Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nrvs]

I've just subscribed to the "premium" KT Megapass service.

The connection works perfectly when the modem is plugged directly into my Powerbook. However, I get 15-25% packet loss when I use a Linksys 802.11g wireless router. It's a WRT54G, which is the same model I used in the United States. I purchased the router new at Yongsan last weekend.

The problem is not between my computer and the router (no packet loss there). It seems like Megapass's DHCP drops/renegotiates the router's WAN settings every couple minutes, at random. This causes a loss of connectivity lasting 4 to 20 seconds each time. It's impossible to maintain a SSH connection to my ISP's shell (where I do all of my email) or listen to Internet radio. Of course, KT tech support says I'm on my own with this one.

I've spent most of the week trying to get a continuous connection. I've tried cloning my Powerbook's MAC address, changing the IP address of the router to something other than 192.168.1.1 because there's a 192.168.1.1 directly upstream from me (weird), lowering the MTU setting, and so on.

Any ideas? It's SO irritating.

Oh yeah, two other weird things which might be related to my problem: The tech who installed the modem couldn't get PPPoe working, so he went back to home base to "change setting," returned to my apartment, and now I don't have to login via PPPoe ever. Also, my computer's IP address is the SAME as the "router" IP address. Isn't this...impossible?

[Demophobe]

Well, not directly applicable to your post, but I get the same renegotiation every so often at random. Sometimes I am logged into a site and then the modem loses connectivity, and I am logged out....basically like I turned off the system.

It's definately a problem at KT and not my system. I have my main system using KT MP premium VDSL, and I never have this problem. I don't have to login on that ststem either, but this one (KT MP "lite") I do. This system also has some KT software installed to get the ethernet working, but my main system doesn't.

Something fishy about the connections here. I just live with it on this secondary system, as it's just a small inconvenience. I don't lose connectivity that often (though it has been more frequent as of late) and my main system is stable. My computers are in different cities....wonder if that makes a difference?

With all of the wires and cables randomly strung linking this bizarre network together, it's a wonder we get a connection at all. Everytime I look up, I feel like I am trapped in a spider web.

Sorry, mate. Can't help....only sympathize...

[jaebea]

Wow that's pretty interesting.

It's bizarre how it doesn't affect you if you're plugged in directly to the modem itself. It's not as if the router will add any significant degree of latency or risk of packetloss.

What you HAVE is:

Line -> Modem -> Host

So what you WANT is :

Line -> Modem -> WRT54G -> Host(s)

From the info you'veposted, I'd suggest the following.

The modem (being ethernet and all) is most probably a modem/router, complete with its own NAT, private subnet and DHCP. At the moment, this is probably active (which is the default most of the time).

This is handling your connection (which the KT guy has changed to something other than PPPoE). So what needs to be done is to set the modem into a transparent bridge and let the WRT54G do all the WAN side stuff.

Log into the modem, enable RFC1483 Bridge (LLC or VC, depends on the system in Korea), and enable bridging mode.

Then mirror the WAN settings from your current modem on the WRT54G and you should be right as rain.

I hope.

You seem pretty clued in to what you are doing, so apologies if you've tried this already.

jae.

[Walter Mitty]

My guess? Bad modem.

I had a similar problem with my service (while still in Korea) earlier this year. I got my boss to call KT and schedule a service call. They swapped out the modem and everything ran fine after that.

I'd been using a D-Link DI-614+ with my iBooks. Worked perfectly with both the G3 and G4 models, so the router wasn't the problem.

[turtlepi1]

First ensure you flash update the modem. (Maybe you already have)

Had same problem in Canada with a particular series of the linksys routers. (Don't know which one off-hand.) Even after flashing the problem wasn't resolved. (but is the first step in troubleshooting)

Spent a lot of time working through the issue but never sorted it out.
Ended up replacing the unit.

[logan2003]

I am using a 802.11b wireless router, and I have had no issues we also use megapass premuim (adsl)...

Hmm what is the difference between VDSL and ADSL? is there a major difference in speed?

[turtlepi1]

I should have also mentioned I am using the top residential package (megapass VDSL I think or so the modem box said) with a linksys wrt54g router...(was too lasy to look last time) (wireless linksys card) It seems to work well but I do notice pages sometimes have a long pause.

I haven't used any VPN or shells so I wouldn't experience the problem you are having. I will check into packet loss and get back to you.

[nrvs]

Well, it's been fixed for a while, and I forgot about this post. Thanks to everyone who responded.

Jaebea was right on. I did some searching and I figured out how to login to the ADSL modem itself. The default login/password was "megapass/adsl" or something like that. It came from a Korean PDF file I found on google and translated with babelfish. Anyway, it was interesting poking around in the modem's firmware...until I totally screwed it up. I had to call KT to fix it. How embarrassing.

They sent a tech out the next day. He saw my Linksys router sitting next to the modem, and proceeded to set it up with the modem. I didn't even have to ask. Even though he didn't speak a word of English, he knew his way around the Linksys box, that's for sure -- I think it's a popular brand here. Maybe he was afraid of my Powerbook and wanted to go with what he knew...who knows. I saw him messing around with the modem too, doing exactly what jaebea wrote earlier.

One thing I forgot to mention: PPPoE. My login/password was inside the modem. He added my PPPoE authentication info to the Linksys and it worked instantly. I've been wireless ever since.

[jaebea]

Ahh it's good to see I'm good for something every so often.. :)

Good to hear you're back online.

jae.