Replacement Modem

After a couple years of service my supplied BT modem is becoming a bit flaky -- it randomly switches itself off which has caused the exchange to think the line isn't stable.

Any suggestions as to what to replace it with? Having a quick scan around, it appears the choices are another BT box (although not sure which one) from eBay or a Draytek 130.

I have an ASUS RTAC3200 so just need a modem, I don't want a combined box.

Thanks,

Steve

If your on a Huawei cabinet then you will have G.INP on your line, so a Huawei HG612 version 3B my prefered choice, off Ebay would do, also using the HG612, you can unlock it to get your stats.

The Draytek 130 also supports G.INP.

Edited by Nightglow (Wed 10-Feb-16 09:55:40)

My understanding is that if your BT supplied FTTC modem fails, then BT will provide a replacement.

Cheers!

Bridge mode modem:

ZyXEL VMG8324-B10A (G.INP) 10/10

Billion BiPAC 8800NL (G.INP) 9/10

All Increased sync speeds above the HG\ECI

All the best.

In reply to a post by bmn0:

Bridge mode modem:

ZyXEL VMG8324-B10A (G.INP) 10/10

Billion BiPAC 8800NL (G.INP) 9/10

All Increased sync speeds above the HG\ECI

All the best.

bmn0: How do you find the ZyXEL VMG8324-B10A, any problems getting your stats off it.
Been looking to replace my HG612, as it's held together with tape after falling off my desk.
Just a quick google & I answered my own question, found a excellent guide for setting it up in bridge mode.

http://www.kitz.co.uk/routers/zyxel_VMG8324-B10A_bri...

Edited by Nightglow (Wed 10-Feb-16 10:54:00)

Stat monitor is nice and easy, ZyXEL\8800NL with DSLstats ( http://www.s446074245.websitehome.co.uk/ ) works solidly. ZyXEL.is a solid modem, With all most zero FEC errors. (Firmware: 1.00(AAKL.7)C0 )

Edited by deleted (Wed 10-Feb-16 11:11:10)

I have the Asus AC3200 and Draytek Vigor130 , they work very well together.

You will also benefit from having your line stats available in your browser, call 192.168.2.1 , see stats , settings, firmware etc. Also has the command line from the same page.

As Ancient_Mariner says, until 1 Jan 2017. Link.

But later you say you dropped it? Perhaps the DSL socket has been damaged, or more likely the DSL cable. Have you tried another one of those from a different modem or router?

I didn't realise that. I had FTTC installed a few years ago and just assumed it was my responsibility after that time. Zen no longer supply that modem.

It's their responsibility to get it replaced for you, by another HG612 not an ECI.

But try my cable replacement idea first.

My understanding is that if your BT supplied FTTC modem fails, then BT will provide a replacement.

Yes, but first you have to convince your ISP that there is an issue, and if and when they send out an Openreach engineer, convince them likewise.

And being held together by sticky tape doesn't look good.

And being held together by sticky tape doesn't look good.

That sounds like a straight charges to be raised case to me......

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

And being held together by sticky tape doesn't look good.

That sounds like a straight charges to be raised case to me......

Orginally BT supplied me with a ECI modem & as I'm on a Huawei cabinet, I bought myself a HG612 to use.

Oh SUGAR!

I'm afraid your introduction of your damaged OR modem completely confused me, and I may have confused others. I associated the OP faulty one with it. The dangers of two people with dodgy modems in the same thread.

I shall review my posts in the thread later. Things to do now.

Your getting me confused Roberto, you replied to wrong thread & I have compounded the situation.

The tape up modem you mentioned was in my post 'Modem Location' not this post.

Prehaps a mod can remove the last 5 posts, & we can get back on track.

Edited by Nightglow (Thu 11-Feb-16 11:17:58)

In reply to a post by Nightglow:

Been looking to replace my HG612, as it's held together with tape after falling off my desk.

Apology for hijacking this thread just a quick question.
I am served by a Huawei cab and use the home hub 5, would I benefit by changing to the HG612 eg would I see a speed increase (currently on 30mb)

Is that a HH5 Type A or Type B?

Type A

It's hard to predict what sort of increase you would see without any stats, such as:
Data rate
Maximum data rate
Noise margin
Line attenuation
Signal attenuation
which are all available in Troubleshooting/Helpdesk on the web GUI,

but you should see an improvement in your speed.

Data rate: 6836 / 28682
Maximum data rate: 6839 / 32001
Noise margin: 5.8 / 7.1
Line attenuation: 30.9 / 28.1
Signal attenuation: 30.8 / 24.8

That speed looks pretty good for that attenuation to be honest, although I note your noise margin is above the target of 6 so you should see a few Mbps improvement with a HG612 modem. It's not going to double though...

In reply to a post by Storm_Force:

Apology for hijacking this thread just a quick question.
I am served by a Huawei cab and use the home hub 5, would I benefit by changing to the HG612 eg would I see a speed increase (currently on 30mb)

I presume you mean using the HG612 as a modem and use the HH5 as the router/wifi.

I did the same (have a HH5A) and with the HG612 got about 10% better upload speed. Download speed the same. You can find them pretty cheap on eBay.

Thanks to all, I just bought the Draytek one in the end. Just easier and you can play with / see the stats which I haven't been able to before.

The Draytek is a very good modem and about to be one of the few (so far) 3rd party units to get BT SIN 498 - MCT Approval for VDSL2

http://www.draytek.co.uk/information/our-technology/...

Another (minor) thread hijack here - is there an official supply route for new HG612 modems?
I'm probably going to need a few for an upcoming project but don't really want to push "ebayed" stuff on to a customer's site...

I've only ever seen them 2nd hand on Ebay, apart from Openreach providing them as part of a managed install.

If you want new, you're probably looking at a Billion 8800NL or Zyxel VMG8324 instead.

How many is a few?

Initially 3 or 4 - we've used them with our preferred firewall appliances before and they work well.
I'm a big fan of the Billion 8800NL but it's almost too good a router to use solely as a modem. The Vigor 130 is the other option I've considered and I think it's the one I'm leaning towards now the HG612 is going for silly second hand prices...

Have you considered the TP Link W9970 VDSL2 modem/router the wireless may only be 802.11n but there is G.INP, vectoring and a bridge mode and believed to be a Broadcom chipset at just £33.33 each currently and three year warranty. Also can do 3g/4g failover with dongle and option to re-assign 1 LAN port as an Ethernet WAN port.

Have been using the device in router mode so far (22 hours), and want to leave it a few days like that before fiddling with bridge mode. My VDSL2 is not fast and while same speeds as other kit so far, the noise margins are a little more stable at night so might see the margin drop another 3dB to get me above 20 Mbps soon.

Nice one. Only £29.99 at Argos - Oops £39.99

Edited by deleted (Tue 16-Feb-16 15:50:22)

Thanks - will check out the TP Link. Have found their products to be a bit hit and miss in the past but £33.33 is going to be much more palatable for a proof-of-concept project.

Wireless isn't an issue, we generally stick to Cisco APs (easy clustering) where possible unless the customer is a tightwad!

Looks like it's the ADSL one that's £29.99 at Argos. £39.99 for the VDSL version as far as I can tell.

Dammit you're right - it's £39.99 at Argos http://www.argos.co.uk/beta/static/Product/partNumbe...

Have not looked at wireless speeds other than it does go at least as fast as my line i.e 19 Mbps tests, but reliability looks at this early state a little better than the more expensive W9980 which was taking a long time to authenticate if I did see a drop.

Buy from Argos through Quidco will get you something like 5% cash back.

Given the cost at the actual VDSL2 router (rather than ADSL2+) Amazon is cheaper even when you allow for 5% cashback i.e. on £39.99 its £2 and this is cancelled out by Argos delivery of £3.95.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Have you considered the TP Link W9970 VDSL2 modem/router the wireless may only be 802.11n but there is G.INP, vectoring and a bridge mode and believed to be a Broadcom chipset at just £33.33 each currently and three year warranty. Also can do 3g/4g failover with dongle and option to re-assign 1 LAN port as an Ethernet WAN port.

Have been using the device in router mode so far (22 hours), and want to leave it a few days like that before fiddling with bridge mode. My VDSL2 is not fast and while same speeds as other kit so far, the noise margins are a little more stable at night so might see the margin drop another 3dB to get me above 20 Mbps soon.

Hi Mr S
Thinking of buying the TP Link W9970 to use as a dumb VDSL2 modem in bridge mode (replace HG612). Can the antennas on the TP Link be removed?

Will look once back in the house, working out and about this afternoon

Any update Mr S?

http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/aaisp/f/4464399-ama...

Cheers!

Just checked and they are attached permanently

Okay have dug out my Asus router, and flipped TP-Link into bridge mode and it works, the TP Link did leave wireless turned on - so plugging a cable into an Ethernet port lets you into web admin interface and can disable this.

Have taken case apart - and can confirm Broadcom chipset and the antenna are removable with pliers once you open the case and snip of the wire to each one (did not cut wires on mine ) Will add a photo to mini review on Sunday.

IPv6 seems a bit messed up in Bridge mode, so might have a longer play once other weekend work tasks are done.

Thanks Mr S, how easy is to remove the TP Link antennas with a pair of pliers without having to open the case?

Not going to try that as expect it would break something, for those with a soldering iron the antenna should be removable in a replaceable way, i.e. squeeze connector from inside case to remove plastic part and desolder wire from PCB

If not fussed I guess you could just hacksaw off the antenna