New 3rd Party Router - To Improve WiFi

[mae-3]

@rozel 

You will have connectivity on the LAN side with an IP address, just plug a PC into the Asus XT8 LAN port and bob's your uncle, eg: update via the Adminsitrator->firmware manual firmware update route; this does not need an internet connection.

[mae-3]

@rozel 

The WAN port should be set up as follows in this screenshot notice DHCP Option 61 field '123abc@skydsl|123abc' without single quotes:-

[cookiemonsteruk]

@rozel 

You've selected pppoe which is for sky ireland. Select auto ip

Then change query frequency to 1500

And tell us if you now have a client identifier (option 61) field

[rozel]

@mae-3- I know you are trying to help me but you are not reading my posts properly.  First I have the firmwares, from exactly that source - did that this morning as I posted.  I have no Internet connection - see the Status screenshot.  I cannot upload the firmware to the Zen's as no connection is made. 

I want Static Ip addresses.  @cookiemonsteruk I thought I selected Sky so now totally confused.  This is because I'm now getting mixed information and incorrect website links.  Sorry but I need step by step instructions from one person now - please discuss between you who is going to help me as I belive things are a complete mess now!

Even if I select Auto IP, I don't see any option to insert the 61 Option.  I didn't select Ireland or pppoe or anything like that.

Gotta do some work around the house now - it'll be tomorrow now before I'm back here, so please set out step by step what I should do either from here or give me instructions on how to start again please.

Sorry but as you can see I'm a tad frustrated now - is my wiring correct?  Please check my post earlier and confirm, when replying  Thnks

[cookiemonsteruk]

@rozel 

"please discuss between you who is going to help me as I belive things are a complete mess now"

Fair enough. Count me out. Others here have the xt8 so are better placed to advise

[mae-3]

@rozel 

You can count me out as well, eg: the URL provided is valid. You can update the firmware on the Asus without an internet connection. And you already have a screenshot of the WAN port identifying all the settings for connecting via Sky DHCP Option 61 in the UK. 😉

[jamesn123]

Hi @rozel 

The firmware is up to date (Released 03/11). Not sure what @mae-3 is talking about?

Edit: Scratch that just seen the end revsion numbers and it is not up to date. Thats why you can't see the option 61 box.

You need to download the firmware from the Asus site, then connect your laptop to the Asus router and manually upload the firmware. You do not need an active internet connection on the Asus router or laptop while you do this.

The Option 61 box should appear when selecting automatic IP. Please see my screenshots below for reference

[rozel]

Deary me, it doesn't take much for dummies to be spat out eh?  But whether or not a firmware upgrade needs an Internet connection or not, I simply could not get the firmware to upload, a message popped up saying "can not connect to Asus's Severs, check your Internet connection, so I'm flumuxed, especially now as we just find out from @jamesn123 that no Option 61 is available on my current firmware and to be honest judging from the above @mae-3 and @cookiemonsteruk seem to be at loggerheads with each other lol!  Come on people, we've come this far let's not fall out now.

So I can start over again tomorrow, @jamesn123 please can you say how I upgrade the firmwares on the 2 Zens - I have saved the correct firmware down to my PC but going through the motions on the Asus  Web Gui, it does not Upload.  Also how do I wipe the 2 Zen's clean to start over?  I'll then go back into the Modem and check the settings again.  If I remember now correctly, I selected "Other" to get the Vlan options etc as they didn't appear when selecting Sky.  Again is this something to do with the latest Modem's Firmware?  But when I checked on the Tp Link website the latest firmware was what's installed already.  Finally I don't want Dynamic IP addresses - all my devices have fixed ones and I know what they all are.

Thanks and I'm sorry if I upset anyone

[jamesn123]

Hi @rozel 

To be fair people on here give up a large portion of their time to help people when they dont really have to so whether or not you meant to offend anyone I can understand them wanting to just drop it there. Obviously it was just a misunderstanding.

Regarding updating the firmware, you need to get the file from the site, unzip it so you have only the .w file and then upload that on the Asus GUI. This should work. If its talking about connecting to the Asus servers then it sounds like you are hitting the wrong button or something. 

 

[rozel]

@jamesn123 

"To be fair people on here give up a large portion of their time to help people when they dont really have to so whether or not you meant to offend anyone I can understand them wanting to just drop it there. Obviously it was just a misunderstanding."

I've been on these forums long enough to know that, so sorry again, but at the same time please understand that for me this is complex and been getting wrong info or mixed messages.

I've done all what you say with the firmware but after selecting the extracted file from where its been saved  down and pressing the upload button, it fails. 

The status screenshot says there's a password issue and again may I ask how do I do a factory reset on the 2 Zen's please to start over

[mae-3]

@rozel 

Hard reset router as instruction on Asus site per request:-

https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1046973 

[jamesn123]

@rozel 

If you arent already I'd obviously focus a single Asus unit first, you can always pair the second one once you've got the internet configuration sorted.

[rozel]

@mae-3 @cookiemonsteruk @jamesn123 

First up let me apologise for yesterday, what I said wasn't called for and as an experienced forum member, I should have known better.

I was this morning going to reset the 2 Zens but before I got that far, I thought I'd take some time out to go through this whole thread from start to finish and I'm glad I did!  I made a massive mistake - I thought I was uploading the correct firmwares to the Zens - wrong!  I had inadvertently extracted the modem's latest firmware (which wasn't needed), thinking it was the Asus firmware - no wonder it wasn't accepted!!!  I have now successfully updated both Zens to the firmware quoted early on, namely 3.0.0.4.386.42095. 

The next problem was my attempt to setup the modem - I had selected "Other" rather than Sky VDSL as otherwise I could not set it to Bridge Mode.  And maybe this where my current issues lie.  By selecting "Other" there were no options to enable VLAN ID or to disable WiFi.  So I have left it as it was yesterday - please see first screenshot - at least I'm in Bridge Mode and WiFi disabled: -

OK then I moved the ethernet cable from the Modem to the "Router".  Screenshot after upgrading the firmware: -

I sorted the 61 Option String but my WAN options differ to those provided earlier, with no option to insert DHCP Query Frequency of 1500 but could select Automatic IP: -

OK so some more screens:-

Network Map

Operation Mode: -

System Status: -

Internet Status: -

LAN: -

And AI Mesh Topology: -

 

First thing I see is that Internet has been "Turned Off".  Could this be because I've selected the incorrect mode(s) for the Zens?

Then I have to come back to the Modem Setup: - If required I am more than willing to provide a screenshot by screenshot of my attempt so far and the different WAN screens which don't allow me to enter some settings as mentioned above.

Hopefully guys you will re-enter this conversation and diagnose what seems to be wrong

Thank you

[jamesn123]

Hi @rozel 

Looking pretty close now.

Two things I've noticed from your screenshots is

1. You need to change the 'DHCP Query Frequency' to 'Continious' under the Asus WAN tab. 

2. Your Asus router seems to be getting a 192.168.1.101 IP via DHCP on its WAN side which suggests two things, firstly that DHCP hasnt been disabled on the TP-Link modem and secondly it isnt bridging properly as its WAN IP should be your public IP from Sky. 

[mae-3]

@rozel 

Looks good only requirement is a bridge from VDSL2 to ethernet and there is a FAQ link on this thread on how to achieve that which is correct for TP-Link I think you're using without looking back at the thread myself, eg: just a BT standard bridge with VLAN of 101. Don't select Sky MER as the ISP that routes the traffic which is why you have a private IP address on the WAN port of the Asus ZenWiFi XT8 I believe?