Summary
We got 500mb FTTP broadband installed about 4 months ago and from day one I had set it up to use OPNSense running on our home server virtualised under Proxmox. (Never even opened the brand new EE router).
It has been working flawlessly up until last Thursday, when the connection dropped and from then, I have been unable to get to connect using any third party devices.
Steps Taken
I have tried the following:
- Connecting original unboxed EE router.
- Connecting TP-LINK Archer VR2600 modem router (dedicated WAN port).
- Direct to a Windows laptop using PPPoE connection.
- Direct to a Linux laptop using PPPoE connection.
- Restoring to a VM backup for OPNSense from a month previous.
- OPNSense nor the hypervisor Proxmox had had any updates or changes within two weeks of the outage.
- OPNSense nor the hypervisor Proxmox had had any updates or changes within two weeks of the outage.
- Trying multiple different ethernet cables.
- Rebooting ONT & Routers (letting them stay off for 5 mins and also tried keeping both off overnight).
- Hard resetting:
- ONT (using a pin on the reset hole).
- TP-LINK router.
- EE router.
EE Support
I've had around 4 different phone calls with EE support.
They initially sent out a Home Engineer and he replaced the EE router with another new one and was then able to connect to the internet.
But trying to connect using any of the steps mentioned above to anything other than the new new EE router has failed.
Another call and they said they would book an Openreach engineer to come out today, i received text messages confirming direct from Openreach.
They never arrived.
Another call with them, it turned out that one wasn't booked at all and somehow the system never actually made the booking even though it was confirmed over the phone and through text.
They ran some tests against the EE router (first time doing this) and after speaking to managers told me they would not be sending out an Openreach engineer as the EE router was shown to be working and they have no obligation to restore service for third party equipment.
I told them I would have to cancel the contract and try another provider if I cant get this working again.
They said it was going to cost £265 to cancel and then redirected me to the sales team.
So this is my last ditch attempt to try and find a proper resolution and to save myself from paying £265 to cancel.
Current State & Setup Details
ONT:
- NOKIA-ONT
- Model: G-010G-R
- MRev: 02
- Month/Year: 01/2024
- Showing all green lights (Pwr, PON & LAN).
- LOS light has remained off.
- Rebooted & Reset multiple times.
- Works with the new new EE router.
OPNSense Router:
- Custom built server, with an Intel CPU and a single onboard 2.5gbps dedicated ethernet port.
- Running Proxmox virtualisation as the OS.
- OPNSense running within a container on Proxmox.
- A single ethernet cable links the server and the ONT, with no joins or switches between.
- Has worked flawlessly for 4 months.
TP-LINK Router:
- Archer VR2600
- Hard reset to factory settings
- Has a dedicated WAN port for PPPoE connections.
- Basic setup wizard lets you input your PPPoE credentials.
- Worked previously when we had FTTC using the ADSL modem.
Windows Laptop:
- Windows 10
- Setup PPPoE connection using the wizard under the 'Dial up' section.
- This worked when I tried it on installation day.
Linux Laptop:
- Arch Linux
- Setup PPPoE using nmcli.
All broadband credentials used throughout all tests have been:
USERNAME: bthomehub@btbroadband.com
PASSWORD: BT
All testing of the routers and laptops has been with a single straight ethernet connection between the ONT and router/computer.
Used the GUI's on the routers to check if a connection has been established. (checked over wifi with one of the laptops)
Conclusion
I'm really disappointed that EE refuse to help any further as I have read multiple other forum posts were others have been in a similar situation and had an engineer sent out or an ONT box replaced.
I just want to get my system back to were it was only a few days ago.
I'd really appreciate any help or advise with this.
Thanks for reading 🙂
1 SOLUTION
Accepted Solutions
@Mustrum & @JimM11
I have finally made some progress and I believe I have proof that the ISP/Exchange/Broadband Servers are preventing any other device from connecting to the internet!
My custom OPNSense router (the original setup I had that was working), has the option to spoof the MAC address of the WAN interface that connects over PPPoE.
I connected up like this:
EE Router (WAN Port) -> Laptop (USB Ethernet Port)
I then installed Wireshark on my laptop and started to capture traffic coming in through the USB Ethernet port from the WAN port on the EE router.
From this capture, I inspected the PADI request the EE router was transmitting and was able to find the EE routers, WAN port MAC address, under the "Ethernet -> Source" section.
I then put this MAC address into OPNSense WAN interface setup page in the "MAC Address" field:
It immediately received a gateway IP and a public IP but took a few minutes for OPNSense to setup the routing, so initially there was no internet, but after that wait, it kicked in and I'm back online!
The speed isn't quite up at 500mb but I expect that with all the downtime.
I'm absolutely amazed that its worked but at the same time completely confused as to why the system will only let this very specific EE routers MAC address join the network.
I'm not sure what to do now, I guess even if I do bring this information back to EE support they still aren't going to get Openreach involved?
It feels like a ticking time bomb for it to fail again.
Any suggestions what I should do next?
@Mustrum & @XRaySpeX
Just had a look back through my notes and I've mistakenly uploaded the wrong screenshot of the TP-LINK router.
Here is the correct one. And as Mustrum mentioned, its using the EWAN setup not the VDSL setup.
I've also pulled out an even older modem router from the loft and tried to set it up in the same way as above. All default settings bar the username and password.
