Switching from Be* to BT Broadband / Router advice wanted

Hi, I'm reluctantly switching to BT Broadband after seven years with Be* (now that they are selling out to Murdoch) and I really don't want to stop using my Billion 7800n. Am I allowed to use a router other than the BT Home Hub on BT Broadband? Does anybody have experience with the Billion 7800n and how it compares to the Home Hub?

If I *can* use my own router, should I plugin the Home Hub the moment BT take over the internet, or will it be OK to use the 7800n from the start?

It should be fine ... You can use what ever you want on the line provided it meets the appropriate ADSL specs.

You may need to delete your old login details.

In reply to a post by leej:

If I *can* use my own router, should I plugin the Home Hub the moment BT take over the internet, or will it be OK to use the 7800n from the start?

You will need to configure your 7800 with the PPPoA login details; and probably best to do a complete reset as BT Internet uses the BTWholesale network, and the VPI / VCI numbers are different to BE, and you need a PPPoA login rather than no login with BE.

(unless you're going to Infinity where you use PPPoE and connect your router to the Openreach modem)

Arent the details simply

VCI 0
VPI 38

No, that won't work.

http://btybb.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/74...

In reply to a post by jchamier:

In reply to a post by leej:

If I *can* use my own router, should I plugin the Home Hub the moment BT take over the internet, or will it be OK to use the 7800n from the start?

You will need to configure your 7800 with the PPPoA login details; and probably best to do a complete reset as BT Internet uses the BTWholesale network, and the VPI / VCI numbers are different to BE, and you need a PPPoA login rather than no login with BE.

(unless you're going to Infinity where you use PPPoE and connect your router to the Openreach modem)

No, definitely no Infinity for my exchange yet unfortunately.

Thanks very much for the response. I appreciate that reminder about the PPPoA login aspect in particular. I recall Be*'s login details being a bit different from other ISPs and that's what I couldn't put my finger on.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

No, that won't work.

http://btybb.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/74...

Hey, thanks for the link! I just created a second WAN profile for BT in the 7800n. So all I need do now is switch from the BE to the BT profile on activation day (March 25th). Excellent!

It's looking like the BT Home Hub won't even be removed from it's box... unless I ever need tech. support from BT I suppose.

Be* is a bit eccentric. I completely forgot until jchamier's post that it uses MPoA (with no username/password required) rather than PPPoE.

In reply to a post by leej:

Be* is a bit eccentric. I completely forgot until jchamier's post that it uses MPoA (with no username/password required) rather than PPPoE.

Sky's "MER" system is pretty similar - and they're probably both more efficient than using PPP. Neither Sky nor BE needed to use PPP as their LLU networks didn't/don't support any other ISP connections - and they know who you are as your line is attached to their DSLAM / ISAM / MSAN port.

Whereas BT Broadband uses the BTwholesale network, as so you need to pass your ID so the wholesale part knows to connect you to the BT ISP, rather than say PlusNet, or Aquiss, or any of the other 100+ ISPs using BTwholesale.

Sorry to jump in, but I have a 7300N & am getting infinity installed in 2 weeks. Would my setup details be as per that link but with PPPOE instead of PPPOA or would there be other differences?