Talk Talk Bespoke Protocols?

I've recently switched to Talk Talk from Sky broadband. Yes, I know, big mistake. Thing is, my Sky broadband was so bad I didn't think Talk Talk could be any worse and I'm ashamed to say that the sales person who phoned me up converted me...

Anyway, I was wondering if Talk Talk use any kind of bespoke protocols for ADSL? The reason I'm asking is that on Sky I used to use a Netgear router. This one, actually:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-071-NG&groupid=46&catid=1012&subcat=143&name=Netgear%20DG834GT%20108Mbps%20Wireless%20ADSL2+%20Modem/Router

When I switched to Talk Talk I set everything up using the modem they provided and once I knew everything was working I switched back to using my router. Now, this seems to work fine, for the most part. I can connect to the internet and browse web pages, which is the most important thing.

The problem I'm having is that when I use my Netgear router (with exactly the same settings as I had with Sky) certain applications no-longer work. I can connect to MSN Messenger in Windows, but I also use Pidgin as my ICQ client and this will no longer connect. Interestingly enough, the official MSN client in Mac OS no longer works, either.

I'm fairly sure it's not a problem with the router because I haven't changed any of the settings and they worked fine with Sky. BUT, if I switch back to using the modem that Talk Talk provided me with these applications work fine! So, I'm wondering if this modem has some kind of special setting or uses some kind of bespoke way of communicating with Talk Talk's servers.

I hate having to use Talk Talk's modem because I have numerous computers and games consoles I want to be able to connect but I'm loathed to give them �60 for their wireless router based on the terrible connection I've had so far.

Any ideas?

MTU size maybe? (have a search on the forum, there's lots of discussion on this.)

Agreed, and a problem seems to that Talk Talk MTU wanders around, so what works one week doesn't work the next

Hmm. My MTU is set to 1500 which I thought was quite large? Do I really need to increase it?

No, you almost certainly need to reduce it. Suspect it might be 1428?

Search for MTU and you will probably find some links to how to get the right value.

Edited by ian72 (Mon 11-Aug-08 14:37:46)

both msn and icq have recently changed their protocols, so first thing i'd do is make sure you're using the latest versions of all your instant messaging applications.

Hi, to configure the MTU if you are using Windows XP and not Vista follow the instructions�

check with �Tweak Tester II� that you get 100% transfer efficiency.

Make sure ping is enabled within your router for the test, then carry out a tweak test on this website. (Don�t forget select PPPoA for connection)

If you do not have 100% transfer efficiency, reconfigure your MTU settings.
--------------------

I prefer to find the MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) setting this way,
Finding the largest MTU by EXPERIMENT version 2 - NOT advisable for Vista.

First reset windows with Dr TCP to MTU 1500.
Then reset modem/router to MTU 1500 save it, reboot PC and modem/router.

Next from windows, go to Start/Run and type at Open: cmd (then click OK)
At the MSDOS-PROMPT type,

ping -f -l 1472 www.bbc.co.uk

Then reduce 1472 by 10 until you no longer get the "packet needs to be fragmented" error message or �Request timed out.� Then increase by 1 until you are 1 less from getting again, "packet needs to be fragmented" message or �Request timed out�.

My reading went down to 1402 before I got no packets loss, now add 28. example 1402 + 28 = 1430 ��....so that makes my MTU 1430.

Now edit the MTU 1430 into Windows with Dr TCP, save and exit.

Now edit MTU 1430 into modem/router save it, reboot PC and modem/router.

Note: If you can ping through with the number at 1472, you are done! Stop right there. Add 28 and your Max MTU is 1500.
-----------------------
You download Dr TCP from the website: http://www.dslreports.com/drtcp
Carry out a tweak test on this website. (Don�t forget select PPPoA for connection)
------------------------

Good info website for tweaking http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/tweak2.htm

There is a calculation for finding the RWIN, but now I use the RWIN that �Tweak Tester II� gives.

I find when the MTU and RWIN settings are correct there is significant gain in speed and I can access all websites and links, which makes going to this extra trouble all worthwhile, the result a faster stable Internet connection.