Vodafone ultra hub issues

[craigjm]

Yes I know they are a pile of st and it’s been a pain since I got it in November but now it’s just got worse. Today there was a power cut for a few minutes and after restart none of the smart devices would connect to it and the computers and phones could not see it at all. Then it would appear for a split second and everything connects then go again. Did a factory reset and that hasn’t helped it’s exactly the same.

As far as the app is concerned everything is running just fine but for some reason the router won’t broadcast the connections. Any ideas?

Secondary question. I don’t want to be stuck with this st so if I buy an aftermarket router what information if any do I need from Vodafone to make it work? It’s been total st from day one and the only way I could get the smart devices to attach in the first place was to change the ID to match the old router as you can’t turn off the 5ghz band to isolate 2.4 to attach them.

Vodafone broadband support is awful. Anyone thinking of moving to them, don’t

[TownIdiot]

Go into the admin pages and check if you can set it to "modem mode"

If you can do that then you can then plug any router into it using an ethernet cable.

[craigjm]

Ok so that’s hopefully answered the second question

Any idea how to get it working properly though and actually broadcasting the connections? I don’t have a replacement router at the moment

[OldGermanHeaps]

If it happened after a brief power cut it might be an ip address clash, due to the router resetting but other devices not renewing their dhcp lease. Try turning the power off to the house for a few minutes, then power up the router, let it boot before turning on power the rest of the connected devices in the house.
Some wifi boosters have an automatic dhcp server that kicks in if it boots before the router starts dishing out dhcp leases, tp link are really bad for this. It can cause havoc.

[craigjm]

OldGermanHeaps said:

If it happened after a brief power cut it might be an ip address clash, due to the router resetting but other devices not renewing their dhcp lease. Try turning the power off to the house for a few minutes, then power up the router, let it boot before turning on power the rest of the connected devices in the house.
Some wifi boosters have an automatic dhcp server that kicks in if it boots before the router starts dishing out dhcp leases, tp link are really bad for this. It can cause havoc.

I can understand how that might mean the smart devices don’t connect but how would that stop the likes of the phone and computer from seeing the router?

[Captain_Morgan]

You will need the username/password & the vlan id - openreach network - VLAN 101 or City fibre network - VLAN 911. When moving to your own router. Plenty of information out there.


Have you tried deleting the network from your phone and then re establishing a new connection?
It will prove if it’s publishing its ssid or not.

If you have a Apple phone “Airport utility” can be used to scan for ssid’s perhaps try this first. https://wifi.rainbird.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/...

[OldGermanHeaps]

If dhcp isnt working the computers will try to connect then give up. If you force them to connect they will say connected, no internet, or unable to join this network.

[craigjm]

OldGermanHeaps said:

If dhcp isnt working the computers will try to connect then give up. If you force them to connect they will say connected, no internet, or unable to join this network.

There is nothing for them to connect to. All of the lights are green on the hub and the app says everything is fine but when you switch WiFi on from any device it does not see Vodafone8765 for example to be able to connect to it. All it sees are the neighbours WiFi signals. It’s like there is internet to the router and then it stops

[craigjm]

Captain_Morgan said:

You will need the username/password & the vlan id - openreach network - VLAN 101 or City fibre network - VLAN 911. When moving to your own router. Plenty of information out there.


Have you tried deleting the network from your phone and then re establishing a new connection?
It will prove if it’s publishing its ssid or not.

If you have a Apple phone “Airport utility” can be used to scan for ssid’s perhaps try this first. https://wifi.rainbird.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/...

Thanks for the info about replacing the router

The response to the rest of the question is as above. Using that utility and just a general wifi search doesn’t find anything other than the neighbours wifi. It’s like there is internet to the router and then no wifi beyond the router

[Captain_Morgan]

craigjm said:

Captain_Morgan said:

You will need the username/password & the vlan id - openreach network - VLAN 101 or City fibre network - VLAN 911. When moving to your own router. Plenty of information out there.


Have you tried deleting the network from your phone and then re establishing a new connection?
It will prove if it’s publishing its ssid or not.

If you have a Apple phone “Airport utility” can be used to scan for ssid’s perhaps try this first. https://wifi.rainbird.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/...

Thanks for the info about replacing the router

The response to the rest of the question is as above. Using that utility and just a general wifi search doesn’t find anything other than the neighbours wifi. It’s like there is internet to the router and then no wifi beyond the router

Have you access to the router via a cabled device? I’m assuming this is the case to prove the device is online /semi functional.

If so have you power cycled since power returned, I’d try that.
If that fails I’d try restoring to default & testing again.

[craigjm]

Captain_Morgan said:

Have you access to the router via a cabled device? I’m assuming this is the case to prove the device is online /semi functional.

If so have you power cycled since power returned, I’d try that.
If that fails I’d try restoring to default & testing again.

I did all of that yesterday to no avail. Woke up this morning and it’s all back. It’s reset itself to out the box default names and passwords though so now I have changed those everything is connecting again and speed is right. Very odd

Thanks for your help everyone. I’m still considering changing the router it’s just a shame you still have to use the st as a modern

[Captain_Morgan]

craigjm said:

Captain_Morgan said:

Have you access to the router via a cabled device? I’m assuming this is the case to prove the device is online /semi functional.

If so have you power cycled since power returned, I’d try that.
If that fails I’d try restoring to default & testing again.

I did all of that yesterday to no avail. Woke up this morning and it’s all back. It’s reset itself to out the box default names and passwords though so now I have changed those everything is connecting again and speed is right. Very odd

Thanks for your help everyone. I’m still considering changing the router it’s just a shame you still have to use the st as a modern

you don't need to use the vodafone router, assuming you have FTTP rather than ADSL+.

You remove the router and connect the ONT, thats the device that converts the optical cable to ethernet.

[craigjm]

Captain_Morgan said:

you don't need to use the vodafone router, assuming you have FTTP rather than ADSL+.

You remove the router and connect the ONT, thats the device that converts the optical cable to ethernet.

FTTC unfortunately

[TownIdiot]

If Vodafone will give you your username and password you can ditch their equipment.

[craigjm]

TownIdiot said:

If Vodafone will give you your username and password you can ditch their equipment.

Yeah I will look into that. Question then is what would be the best router to replace it with. Four storey property so needs an extender currently. Has to be wifi as I’m not chopping walls for cat cable etc.

To be fair when it works it works well but it’s a pain when it doesn’t and when you want to add new smart devices. Not being able to isolate the 2.4ghz is a backward step

[TownIdiot]

craigjm said:

Yeah I will look into that. Question then is what would be the best router to replace it with. Four storey property so needs an extender currently. Has to be wifi as I’m not chopping walls for cat cable etc.

To be fair when it works it works well but it’s a pain when it doesn’t and when you want to add new smart devices. Not being able to isolate the 2.4ghz is a backward step

I've just been through this same process.
After two failed attempts I ended up with Netgear Orbi 770 series with a router and 3 satellites (our house seems to have WiFi defying properties)

Works well and you can create a separate WiFi network for "smart home" devices. Other options are available and there a long thread in here about them.

[Captain_Morgan]

FTTC Would need a modem, you can pick them up from eBay quite cheep search for fttc modem.

That said you may be able to run your router as a modem & simply add a mesh system to it.