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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?
@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.
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-)
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.
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.
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.
Correct. Using the same network topology and just swapping the RS700 for a BT/EE-supplied router and some mesh access points results in success (the access points aren't required, but adding them does not break anything - one using wired backhaul, one wireless).
basically enabling IGMP should do the magic, but looks it still doesn't work for you.
The other thing you may try is to use VLAN bridge, from the Web GUI:
Advanced: Advanced Setup > VLAN / Bridge Settings: Enable VLAN / Bridge Setup --> By bridge group --> select the LAN port where the wired box is connected to.
This doesn't work for wireless streaming box though.
If VLAN bridge still doesn't resolve the issue, we will need to get the debug logs. I will PM you for the steps to get the debug logs.
@zeuss - Yes, EE TV is the same as BT TV by all intents.
Outside of my current RS700 situation, I have no personal experience of getting Netgear kit working with BT Multicast streams; I'm basing my statements on what I've seen online, e.g: -
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.
Just want to say thanks for everyones' contributions in this thread, and for the sterling efforts of @BH-C and the Team to get things working 🙂
Really impressed with the response, and happy to say that at the time of writing, everything continues to work seamlessly on both my wired and wireless set top boxes (the former still behind a couple of unmanaged switches!).
Hopefully things remain like this and the fix can make its way to the official firmware branch 🤞
