Vodafone "enhanced" router

[KeithAlger]

If it wasn't for the crippling and the issues the UK router would actually be a higher spec as it's rated as AC1600, compared to the AC1300 of that in ROI!

Oh and those triangles, they are images awaiting approval.  Not sure it the "needing approval" is due to the file type of size, but small .gifs seem to go up straight away!

[gipjon]

it the picture before its approved

[HappyNomad]

While I seem to be having few issues right now I am wondering if it is simply an illusion caused by my "Vodafone Enhanced Router" event log no longer capturing all events...

If I leave the house and come back in later, I can see my phone disconnect and the reconnect at the appropriate times in the log but if I unplug the single Cat5e cable connecting my eight port switch to the router I would expect to see those permanently on devices disconnect (and indeed reconnect when I plug the lead in again) in the event log as used to...  strange stuff in that I have gone from an event log with more entries that the Chinese national phone directory to fewer than a tiny handful.

Something happened in the dead of night too...

28.01.2019	03:17:29	WAN connected, WAN type: WAN PTM over DSL, service type: data, IP: 90.252.248.246, device: ppp2	WAN
28.01.2019	03:17:27	PPP authentication successful	System
28.01.2019	03:17:26	PPP CHAP authentication started	System
28.01.2019	03:17:26	PPPoE PADS received	System
28.01.2019	03:17:26	PPPoE PADR sent	System
28.01.2019	03:17:26	PPPoE PADO received	System
28.01.2019	03:17:26	PPPoE PADI sent	System
28.01.2019	03:16:54	PPPoE PADI sent	System
28.01.2019	03:16:38	PPPoE PADI sent	System
28.01.2019	03:16:30	PPPoE PADI sent	System
28.01.2019	03:16:26	PPPoE PADI sent	System
28.01.2019	03:16:25	PPPoE PADI sent	System
28.01.2019	03:15:59	WAN disconnected, WAN type: WAN PTM over DSL, service type: data, device: ppp2	WAN

All quite beyond me as to what has changed or even what is going on.  Now, where did I leave my tin foil hat?

[Joe]

@HappyNomad That's strange, is that in expert mode with all logs ticked?  I've not been on this post before so asking the question, who said that this was an "enhanced router"  Please let me know as I'd like to send feedback regarding this. Joe

[mbames]

Vodafone support (phone) have been sending out these ‘enhanced routers’, which they tell us fix all problems.

trouble is the router is the normal one, the phone support people lie. Actually, the last one I was sent, appears not to work at all, ‘mega-enhanced’ 🤣

[HappyNomad]

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@Joe wrote:

@HappyNomad That's strange, is that in expert mode with all logs ticked?  I've not been on this post before so asking the question, who said that this was an "enhanced router"  Please let me know as I'd like to send feedback regarding this. Joe

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All logs ticked... here is my overnight events log...

29.01.2019 09:07:28 User sucessfully logged in to UI from LAN System
29.01.2019 09:06:20 Wi-Fi client iPhone-Margaret (68:fb:7e:bf:ca:xx) connected with IP address 192.168.1.6 LAN
29.01.2019 07:15:39 Wi-Fi client iPhone-Margaret (68:fb:7e:bf:ca:xx) disconnected with IP address 192.168.1.6 LAN
29.01.2019 07:14:52 WAN connected, WAN type: WAN PTM over DSL, service type: data, IP: 90.241.151.200, device: ppp2 WAN
29.01.2019 07:14:50 PPP authentication successful System
29.01.2019 07:14:49 PPP CHAP authentication started System
29.01.2019 07:14:49 PPPoE PADS received System
29.01.2019 07:14:49 PPPoE PADR sent System
29.01.2019 07:14:49 PPPoE PADO received System
29.01.2019 07:14:49 PPPoE PADI sent System
29.01.2019 07:14:33 PPPoE PADI sent System
29.01.2019 07:14:25 PPPoE PADI sent System
29.01.2019 07:14:21 PPPoE PADI sent System
29.01.2019 07:14:19 PPPoE PADI sent System
29.01.2019 07:13:54 WAN disconnected, WAN type: WAN PTM over DSL, service type: data, device: ppp2 WAN
29.01.2019 01:30:57 Wi-Fi client new-host (f0:4f:7c:94:0a:xx) disconnected with IP address 192.168.1.15 LAN
29.01.2019 00:56:47 Wi-Fi client new-host (f0:4f:7c:94:0a:axx) connected with IP address 192.168.1.15 LAN

29.01.2019 00:16:07 User sucessfully logged in to UI from LAN System

Take out the WAN disconnect I don't believe for a moment that all events are being logged.  For instance, disconnecting the wired LAN should have generated five disconnection events plus a connection event when I then connected my laptop to the router.   When I reversed that it should have generated a disconnection event followed by five connections.  Nothing.   It used to report the smart TV and set top box connecting or disconnecting but now? Both are on and connected but nothing reported.

[instig8]

My new router they have sent me seems to not log any errors either.  Anyway to test if they have tampered with the logging on the router or should I have faith in them and just accept they have fixed the issue?

[HappyNomad]

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@Joe wrote:

@HappyNomad That's strange, is that in expert mode with all logs ticked?  I've not been on this post before so asking the question, who said that this was an "enhanced router"  Please let me know as I'd like to send feedback regarding this. Joe

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Who said that the new router I'd be getting was an 'enhanced' router?  There is a clue there of course.  I don't know his name and he may not have specifically used the word 'enhanced'. 

He described the replacement router as the newest/latest and in terms like 'best yet', 'enhanced' etc when asked what sending more of the same junk would achieve.  He also claimed that the new router would completely eradicate the problems encountered with the first router.  Note, that is would and not may eradicate the problems.  

I certainly had the impression that he was actually describing a different router to the one I had.  An impression of course that was shredded when more of the same junk arrived at my door the following day.  More of the same junk with exactly the same issues as the one it replaced.

[HappyNomad]

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@instig8 wrote:

My new router they have sent me seems to not log any errors either.  Anyway to test if they have tampered with the logging on the router or should I have faith in them and just accept they have fixed the issue?

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Generate a few known events / errors to see if they are reported in your event log.

Paranoia perhaps but it is / would be really easy to modify error trapping and reporting to include or exclude any or all types of error.  If a user can't see the errors, they can't complain about them 

i certainly don't believe my error /event logging is working as it did even a week ago.  

[Blair]

We actually need the router logs as part of our diagnostics @HappyNomad. If were to restrict the visibility it would impact our ability to deal with faults. If this router’s not logging correctly It would be more likely an issue with the firmware. Did you give a hard reset? 

Blair

[gipjon]

so why dont you just send out the other router to england customer that vodafone uk stock and normaly sends to Ireland customer 

[HappyNomad]

Two

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@Blair wrote:

We actually need the router logs as part of our diagnostics @HappyNomad. If were to restrict the visibility it would impact our ability to deal with faults. If this router’s not logging correctly It would be more likely an issue with the firmware. Did you give a hard reset? 

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Hard reset two or three days ago.   Forgive my cynicism but from pages and pages of connect / disconnect events to barely nothing, not even known events?  

Since the last reset I have five pages of events.  Of those, At least a page and a half is related to two DSL disconnect / reconnects.  Most of the other events  is me connecting to check the event log. 

This is the log for the last 24 hours

• I have taken out only those (many) entries that show me connecting to the router to look at the event log 
• event times are highlighted In blue
• My added comment are in red
• I have put blank lines in simply to show paired events
• the Mac addresses ending xx refer to a single device, likewise, those ending nn

30.01.2019 09:06:25 User sucessfully logged in to UI from LAN System

30.01.2019 08:57:02 LAN client Venus (00:24:54:2a:34:xx) disconnected with IP address 192.168.1.176 LAN (known event - Laptop shut down by user) 

30.01.2019 01:00:42 Wi-Fi client new-host (f0:4f:7c:94:0a:xx) disconnected with IP address 192.168.1.15 LAN (known event - Kindle asleep)  
29.01.2019 23:36:27 Wi-Fi client new-host (f0:4f:7c:94:0a:xx) connected with IP address 192.168.1.15 LAN (known event - Kindle awake) 

29.01.2019 20:26:14 Wi-Fi client new-host (f0:4f:7c:94:0a:xx) disconnected with IP address 192.168.1.15 LAN (unexpected event - Kindle)
29.01.2019 20:25:04 Wi-Fi client new-host (f0:4f:7c:94:0a:xx) connected with IP address 192.168.1.15 LAN (unexpected event - Kindle)

29.01.2019 18:34:29 Wi-Fi client iPhone-M (68:fb:7e:bf:ca:nn) connected with IP address 192.168.1.6 LAN (unexpected event - note device name reported)
29.01.2019 18:17:29 Wi-Fi client (68:fb:7e:bf:ca:nn) disconnected with IP address 192.168.1.6 LAN (unexpected event - note device name not reported)

29.01.2019 18:17:24 Wi-Fi client (68:fb:7e:bf:ca:nn) connected with IP address 192.168.1.6 LAN (unexpected event - note device name not reported)

29.01.2019 18:15:29 Wi-Fi client iPhone-M (68:fb:7e:bf:ca:nn) disconnected with IP address 192.168.1.6 LAN (unexpected event - note device name reported)

29.01.2019 12:13:19 Wi-Fi client iPhone-M (68:fb:7e:bf:ca:nn) connected with IP address 192.168.1.6 LAN (known event - note device name reported)
29.01.2019 10:44:43 Wi-Fi client iPhone-M (68:fb:7e:bf:ca:nn) disconnected with IP address 192.168.1.6 LAN (known event - note device name reported)

29.01.2019 09:06:20 Wi-Fi client iPhone-M (68:fb:7e:bf:ca:nn) connected with IP address 192.168.1.6 LAN (unexpected event - note device name reported)
29.01.2019 07:15:39 Wi-Fi client iPhone-M (68:fb:7e:bf:ca:nn) disconnected with IP address 192.168.1.6 LAN (unexpected event - note device name reported)

29.01.2019 07:14:52 WAN connected, WAN type: WAN PTM over DSL, service type: data, IP: 90.241.151.200, device: ppp2 WAN

With eleven wifi (including four Apple and one firestick) and four wired devices permanently connected, I've either suddenly developed a fairly stable network (despite no physical changes to that network) or something has changed in or with the router.   Back to the paranoia, just because I can't see events reported doesn't mean that a 'super user' can't see them.  

What has changed?  

[mbames]

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@HappyNomad wrote:

What has changed?  

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What has changed?  VF are upping the scamming and fibbing levels.

[HappyNomad]

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The @mbames wrote:

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@HappyNomad wrote:

What has changed?  

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What has changed?  VF are upping the scamming and fibbing levels.

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I am not sure I'd use language quite as strong as that but it will be interesting to see if @Blair comes back with a meaningful reply.  Something has changed and it is nothing on my side of the piece of junk router.

Todays log...  it suddenly shows I have the most stable wifi network in the world.   Even while I was out the was still network users in the house with 10 WiFi and 4 wired devices connected so how lucky am I?  Ha! How envious are you guys? 

30.01.2019 18:20:26 User sucessfully logged in to UI from LAN System
30.01.2019 16:41:27 Wi-Fi client iPhone-L (08:e6:89:02:59:yy) connected with IP address 192.168.1.8 LAN (known event - I came home)
30.01.2019 14:17:55 Wi-Fi client iPhone-L (08:e6:89:02:59:yy) disconnected with IP address 192.168.1.8 LAN (known event - I went out)
30.01.2019 10:21:38 User sucessfully logged in to UI from LAN System
30.01.2019 09:06:25 User sucessfully logged in to UI from LAN System

[mbames]

I'm so jealous.  Dispite having a new "enhanced" router (which the Directors Office comfirmed earlier on the phone that so much thing exists - now  I was shocked!!!), I have been unable to get the POS to connect.  Numerous phonecalls to VF, coupled with the fact "we won't investigate any issues unless you use our [non-functioning] router...."

Oh, did you know that switches aren't supported on the customer side of the router either.  So that means VF broadband can support at max 4 wired devices (as we know the router's wifi is there in name only)

Stuck between the elephants pen and the big-top!

Numerous days & phone calls later ...Day 1 of the new router

[gipjon]

Wonder if vodafone can get you a non vodaphone router 

[HappyNomad · Accepted solution]

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@mbames wrote:

I'm so jealous.  Dispite having a new "enhanced" router (which the Directors Office comfirmed earlier on the phone that so much thing exists - now  I was shocked!!!), I have been unable to get the POS to connect.  Numerous phonecalls to VF, coupled with the fact "we won't investigate any issues unless you use our [non-functioning] router...."

just the one router model in the uk then...  I suppose the quality of it depends entirely on who is telling us about it and which script they are reading from.

Oh, did you know that switches aren't supported on the customer side of the router either.  So that means VF broadband can support at max 4 wired devices (as we know the router's wifi is there in name only)

i was under the impression that nothing at all on the customer side is supported.

If a wifi device is misbehaving, it is your equipment or you have too many wifi devices (>=1).   "We have never heard of anybody having that problem before but if you plug your fine VF router into the test socket, split your SSIDS, change channels and DNS server and wait 24 hours... oh, your synch speed is higher than the minimum guaranteed you lucky thing you".

If wired devices are misbehaving... it is either your equipment at fault  or the sun is shining too brightly / the heating is set too high etc.  "We have never heard of anybody having that problem before but if you plug your fine VF router into the test socket, split your SSIDS, change channels and DNS server and wait 24 hours... oh, your synch speed is higher than the minimum guaranteed you lucky thing you".

Funny thing is, my wired devices connected through an eight port switch to a single LAN PORT on the junk router have performed properly  and consistently since I change to VF.  Shame about the wifi which just happens to be the primary requirement for me (and many other long suffering VF customers judging by these community pages).

[mbames]

Just had the router re-provisioned and it is working.... but OMG VF DNS is totally unstable & useless!

50% of DNS requests it seems to fail on!

[gipjon]

try 

https://1.0.0.1/

[HappyNomad]

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@mbames wrote:

Just had the router re-provisioned and it is working.... but OMG VF DNS is totally unstable & useless!

50% of DNS requests it seems to fail on!

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1.1.1.1 primary and 1.0.0.1 alternate  (Cloudflare) - supposedly the fastest DNS server)

8.8.8.8 primary and 8.8.4.4 alternate (Google)

There are plenty of free (and paid for) DNS's to be found if you Google best DNS... here for example:  https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/best-dns-server