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?

Same setup as I had when fibre installed last week.
Have taken the ECI out and just use the Billion 8800ML as modem/router - one less box and stats easy to see.
I know I can easily put ECI modem back and connect to Billion eWAN port if problems later and necessary for troubleshooting.
Everything working well but ,as is apparently usual with newly activated cabinet, SNRM falling steadily over 1st week by 10 dB as more lines connected to FTTC but still plenty of headroom to get 79987 Mbps.

It was originally but I'm pretty sure the master socket is now the termination point again because of the wires-only option.

In reply to a post by hopeless:

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 have been trying to get a spare modem for ages, fully kosher, not an iffy one from eBay. I like having spares just in case.

Can one but these legitimately yet?

TIA

DrT

I had a good look around and on the BT website and there's nothing other than ebay.

This guy has 8 new ones left:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bt-open-reach-modem-echoli...

I wonder where he's getting them from?

In reply to a post by hopeless:

I wonder where he's getting them from?

eBay is too iffy for me in the absence of a legitimate outlet. Could too easily be knocked off.

DrT

Edited by deleted (Mon 02-Feb-15 17:30:08)

Thanks for that, just ordered one as my HG612 is getting slightly smelly after a year of continuous running...

In reply to a post by DrTeeth:

eBay is too iffy for me in the absence of a legitimate outlet. Could too easily be knocked off

Why not buy a Billion 8800NL ?
Brand new of course

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Why not buy a Billion 8800NL ?Brand new of course

1) Because I have had a Billion router before
2) I have taken up Amateur Radio again and I bought some new gear last year to get on the air again.
3) Reckon a BT modem would be cheaper too
4) I love my Asus N66U router, especially as all legal channels and power enabled for UK use.

Cheers

DrT

It can be configured as a bridge, you can see the stats, you can buy one new.