?

Also, I was speaking to VF Support re a Speed Problem with my 900mbps service, and he advised that when you upgrade from a Lower Speed (200mbps in my case) to 900mbps, then all they do is provision a config to the CPE VF Router and that it is not centrally traffic shaped. He clarified further, in that 1Gbps is always provision to the Cityfibre ONT irrespective of what you have contracted !!!

This really surprised me and so I was wondering if anybody has a USG or other 3rd party router connected to a slower package, but that is getting the full speed ?

[Jayach]

@bwel

I suspect the Vodafone representative was talking the usual Vodafone cobblers. (but it would be good news for anyone on the lower tiers of FTTP)

I assume you are aware you don't need the Vodafone router on FTTP, if you have your own router, but you will lose the telephone service.

[bwel]

Many thanks Jayach,

The VF tech did seem very knowledgable, and what he said was very surprising, but the only way to verify would be with a customer whom has contracted the lower speed FTTP and using a USG or other 3rd party router. 

Is there anyone out there whom can verify ?

[Jayach]

I wonder if by CPE (Customer Premise(s) Equipment) they were referring to the ONT/PON/GPON (the fibre termination equipment) in the home and not the THG3000, that would make sense.

[bwel]

It was definitely a discussion on pushing out a provisioning config in to the VF Router and not the ONT. he confirmed that the ONT will always be receiving and passing 1Gps to the router irrespective of what has been contracted. 

[CrimsonLiar]

Really going to surprise you here!  An ONT not only converts from optical to ethernet, but it also filters.  So the signal arriving at your ONT could also contain data being sent to your immediate neighbours, but you'll never see it because it's filtered at the ONT.  So the cable is potentially carrying several gigabits, and the ONT is capable of processing multi-gigabits of data!  Openreach even has a 4 port ONT that it can supply to consumers, capable of 1Gbps on each port!

There's a few other ways the split could be done, most of them while not rocket science would probably be beyond the training level of VF support though and currently, I'd doubt that the provision is there!

[Jayach]

So if it converts from optical to Ethernet, where does it get the data which it uses to to do the filtering?

i.e. how does it know which is for you and which for your neighbour?

I realise that will probably be too hard to explain to those of us who are not that technical, so what is your take on Vodafone saying it is the Vodafone router that controls the speed the end user gets.

@bwel wrote:
Also, I was speaking to VF Support re a Speed Problem with my 900mbps service, and he advised that when you upgrade from a Lower Speed (200mbps in my case) to 900mbps, then all they do is provision a config to the CPE VF Router and that it is not centrally traffic shaped. He clarified further, in that 1Gbps is always provision to the Cityfibre ONT irrespective of what you have contracted !!!

---

@bwel wrote:
It was definitely a discussion on pushing out a provisioning config in to the VF Router and not the ONT. he confirmed that the ONT will always be receiving and passing 1Gps to the router irrespective of what has been contracted. 

[bwel]

I've connected the USG directly to the ONT and its working perfectly.

FYI - The best way to get hold of your username and PW for the USG's connection with PPPoE is via the TOBi on MyVodafone App. It's far quicker than trying to call in and they send it back via message or Text.

I initially tried to call in but it took over 1hr and the support guy was not sure if my PW had a lowercase L or Capital I  (i.e. i or I) as the font on their system looks the same for both...  Based on this I initally had prblems getting it to work before going back to check with the TOBi Chat App and could copy and paste it to the USG's Network WAN Settings ...

[CrimsonLiar]

If you have an ONT the filtering is though a pre-set key in the ONT, and is usually pre-registered before the ONT is fitted - it doesn't do away with the need for any other usernames and passwords.  It's secure - it has to be to, in order to be compliant with data protection legislation!

So if you've an ONT there is no plugging the fibre into an SPF socket and getting it to work - unlike a PON/GPON where that may be an option.