How to ask Airtel to replace router model?

[connection01]

Airtel provided me Sercomm: AOT-4221SR and this router sucks.
I use a pi hole so I have to set custom DNS.
As long as I use the Automatic DNS the router uses the Airtels DNS and evrything works fine.

But if I set my pi-hole ip as the DNS it works for some thing and then after few hours the router starts to assign 127.0.0.1 as DNS to all the devices so internet does not work.
I have to reboot the router to fix this.

Have complained to airtel multiple time they reboots the device and then says it won't happen again.
How can I make them replace my router with a different model?

Found another thread with similar issue:

Router handing out 127.0.0.1 as dns when I set custom dns in LAN setting

I am running a dns adblocker which runs on IP 192.168.1.x, I configured the same in LAN/DHCP setting. But clients are getting 127.0.0.1 as DNS from the router. Is it faulty router?

broadband.forum

 

[Deleted member 83050]

Replacing ONT router won't help. It would be better to set up the sercomm ONT in bridge mode and use your own personal router with custom DNS.

 

[warpspeed]

I faced this issue as well and sometimes it just hangs and doesn't forward/NAT any packets. Never tried to used it as dumb ONT but if the replacement option is available I would suggest to replace it with a ZTE or Nokia and then enable bridge mode.

 

[arun54321]

@rajat_ Does the sercomm ONT support mac cloning?

 

[Deleted member 83050]

Imo it doesn't matter which ONT you are using if it's in bridge mode. The advantage with Sercomm ONT is that you can setup bridge mode without any help(it's unlocked). You can customise DNS and other WAN settings accordingly in your personal router. This is the only easy way to get rid of Airtel's locked firmware and restrictions. The other way is to setup an after market ONU from reputed brands like TP-Link and ZyXEL which is a difficult and expensive process.

I am not sure about the mac cloning stuff.

 

[connection01]

Where can I find instructions on how to enble the bridge mode and once I have enabled it can I just use a normal non ONT router connected via LAN and let it handle DHCP?
I see all the settings are greyed out but I can inspect element and remove the hidden attribute to enable them all (I used Enable All disabled inputs extension) not not sure on what exactly I have to change.

 

[connection01]

Seems I got it working and now my personal router is dialoing the PPPoE.
My router has only 2 LAN ports, 1 is connected with Airtel router and another one is connected to Raspberry Pi, I want to connect more LAN devices can I still use the Airtel router LAN ports? Since both are now on a separate IP subset.

Airtel is using 192.168.1.1
My Router is using 192.168.5.1

How can I use the LAN ports of airtel router?

 

[arun54321]

@connection01 connect line from isp router to your wan port of your personal router