pfSense ruined my non-pfSense router

[JollyCloudyCheergoose]

I have 2 Routers. 1 new one using pfSense, and one old using DD-WRT

The old DD-WRT router worked fine for months. Then as soon as I started using the pfSense router, even if it's unplugged and everything is back to the way things were, the DD-WRT router is lagging, slower, and cuts out frequently.

I tried spoofing the MAC on the pfSense to match the old one, just in case the ISP was doing this on purpose, but this doesn't fix it

[gabacho4]

@jollycloudycheergoose or maybe the DD-WRT router is failing and has nothing to do with pfSense. How would pfSense have any effect on the performance of your other router?

[JollyCloudyCheergoose]

@gabacho4 That is why I am surprised also! But the timing is exact!

Basically as soon as I use pfSense, the DD-WRT craps out afterwards. Maybe the ISP is confused since they are both using VPNs?

[Gertjan]

@jollycloudycheergoose

I'm using a bunch of these

as basic access points, for more then a decade now.
Using E1200 'Linksys/Cisco' devices.
Works great, as they don't have to deliver a lot of Mbits/sec.

[stephenw10]

pfSense cannot possibly cause this if it's entirely disconnected at the time.

Likely something else changed at the same time when the routers were swapped out.

[JollyCloudyCheergoose]

@stephenw10 Is it possible that the ISP is confused by the sudden drop in processing power, over a VPN, so it malfunctions?

Or maybe the ISP is throttling the connection because of a new MAC? (although I spoofed it only recently thanks to your help)

[stephenw10]

No, the ISP sees nothing about the router processing capability other than the VPN bandwidth; which is just traffic.
It is possible a new MAC would be throttled, we have seen ISPs doing that. But that's far less likely on a PPPoE connection and that's not what you are seeing here because pfSense is not throttled with or without the spoofed MAC.

Steve

[Gertjan]

@jollycloudycheergoose said in pfSense ruined my non-pfSense router:

MZC .... I spoofed it

So, your ISP can't 'see' what router you use.
They see a TCP or UDP data stream to one IP, your VPN host. The stream is TLS 'scrambled'.

Still not pfSense related.

[johnpoz]

I turned on my coffee maker and it broke my TV in the guestroom.. I don't how but I think pfsense is related <rolleyes>

[JKnott]

@johnpoz

Next we know, he'll be claiming 5G causes COVID!

[AndyRH]

Some people do not believe in coincidences.
Makes you wonder what disease 6g will cause...

[gabacho4]

@andyrh ever seen World War Z? Start stocking up on Forsythia now. Err…I mean Contagion. It’s all apocalyptic at a point!

[JollyCloudyCheergoose]

okay you guys win. I don't know why it isn't working when alternating, but now I'm trying to get the Wifi behind the pfSense.

I posted a separate thread on this

[johnpoz]

@jollycloudycheergoose said in pfSense ruined my non-pfSense router:

why it isn't working when alternating

If your cable modem - and you change the "rouer" or pc connected to it - you almost always have to power cycle the cable modem.. Because the mac address has changed.. Unless you clone the mac of the devices so they are the same..

Cable modems don't like it when the devices mac connected to them change.