To use the Openreach modem or not

Hello,

I had my installation for FTTC this week and the engineer used a ECI modem that he put on the wall. I asked for a Huawei but he didn't have any in the van. My cabinet is a Huawei 96 - http://imgur.com/6TOHIUC so have ordered a HG612 just in case my line decides to become unstable and to have a spare.

I was using the Openreach modem which connected to my Billion 8800NL but now using just the Billion as a modem and router.

I should receive the HG612 tomorrow and was wondering if there are any advantages/disadvantages for using the Openreach modem and a router or just use the Billion? Is one setup preferable to the other?

And if I wanted to replace the ECI with the Huawei, how do remove it from the wall, does the cover come off?

Thanks

Edited by deleted (Fri 30-Jan-15 23:21:27)

Why do you want to replace the ECI with a Huawei?

Both perform the same function and can give similar results on a line. There is no specific advantage of one over the other except having line stats easily available.

To remove from wall disconnect cables and slide up. It hangs on two screws

Thanks Mr Saffron,

I was trying to remove it the other day and it seemed wedged on but gave it a little more effort and it slid straight off

MHC - My LAN driver in my PC is Broadcom, so is the chipset in my router and heard the Huawei DSLAM is Broadcom too, so wanted to keep the whole thing the same. Probably just my OCD kicking in.

Are there any benefits for using the Openreach modem though or is it better to bypass it with my own modem/router?

Thanks

You will probably find the Huawei performs the same as the Billion as they both have a Broadcom chipset

ok thanks

In reply to a post by hopeless:

MHC - My LAN driver in my PC is Broadcom, so is the chipset in my router and heard the Huawei DSLAM is Broadcom too, so wanted to keep the whole thing the same. Probably just my OCD kicking in.

It certainly is. Very early on in the days of ADSL it was useful however everything has moved on. With VDSL BT supplied a modem to match the DSLAM manufacturer for a few months in case of teething problems however that changed fairly quickly and there was no link between them.

I personally get a better/faster connection with an ECI modem with a Huawei cabinet.

ah okay, thanks for the advice.

My experience with the Billion 8800NL is that it syncs slightly higher than the HG612. In my case 55 Mbps compared to 51 Mbps with the Huawei.

Isn't the LAN port on the OR modem designated as the end of the BT network?

So if you have poroblems then it's down to them rather than you which I would have throught was far preferable?