In reply to a post by RobertoS:

The OP has agreed the supplied modem is Openreach property.
End of. He is not entitled to mess with it without their permission.

You say that with great conviction, as if it were written down somewhere. The OP is entitiled to assume that in the absence of any limitation, he IS entitiled to modify the OS of the router - providing the changes are not permanent. This is not the same as being allowed to hit it with a hammer or FUBAR it.

He is not trolling, he is just disagreeing - just as you are. It takes two to tango. Don't start banning people just because they disagree with you.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

It's simply that I happened to know the name of the relevant act, so finding it was easy smile.

If such a basic point were available in writing, one would not have to look far for it. TBH, I'd expect a piece of paper to be handed over by the engineer saying what can and cannot be done with the modem.

In reply to a post by Squirrel:

Have to admit it, this has been the most pointless and boring thread I have read for along time

Only because nobody is answering the question that the OP asked.

If the OP wants to know the 'official' position he should contact Openreach's legal department.

He cannot, as the OP has no relationship with Openreach.

Posting whilst under a ban is not a good idea.

http://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/submitFeedback....

The T&C's of the product that are supplied to ISP's (as they are the customer of BTW/Openreach) say:

We'll supply and connect a VDSL2 active NTE to the data port of the SSFP. This allows us to monitor and test the product. The active NTE needs to be located within reach of a power supply and must remain connected to the power and data port at all times.

Whether or not the same terms are passed on to the End User by the ISP is another matter.

In reply to a post by Alexir:

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

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.

This is the whole point of the initial question. The general view is indeed that the modem should not be touched, I know that I said it upfront. The problem is there's no proof, it's just what lots of people think.

I think the question of loading hacked firmware is almost certainly covered by this Statutory Instrument, in that the hacked firmware will not have been certified for use in equipment connected to the Openreach network. The certification of the modem will be invalidated.

Whether any of the VDSL2 routers that have been used to replace the Openreach modem, by posters on these forums, are certified for connection is another question, requiring the relevant details of such equipment.

I shall continue, sporadically, to look for regulations directly addressing the specific case of equipment substitution per se.