DRAMA with Flow

[Arcmanov]

I know that there is a Flow thread, but I really think this needs it own thread because of its significance.



Think Flow is all that great?  Think again.  Yeah the prices and speeds look all nice compared to TSTT DSL, but there are hidden obstacles to using Flow’s high-speed internet.  Obstacles that they would not like the public at large to know.
After you read this, Flow may not look so ‘nice’ after all.

Here’s the scenario:
A client calls me and says that he has Flow internet, but wants to make it wireless, so that he can use his Dell laptop and a Dell desktop in the house.  Sounded simple enough, because I have such a setup running at my home, so I said ‘no problem, we go hook up dat.’

I got to his house and observed that his laptop was connected directly to the Flow modem via a network cable.  So I was like ‘Ok, let’s do this’. 

First off, when you launch IE, you don’t get on the net ‘jus so’.  Instead, you are taken to a Flow logon page, which you must successfully get past (with username/password) to go any other website.  At once a red flag came up in my mind: ‘HOW can you connect a game console to this thing to play games online?’
If you MUST encounter this logon page every time you first launch IE, then I cant see how you’re going to connect a Xbox or PS2 and get it to properly communicate online, but I digress.  Slightly.

I set up the wifi network using a Linksys WAP (not router) and secured it, and then connected the WAP to the modem (Flow’s), and THIS is where the drama started.

Trying to connect the laptop to the wireless network proved futile until we (the client and I) called Flow.  After much explanation about our particular situation, I was told to unplug the modem, take out the battery (yes, the modem has a backup battery), and then plug it back in after I powered up and connected the WAP to it.
I was told that this would clear the modem’s ‘cache’ and allow it to ‘acclimate’ to the MAC address of the WAP.  It seemed to make sense at the time.  After this was done and both devices were powered up, I then proceeded to connect the laptop, and whaddaya know, it connected.  So far so good.  Or so I thought.

I moved on to the desktop next.  I installed a Linksys wireless PCI-card in it and powered up, and tried to join the wireless network.  No dice.  After some more trying we called Flow again and explained what was happening.  This is when the tech (the same one I talked to earlier) told me their DHCP server only issues one IP address per customer.

HUH!!?    ONE IP address?  WTF!!?

Apparently this is Flow’s policy, to only issue ONE IP address per customer, so that only one PC can be used with the modem at one time.  It seems this was done to discourage the use of internet sharing via WiFi and hubs.
Oh, and he also admitted that they’ve disallowed the use of hubs/switches as well, as it would mean that customers would have to get another IP address.  Based on our conversation, it would seem that to get another address, a customer would have to PAY an additional fee per month, but he would not commit to that, saying that no other customers were using WiFi with multiple PCs, and that ours was a ‘unique’ situation.

Hmmm, sounds like bulls#!t but I wasn’t letting on.

Here’s the kicker though, when we started IE on the laptop now, no Flow logon page.
OK, how come?  It seems as if the WAP connection is somehow bypassing the Flow logon page.  We called Flow again and explained this, as the client was concerned that his internet was ‘on’ all the time (he had the 50-hr package), but guess what, Flow techs were not seeing his modem as being connected.

WHAT!!?

So in essence, Flow had no means of knowing if his modem was online or not, as the current ‘on’ status was not being reflected on their log.
We were like ‘WOO HOO.  Free internet boy!’ (well technically, because he was paying for a 50-hr package, but now it seemed that he could surf away unlimited).


The moral of this story? 

Look before you leap where flow is concerned.  If you into online gaming and such, Flow aint for you.  We knock TSTT on a daily basis, but we really don’t appreciate how good we have it.  I for one will NOT be taking Flow internet AT ALL.  Not until they change up how their IP addressing operates.  Let me expand on this a bit.

From a routing standpoint, TSTT’s system is WAY better, as their modems feature an internal LAN address (192.168.xxx.xxx) and an external address (201.xxx.xxx.xxx).
This allows the modem to be able to issue any amount of internal IP addresses for you to use on your home (or work) LAN.  So you can connect all you PCs, game consoles, laptops, whatever your heart desires.
Flow’s system, on the other hand, uses ONE address, which more or less sits on their network, and IP addresses are issued by their DHCP server, not the modem.  This will not work for most of us who on TSTT DSL now AT ALL.

Whew.  Did you get all that?  Lol

I would really like to hear your thoughts on this.

[TriniXaeno]

Very interesting indeed.

When we tested flow, we got a switch installed at movietowne with their service.

It was blazingly fast. Very impressive. That was expected, since it was a 10mb connection.

Never did get to see a "plain vanilla" residential setup.

From what you explained there, that is sounding NIGHTMARE-ish.

So if you're not browsing at all, say just using other internet apps, they won't work until you "initiate" the connection through a browser?

Madness.

Coincidentally, we did have some "fun" getting an IP to the switch at movietowne. However, once we got that IP, we were able to do NAT and get more machines online, no sweat. Using wireless to boot. No log in page or anything.

shame shame on Flow for locking down the residential connection like that.

Will definitely have to ask some questions about this.

Good heads up arc.

[Arcmanov]

I'm guessing the unlimited package would not have a logon page, which is mildly better,
but I'm guessing.

[Eroo]

Can this issue be solved by using a router instead to connect multiple machines?

[Arcmanov]

It might, but I need a wireless router to test this.  Anybody know where I can get a cheap WiFi router? (cheap = $350 or less)

[disciple]

i have one there, that i could possibly sprang to you for $150, but i haven't tested it (middle of exams,laziness....)

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1579151,00.asp

[Netizen1]

I thinking the same thing as Eroo, plug in a Wireless Router, that way you can do NAT like NGW suggested...

but interesting about the login page and consoles playin nice... we'll need to consider the Unlimited packages (whether you have to login) as well before casting the first stone...

[Czar]

Another workaround would be to hook up a machine with 2 network cards to the modem, have it do the logon page, and share the connection to a hub/switch on the second network card...or maybe I'm not fully understanding the situation? It's 8am here, and I jus woke up, so please forgive me if I'm totally off base

[Arcmanov]

Actually thats a good idea, but not one that my client would be happy with.  It would mean that he would always have to turn on the desktop for other PCs/devices to get onto the internet.

Disciple, PM me.  I want that Belkin.  BADLY.

[TriniXaeno]

Yeah czar, told arc about that online as well.

We did it when we had the cable internet service many many moons ago.

It was locked in to the mac address of the NIC in the machine. That wasn't a problem, since we just threw in another NIC and ran Freesco. An opensource router.

[TheApprentice]

10megabits/s at movietowne???

they switch from carib-link?


As for the flow residential thing..Thank God I didn't switch or plan to switch so soon...

[Crixx_Creww]

damn i was  gonna suggest the two network card thing for the xbox an thing

[Crixx_Creww]

the 10 megabits @ movietowne was for bg alone, put it in for a webcast

[TheApprentice]

the 10 megabits @ movietowne was for bg alone, put it in for a webcast

o ok cool..