Whenever I updated firmware on every router I have, I have never had to reset it so that it retains my specific configuration w/out having to set them again, and I have never seen instructions to contrary.

I must admit I got mixed up with resetting to defaults and loading configuration data from a backup file

But I still don't believe that a hard reset will reload the firmware that was present when you bought it. If it did, there'd be no such thing as bricked routers due to updates that went wrong.

The OP has agreed the supplied modem is Openreach property.

End of. He is not entitled to mess with it without their permission.

It is also specified in publicly available documents, which I have quoted, that it is the NTE/NTP. I think my comparable example of car fog lights covers the situation. He is not therefore entitled to replace it with anything else.

Many have replaced the firmware. Several have swapped the modem for VDSL2 routers. As has been said, unless anything anyone does can be reasonably shown to have damaged anything in the BT Group systems or equipment then they aren't going to be dragged off to the cells in the middle of the night.

There are definitely legally backed regulations about the specifications of and approval required for any equipment attached to a telephone socket. It is also a fact that by the time you have been out of your house for ten minutes, travelling to another location, you will have broken a myriad of laws, of which your ignorance "is no excuse".

The fact that we are not specifically advised of something obvious does not make it untrue.

Perhaps the local council should post warning notices on the inside of every property. Maybe you and the OP should start a Downing Street petition to have the matter clarified by all ISPs.

Anyone doubting that the general view that the Openreach modem should not be tampered with or replaced is correct is being unrealistic. Or deliberately mischievous.

And there would be no problem about unwanted firmware updates sent down the line by ISPs.

Indeed.

Afaics, the hard reset is only there so that you can recover the situation if bad/corrupted configuration data causes the router to crash so that you can't log in to it.

In reply to a post by billford:

But I still don't believe that a hard reset will reload the firmware that was present when you bought it.

Quite right! It doesn't!

I thought he was asking where it specifically states that you can't hack/modify/change/alter the firmware in the Openreach modem that belongs to BT.

Thanks anyway. I raised the question of who the modem belongs to a while back and understand that it's not mine so I won't fiddle with it regardless of T&C's

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

The OP has agreed the supplied modem is Openreach property.

I'm not sure. I think it belongs to me.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

I think it belongs to me.

Then you think wrong.

In reply to a post by billford:

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

I think it belongs to me.

Then you think wrong.

They gave me another. I have 2.