Some fail, some don't.

If line is performing as expected then no need to change - simple

Yes, the Huawei is the one to get imo

Agreed.

But it is the first time that I have seen the suggestion that they may be significantly less robust than one may expect from a relatively "simple" circuit, compared with the complexities of routers, modems, PCs etc.

In reply to a post by b4dger:

How far are you from the cabinet?

Further than I thought too - about 650m. At which the profile doesn't seem so unlikely...

In reply to a post by eckiedoo:

Agreed.

But it is the first time that I have seen the suggestion that they may be significantly less robust than one may expect from a relatively "simple" circuit, compared with the complexities of routers, modems, PCs etc.

I thought anyone with electronics experience was aware that capacitors fail, dry joints in solder show up, and things made by 6 year olds in China fail sooner or later.

That's the conclusion I'm coming to for my line

I've got the ECI modem as well. Real pain not being able to see line stats!!! It's like going back 10 years and getting to grips with ADSL all over again - but without the required info.
I bought a spare 'old' one off the Kelly engineer as well as I hoped to unlock it but have since realised this is much more involved than on the HG modem.

For years on TBB the number 1 question is "What are your line stats?" when troubleshooting - so for many with the standard OR modems they can't get this useful info

I can't see any reason why BT would/should stop people getting this data more easily...

Agreed that such things do happen.

Particularly as I had the second electrolytic capacitor restoration set made by Plessey; and subsequently have considerable experience of sorting out the causes of dry joints in a production line situation.

Considering that splitters have very few components, of a very simple nature compared with say integrated circuits and the like, generally low voltages etc, I had not noted nor experienced such short lives as that stated in the article.

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With that restoration set, I recovered 10 out of 11 electrolytic capacitors in a 1930s American Car Radio, with its relatively high voltages, compact construction, high temperatures etc.