Problems setting up a TP link router

[Repairman777]

Hi Darren,

I was a bit surprised to hear that you don't support TP-link routers; I've just bought one to use when they switch to ADSL2+ on my Virgin ADSL a/c (very iminent). Pretty sure it will support ADSL as well.

Had little joy getting it to work this afternoon.

It's  TD W8920G, v.2; quite a nice little box, and I shall be determined to get it to work on the VM network.

I'm sure it's possible; just need the right settings.

Any ideas from fellow users of TP-link routers would be welcomed.

Thanks,

Mike.

[Adam_J]

Hi Repairman777,

That router should support ADSL2+ without any problems.

I'm afraid we wont be able to help on this side of the forum because we only deal with cable connecitons.

If you create a new thread in here, our coleages in the Virgin Nation department should be able to advise you further.

[aje21_2098]

Confused, this is showing up in the national section...

[fihart]

Presumably you are concerned with the WAN settings -- in effect, the connection between you and Virgin.

These are shown in the settings of your existing router and should be copied across manually. If you own two computers, suggest you link a computer to each router by cable and read off and type in the settings. 

Log in to both routers at their respective IP addresses, usually printed on a label on the router itself (a figure usually in the range 192.168.0.1 or similar). Put IP the address in the address bar of your browser. Once a Login Box comes up the most common User Name/Password  is    admin    and    password  or  changeme (or whatever the TP Link manual tells you).  

Once in the router WAN settings there are a series of settings you'll need to copy across. Plus your Virgin User Name -- look carefully at this and type it character for character, space for space.  You'll then need your password (usually one you gave when signing up for Virgin e-mail). This may be blanked out in the Virgin router and if you can't remember it, you'll need to contact the phone helpline, probably with your account details to hand.  

[maybelle_morris]

Hi fihart,

So your not able to get online at all with your new router? The router will need to be configured first, so I suggest the best thing to do would be to contact TP-Link's technical support and they can talk you through the set up.

You will need your Virgin Broadband Username and password. If you don't have these details you will be able to get them by calling us on 150 from a virgin landline or 08454542222 from any other phone.

Other router settings required are;

VPI = 0

VCI = 38

Encapsulation = PPPoA (PPP over ATM)

Authentication = CHAP

Recommended MTU = 1458

Hope this has helped,

Regards,

Maybelle

[maybelle_morris]

Sorry forgot to add,

TP-Link's technical support number is 08451470017

[aje21_2098]

Curious, the MTU on my router is 1454 - which I think came about from trial and error (using ping without allowing packet fragmentation). Where does the 1458 figure come from?

[Sarah_D]

Hello aje21_2098,

The MTU is recommended; the MTU is settings within the router which advises the router how much to download in one block. It can be varied depending on your PC etc. For example if you can't browse web pages, the MTU settings can affect this and it can be lowered/highered to suit your PC.

I hope that has helped.

Regards.

[aje21_2098]

Hi Sarah,
I understand what an MTU is for, I just wondered if the recommendation was from BT or VM and what part of the network determines the recommendation.

Andrew 

[JohnW]

Hi Andrew

The recommendation is from Virgin Media as we have found this setting works best with the vast majority of people.  If you want to set a more accurate MTU it can be done via a very simple process

Run the following via the command prompt.

ping yahoo.com –f –l 1472

If you get a result showing no reply and fragmented packets, repeat the test but lower the figure by 10.

ping yahoo.com –f –l 1462

Keep doing this until you get a reply and then repeat the test adding 2 to the number until you again get a fragmented packet.  Taking the previous figure you need to add 28 to the value for TCP/IP headers and this should give you your optimum MTU setting to help reduce packet loss.

Thanks

John