This is our new PLDT DSL Modem Router. It’s so small! Look at the picture, pocket wifi for scale.

Our previous PLDT Kasda KW58293 modem router started having problems a few weeks ago. I noticed that it would “hang” – WIFI connections to the router would drop and the lights on the modem router would stay steady when they should be blinking. Restarting it, usually doing a “power cycle” where I disconnect the power from the modem router, wait for at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in and turn it back on, used to fix the problem for a few days; but yesterday, even that solution stopped working.

After the modem was turned on and did its thing, I would be able to connect to the internet for about a minute until it hangs. Tried this maybe 8 times, nothing.

So I finally called PLDT to get the modem router replaced (it’s within warranty, and we’ve been a PLDT DSL subscriber for years and years). I suspected it was a modem router problem and not a PLDT DSL line problem because I was not able to connect to the wifi at all when the modem router hangs. If it was a line problem, I would still be able to connect to the wifi and my gadgets would just say “No Internet Access” or “Limited Connectivity”. Besides, the DSL and the Internet light on the modem router were both green.

PLDT Broadband Repair 172 Technical Support Experience

I called PLDT’s Broadband Repair hotline 172 three times yesterday. Well, 5 times if you count the first 2 times my call was dropped. I don’t know if it was a technical problem where PLDT’s system was dropping calls, or if the reps were dropping the calls on purpose. And before you think it was because I sounded mean, I wasn’t. I was very nice, calm and normal, except that I knew what I was talking about and told them step by step all the troubleshooting steps that I did. After account verification and in the middle of explaining the problem with my PLDT modem router, my calls get dropped. Baka nag nosebleed na yung agent

Now that I think about it, I remember that my calls were also being dropped once or twice during previous times when I called 172 with broadband issues. It has happened often enough to actually make me wonder if this is a common trick employed by some dishonest agents. Even in this current situation, it happened 2 out of 5 times.

On my third attempt to call 172, I asked the rep to please not drop the call. I reported the problem and I was told that it could be a line issue. The Internet light also turned RED, so I think there was also a problem with the line itself at the same time. I wanted to use my spare Tenda modem router instead but the tech told me that they needed the PDLT-branded modem router to be kept on so that they can do diagnostics. Okay.

Around midnight, the Internet light turned GREEN. I tried restarting the modem router and was still getting the same problem. I called 172 again but the rep told me that their systems were down and they can’t access any information. He asked me to call back after an hour.

After an hour, I called 172 again, this time explaining everything that was wrong with the modem router. At this point, I was ready to bust out my spare Tenda modem router. The PLDT tech support rep didn’t even know what to call the 192.168.1.1 thing (usually called the web-based router set up / configuration page). I was asking for the settings I needed to configure my Tenda modem router. I wanted to confirm the VPI, VCI settings, channel mode, MTU, etc… Poor guy had no idea what I was talking about. Oh, I miss the days when tech support guys were actual tech geeks.

To his credit, he did make every effort to ask somebody about it, and he was able to give me the basic settings, after I had to explain that that the configuration page (192.168.1.1) would be different if I used a different modem (I had to explain this because he was walking me through the Kasda configuration page). That was all the information he could give so I thanked him and he assured me that a technician would be in contact within 3 days. I let him go but it truly saddens me to once again face the fact that the current crop of tech support reps are generally not techies.

Back in the early days of tech support (early 2000’s), I remember the tech support people that I ran with talked computers all the time. They built their own PCs and were constantly trying to improve them – if they were short on budget, there was always tipidpc for second hand stuff, and they were often at the LRT for meetups, LOL. They could talk you through replacing your motherboard, reinstalling Windows, and configuring your LAN over the phone. In English! I miss that kind of tech support – when the tech support people actually knew what they were talking about. Tech support now seems like some random person reading from a script and following a flowchart of questions.

Very Fast PLDT Technician Response Time

Surprisingly, the PLDT technician called me early this morning. One day response time! I explained the problem and he got it right away. He came by an hour later to replace the Kasda modem with this new BaudTec one. Everything’s working great now! That was fast service, PLDT!

But again, like last time, the PLDT technician only replaced the modem router (unit and plug only) and did not give me the box, nor any manual. Is there some kind of rule that they can’t give users the box? He told me not to change the default Wifi password (it’s printed on a sticker on the modem) because it corrupts the software. Really? But I want to change it! But okay, fine, whatever. Keeping the default password. But can anyone tell me why I’m not supposed to change it? The default password is so easy to crack!

He also asked for a bottle cap to rest the modem router on — this is to help prevent heat build-up that could cause overheating. The heat vents on this model are on the bottom.

I don’t know if I’m just really happy to have DSL internet again, but I thought that the internet speed seemed to be faster with this new modem router… or maybe because I gave up on putting MAC filtering on this router… hmmm…

Why do I have an extra Tenda modem router? We were forced to buy one when PLDT took 2 weeks to replace another busted modem router last year. I was able to get it to work using trial and error on the settings, but have always wondered what the correct settings should be. I keep it as a spare now in case something like this happens again.

In case you encounter modem router problems, here is some info that may be able to help:

To access router settings, while connected to wifi, open a browser, type 192.168.1.1

Hit Enter. You should see a login page.

I was able to figure out 2 logins – I was trying to determine what the login was (PLDT technician didn’t tell me) and tried the default logins I knew. The admin login was what I used on my old, ancient Zyxel modem

User Login: basic (access to super basic settings only) — user: admin, pw: (sorry, my friend said I shouldn’t post the password, but it’s easy to find on google since it’s kind of public knowledge already; it’s so easy, it will probably be your first guess, anyway; 4 digits)

User Login: admin (access to all settings) — user: adminpldt, pw: (sorry, my friend said I shouldn’t post the password, but it’s easy to find on google since it’s kind of public knowledge already; it’s so easy, it will probably be your first guess, anyway; 10 digits) — do not use this login if you don’t know what you’re doing!

Here are some of the PLDT DSL default settings I found on my new modem router. I’m posting them here for my own records should I ever need to use a non-PLDT modem router, and I hope it helps someone out, too.

DHCP Server Enable

DNS Mode Auto

DNS Servers 124.106.5.2 122.2.129.2

IPv6 DNS Mode Auto

IPv6 DNS Servers (blank)

ADSL WAN Interfaces

Interface VPI/VCI Encap Droute Protocol IP Address Gateway Status a0 0/100 LLC Off mer1483 122.2.127.202 122.2.96.1 up ADSL WAN IPV6 Configuration Interface VPI/VCI Encap Protocol IPv6 Address Prefix Gateway Droute Status a0 0/100 LLC mer1483 up IGMP OFF

NAPT ON