Configure a different router (Asus AC68U) to work with PTCL Broadband
Guide on using a third-party router with your PTCL Boradband connection. Setup a PPoE DSL connection on Asus AC68U to work with your PTCL phone line
UPDATE: I'm afraid there was no happy endings in the end. The internet would not work on the AC68 even after me spending 6 hours fiddling with the configuration settings, and reading articles and watching videos in the world wide wilderness. The post is a draft at best.
I have since moved to using Transworld fiber and have my AC68 connected to the Transworld router via ethernet. Works flawlessly. I'm done with using the PTCL router. It still serves as a backup connection, but i have no intentions whatsoever of ever going back to dealing with its configuration.
Here's the truth: PTCL modems/routers are ancient, and they suck. The signal strength is poor, there are no Gigabit ethernet ports, there is no Wifi AC, and it starts hanging up when there are too many devices (i.e. when the family is home on occasions..). So i got a nice ADSL Asus router, it was actually a gift from my brother.
ADSL is the kind which can work with phone lines. So instead of using it as a range extender or access point where i have to connect it to the PTCL modem and then have two of them working with each other, i can just use it directly with the PTCL line and replace the PTCL router completely (because it's useless).
But in order to do that, i gotta figure out the configuration and settings, so here goes..
Settings and configuration
First things first, take a backup of your PTCL router's existing settings. Management > Settings > Backup Click the Backup Settings button. This will give you a file called backupsettings.conf
You need to know your broadband DSL username and password. You can find this under Advanced Setup > WAN Service. Edit the ppo0.1 interface, it's usually the only interface on this screen. It'll show you the PPP Username and PPP Password, note these down. If you have no idea what your password is, check the backupsettings.conf file, it saves all passwords in plain text. Search for Password.
VPI:0VCI:103
Now i can transfer files wirelessly and not dread the transfer times. I can get decent signals in my bedroom upstairs (the router is in the lounge downstairs). And lastly, everyone can have 3 devices each (phone, laptop, iPad..) connected at all times and not have any connectivity issues with the router..