Hi

A friend of mine has just taken on a 512K connection with BT Yahoo as an
upgrade from her dialup account. She is connecting using the supplied
(Free) Voyager ADSL modem which is connected to her PC via Ethernet.

She wants to share across 2 PCs so hubby can surf as well so I suggested a
3COM ADSL Firewalled Router. Mine has worked fine for months now.

I can't get the thing to connect!

I have got the sync LED steady and the connect LED flashes as if it is
negotiating a connection but no joy.

I have tried changing her password to a 10 character as her previous
password was 15 characters long and I wondered if that may be an issue, but
that's made no difference.

I can plug back into the Voyager modem and everything works fine.

I have checked the 3Com & BT Yahoo web sites for clues but no help there,
I'm afraid.

Her PC is using Norton firewall instead of the built in XP thingy.

She has XPSP2 Home.

BT Web site calls for:

DNS = Auto (OK)
VPI = 0 (OK)
VCI = 38 (OK)
Authetication = CHAP (Can't find this)
Modulation = G.DMT (Nor this)
Encapsulation = VC Mux (OK)
Ptrotocol = PPOa (OK)

Can anyone offer any suggestions?

--
Best regards
Barry

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
BJH <barryh@kentra.co.uk> wrote:

It's possible that the BT account is officially limited to one PC, and that
it doesn't like talking to a router. You may need to spoof the MAC address
which the router presents to the line, to pretend that it is the PC's
network card. The 3Com router has a facility for doing this. If you go the
router's admin menu (point your browser at the router's IP address), there
is an item called "Hostname and MAC address" under Internet Settings. This
enables you to "clone" your computer's MAC address.
--
Cheers,
Tim
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On Sat, 4 Dec 2004 18:55:06 -0000, Tiscali Tim wrote:

Thanks Tim, I'll try that when I go over there again.

Just out of interest, how does BT know the difference between the Router's
MAC address and any network card MAC address? Is the format different?

Also is the hostname relevant to this? I only ask 'cos I noticed you could
fill in a value for that as well.

--
Best regards
Barry

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
BJH <barryh@kentra.co.uk> wrote:

I'm not an expert - this is just something I have heard about in passing. I
assume that when you first connect, BT/Yahoo remembers the MAC address of
your PC and builds this into the logon validation process. I don't really
know about hostname. Maybe, if it's relevant, hitting the "clone" button
puts the appropriate value in there too?

FWIW, here's the relevant bit from the router's Help file:
MAC address
MAC is an acronym for Media Access Controller. All network components
including cards, adapters, and routers, have a unique "serial number" called
a MAC address. Your ISP may record the MAC address of your computer's
adapter and only let that particular computer connect to the Internet
service. When you install the router, the Router's own MAC address will be
"seen" by the ISP and may cause the connection not to work. 3Com has
provided the ability to clone (copy) the MAC address of the computer into
the router. This MAC address, in turn, will be seen by the ISP's system as
the original MAC address and will allow the connection to work. If you are
not sure if your ISP needs to see the original MAC address, simply clone the
MAC address of the computer that was originally connected to the modem.
Cloning the address will not cause any problems with your network.
To Clone your MAC address, make sure that you are using the computer that
was ORIGINALLY CONNECTED to your modem before the Router was installed.
Click the "Clone MAC address" button. Click "Apply". Your MAC address is now
cloned to the router.
--
Cheers,
Tim
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On Sat, 4 Dec 2004 21:29:50 -0000, Tiscali Tim wrote:

I'm no expert on this issue either, Tim. It's interesting that mine isn't
the only experience of this issue. On the Expansys forum is another user
having the same issue with his BTINTERNET (Yahoo) connection. Yet, a friend
of mine with a BTCONNECT (business) account and my own connection with
another ISP work fine.

I have checked the BTYahoo web site and that gives all the information to
connect a router but also says that BT offer no tech support if they don't
supply the router.

So it seems to me that BT are deliberately obstructing the connection of a
router not supplied by themselves. I wouldn't mind that as such, but its
not exactly a cheap service they provide in any event.

I understand your suggestion but it just occurs to me that if you change
your network card then the MAC address would change anyway. But then maybe
the BT Voyager modem takes care of that and reassigns a new MAC address to
the logon process?

--
Best regards
Barry

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
BJH <barryh@kentra.co.uk> wrote:

Presumably there's some procedure for telling your ISP that you've got a new
computer/network card/whatever so that they change their records to allow it
to connect.

I don't know whether you can do this with a router - or whether the address
range is different. But if the MAC address spoofing works, it doesn't matter
because you can then connect as many different PCs as you like to the router
without telling your ISP.
--
Cheers,
Tim
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On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 12:19:06 -0000, Tiscali Tim wrote:

Ah well, it was a good idea, but came to naught I'm afraid. :>(

So now I'm stuck again.

I've checked the Yahoo web site and that states quite clearly that to share
a connection a router must be used. It doesn't say that you *can't* use a
router but it does say that BT will only support routers it supplies. Can't
grumble with that I suppose.

I've got another make of router doing nothing so I may try that as a long
shot. It's a noname elcheapo thingy from the Far East but its worth a try.

But if it doesn't have a BT label on it it probably won't work? Me,
cynical?

If any one knows the answer please tell!

--
Best regards
Barry

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
BJH <barryh@kentra.co.uk> wrote:



ask because, with PlusNet, the account name format is different between a
dial-up account and an ADSL account - even for the same account. Your friend
may not have had to enter this into the ADSL modem since it may have been
supplied ready configured - and may be assuming that it's the same as for
the previous dial-up account. Have a close look at any sign-up information
supplied by BT-Yahoo.
[PlusNet example: Dial-up - {username} ADSL: {username}@plus.net]


--
Cheers,
Tim
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On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 18:37:54 -0000, Tiscali Tim wrote:

The poster on the expansys forum who was having the same sort of problem
has managed to get it going, so at least we now know that its not a router
problem.

In his case it was caused by a phone on another extension plugged into an
unfiltered socket.

In my friends case all she has is a Master socket along the landing with an
extension to her office. In the extension is plugged the BT supplied filter
and she has her fax plugged into the filtered outlet. AFAIK there are no
other phones or sockets. But I intend to make up a lead using one of my own
filtered faceplates and run straight back to the Master and give that a
try.

This is a precis of the Expansys forum posting:

Make sure all phones attached to the line have a microfilter attached, if
you have any phone without a microfilter, this can cause some kind of
bizarre feedback effect that affects the BB line. Some modems (e.g. the
3Com) are more sensitive to this than others (i.e. the BT Voyager). I had a
phone that is never used attached to an extension that did not have a
microfilter, removed the phone and all was well ! (This despite the fact
that the BB hangs off of the same extension and has its own microfilter
....)

I'll let you know if I succeed...

--
Best regards
Barry

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
BJH <barryh@kentra.co.uk> wrote:

So doesn't she have a phone at all? Where is the router plugged in? What is
plugged into the master socket? [If there's a phone in the master, it *must*
be filtered!]

--
Cheers,
Tim
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On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 22:26:47 -0000, Tiscali Tim wrote:

No this is a dedicated line, originally just for her fax machine. The
extension is connected to the master socket and the filter is plugged into
the extension.

--
Best regards
Barry

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
BJH <barryh@kentra.co.uk> wrote:

Very strange! In any case, incorrect filtering or poor quality extension
wiring will prevent the modem/router from synching. But from what you say,
it is synching ok - but not authenticating the account.

Have you checked out my earlier message about the format of the logon name?
--
Cheers,
Tim
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On Tue, 7 Dec 2004 11:20:36 -0000, Tiscali Tim wrote:

Yes, that side of things is OK.

I'm going back probably tomorrow and I'll try connecting the router at the
master socket.

Fingers crossed!

--
Regards
Barry

On Tue, 7 Dec 2004 11:20:36 -0000, Tiscali Tim wrote:

Well I Give Up!

I've brought the router home and connected it up on my system and it works
perfectly.

Back at site I tried connecting it direct at the Master Socket, still no
joy.

So I'm completely mystified now, I don't know what to try next.

I suppose that if the BT supplied ADSL ethernet modem works then I ought to
be able to connect that via a Broadband Router and forget trying to have it
all in the one unit? (Adsl modem, switch, firewall and wireless)

I can find another home for the 3Com Router so it wouldn't be a dead loss,
but I don't like to be beaten!

--
Best regards
Barry

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
BJH <barryh@kentra.co.uk> wrote:

OK, back on the MAC address tack. Do ethernet modems have their own MAC
address? If so, was this the one you spoofed - or was it that of the PC's
network card?
--
Cheers,
Tim
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On Tue, 7 Dec 2004 18:39:50 +0000, [BJH] said :-


afaik, the voyager is supplied already configured with a username of
something@btbroadband.com, and a dummy password. The only relevant
item is @btbroadband.com

You need to set up the username of the 3com via the setup with :-

username:-
something@btbroadband.com

password:-
something

in both cases, 'something' can be absolutely anything as they are both
ignored.

On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 19:47:45 +0000, Spin Dryer wrote:

OK, well that's promising as I've been using the persons BTYahoo login
details of the format

username:-
fredbloggs@btinternet.com

password:-
mainuserpasswordforemailbox

AFAIK these are as per the web site help page, but I'll try your
suggestion.

--
Best regards
Barry

On Tue, 7 Dec 2004 21:41:30 +0000, [BJH] said :-

Well, the details that were needed used to be of the form :-

freddieboy @ hgx.btinternet.com - plus their main user password.

where HGx was the home gateway number (this info should have been
relayed to the user by email).

Howevever, recently, all btyahoo and bt broadband login details are of
the 'other' sort I mentioned. It has been that way for new people for
a month or two I believe.

Of course, the something@btbroadband.com is 'only' for logging onto
the connection, their mail address is still freddieboy @
btinternet.com

On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 21:53:19 +0000, Spin Dryer wrote:

Yes, and I think that's where the confusion has arisen. The login details I
was given were for BT Yahoo *not* for the broadband connection, so I'll
give your suggestion a try tomorrow afternoon.

This makes perfect sense, if as you suggested the broadband login details
are 'hard coded' into the BT modem firmware.

--
Best regards
Barry

On Tue, 7 Dec 2004 22:13:29 +0000, [BJH] said :-

I don't believe that they are hard coded (since the unit can be used
on any service), more like just preset when someone orders the btyahoo
stuff. It's sort of a good idea, since the punter can just plug it in
and they're away. If, on the other hand, the unit was just bought off
the shelf - then the punter would have to set up the username from
scratch.