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bobbyp's avatar
bobbyp
Tutor
Mar 06, 2024
Solved

BT TV IGMP Proxying on RS700?

Is a rep able to confirm whether or not this feature should be working on the rs700?

 

I have an EE TV subscription that is delivered using BT's (UK ISP) multicast implentation, and with the RS700 in situ, I am unable to stream any multicast content using either of two boxes on my network. I have enabled the BT IGMP option and cleared the disable IGMP checkbox in the WAN settings of the GUI as per attached screenshot.

 

One box is wired via a couple of unmanaged switches using ethernet, the other is connected wirelessly. Both boxes return IPC6023 errors when trying to view multicast content (this is a box-vendor specific error, but is common where the router is not configured to support the service).

 

I've seen mixed reports of success in these forums and others from people using older Netgear equipment, however wondered what the official line is on the RS700?

  • BH_C's avatar
    BH_C
    Mar 20, 2024

    Just to update the status here, so people who have similar issues can reach out to us.

    Thanks to bobbyp, he helped us discover a firmware issue and we have fixed it for the BT TV streaming function.

    We will watch if bobbyp will run into other TV streaming issues. The fix will be included in the a future firmware release.

    Thanks.

15 Replies

    • bobbyp's avatar
      bobbyp
      Tutor

      FURRYe38 - not particulalry in the spirit of the Community though is it?

      I have alternative equipment I can use in the meaintime to get things working.

      I was hoping for an official nod as to whether or not there are any acknowledged problems with this feature before expending any effort going the support route.

      • FURRYe38's avatar
        FURRYe38
        Guru

        Some information may not be available here in the community. Thus why we mentioned official support as you might get a quicker answer. NG engineering may not hang out in the forums all the time here. 

         

  • Always interesting to read people want to operate IGMP Multicast based services, and mentioning unmanaged switches in the same sentence. 

     

    So allow two words on the subject:  Most IP TV implementations are - for the live TV and "zapping" - based on Multicast, to IGMP Multicast. This IGMP Multicast traffic must pass your router, your switches, and even your WiFi infrastructure. This can be your WiFi on the RS700 as well as other devices like extenders, access points, ...

     

    Yes, I'm with FURRYe38 on this subject: I have no idea to how far Netgear has implemented their BT proxy, and if this works "over there". I can tell you that my mostly Netgear-based Smart switch network and the Netgear WAX6xx access points - direct linked to the Swisscom CPE, configured to support IGMP Multicast, can seamlessly deal with all of it. In this aspect, there is not much difference between the ISPs. However, this does not span through a Netgear router as of writing.

     

    Disabling IGMP wherever, is certainly a bad starting point. And deploying unmanaged switches will lead to the live TV Multicast stream end on all switch ports, on all wireless access points, and finally the wireless clients. This can't be the idea of BT, too 8-)

     

    • bobbyp's avatar
      bobbyp
      Tutor

      schumaku - thanks for the input.


      schumaku wrote:

      Always interesting to read people want to operate IGMP Multicast based services, and mentioning unmanaged switches in the same sentence. 

      Point taken, in that it adds complexity, but a fairly commonplace setup these days.

      So allow two words on the subject:  Most IP TV implementations are - for the live TV and "zapping" - based on Multicast, to IGMP Multicast. This IGMP Multicast traffic must pass your router, your switches, and even your WiFi infrastructure. This can be your WiFi on the RS700 as well as other devices like extenders, access points, ...

      It's difficult to track down any easily consumable documentation on BT's multicast implmentation. The most technical you're likely to get is this (Openreach own the wholesale network architecture). But, yes - the service is used for the delivery of free to air and subscription-based TV content.

      I can tell you that my mostly Netgear-based Smart switch network and the Netgear WAX6xx access points - direct linked to the Swisscom CPE, configured to support IGMP Multicast, can seamlessly deal with all of it. In this aspect, there is not much difference between the ISPs. However, this does not span through a Netgear router as of writing.

      Good to know. I kind of wish I had another Netgear router at my disposal to see if my issues are specific to the RS700, as there are scattered reports of other Nergear routers 'working'.

      Disabling IGMP wherever, is certainly a bad starting point.

      I have disabled the checkbox labelled 'Disable IGMP Proxying', which given the wording, suggests it has the effect of *enabling* IGMP Proxying.

      And deploying unmanaged switches will lead to the live TV Multicast stream end on all switch ports, on all wireless access points, and finally the wireless clients. This can't be the idea of BT, too 8-)

      Allowing switches/wireless interfaces in the path absolutely *is* the intention of BT. They supply set top boxes without Ethernet interfaces (so Wi-Fi only), have been known to ship PVR's with multi-port Powerline adapters, and offer mesh access points with Ethernet ports. The latter two I imagine will behave like switches in certain scenarios. I'm no expert, but I assume the payload of the stream itself is only delivered to client devices that join the multicast group.

      Definitely merit in Netgear getting things working if they can. BT have over 5 million broadband subscribers in the UK.

      • schumaku's avatar
        schumaku
        Guru

        bobbyp wrote:

        Allowing switches/wireless interfaces in the path absolutely *is* the intention of BT.  

        Like many other ISP, they don't tell the users about this requirement. Customers buy and connect unmanaged Ethernet switches

         

        bobbyp wrote:

        They supply set top boxes without Ethernet interfaces (so Wi-Fi only), have been known to ship PVR's with multi-port Powerline adapters, and offer mesh access points with Ethernet ports. The latter two I imagine will behave like switches in certain scenarios. 

        We can (safely?) assume devices like the BT Whole Home Wi-Fi system offered by BT intended to be operated in the same ecosystem behave accordingly.

         

        BH_C please, your assistance is required here ref. the RS700 please.

         

         

         

  • Hello bobbyp ,

     

    I am also interesting about the IPTV multicast streaming, is the EE TV the same as "BT TV"? 

    You mentioned that there are other Netgear products working reports in other discussion threads, which products work with EE TV?

    • Hello zeuss 

       

      Assume you are located in the UK.  

       

      BT renamed the service from BT TV to EE TV if my old Swiss brain did not corrupt 8-)

       

      Regards,

      -Kurt.

      • schumaku's avatar
        schumaku
        Guru

        bobbyp wrote:

         

        ...

        Orbi 963 not working


        The Orbi (as of writing any model and version) does not support IGMP Multicast handling on and through the network. 

         

        Very different, eg. all Plus, Smart Managed, and Managed switches as well as the WAC5xx and WAX6xx wireless access points can be configured to support IGMP Multicast by the selected VLAN.