Cannot access ISP provided modem/router

[katz]

Armstrong is an ISP in our area that serves the southern/rural part of the county. Most of my work is with Comcast (xfinity, I guess), but a few clients have Armstrong. Interesting issue yesterday on a remote. I was unable to access the modem/router settings via. 192.168.x.x. using a browser.

Used ipconfig to view the correct address, no luck. Rang the client & had them try it on their end, no good. This was a laptop & they didn't have an ethernet cable to connect directly.

I rang up Armstrong tech & they advised me that their systems are locked down & one cannot login even with an ethernet cable. They can access everything from their end, change settings, etc. The user cannot even log in to change their password if they want - they must call tech support and get them to make the change.

What's worse, is that I was told that the customer must use an Armstrong provided modem/router, not a third party, such as the Motorola Surfboard that I typically sell to my xfinity customers. This sounds absolutely ludicrous to me.

Anyone here run into anything like this? I cannot believe that they are enforcing something like this - and all the extra work they are creating for their tech support staff for simple stuff like editing passwords, etc. I'm still in disbelief. Makes me appreciate xfinity even more...

 

[4ycr]

Not sure if they still do it but sky done the same here. they supplied Netgear routers, while the security on them was not as severe, a quick Google found the login details they never gave out the username or password of the line to allow 3rd party routers. It was a pain at times for some home based bsinesses.

 

[katz]

I found the login details of their router model(s) on google, but the issue is, I cannot even get the login page to load in any browser. Crazy...

 

[Markverhyden]

I found the login details of their router model(s) on google, but the issue is, I cannot even get the login page to load in any browser. Crazy...

Did you try https? A port scan to see which ports are open?

 

[HCHTech]

Did you try the generic 192.168.100.1 address for the cable modem?

 

[katz]

Mark - https - yes, tried that. Page simply remains blank. Did not do a port scan.

HCH - Yes, and several other variations, I just get a blank page.

I ended up calling Armstrong tech, they logged into the router and did some stuff, they didn't tell me what, but the client has not had a redirect since...

 

[TheITGuy]

I ran into this mess with Charter. Talk about the biggest mess ever. It was the first time I've ever heard of it too. At the end of the day to get things the way I needed it. I had them put the router in bridged mode. And configured a router for the site to handle dhcp, qos etc.