Do BT still supply VDSL2 modems?

Does anyone know if BT still supply Openreach-branded VDSL2 modems, such as the Huawei HG612, with new FTTC line installs? And if so, is it only on certain types of service (e.g. on a business line, or some other restriction), and if the modem is costed separately or is included for "free"?

Openreach will supply the modems IF the CP (Talk talk, Sky, BT, etc) has requested that they do so.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Openreach will supply the modems IF the CP (Talk talk, Sky, BT, etc) has requested that they do so.

Until tomorrow, and then they're no longer available as part of the install - a CP cannot choose to have them even if they want.

In practice, for the last couple of months at least, you don't always get them even when it is stipulated unless you ask and even then half the time engineers don't have them available, and for a while I suspect if you find a friendly engineer that has some, you'll get one.

Until April this year, VDSL then a year warranty until April 2017

I had one supplied last week

Until tomorrow, and then they're no longer available as part of the install

Interesting, I knew they were going, I hadn't been told a date though.

and for a while I suspect if you find a friendly engineer that has some, you'll get one.

You have to scan the barcode of those you use and the details uploaded, so I suspect you'll need to find a friendly and somewhat dim engineer now.

(Should be fairly easy TBF before anyone else says it)

Thank you gents. Aside from the discontinuance of these modems, just a couple more questions on them from my end-user point of view:
1. It makes some sense that these boxes are getting obsolete now as there are so many routers with built-in VDSL modems, but did the HG612 confer some benefits that an integrated modem/router couldn't - such as being able to participate in a managed service of some kind?
2. As Openreach-branded products, there appear to be two near-identical looking versions - the Huawei HG612 and the ECI B-focus. For getting the absolutely best service possible, should the models from these manufacturers be used with the same manufacturer's FTTC cabinet, i.e. Huawei with Huawei and ECI with ECI? Or is it just a coincidence that the same two vendors are involved?

In answer to question number 2, it is commonly held theory that using a VDSL modem of the same supplier as the DSLAM is a 'good thing'.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

In answer to question number 2, it is commonly held theory that using a VDSL modem of the same supplier as the DSLAM is a 'good thing'.

Commonly held unproven theory ...

Before the G.INP changes which cloud the issue, you could not guarantee it either way. I personally had around 2Mbps better performance from an ECI than a Huawei on a Huawei cabinet. I have seen two modem from the same manufacturer give 5Mbps difference on the same line...

If it were a proven theory it wouldn't be a theory.

Plus, that something is believed to be "a good thing" doesn't mean it is always the case.

I didn't say I believed it !

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Until tomorrow, and then they're no longer available as part of the install

Interesting, I knew they were going, I hadn't been told a date though.

and for a while I suspect if you find a friendly engineer that has some, you'll get one.

You have to scan the barcode of those you use and the details uploaded, so I suspect you'll need to find a friendly and somewhat dim engineer now.

(Should be fairly easy TBF before anyone else says it)

The requirement to scan them ended I think a while back as they're now just issuing ones that they get hold of - from staff returning them, old stock, refurbs etc.

In reply to a post by sidcrighton:

1. It makes some sense that these boxes are getting obsolete now as there are so many routers with built-in VDSL modems, but did the HG612 confer some benefits that an integrated modem/router couldn't - such as being able to participate in a managed service of some kind?

No, it was Openreach's responsibility up to and including that bit of kit - which made troubleshooting and resolution of faults far easier because they can't blame customer modems or routers.

In reply to a post by sidcrighton:

2. As Openreach-branded products, there appear to be two near-identical looking versions - the Huawei HG612 and the ECI B-focus. For getting the absolutely best service possible, should the models from these manufacturers be used with the same manufacturer's FTTC cabinet, i.e. Huawei with Huawei and ECI with ECI? Or is it just a coincidence that the same two vendors are involved?

Ideally in theory kit from the same vendor plays nicely together as they're well tested as a whole. In reality, it normally doesn't make any odds, except that ECI modems on Huawei cabs has been shown to cause some issue when certain features are enabled.

In reply to a post by MHC:

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

In answer to question number 2, it is commonly held theory that using a VDSL modem of the same supplier as the DSLAM is a 'good thing'.

Commonly held unproven theory ...

Before the G.INP changes which cloud the issue, you could not guarantee it either way. I personally had around 2Mbps better performance from an ECI than a Huawei on a Huawei cabinet. I have seen two modem from the same manufacturer give 5Mbps difference on the same line...

The theory is fine, as is reality - it's not about raw speed or performance but reliability - and actually as has been proven mixing them has caused compatibility issues.

In reply to a post by therioman:

Until tomorrow, and then they're no longer available as part of the install - a CP cannot choose to have them even if they want.

So what happens if/when a supplied one dies? Does one have to buy a new VSDL modem/router?

Mni tnx,

DrT

That would be my guess. on ADSL most ISPs didn't warranty routers long term so as and when they failed people needed to buy replacements - that is the way VDSL will now go as there are enough 3rd party devices on the market to buy.

In reply to a post by ian72:

That would be my guess. on ADSL most ISPs didn't warranty routers long term so as and when they failed people needed to buy replacements - that is the way VDSL will now go as there are enough 3rd party devices on the market to buy.

Thanks Ian.
I have had a brief look online and was not exactly blown away by the choice. Either that or the resellers are not making it clear which routers also have modems.

MrS knows of a number of them. Asus do some, Billion/Bipac also have some. There are others but I'm not overly up on the current market (Netgear I believe, probably TP-Link). Or you can buy a modem and use any "cable" router.

In reply to a post by ian72:

MrS knows of a number of them. Asus do some, Billion/Bipac also have some. There are others but I'm not overly up on the current market (Netgear I believe, probably TP-Link). Or you can buy a modem and use any "cable" router.

I'll have to check what is available so I can buy as soon as something fails rather than leaving it too late. I think BTO missed a trick by not selling the modems so people could have a spare. I am not interested in the eBay offerings of dubious provenance.

Cheers

DrT

I can highly recommend the Billion 8800NL - rock solid and very configurable with plenty of options

The cheapest and thus ideal for keeping as a hot spare is TP-Link W9970 at £34 basic wireless N router with VDSL2 modem supporting vectoring and G.INP and a Broadcom chipset. Also supports a bridge mode so can be used as a direct Openreach modem replacement.

Cost is low enough to buy one, configure it, check it works and then keep safe for back up use, or a sacrificial cheap modem in front of expensive router to give better protection from lightning killing kit.

The antenna are not detachable without some surgery, but case does open, and wire cutter and pliers will remove them.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

The cheapest and thus ideal for keeping as a hot spare is TP-Link W9970 at £34 basic wireless N router with VDSL2 modem supporting vectoring and G.INP and a Broadcom chipset. Also supports a bridge mode so can be used as a direct Openreach modem replacement.

Cost is low enough to buy one, configure it, check it works and then keep safe for back up use, or a sacrificial cheap modem in front of expensive router to give better protection from lightning killing kit.

The antenna are not detachable without some surgery, but case does open, and wire cutter and pliers will remove them.

Thanks for that info Andrew. Order already placed.

Edited by deleted (Wed 16-Mar-16 15:11:51)

Just to close out the story on BTO supplying modems... After escalating our predicament (BTO saying that had been to site when they plainly hadn't), they agreed to attend. The site is a weatherproof cabinet on a barn that will be used to host a rural community project. The engineer first tried to install a HomeHub 5, but when told this wasn't supposed to be the plan, a Huawei HG612 was found on the van - his last one apparently. He had been "asked to hand it back in", but thankfully agreed to fit it for us - top work! It sparked up beautifully and speed tested at the full 78Mb/s.
All's well that ends well - thanks everyone for your help.

Openreach will be supplying replacements for failed Openreach modems for 12 months from the withdraw of new supply (according to their briefing)

nice find.

the 8800nl looks similar to a hg612 in terms of size, but your find is cheaper.