People in Belgium who are Belgacom clients which provides them with an Internet connection, usually get a modem/router as part of the package to connect to the internet.
New clients will get a Router, more commonly refered to as “BBox2”, which is needed to be able to connect to Belgacom’s VDSL2 network.
Although most average consumers won’t have any need to modify it (other than changing the default access password, Wireless ID and encryption key), some people like myself would like to have the device just handle the modem part of the connection (simply handling the transmission) while using their own network equipment to handle all the routing operations.
The modification I’ll show is called “Bridging”, meaning, we are going to configure the Lan ports of the BBox2 to simply transmit anything that passes without making certain routing assumptions.
Other services like Belgacom TV and I-Talk will continue to work.
Please be aware that I don’t have information about the following:
- How to reach the configuration page of the BBox2 after the modifications (I think you’ll have to reset the device to it’s factory default settings to be able to access it again)
- Does the second Lan port work? (I believe that port works as a HUB, though I didn’t bothered checking it out)
That said, you’ll need to do the following:
- Disable the Router’s capability to perform Wan PPPoE
- Set the Lan ports as bridges
- (Not tested) Disable the wireless on the Router (I disabled it because I want my own equipment to handle the wireless)
With no further ado, here’s how it’s done:
- Connect to your BBox2, the ip address is probably the default 192.168.1.1
- Go to Advanced Settings and then select Network Interfaces
- Select Wan PPPoE, then Disable, and then OK
- Then, Settings > Underlying Connection, select Lan Bridge
Now you can use your own Router to perform the authentication to access the internet and handle all the connections.
Lithium Flower 
Super, I finally can make the BBox work
Works for me (bbox2), but I had to shut down the router for a minute before the PPPoE could take place. The router behind is a D-Link DIR-855. You do not need anything special for VLAN tagging. Just PPPoE with “username@providername” and password.
Thanks for the tips!
I also verifyed, that Belgacom TV works perfectly fine after these modifications. However, the IPTV works only through BBOX2 itself, not through the added router. It seems to me that the trouble lies in the BBOX2 rather than in the router. Any additional hints for configuration?
Ivar
Unfortunatly I don’t watch digital television, therefor I haven’t tested the IPTv capabilities.
I have found this website which you might find useful 🙂 http://schelstraete.dyndns.org/index.php/belgacom-tv/watch-btv-on-pc
Looks like the TV settopbox is getting it’s IP address directly from Belgacom Skynet, which means that the TV ports on the bbox2 are on the WAN side. If you want your own router:NAT behind the bridged bbox2, choose one that is DD-WRT compatible. In DD-WRT, you can also move LAN ports to the WAN side so you should be able to connect your TV to the DD-WRT router and use the bbox2 as an ordinary VDSL2 modem.
FYI, the same approach works for the cable operator Telenet. Those guys put an extra switch between cable modem and router. I flashed DD-WRT on my router, move one LAN port to the WAN side and connected the the Telenet Digicorder (STB with recording) to that port. Works great and I got rid of the exta switch …
Very good article, and I have some questions:
Is the ISP (Belgacom) public ip adresse is assigned for the bbox2 or the internal router?
Guid the subnet to use on the internal router?
Guid the Wireless of the bbox2? will be able to connect to it to used to test the vpn connections to the internal router?
Thanks,
Marc Meribi
what happens with the second lan port on the bbox? And what should i to not let it act as a hub?
Hi,
Is there a way to let the bbox dial the PPPOE connection, then apply the relay ?
The router receives only a public ip adress from the internet provider through it’s WAN interface.
This can be usefull when you don’t have your credentials under your hands but the bbox still have them …
I think it’s possible, if you take a look at “Network Interfaces -> Status”, you can see all the interfaces configured on the bbox2.
Notice the first and last column: “Lan Bridge” and “WAN PPPoE”.
The WAN PPPoE obviously is the interface that does the authentication, while the Lan Bridge is configured (as the name suggests) as a bridge interface.
The only special thing about that bridge interface, is that DHCP distribution and Routing is enabled on it.
I think that if you can disable DHCP and Routing on that interface, that you might get the configuration that you want and let those be taken care of my your own device(s).
I haven’t tested this, so it would be nice if you could tell me yourself if it worked for you. 🙂
You can change the VDSL password on the belgacom website.
My brother recommended I might like this website.
He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
Is there are way to use one tv port both as PC and TV, so that I can run only one cable to switch that has TV and PC connected?
How good is your Dutch? Use Google translate if you’re not a Dutch speaker.
This link describes what you can do to make it happen 🙂
http://bgctv.skynetblogs.be/
Look for: Set BBOX2 to “Full Routed Mode”
Thank you for this info! I am still able to connect to my modem after these changes to the usual 192.168.1.1.
I wrote my own tutorial based on what I read here with some additions:
Hello , Als ik dus inlog op de bbox2 , dan kom ik op het normale belgacom scherm met internet en dergelijke. deze 3 punten vind ik niet terug in mijn belgacom scherm. kun je eens uitleggen hoe ik het moet doen?
Go to Advanced Settings and then select Network Interfaces
Select Wan PPPoE, then Disable, and then OK
Then, Settings > Underlying Connection, select Lan Bridge
Go to Advanced Settings and then select Network Interfaces;
Select Wan PPPoE, click on Disable button, then OK;
Select Wan PPPoE again, go to Settings > Underlying Connection and select LAN Bridge;
I have recently bought an Airport time capsule It is connect to the BBox 2 and I have set it up so that it is a separate wirlesss network. The idea is that I can connect to the Bbox for Belgian websites and via the Airport for VPN websites. When I try to do this I get the double NAT issue. I think this thread has the answer but I am not an expert and don’t want to fiddle until I am sure. It seems that I need to bridge to the airport whilst maintaining wireless internet access on the Bbox. Is this possible?
Bump for Airport Time Capsule 🙂
I followed all steps except for step 4 because I wan’t to keep my local connection to the bbox2. Unfortunately the TV services no longer work now.. What can I do to fix this? Could this possibly have something to do with Belgacom being now “Proximus” changed the firware on the bbox2?
Hi,
I am not sure whether you’ll see this since the post is 5 years old, but anyway:
I am searching everywhere but can’t find an answer to the following question:
Do I still need my BBOX2 if I buy a new router like the FRITZ!BOX 7490?
Currently I am just using:
1) the “I-Talk” service (which is Belgacom/Proximus VoIP phone service I think), so not a “classic” phone line
2) an ethernet cable from the BBOX2 to my desktop PC for internet connection
3) the BBOX2 WiFi feature so I can also connect to internet with my smartphone.
My question is not really about the FRITZ!BOX itself, but rather will any router with an integrated ADSL modem do the job instead of the BBOX2 ?
In other words, will I still need the BBOX2 to handle the modem part of the connection and configure it as described in this post ? The technical support at Proximus could not really give me a clear yes or no.
Thanks.
can i use b-box2 to acess my country internet service provider