MindTheSpeed Free Router

[INOfentse]

Just how free is that default Zyxel router that's subsidised by MTS?
All of a sudden theres no admin access and all under MTS remote managed all because they are subsidised for R825 for 12 months.
Is the router really free?

 

[isie]

Just how free is that default Zyxel router that's subsidised by MTS?

its an ok Router for most users - actually pretty Decent compared to most routers you get from other ISp's

All of a sudden theres no admin access and all under MTS remote managed all because they are subsidised for R825 for 12 months.

You might have accepted that they will manage the router - I dont have the Zyxel - but when i go visit my neighbour i'll check if i have access to their router but i was there last week and i still could get into the admin page.
I took a router of my own choice but let them subsidise it - and i can access my router.

Is the router really free?

Yes and no - did you check the paperwork that you signed - you agree that if you leave their service before 12 months IIRC then you need to pay for or return the router - after 12 months it's yours.

 

[Jeasson]

What is the routers full name

 

[isie]

What is the routers full name

Zyxel VMG3625-T20A

 

[Thestealth]

I got this router and I manage it myself. Fairly decent and it connects my devices to the internet: job done.

 

[INOfentse]

its an ok Router for most users - actually pretty Decent compared to most routers you get from other ISp's

You might have accepted that they will manage the router - I dont have the Zyxel - but when i go visit my neighbour i'll check if i have access to their router but i was there last week and i still could get into the admin page.
I took a router of my own choice but let them subsidise it - and i can access my router.


Yes and no - did you check the paperwork that you signed - you agree that if you leave their service before 12 months IIRC then you need to pay for or return the router - after 12 months it's yours.

@isie" - thank you! My understanding is that after 12 months, the router is mine. By inductive thinking, it means the subsidy is 12 months which is a different way to say what you are saying. The papers I signed are pretty much saying this from my understanding.

I have been managing this router myself for the past 11 months if my memory serves me well. It is not often I need to login and do checks. In the 13th month, I see that I no longer can manage this router. And no notice has been sent to state this AFAIK hence I am surprised. This has a bearing on the advert that I saw at the launch of MTS and that there possibly has been some gross misleading advertising.

 

[isie]

@isie" - thank you! My understanding is that after 12 months, the router is mine. By inductive thinking, it means the subsidy is 12 months which is a different way to say what you are saying.

I have been managing this router myself for the past 11 months if my memory serves me well. In the 13th month, I see that I no longer can manage this router. And no notice has been sent to state this AFAIK hence I am surprised. This has a bearing on the advert that I saw at the launch of MTS and that there possibly has been some gross misleading advertising.

Maybe you just forgot your password? and if not since you now in month 13 its your router any way,
what's to stop you from resetting the router to default and putting in your own password.
In actual fact how did they get control of your router if they didn't have the password - or did you leave the default password on your router?

 

[INOfentse]

I got this router and I manage it myself. Fairly decent and it connects my devices to the internet: job done.

I also had access to the admin panel. But now in the 13th month, I pick up that I can't access it anymore. Confirmation also came from MTS support.

 

[INOfentse]

View attachment 935930
View attachment 935932

In other words, I have served my 12 months. The router is therefore mine now?


Maybe you just forgot your password? and if not since you now in month 13 its your router any way,
what's to stop you from resetting the router to default and putting in your own password.
In actual fact how did they get control of your router if they didn't have the password - or did you leave the default password on your router?

I also thought I forgot the password. I have done the router reset to default a couple of times and still didnt have success. It is at this point when I contacted MTS who then confirmed that they manage the router because of "subsidy" story...
Honestly, I am not sure if I changed the password or if I forgot. Either way, the router reset should take me back to the default settings.

The principle of the matter is disturbing however.

 

[isie]

I also thought I forgot the password. I have done the router reset to default a couple of times and still didnt have success. It is at this point when I contacted MTS who then confirmed that they manage the router because of "subsidy" story...
Honestly, I am not sure if I changed the password or if I forgot. Either way, the router reset should take me back to the default settings.

The principle of the matter is disturbing however.

Depends on who you speak to their knowledge level might be less and just answer per script.

I'm not sure how they would access the router if you changed all the password - unless you left an admin access and they did a bulk update and it affected yours.

but nonetheless a factory reset would be your best bet to taking back control

 

[Kyoto]

the link below explains why you now cannot access your router.
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/indu...tify-and-resolve-wi-fi-congestion-issues.html. they have loaded a TR069 profile that lets them do remote diagnostics etc, and to analyse WiFi issues, its becoming all the rage internationally, with many ISP's actually charging for it, people with technical knowhow will frown on it but 99% of users dont even know how to change the SSID.
In some routers when doing this the only area that is locked down is WAN port set up, as that is the bit if you stuff it up, breaks the connection, again not meant for the Techie, more the man in the street.

 

[isie]

the link below explains why you now cannot access your router.
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/indu...tify-and-resolve-wi-fi-congestion-issues.html. they have loaded a TR069 profile that lets them do remote diagnostics etc, and to analyse WiFi issues, its becoming all the rage internationally, with many ISP's actually charging for it, people with technical knowhow will frown on it but 99% of users dont even know how to change the SSID.
In some routers when doing this the only area that is locked down is WAN port set up, as that is the bit if you stuff it up, breaks the connection, again not meant for the Techie, more the man in the street.

I'm in the 1% , and personally will not anyone outside have access to my router but i see the benefit of this for the other 99%
I get a headache seeing all the people complain about how bad their fibre is but the issue they describe to me is an issue within their network.

 

[INOfentse]

Depends on who you speak to their knowledge level might be less and just answer per script.

I'm not sure how they would access the router if you changed all the password - unless you left an admin access and they did a bulk update and it affected yours.

but nonetheless a factory reset would be your best bet to taking back control

Thanks for the answers. I am taking them up on the matter. Already they are saying that the ducking and diving saying that the router is "subsidized forever". Yet I have clear emails that give the picture that the router is no longer subsidized after 12 months. So the query goes on.

I have to accept that the bulk update got to a router that had default setting. In this way they took management of it. Nontheless, management is not a blocking issue for me. But the principle however does raise a serious issue.

Oh an ordinary factory reset doesn't seem to suffice in this case as they seemingly have done something similar to a "network lock" that mobile networks do. However, this is not a high priority for me. My biggest issue is the principle - I feel the sales team fed me the wrong info and now a new story is being given to me. Or I am misunderstood.

 

[INOfentse]

I'm in the 1% , and personally will not anyone outside have access to my router but i see the benefit of this for the other 99%
I get a headache seeing all the people complain about how bad their fibre is but the issue they describe to me is an issue within their network.

In light of the Future Internet etc, it actually is quite frightening to let outside people have access to home gateway. The amount of information that can be gleened from the ARP table is quite alarming. The more I get my mind around the topic, the scary it gets. Though it may have some positives in the right hands.

 

[INOfentse]

I'm in the 1% , and personally will not anyone outside have access to my router but i see the benefit of this for the other 99%
I get a headache seeing all the people complain about how bad their fibre is but the issue they describe to me is an issue within their network.

Aha! Remote management and support is not a bad thing at all if you want to run a smooth operation. But I think it is the equivalent of someone insisting to have the keys to your house so they can access and do whatever with your house. This statement is relevant in this case because the router can reveal a lot of information that you would normally have if you are in the house or within close proximity. And there is no saying if these ISPs first get permission before they access the router. Think of how they put the router under their centralized management platform...they never ask for permission to do so. And there is no way of guaranteeing that people from the ISPs do not intentionally logon, check what is on ARP table and use the information for nefarious means.
After the chat thread yesterday, I thought a lot about this.

Lastly, yes, the issue of router ownership is quite clear for me, while the particular ISP's opinion is contradicts their own terms and conditions. A bit like Schroedinger's cat ....the cat is alive and dead when suitable.

 

[Kyoto]

Aha! Remote management and support is not a bad thing at all if you want to run a smooth operation. But I think it is the equivalent of someone insisting to have the keys to your house so they can access and do whatever with your house. This statement is relevant in this case because the router can reveal a lot of information that you would normally have if you are in the house or within close proximity. And there is no saying if these ISPs first get permission before they access the router. Think of how they put the router under their centralized management platform...they never ask for permission to do so. And there is no way of guaranteeing that people from the ISPs do not intentionally logon, check what is on ARP table and use the information for nefarious means.
After the chat thread yesterday, I thought a lot about this.

Lastly, yes, the issue of router ownership is quite clear for me, while the particular ISP's opinion is contradicts their own terms and conditions. A bit like Schroedinger's cat ....the cat is alive and dead when suitable.

Technicians generally cannot log onto the router unless specifically given permission. These systems use TR069 and other protocols that allows them to request information from the router such as Wi Fi interference, or device signal strength, it can also request the router to send a ping, or do a trace route to specific URL/s IP's and even do do a speed test if the router supports these functions. Furthermore it can send new WIFI passwords and SSID's if the end user has lost/forgotten the information.

 

[Intox]

Just how free is that default Zyxel router that's subsidised by MTS?
All of a sudden theres no admin access and all under MTS remote managed all because they are subsidised for R825 for 12 months.
Is the router really free?

Just checked and indeed the default admin isn't valid even after a reset.
I managed to get in by doing the following though.

Unplugged the WAN and did a reset to defaults with the reset hole on the back.
Without the WAN I logged in with default admin and created another admin account.

Connected the WAN which then grabbed all their settings and rebooted.
logged in with my extra admin account which remains, even after their settings change the default admin account password.

I am not a fan of this tactic at all from MTS......

 

[Nivec]

I have the same issue. Also telling me that to simplify support they are managing the router, but I can buy it from them and then they will allow access.

Had access from the beginning but recently had issues with VOIP and only found out I no longer have access when trying to resolve this. Now it is up to them to resolve this. In may case at least, this is going to be a support call they would not have otherwise had.

 

[isie]

Finally got down to check my neighbours - it is indeed now locked - but in their case its better - makes my life easier