Huawei hg612 Purpose

Hi. Please excuse my total ignorance but I would like to ask what is the specific purpose of the Openreach HG612 modem when switching to FTTC? Is it simply to allow compatibility with the operating software/systems? Did my old ADSL home hub have intergrated modem/router? Could I connect a home hub directly to the faceplate and bypass the Huawei HG612 and still get a broadband connection?

As you are suggesting the HG612 is a modem.
I believe (I'm not a BT customer) the HH5 has a built in router/modem for FTTC so is a one box solution like most people are used to with ADSL.

Over time as FTTC becomes more common I guess plenty more (affordable) router/modems will be available.

So if I reconected mt old home hub 2 (I am assuming both modem and router) would it function with the FTTC?

No, you need a VDSL modem for FTTC, this is either provided separately, as in the case of the HG612, or integrated with a router, as in the case of the Home Hub 5. An ADSL router/modem will not work.

No. Think it was only the homehub 4 and above that had a VDSL modem (which is what you need for FTTC). Earlier hubs were ADSL only.

Again, sorry for the ignorance, but what is it that makes the two incompatible? Is it that the the software controlling the adsl modem different? Is the data sent via fibre different in some form and needs translating differently?

Edited by deleted (Fri 19-Sep-14 15:36:09)

ADSL and VDSL (FTTC) are two similar, but slightly different technologies - perhaps analogous to FM or AM radio.
You have an ADSL modem built into your router (AM), but you need a VDSL modem (FM) to receive FTTC.

Edited by deleted (Fri 19-Sep-14 15:41:03)

What Panda said...

The VDSL modem uses additional frequencies that the chips in an ADSL modem are not designed to be able to utilise. The FM/AM analogy is very good - if you had a AM radio you cannot pick up FM frequencies but an combined AM/FM radio can do either. VDSL is the combined AM/FM equivalent and because it has such a wider range of frequencies it is capable of running at higher speeds - more space to squeeze that data down.

In reply to a post by Speedchaser:

Is it that the the software controlling the adsl modem different? Is the data sent via fibre different in some form and needs translating differently?

The signal being received/sent is different and therefore requires diff software to handle it. Also the processing power needs to be better with VDSL.

An ADSL modem only copes with an ADSL protocol. A VDSL modem will be faster and cope with both.

Correction, only the Hub 5 and above have an integrated VDSL modem.