Home Broadband - Static IP address?

[jefft]

I had a chat earlier with one of the online support agents, who told me that it is not only possible but free to have a static IP on home broadband.

However, having found no reference to it anywhere else and several to the contrary, I wonder if she was confusing home and business broadband even though I did specify home.

Can someone from Voda please confirm?  Is a static IP on the WAN side of HOME broadband an option?

Thanks!

[WillVXR]

Are these the same people who promise they will tell you your username & password?

[Nabs]

@jefft I assume you are looking for a public facing static IP?

As far as iI'm aware this isn't possible. Was it a phone advisor or Live Chat that you had spoken to?

If it was LiveChat do you still have the transcript?

N

[philguk]

I've also been told I can have a static IP address - confirmed in the conversations I had before agreeing to my new contract

As my service is not (quite) live yet, I haven't been able to determine this for sure but also I was told that this IS possible in a chat session earlier today - although the chat agent couldn't tell me HOW to do it

[Nabs]

@philguk do you have a transcript of the chat session?

[philguk]

No, but I'm beginning to wish I had - don't they normally eMail you the chat transcripts?

[Nabs]

Only if you request it when you close the chat @philguk

Don't worry though I have the answer, and transript pasted below (blanked out names for privacy reasons and cut out the pointless chit chat) :smileywink:

Chat Transcript

info: Sorry for the delay, we are currently experiencing high volumes. Please hold for the next available adviser. info: You're now chatting with Advisor. Advisor: Hi Customer Welcome to Vodafone broadband! How are you today? Customer: Hi Advisor. I'm fine Thank you. Yourself? Advisor: I'm great! Thank you! How may I assist you with Vodafone broadband deals today? Customer : i'm just shopping around at the moment but I was looking to find out if your Home Broadband cam with a public static IP address? Customer: I have a home server that I need to access when i'm out and about and need a static IP to be able to do this Advisor: Yes, we will offer you static IP without any extra charges. Customer: Is it something that's easy to set up once i'm connected? Advisor: Yes, Static IPs are available only on request, so you will need to contact our customer service team on chat once broadband is active. They will help you with static IP. Customer: Perfect! Thanks for the info! Advisor: You're welcome! Advisor: Do you've any other question for me regarding Vodafone services? I'd be happy to assist you with that Customer: Nothing at the moment, I think I've found everything else just now. I'll be in touch if there is anything though 🙂

EDIT: So the answer is contact customer service once the broadband is set up and they can arrange for the static IP to be set up. 🙂

[philguk]

OK, I Chatted again and got a VERY helpful Lauren

Info at 16:59, Jan 31:

Please wait while you’re being transferred to the appropriate team.
Info at 16:59, Jan 31:

You're now chatting with Lauren.

Phil Grainger at 17:00, Jan 31:
Hi Lauren
Phil Grainger at 17:01, Jan 31:
I am about to move form Demon Home Office to Vodafone Fibre (my new service goes live tomorrow and I will be connecting my router over the weekend). I was told I had the option of a static external IP address - but I can't find documented anywhere how I make that happen
Phil Grainger at 17:01, Jan 31:
Is it a setting on my shiny new Router or on my account somewhere? Or is it something you have to do for me??
Phil Grainger at 17:03, Jan 31:

Lauren at 17:05, Jan 31:
Hello Phil, Sorry I was on another chat there, yes, it's something you would need to go through yourself ( we can help over the phone/webchat)

It's a setting on the routers interface, the IP address for the interface is on the back of the router and the password is Vodafone ( all lower case)

you would then go to WiFi>Advanced>IPsettings>StaticIP>Enable

Lauren at 17:06, Jan 31:
is it business broadband?

Phil Grainger at 17:06, Jan 31:
Woo Hoo!!! Thanks for a perfect answer. I'll dig into my router at the weekend. Sorry I was impatient. I guess you folks HAVE to multi-task all the time

Lauren at 17:06, Jan 31:
awwww no it's absolutely fine I'm use to it!
Lauren at 17:06, Jan 31:
have a fantastic week and weekend!

Phil Grainger at 17:07, Jan 31:
It was described as Fibre38 if that means anything to you?

Lauren at 17:07, Jan 31:
yeah that's fine  see if you want to call us when you are setting it up we will help

Phil Grainger at 17:07, Jan 31:
As I said, I am converting from Demon Home Office Broadband

Lauren at 17:07, Jan 31:
08080034515 option 2
Lauren at 17:08, Jan 31:
yes that's fine

So I now need to go and review what settings I see on my router

[jefft]

First time I've heard of the router settings determining the static IP... generally you tell the router after the ISP tells you what the address is!

However... I chatted Vodafone again today to check and a second agent confirmed that "as of about a week ago", the option to have a static IP is available on Home BB.  First, get connected, then contact support and ask them to switch your IP to static.

I do have both the chat transcripts.  Also confirmed by someone in BB sales when I chatted them to ask how to request it in the order process (you can't do it at that stage yet).

[jefft]

@philguk,

VERY interested to hear what happens, please do post back and let us all know!

I think you're going to have to call support to make your address static before doing what your friendly agent there suggests - no router I've yet met can force the address to be static (although I guess it would be technically possible if they had some non-standard negotiation between the router and VF's DHCP servers).

I think I'll hold off placing my order as your test is imminent...  my annual line rental with my present provider doesn't run out until the end of March.