Router Firmware

I believe PN now has its own firmware on routers it supplies.
How will this be different to the standard firmware?

Hi

ISPs use their own firmwares so they can be ready to go out the box with minimum fuss and also carry their branding.

You can usually flash the original firmware if you wish to get the box back to as you would buy it.

The firmware doesn't really differ in terms of functionality or performance.

The SpeedTouch boxes provided by Be are flaky though and the Thomson firmware is horrendous in my opinion. The boxes run too hot and are lucky to last 12 months when used 24/7. I think this is deliberate ploy by Thomson so they have a built in obsolescence and so they keep a revenue stream going as I suspect the ISP needs to pay for replacements judging by the way Be will do all they can to avoid replacing one, even to the point of telling you to turn it upside down to keep it running cooler!!!

You can of course use your own router with quite a few being compatible with Be, often performing better, always a lot more reliable, and it leaves you the BeBox to use as a spare for troubleshooting.

Regards

Phil

Edited by deleted (Sun 26-Oct-08 10:38:55)

Have raised on Plusnet forums linky

Thanks Jim,

It's for a friend, would be handy to know if user name etc is preset, or needs setting up as normal.

Once TR69 is fully in place the router will use a "get started" login and then automatically revert to the actual customer settings in a matter of minutes. With TR69 Plusnet will be able to supply far better customer assistance.

Currently it may be neccessary to manually insert customer username etc

The router shows in " available networks" as Plusnet Wireless and system summary shows Plusnet logo.

Overall the router behaves as normal and all the menus are standard Thomson.

The new firmware will allow Plusnet to do more advanced line fault diagnostics

Could you describe how having access to your router enables "more advanced line diagnostics"?.

In reply to:

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I believe PN now has its own firmware on routers it supplies.

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We don't. Yet

Currently we are shipping standard Thomson CPE with manufacturers firmware to customers.

We are looking at firmware options on some of our CPE but this is currently in trial phase only. As mentioned in our Plans for 2008 we are looking at TR069 functionality which will not only add ease of set up and config but some fantastic diagnostic facilities which will improve our customer experience and improve faults handling capabilities

More info on TR069 can be found here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TR-069

Plusnet don't go into any details so I can't say how they do it.
It's mentioned in the lower half of this page on the website

Thanks for the reply and all the other comments.

What cables come with router? Is there an ethernet cable?

I would imagine it's a new boxed Speedtouch. Two filters, one ethernet cable, +install CD.

Just wanted to make sure it's not one of those "batteries not included".

>> What cables come with router? Is there an ethernet cable?

Power brick
Modem <-> phone RJ11 lead
Yellow Ethernet cable - 2m?
2 x Dongle type adsl filters.

AAMOI is it a complete kit like this one, or just the router, wires and filters?

Edited by Apprentice (Mon 27-Oct-08 21:07:59)

No - theres no wireless adapters of any sort

The power brick is more on the style of a phone charger - very neat and tidy and cool to the touch.

Cheers kitz.

BTW hope you are well.

Line is suppose to be activated on the 31st, but router order still being processed.
Is delivery of router "next day"?

They're shipped using 1st class post IIRC. The kit is normally despatched to arrive the day before, or on your day of activation.

Strange,
My friend logged on to PN last night about an hour before I posted, and router was awaiting dispatch.
I was suprised to find it delivered this morning.