Always worth trying ... or at least get him to leave a modem with you.

So the service is essentially useless without a router. Odd.

Not if the customer provides their own.

I was provided with an HH5. It's actually quite a decent modem/router, and is comparable in features to your Linksys, If you want to use your own router, then you'll either need to buy a modem/router (to connect directly to the phone line), or buyf a router with a WAN port and persuade the engineer to install a modem and not the HH5. I don't think your existing modem/router has a WAN port, but I could be wrong.

There are plenty of reviews on the HH5 around, and really you need to list what your requirements are. For most domestic purposes the HH5 seems to be satisfactory, but if you have specialist needs than you might need something better, but it's difficult to say.

This is the Trusted Reviews review

http://www.trustedreviews.com/bt-home-hub-5_Peripher...

There's no option on the BT Residential online order site to choose. There may be on the Business.

Reading this review of what appears to be your router/modem, the first Ethernet port can be used as a WAN port so there's a sporting chance it might work with an Openreach modem. Now whether you can get the engineer to indulge with a test, I've no idea. I certainly wouldn't want to guarantee the combination.

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/wireless-routers/2743...

Incidentally, the HH5 will do simultaneous 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz WiFi, and the Linksys won't. I'd consider that to be a shortcoming of the Linksys as is it means you can't use 5Ghz until all devices you want to attach are so rated. (Including visitors of course).

Or if cust connects PC direct to modem over PPPoE.

I would recommend taking the offered HomeHub and getting the service up and running with that, and if you find the HH is not performing as you want get a combined VDSL modem/router or buy an Openreach modem from ebay and use your Ethernet router of choice.

Why go with the HomeHub initially, because it is what their support will be expecting you to use, and if you have issues getting another combination to work the support staff will simply put the phone down to questions since they only support their hardware.

As a user of the HH5 I'd concur as my experience has been good so far. Also, I've no doubt the HH5 provides diagnostic stats which will feed BT Retail support systems which (in theory) should help if you get problems. Previous to having Infinity I did have my own router (a Netgear DG834), and the HH5 is better save that it's

(Of course, some people will not be happy with what they might view as "back door" access to the HH5, assuming that there are management interfaces to BT Retail).

The OP is BT staff so he could get a Business or Residential service and modem or hub.