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[Zarf2007]

New firmware 150729 released on the TP-Link website today, don't look like it will do anything to help you though by the release notes.

yep tried it and no change.......

I would have throught that created a pure bridge interface on the wan side would have done it but that also fails.....

Just a quick update, TP Link sent me a beta firmware which fixed the VDSL/BT Youview problem, works out of the box now. They will no doubt be posting this on their support site soon. So can confirm that this device now works in wireless router and VDSL mode with BT Youview IPTV channels.

Also copes better than my previous asus ac68u which was connected to the bt modem, for that setup when I had the UHD sport channel running on my main box and a HD IPTV channel on the box in my bedroom (e.g. comedy central), the channel on the bedroom box would fail and the uhd channel would break up (even though Im on infinity2 and would get 73down/18 up), with this router both run super smooth with no problems.

also noticed my sync speed has improved (79down/19up) and connection on VDSL is rock solid.

[kitz]

It seems f/w is being released to iron out most of the early bugs

Ive just completed my review - wifi is excellent, but sadly let down IMHO only by lack of proper line stats,  I have taken this up with TP-link UK who seem quite receptive to this and are putting a case forward to their Head Office in China.  However don't hold your breath as its seen as something only for advanced users and won't be priority.

For those users who do want a bit more line stats info - ejs has kindly updated his TP-Link StatPOSTer prog so that it now also works with the Archer VR900.

I've also started off a wiki post for the Archer VR900.

[jasjeet]

Whats the recent opinion on this router, im thinking of replacing my Billion 7800N (as wifi AP) and Sky SR102 (router) combo. Currently the SR102 keeps dropping my line even with decent SNR (8dB today) and speeds keep going between 30-37MBps, so i think the SR102 is a bit crap. Also the Billion dies every so often needing a reboot. Just need solid wifi and solid net connection. I hear a beta FW was released to connect to Sky Fibre with MER?

[kitz]

My opinion hasn't changed since I wrote the VR900 review.
Excellent wi-fi, good DSL stability, but its my intention to put my VMG8324 back on any day now due to the lack of linestat info. 

I dont know any info about the Sky MER version Im afraid.
 

[jasjeet]

Do ZyXEL make something similar to VMG8324-B10A but with wireless AC?
Were your sync speeds higher (or other available stats better) on the ZyXEL over the TP-Link?
Is it right to go for Broadcom chipset's to suit Sky fibre connections? As i have avoided Asus for that reason so far.

Thanks for your help.

[PhilipD]

Hi

Do ZyXEL make something similar to VMG8324-B10A but with wireless AC?
Were your sync speeds higher (or other available stats better) on the ZyXEL over the TP-Link?
Is it right to go for Broadcom chipset's to suit Sky fibre connections? As i have avoided Asus for that reason so far.

Thanks for your help.

Yes it is the 8924. Uses the same firmware.

Regards

Phil

[andy265]

Excellent wi-fi, good DSL stability, but its my intention to put my VMG8324 back on any day now due to the lack of linestat info. 

I would agree, it's a great router only let down by a lack of line stats.

Not too much of a problem for me as I am fortunate to be very close to the cabinet with an obtainable sync way over the 80Mb max.

[jasjeet]

My line in maxed out at around 35mbps, so I guess stats could be useful.
I can't find much about the 8924's wifi however, if it's better or worse than the vr900.

[NewtronStar]

It is very annoying to have a Modem with a BCM63168 and the CLI is disabled my poor old BrightBox2 is in the same position yet from your review it shows more DSL stats info in it's GUI than the VR900 and that's an ISP free modem/router.

[kitz]

I can't find much about the 8924's wifi however, if it's better or worse than the vr900.

I don't have an 8924 to be able to directly compare sorry.  All I can say is that despite only being wireless n, the range on my 8324 is still very good.  Obviously it isn't going to get the AC speeds and you need someone with an 8924 to say how they think it performs.

Ive now put the VMG8324 back on..  and these were the direct comparison of stats within a couple of mins.  (I didnt bother waiting 30mins)

TPLink - VR900

Code: [Select]

Current Rate(kbps) 20000 79987
Max Rate(kbps) 30747 79982
SNR Margin(dB) 12.9 6.4
Line Attenuation(dB) 0 17.7
Errors(pkts) 0 0
Zyxel VMG8324

Code: [Select]

VDSL Training Status:   Showtime
                    Mode:   VDSL2 Annex B
            VDSL Profile:   Profile 17a
            Traffic Type:   PTM Mode
             Link Uptime:   0 day: 0 hour: 2 minutes
============================================================================
       VDSL Port Details       Upstream         Downstream
               Line Rate:     20.202 Mbps       80.103 Mbps
    Actual Net Data Rate:     20.000 Mbps       79.987 Mbps
          Trellis Coding:         ON                ON
              SNR Margin:       12.7 dB            6.7 dB
            Actual Delay:          0 ms              0 ms
          Transmit Power:        5.5 dBm          14.3 dBm
           Receive Power:       -6.3 dBm           1.4 dBm
              Actual INP:        0.0 symbols       0.0 symbols
       Total Attenuation:       11.9 dB           12.7 dB
Attainable Net Data Rate:     31.026 Mbps       83.256 Mbps
============================================================================
      VDSL Band Status    U0      U1      U2      U3      D1      D2      D3
  Line Attenuation(dB):  0.6    17.9    27.5     N/A    10.8    24.0    37.8   
Signal Attenuation(dB):  0.5    17.8    27.4     N/A    10.6    23.8    37.7   
        SNR Margin(dB): 14.5    13.1    12.5     N/A     6.7     6.7     6.7   
   Transmit Power(dBm):- 6.0   -25.7     5.2     N/A    12.0     7.4     7.3   
============================================================================

[Danger Mouse]

TP-LINK have released a beta firmware for the VR900 for Sky's MER protocols, I've got it if anyone needs it, or just email TP-LINK, they also said the firmware update will be officially released very soon

[PhilipD]

Hi

My line in maxed out at around 35mbps, so I guess stats could be useful.
I can't find much about the 8924's wifi however, if it's better or worse than the vr900.

I'm not sure suggesting one boxes Wi-Fi is better or worse than another is useful, reason being is due to standards they all work very similar.  What changes things is the antenna arrangement and how the signal radiates from the box and the directions favoured by that particular design on any particular model.  So a box that has great range for one person may be bad for someone else. 

Oh and the marketing that suggests these routers track and beam the signal to the device is very creative marketing, that isn't how they work, to work like that they'd need very directional antennas that move around with a tracking device!  All they do is simply radiate the signal in the same pattern but delay very slightly the transmitted signal from one antenna by varying amounts of time until the receiving device reports it has a stronger signal.  It works on the basis of ripples in a pond and two stones are thrown in, some ripples will cross and cancel each other out, some will meet and amplify, and the aim of "beam forming" is to make the ripples meet at the devices antenna so they amplify.  Of course throw more than one device onto the Wi-Fi network and it rapidly becomes impossible to do this with any great certainty.

What I can say though with the 8924 is I've not had any problems with AC on the 8924, all devices connect just fine and just work.

Regards

Phil

[skwark]

Just set up this router and under the advanced tab, DSL status box shows line stats.

Looks like TP Link have been paying attention.

FW Build 150729

[jasjeet]

I ended up buying the Zyxel 8924, lets see how it goes. I hope im not too much at a loss by having integrated antennas compared to the TP Link.

[andy265]

under the advanced tab, DSL status box shows line stats.
FW Build 150729

I have the same build; it shows the speed, the max speed, SNR margin, attenuation and an error count that doesn't work. I guess I should have said it doesn't give full line stats.