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    EE ADSL router in modem mode

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    • B
      Balanga
      last edited by

      Until recently I have accessed the Internet from pfSense via a Virgin media superhub in modem-only mode. I am now changing over to EE and have been sent an ADSL modem/router. Is there any way to set this up the same way? If not should I try installing something like DD-WRT on it?

      I don't suppose there is something like a FreeBSD version of DD-WRT is there?

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      • D
        doktornotor Banned
        last edited by

        You should set up the modem as bridge and put a pfSense box behind it. No, there's no FBSD-based DD-WRT plus xDSL support in DD-WRT is pretty much non-existent.

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        • B
          Balanga
          last edited by

          I'm not entirely sure how to set up the modem/router as a bridge… Any tips would be appreciated...

          As for a FreeBSD based DD-WRT, I just came across this interesting link...

          http://adrianchadd.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/freebsd-on-tp-link-tl-wr1043nd.html

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          • S
            Stan464
            last edited by

            Now

            When you say EE ADSL are you 100% sure its just "ADSL" & not "FTCC"

            I'm with EE & using FTCC, What i used was a "FTCC BT Box" that has DSL in & Ethernet Out.

            I used PFSense with PPPOA mode & provided the Username & Password and it connected without issue.

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            • B
              Balanga
              last edited by

              I assume the F means Fibre… which is not yet available in my area so it's definitely ADSL...

              I was with Virgin Media before and used my VM SuperHub in Modem only mode.

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              • S
                Stan464
                last edited by

                Right.

                Few options, you can use the Provided Router, Remove the Firewall Rules & such and set a Static IP & Set it into DMZ, then use that IP for PFSense.

                This should give you the same joy.

                Hope the above helps.

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                • stephenw10S
                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                  last edited by

                  Yeah you have a number of options there.

                  I used a Draytek V120 ADSL modem successfully for years. The V130 supports VDSL too so you'd be ready for FTTC when it reaches you.

                  The BT Openreach modems are available and would do that same job I believe. Never tried to use mine for ADSL but they should be capable.

                  There are other devices doing similar xDSL bridge setup.

                  What actually is the device EE supplied you with? It might have a 'bridge' mode. It might be *-wrt compatible but I'd suggest getting something else to do that with.

                  Steve

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                  • B
                    Balanga
                    last edited by

                    The EE router says Model name: Bright Box (R) Wireless Router. I don't see any indication about what it really is…

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                    • stephenw10S
                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                      last edited by

                      Like this?:
                      https://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/arcadyan/ar7516

                      I would advise you just get something already configured as a modem if you can. Unless of course you want he fun that can be had installing custom firmware.  ;)

                      Steve

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                      • B
                        Balanga
                        last edited by

                        I have collected quite a number of ADSL modem/routers over the years and would be interested in trying to use an alternative to the EE modem/router but a problem I've noticed with the EE box is that the Broadband password is ****ed out and I don't know how to find out what it is - or if anyone will tell me what it is.

                        I'm wondering if this would be the best bet for me as a simple ADSL modem for connection to my pfSense box (assuming I can get it working with EE) :-

                        https://www.dlink-direct.co.uk/dsl-320b

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                        • stephenw10S
                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                          last edited by

                          If it has pass-through mode so you can run the ppp session from pfSense that would probably work.

                          I can only say I know the Draytek V120 works because I've tested it. They look to be reasonably priced second hand now.

                          Steve

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                          • B
                            Balanga
                            last edited by

                            This shows how to set up bridge mode:-

                            http://www.dlink.com/uk/en/support/faq/modems/dsl-modems/dsl_320b/how-to-setup-dsl-320b-revision-z1-in-bridge-mode

                            I that the same as pass-through mode? (Apologies if that is a dumb question…)

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                            • B
                              Balanga
                              last edited by

                              @Stan464:

                              Now

                              When you say EE ADSL are you 100% sure its just "ADSL" & not "FTCC"

                              I'm with EE & using FTCC, What i used was a "FTCC BT Box" that has DSL in & Ethernet Out.

                              I used PFSense with PPPOA mode & provided the Username & Password and it connected without issue.

                              So do you just connect your pfSense box to the EE ADSL box and only use one port? I was using a Virgin SuperHub previously but had to set it up in modem mode. Do I need to make any changes on the EE box? And what IP addresses should I use?

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • stephenw10S
                                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                last edited by

                                Looks like he just used an Openreach 'modem' as supplied by BT to everyone before soho routers were commonly available with built in VDSL modems. Check Ebay.

                                But he has an FTTC connection (VDSL) and you do not, yet.

                                Steve

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                                • B
                                  Balanga
                                  last edited by

                                  I managed to come up with a solution whereby I set my EE ADSL modem/router's gateway to 192.168.100.1 and connected one port to the WAN port on my pfSense box which provided my pfSense box with a WAN port IP address via DHCP from the EE box.

                                  It seems to work, but I don't really know if this is just a kludge or not…

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                                  • W
                                    Wolf666
                                    last edited by

                                    I use a Draytek V130 in bridge mode, excellent performances. I have a VDSL 100/20 with a current connection of real 95/19.

                                    Modem Draytek Vigor 130
                                    pfSense 2.4 Supermicro A1SRi-2558 - 8GB ECC RAM - Intel S3500 SSD 80GB - M350 Case
                                    Switch Cisco SG350-10
                                    AP Netgear R7000 (Stock FW)
                                    HTPC Intel NUC5i3RYH
                                    NAS Synology DS1515+
                                    NAS Synology DS213+

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                                    • B
                                      Balanga
                                      last edited by

                                      How do you measure this speed?

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • W
                                        Wolf666
                                        last edited by

                                        @Balanga:

                                        How do you measure this speed?

                                        From a wired PC, an average performances using speed test (mostly for upload performances) and pfSense traffic graphs on single source download . From Vigor 130 GUI the actual rate is 107.9 Mbps/ 21.6Mbps…
                                        Of course the real connection speeds depends on the time of the day, but I can easly get those speeds duing night, I am less than 100 meters from cabinet (Broadcom).

                                        Modem Draytek Vigor 130
                                        pfSense 2.4 Supermicro A1SRi-2558 - 8GB ECC RAM - Intel S3500 SSD 80GB - M350 Case
                                        Switch Cisco SG350-10
                                        AP Netgear R7000 (Stock FW)
                                        HTPC Intel NUC5i3RYH
                                        NAS Synology DS1515+
                                        NAS Synology DS213+

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • B
                                          Balanga
                                          last edited by

                                          That doesn't sound like ADSL…. I've just tried Speedtest and get around 5.0/1.0.

                                          Not sure how that can be significantly increased using a different router/modem...

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                                          • W
                                            Wolf666
                                            last edited by

                                            @Balanga:

                                            That doesn't sound like ADSL…. I've just tried Speedtest and get around 5.0/1.0.

                                            Not sure how that can be significantly increased using a different router/modem...

                                            If you have a ADSL/ADSL2 connection your speed depends on the distance from ISP DSLAM and if you are distant changing Modem cannot help you. Can you post a screenshot of your line? I mean, we need to know attenuation and type of line.

                                            https://www.speedguide.net/dsl_speed_calc.php

                                            Modem Draytek Vigor 130
                                            pfSense 2.4 Supermicro A1SRi-2558 - 8GB ECC RAM - Intel S3500 SSD 80GB - M350 Case
                                            Switch Cisco SG350-10
                                            AP Netgear R7000 (Stock FW)
                                            HTPC Intel NUC5i3RYH
                                            NAS Synology DS1515+
                                            NAS Synology DS213+

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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