Using Own Router OpenWRT behind OpenReach b-focus

[rafaelgilardino]

Hello there.

I have recently switch back to Vodafone and also bought a OpenReach b-focus v-2fub/r rev.b to replace the Vodafone Hub and use my Archer C7 modded with OpenWRT.

As per my reading on the forum it supposed to be a smooth configuration by switching the WAN interface to PPPoE and use the credentials provided by the support however I'm able to do so and never get connected to the internet

Is there someone that experienced such trouble during the configuration?

[HappyNomad]

VF Support enjoys a bit of a reputation for giving out incomplete usernames.  It should look something like:  ‘dsl nnnnnnnnn @ broadband . vodafone . co . uk'  where 'n' is a number and without the spaces.

[Anonymous]

So with the ECI modem there is the possibility that it could be locked: BT Openreach VDSL2 modem for FTTC (ECI model B-FOCuS V-2FUb/I Rev.B) (kitz.co.uk) but we've also seen answers on here saying that they aren't!

*I don't have access to one of these modems, but it may be worthwhile pointing out that you need to enter the username/password in your router settings and not the modem (if it gives that option - yes using the Huawei version you can do this, it just works VERY badly).

**As HappyNomad mentioned, Vodafone is terrible for giving out incorrect service usernames and passwords! 

[rafaelgilardino]

Thanks for the reply KeithAlger

As per my investigations I'm not sure if I'm able at all to reach the OpenReach modem.

On my Archer C7 with OpenWRT I have the exception:

          daemon.warn pppd[14860]: Timeout waiting for PADO packets
          daemon.err pppd[14860]: Unable to complete PPPoE Discovery

Full exception at: https://ibb.co/CtBWhdx

My current OpenWRT config is like in the link: https://ibb.co/hdccYDf

[Anonymous]

If you connect a computer directly to the modem, can you create a working connection with the details that you've been given?

An oddity in the OpenWRT files is that you appear to have a VLAN: 101 being created on the router, in most (not all) circumstances you would leave this to the modem.

Also check that the modem is in PPPoE mode and not MPoE mode - the latter has advantages when it works, but it doesn't always work!

[rafaelgilardino]

I’m not able to connect directly to the modem. Neither access any webGUI from the modem. I have performed a hard reset on the modem (long pressing the reset button)

the idea is to use the OpenReach just to emulate the DSL cable that I don’t have it in my router. My intention was to use the OpenReach as pure modem and then use the Archer C7 as router thru PPPoE configuration (that’s why the VLAN on my config). Ultimately I want to enable my VPN directly over the OpenWRT

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Okay, doing my research, one of the reasons the ECI modems are less popular is the general inability to access any settings on it.  It is probable, that you don't need to specify the VLAN 101 in your settings, but the best way to test settings has always been to create a direct connection to a device first.

You may be able to test the modem by connecting it to the concealed WAN port on a Vodafone-supplied router, forcing the router to use the external router rather than its own!  This certainly works with the older HHG2500!

[rafaelgilardino]

It did work @KeithAlger

I have switched the DSL into the ECI MODEM and then connected it to the Vodafone Router thru the WAN port. So we managed to isolate the problem to the Archer modded with OpenWRT

[Jayach]

I'm no expert in these things, but it seems you have no yet confirmed that the credentials supplied by Vodafone are correct.

Would it be worth re-flashing the router back to original firmware (if that's possible) and seeing if you can get it working then. That would prove the credentials correct and you could then try OpenWRT again.

[rafaelgilardino]

After performing this test and isolating the problem I could figure out what was going on.

Most likely the OpenReach ECI modem set by default the VLAN 101 therore causing a duplication of the VLAN ID when also configuring it in my Router with OpenWRT.

The solution was symply removing the VLAN definition in my own router and leave it to be defined by the modem.

Thanks for the support!